SRPSKA'S GDP COULD REACH BAM 20 BILLION

BANJA LUKA, OCTOBER 31 /SRNA/ - By the end of this year, the gross domestic product /GDP/ of Republika Srpska could reach BAM 20 billion, Republika Srpska Institute of Statistics Director Darko Milunović told SRNA.

Milunović said that this year's GDP would be 50 percent higher than it was five years ago.

"The latest report for the end of 2025 showed that GDP stood at BAM 18.7 billion. Taking into account trends over the past five years and the very beginning of this year, it is a very realistic assumption that GDP will reach BAM 20 billion by the end of the year," Milunović said in a podcast produced by the Media System of Republika Srpska – SRNA.

He stressed that positive rates, or GDP growth, have been recorded over the past five years, which is a very significant indicator of economic activity.

"We must not forget that there was the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by the transport crisis, geopolitical tensions and inflationary shocks, and throughout all of this, Republika Srpska managed to maintain positive GDP growth rates, both quarterly and annually," Milunović stressed.


SRPSKA'S TOP EXPORT IS ELECTRICITY

He stressed that in the first nine months of this year, the export-to-import ratio stood at around 65 percent.

"Exports declined slightly, while imports increased somewhat. We must not forget that 20 years ago, the export-to-import ratio stood at one-third, or around 33 percent, so these figures are much better," Milunović said.

Milunović pointed out that Republika Srpska's largest foreign trade partners are Serbia and Croatia.

"Electricity is our largest individual export, accounting for around 10 percent of total exports. As for imports, fuel accounted for the largest share. The global rise in oil prices also indirectly explains why imports increased, or why more money had to be spent on imports," Milunović explained.