The newly established Bosnia and Herzegovina Export Promotion Agency (BHEPA), operating within the BiH Foreign Trade Chamber, was launched in Sarajevo in presence of the Head of the European Commission’s Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina, H.E. Ambassador Dimitris Kourkoulas, Mr Slobodan Puhalac, BiH Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations and Mr Milan Lovrić, President of the BiH Foreign Trade Chamber on 18th March 2008.
Ambassador Kourkoulas congratulated to the Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH on the establishment of this organisation dedicated to assisting BiH companies to respond to opportunities and challenges present at the global market, underlying its importance for the economic development of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Furthermore, he noted that the European Union had supported that important institutional development through the EU Expro project, one of many EU funded projects aiming at strengthening the economic position of BiH.
Underlying the importance of establishment of BHEPA, Ambassador Kourkoulas said: «After the signing and implementation of CEFTA and the SAA with EU, the BH exports will virtually have the unrestricted access to the world’s largest and wealthiest market – the European Union.”
Ambassador Kourkoulas pointed to the fact that BiH exports had increased manifold and that the export/import ratio had increased from 29 to 45% during the past five years. “The trend is positive, but more needs to be done so as to achieve the objective of a balanced trade in goods and services by 2010. Increasing exports is a complex activity that requires a framework in which trade policy, trade promotion and trade practice are synchronized,” said Kourkoulas.
Finally, Ambassador Kourkoulas reminded of the importance for small markets, such as the one in BiH, to have an access to larger free trade areas like the one created through CEFTA and EU trade area available after signing of the SAA. The next important step to be undertaken by BiH state, reminded the Ambassador, was the accession of BiH to WTO.
In his address, Minister Puhalac provided additional information about the decisions of the BiH Council of Ministers that led to establishment of BHEPA focusing on the importance of creation of recognisable BiH products capable to survive on competitive EU market. “Economic development can only be measured by things that are done and one of the important priorities is to reduce foreign trade deficit. It is my sincere hope that the Agency would provide huge contribution in achieving this aim, and that Foreign Trade Chamber would be a place where entrepreneurs will commence and implement numerous positive initiatives”, concluded Minister Puhalac.
Enes Ališković, Director of BHEPA, provided an overview of the project presenting all services provided by BHEPA, including the website, a “How to export” guide and other materials available for BHEPA clients, in the first place BH exporters and international clients/importers.
About BHEPA
The Bosnia and Herzegovina Export Promotion Agency – BHEPA – is a national agency operating within the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina.Its primary role is to assist all BiH companies to develop and expand export markets by promoting the products and capabilities of the country internationally.
European Union provided over 840,000.00 € for the establishment of BHEPA.
For more information about BHEPA, please visit www.bhexport.ba
