site.btaBosnian Companies Interested in Bulgarian Agriculture, Tourism - Bosnian Foreign Trade Chamber President

Bulgaria's experience in agricultural production of and boosting tourism are of interest to companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnian Foreign Trade Chamber President Vjekoslav Vukovic told BTA. "We would like to focus on agricultural production given the great experience Bulgaria has [in this industry]. Tourism is also of particular interest, bilaterally," he said. Vukovic visited Sofia, meeting with representatives of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He said Bosnia and Herzegovina has some 17,000,000 decares of arable land but farms a much smaller part of it and can draw on Bulgarian experience and technology in agriculture.

Bosnia and Herzegovina exports to Bulgaria mainly metallurgical goods, wires, cables, among other insulated electric conductors. Bulgaria exports to Bosnia mainly sunflower, safflower and cottonseed oils, bakery products, baked confectionery products, as well as some medicines, according to 2021 data published on the Bulgarian Economy and Industry Ministry’s website.

In Vukovic’s words, mineral fertilizers, plastic products, and other products of the chemical industry in Bulgaria are in demand in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

According to him, foreign trade between Bulgaria and Bosnia and Herzegovina is not at a satisfactory level. According to the Bulgarian Economy Ministry, in 2021 trade between the two countries reached EUR 122 million, marking a growth of nearly 20%, with imports from Bosnia and Herzegovina amounting to some EUR 30 million. Vukovic believes that bilateral foreign trade could be much more extensive.

There are many individual requests from Bosnian companies for cooperation with Bulgaria. There is interest in tourism, military-industrial production, and metalworking, he said, adding that he is due to meet representatives of companies from the defence sector, wine, and furniture production.

Vukovic stressed that there are also plans to set up a cooperation council that would convene at least once a year in Bosnia and Herzegovina or Bulgaria. This council will study the interests of companies from both countries. No big exhibitions will be organized, but economic forums by sector, he specified.

Vukovic also noted that there is a chance for Bulgaria to become a partner country for the 2025 edition of the biggest Bosnian trade fair – the International Economy Fair in Mostar.