The Minister of European Integration and International Cooperation of the Republic of Srpska Zlatan Klokić said yesterday in Banja Luka that relations between Srpska and Serbia, including those economic, had never been stronger, deeper and more concrete.

Klokić noted that merit for that went also to the Serbian Government and President Aleksandar Vučić, who had been providing support to Srpska in implementing many infrastructural and other projects.

At the conference Republic of Serbia’s support as driver of Republic of Srpska’s economic development, he said that the purpose of that event was to analyze the effects of the Serbian projects implemented in Srpska, which had benefited the citizens the most, but also what needed to be improved further in that connection.

‘Speaking about economic indicators, it is noteworthy that Serbia is Srpska’s largest foreign trade partner. Total exchange volume in that regard exceeds BAM 2.1 billion. Exports from the Republic of Srpska to Serbia are slightly below BAM 900 million and on an upward trajectory,’ stated Klokić.

He thanked the Serbian Government for considerable financial support to the Republic of Srpska as there is almost no local community without important project implemented by Serbia.

State Secretary at Serbian Ministry of Economy, Darko Mitrović, said that Serbia remained committed to business cooperation with the Republic of Srpska and to mutually connecting businessmen with the aim of bilateral development and citizen benefit.

‘In the past period, we had significant economic investments, technology transfers and business cooperation. All of this should contribute to a better foundation and environment for attracting foreign direct investments, and to production improvement with domestic businessmen,’ said Mitrović and noted that mutual cooperation would be intensified especially in the field of energy.

President of the Republic of Srpska Chamber of Commerce Pero Ćorić stated that Serbia was the largest foreign investor in Srpska.

‘Until now, Serbia has invested about BAM 2.3 billion in Srpska. We want that trend to continue and to exploit each other’s economic and development potentials,’ said Ćorić.

The mayor of Laktaši, Miroslav Bojić, noted that institutional and economic cooperation between the Republic of Srpska and Serbia had never been better, as evidenced by numerous completed and useful projects in Srpska.

‘Serbia also helps the local communities in the Federation of BiH with Serb majority. We are looking forward to new projects with Serbia,’ said Bojić.

Mutual interest is to continue implementing joint projects that will contribute to strategic partnership in order for every resident of Srpska and Serbia to feel the benefits of these projects – reads one of the conclusions of the conference.

The conference presented an analysis of the impact and satisfaction of beneficiaries of the grant funding provided by the Serbian Government to the Republic of Srpska, conducted through a survey of more than 100 beneficiaries and covering the period from 2016 to the end of 2023.

The conference included a panel entitled Support of the Republic of Serbia as Republic of Srpska’s economic development driver, with the following participants: Goran Račić, President of the Banja Luka Regional Chamber of Commerce, Mihailo Vesović, Vice-President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Darko Mitrović, State Secretary at the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Serbia, Zlatan Klokić, Minister of European Integration and International Cooperation of the Republic of Srpska and Miroslav Bojić, Mayor of Laktaši.

Representatives of business entities, institutions and local self-government units of Serbia and Republic of Srpska participated in this event.

Source: Ministry of European Integration and International Cooperation - Republic of Srpska Chamber of Commerce - RTRS - SRNA

Photo: Ministry of European Integration and International Cooperation