The event was organized by the Representative Office of the Republic of Srpska in the Russian Federation together with the Saint Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and supported by the Republic of Srpska Chamber of Commerce and St. Petersburg Foreign Affairs Committee.

The event was attended by 29 St. Petersburg companies engaged in various fields of activity.

At the beginning, the Head of the Republic of Srpska Representation in the Russian Federation, Duško Perović, addressed the audience in a video message, pointing out the great potential of cooperation with the Republic of Srpska, given that the Republic of Srpska had not imposed sanctions on Russia, and Russian tourists still did not require visa to visit the Republic of Srpska.

Opening remarks by the President of the Republic of Srpska Chamber of Commerce, Pero Ćorić, were read, which noted that the Russian market was too demanding for a large number of companies from Srpska, due to the requirement to provide the delivery of a large amount of goods, while observing continuity and ensuring competitive prices.

– However, on the other hand, I am certain that we have businessmen who are ready to meet all the necessary conditions for exporting to Russia, by creating long-term plans – Ćorić said.

As noted by a representative of the St. Petersburg Foreign Affairs Committee, the cooperation between the Republic of Srpska and St. Petersburg turned 15 this year. The held webinar is an introductory event where St. Petersburg companies were introduced to the general conditions for investing in the Republic of Srpska, and to key industries in the region.

The purpose of the webinar is to identify the areas of interest for St. Petersburg companies, to be followed by practical smaller conferences.

During the webinar, Russian participants showed interest in various areas, including the leather and textile industry, i.e. procurement of raw materials, fabrics and haberdashery, as well as the tourism sector. Furthermore, St. Petersburg companies are interested in food products, wood products, electronics from the Republic of Srpska and production of raw materials for the chemical industry.

The St. Petersburg side proposed to consider the possibility of supplying the Republic of Srpska with Russian fertilizers.

Within the webinar, the Serb side was invited to participate in the Russian Industrialist International Forum, to be held from 29 November to 1 December 2022 in Saint Petersburg. The goals of the forum are to demonstrate the latest equipment, present modern technologies and construction materials, innovative solutions for various industries, search for potential customers, and strengthen partnership relations.

In addition, the webinar noted the issues that require further elaboration, namely logistics and international financial transactions, taking into account current restrictions.