Moldova, Bosnia & Herzegovina to enhance commercial, economic ties

Chisinau, 26 November /MOLDPRES/- Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister, acting Economics Minister Stephane Bride today met Bosnian Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Minister Mirko Šarović, attending the International Forum of Central European states CEFTA (Central European Free Trade Agreement) Week 2015, in Chisinau on 23-26 November. The officials discussed the current state of bilateral commercial-economic ties and opportunities to enlarge them in the future, the Economics Ministry has reported.

While assessing bilateral cooperation, Bride and Šarović ascertained that it was not fully exploited and that both states had possibilities to consolidate it by facilitating commercial exchanges, and also liberalization of trade and investments. In this context, Bride suggested bilateral groups of experts be created in order to perform sector analysis and set up a package of investment projects to be implemented to boost up and diversify commercial-economic ties between Chisinau and Sarajevo. “Such measures will benefit both sides, since the agreement on protection and mutual promotion of investments Moldova and Bosnia & Herzegovina had signed in 2003, serves as a legal base to this effect,” Bride noted.

For his part, the Bosnian official shared the view of his counterpart, strengthening that Bosnia & Herzegovina is interested in developing commercial-economic ties with Moldova, both through organizations like CEFTA and other similar ones, and also through direct channels. “We invite Moldovan companies to organise various business-forums or other promotional events in Bosnia & Herzegovina to promote Moldovan agricultural, wine and industrial products on our market. Moreover, our advanced ties with Germany, Italy, Serbia and Croatia, could help Moldova promote its products on the markets of these states as well,” Šarović said.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the collaboration within the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA), which according to them is an excellent opportunity for participant states to boost up sustainable economic growth and progress on their EU integration path. The officials ascertained that CEFTA offered all the possibilities to remove barriers, simplify procedures and facilitate commercial exchange between signatory states.

(Reporter A. Mardare, Editor M. Jantovan)