20-2-2018
Qatari investors should take advantage of the lucrative investment opportunities in various economic sectors of Bosnia, Chairman of the Council of Ministries of Bosnia and Herzegovina Denis Zvizdic said on Tuesday.
Addressing a meeting of a large trade delegation from Bosnia and Qatari businessmen at the headquarters of the Qatar Chamber (QC) in Doha, Zvizdic said his government would ensure that Qatari investments in Bosnia are hassle-free and profitable.
Terming Bosnia as an ideal place for foreign investments, Zvizdic said that Qatari investors can benefit a lot from their investments in his country, especially in the sectors of agriculture, food, renewable energy, medicine, tourism, banks and finances.
He said the Bosnian government has introduced several tax incentives for foreign investors in many economic sectors.
Zvizdic called upon Qatari businessmen to visit Bosnia and study the ready-to-invest projects on the ground.
Given the strengthening ties between Qatar and Bosnia, Zvizdic said there was an immense potential to increase trade volume between the two countries.
According a data provided by Qatar Chamber, trade volume between the two countries stood at $4 billion in 2017. While Qatar exports to Bosnia amounted to $2.2 million, the imports from Bosnia were worth $1.8 million.
Qatar mainly imports instruments of purring liquids or gases, textiles and apparels, equipment for medical, dental and surgery, electric motors, stationeries, and steel products. Qatar’s main export to Bosnia in 2017 was unwrought aluminum.
Qatar Chamber Board Member Ali bin Abdulatif al Misnad, who led the Qatari side during the meeting, said that relations between Qatar and Bosnia and Herzegovina have witnessed remarkable progress in recent years, especially following the visit of the Emir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani to Sarajevo in early 2016.
The visit opened the door for a new phase of cooperation aimed at achieving economic and trade partnership between the two friendly countries.
The volume of trade between the two countries is still modest, he said, adding it was necessary to work to raise the level of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has many elements that make it an attractive investment destination for Qatari investors, he said, adding that Qatar Chamber would urge Qatari businessmen to channel their investments to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He said there is a real desire on the part of the Qatari private sector to channel its investments to Sarajevo.
“I hope this meeting will be a real start for further economic and investment cooperation between the two countries,” Misnad said.
