ENERGY SECTOR DRAWS STRONGEST INVESTMENT INTEREST

SARAJEVO, SEPTEMBER 3 /SRNA/ – A Chinese delegation is interested in investing in BIH, with the strongest interest focused on the energy sector, Marko Kubatlija, director of the BiH Foreign Investment Promotion Agency /FIPA/, has stated today at an investment and business forum for Chinese companies in Sarajevo.

The Chinese delegation comprises 103 businesspeople. Kubatlija said FIPA would offer them projects in tourism, which has also attracted their interest, as well as in agriculture, the wood-processing and metal industries. "We will present them with all the available project documentation at our disposal and see which projects they will be most interested in," Kubatlija told reporters. He pointed out that such gatherings contribute to strengthening cooperation between the two countries, adding that Chinese investors are highly productive and know what they want, while BiH has an opportunity to develop ties with other markets as well. Zdravko Marinković, president of the BiH Foreign Trade Chamber, said the trade deficit BiH has with China could be reduced by organizing investment and business forums such as Thursday's event in Sarajevo. Marinković said goods from BiH could find significant opportunities on the Chinese market, adding that the forum could also provide an opportunity to discuss cooperation through joint investment in knowledge and technology and the development of joint products, in order to encourage Chinese investors to invest in BiH. "The task of the Chamber and all of us who organized this forum is to bring together the two business sectors and see whether something will come of it. I hope it will," Marinković said. Zhao Qichen, a representative of the Economic Joint Committee of Chinese joint-stock companies, said they had more than 40 years of experience in attracting foreign investment to countries around the world. Their plan is to organize similar meetings every six months so that more Chinese companies could participate in various projects in BiH. "The ultimate goal is a concrete project that is implemented," she stressed, adding that a platform would be established to connect Chinese and local companies, enabling them to share different experiences and showcase BiH's capabilities. According to Zhao, China wants to present its "One Belt One Road" Strategy in the right way. Thursday's forum was organized by FIPA and the BiH Foreign Trade Chamber, in cooperation with the Embassy of BiH in Beijing.