Bosnia Looks to Serbia to Boost Russian Exports

Bosnia is hoping to boost the value of its exports to Russia in coordination with its larger neighbour, Serbia.

Serbian officials say Russia’s decision to ban imports of food products from the EU has opened a window for Serbia to improve its position on the Russian market.

Serbia is not part of the EU and has conspicuously refused to back EU sanctions imposed on Russia for its alleged role in the crisis in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "full embargo" on food imports from the EU, the US and some other Western countries in response to the Western sanctions imposed over Ukraine.

Bosnia's Foreign Trade Ministry told Balkan Insight that although Bosnia does not have a free-trade agreement with Russia, Serbia does - and could help Bosnia boost its exports.

“Serbia is in the most favorable position of all countries of the region because of its free trade agreement with Russia,” the Minister Boris Tucic said.

“For a while now there have been initiatives for mutual action by the countries of the region in third markets - and one of those markets is surely Russia,” he added.

“We hope that in the upcoming period these initiatives will be implemented. However, we cannot lose from sight the fact that the Russian market is demanding, especially when it comes to certain specific products,” he continued.

Tucic noted that the sanctions Russian imposed on imports from EU countries were mostly for agricultural products, which represented an opportunity for the countries of the Balkans.

“All institutions and export-oriented producers from Bosnia and Herzegovina have to act mutually to use this export chance,” the minister said.

However, Bosnia has unsorted...