AmCham BiH in cooperation with its NGO member Foundation Dokukino, and with AmCham Kosovo organized a meeting, on the topic “The simplification of business visa regime between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo.” The event is thought to be of great importance for the economies of both countries.
The business meeting, that was divided into four panels, was attended by more than 40 businesses men both from BiH and Kosovo, as well as, the representatives of the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency, the representative of the Chamber of the Economy of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the representative of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Srpska, with one goal, to find a way to make the market between the two countries more liberal.
The main discussion subject of the meeting was the freedom of movement and trade relations between BiH and Kosovo, which are right now very limited due to the existing complex visa system between Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The complex visa system prevents liberal movement of people and trade relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, and it leads to a drastic economic fall exchange between the two counties, and hence weakens the economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo.
“This problem cannot be a political problem. The economy is the pillar on which every country stands. Therefore this problem is exclusively an economic problem“- said Mr. Mirsad Jašarspahić vice president of the Chamber of the Economy of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, even though the political situation is the core problem of the complicated visa regime system.
“Serbia and the way they solved the exchange of goods between Kosovo should serve as an example for Bosnia and Herzegovina for the application of a simplified visa regime, because Serbia has no obstacles when it comes to trading with Kosovo.” – Said Darko Soković Foundation Dokukino president, and added – “The economy should carry the torch of a free market between these two countries.“
The meeting was concluded by a Declaration on the free movement of people and goods between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, that was signed by Mr. Mirsad Jašarspahić vice president of the Chamber of the Economy of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Arian Zeka Executive Director of AmCham Kosovo, Executive Director of AmCham BiH Violeta Čibukčić and Darko Soković president of the Foundation Dokukino. The Declaration requires from the relevant institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo to urgently propose concrete solutions to allow full freedom of movement enjoyed by citizens and economies of other countries in Southeastern Europe.
