EVEN AS U.S. TROOPS ARE ARRIVING IN BOSNIA TO ENFORCE THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS, THE COUNTRY’S LEADERS ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO REBUILD THE ECONOMY AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE A U.S. TRADE OFFICE THERE.
BOSNIA WANTS DIRECT TRADING RELATIONSHIPS WITH U.S. COMPANIES BECAUSE EUROPEAN COMPANIES ARE CHARGING MORE THAN BOSNIANS CAN AFFORD FOR THEIR GOODS, SAID SELEN BALIC, INDEPENDENT ASSOCIATE FOR TRADE OF THE BOSNIAN MINISTRY OF ENERGETICS (ENERGY) AND INDUSTRY, DURING A PANEL DISCUSSION ON REBUILDING BOSNIA AT THE SOUTHERN CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES (SCIS) ON DEC. 13.
IN ADDITION, HE SAID, “EUROPEANS WANT TO BE PAID THE TOTAL PRICE OF A PRODUCT IN ADVANCE, AND WILL ONLY ACCEPT U.S. DOLLARS OR GERMAN MARKS,” WHICH ARE RARE IN BOSNIA.
IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR U.S. COMPANIES TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE BOSNIAN MARKET, HE CONTINUED, IF THE U.S. WERE MORE ACTIVE IN PROMOTING TRADE AND ASSISTING THOSE WANTING TO TRAVEL OR DO BUSINESS IN BOSNIA.
HE EXPLAINED THAT MOST U.S. GOODS NOW AVAILABLE IN HIS COUNTRY ARE JUST AS EXPENSIVE AS EUROPEAN GOODS BECAUSE THEY ARE SOLD THROUGH INTERMEDIARIES, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SEVERAL U.S. COMPANIES SUCH AS PHILIP MORRIS AND GENERAL MOTORS CORP. THAT ARE TRADING DIRECTLY WITH THE BOSNIANS.
MR. BALIC ADDED “THE BOSNIA MARKET IS HUNGRY FOR EVERYTHING, BUT ESPECIALLY FOR RAW MATERIALS.” MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY HAVE TO BE REBUILT, BUT THE BOSNIANS NO LONGER HAVE ANY WAY TO PRODUCE THINGS SUCH AS ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS NEEDED TO BEGIN THE TASK, HE SAID.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL SCIS AT (404) 261-5763 OR MATT RICHARDSON OF CENTRAL EUROPE INITIATIVES AT (770) 435-4100.
THERE WILL BE ANOTHER PROGRAM ON “BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN THE RECONSTRUCTION OF BOSNIA” ON MONDAY, JAN. 8., AT SHERATON CITY CENTRE HOTEL IN WASHINGTON D.C. THE COST IS $249. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL BILL LOIRY AT (202) 625-4316.
BY BRIANA PEHLMAN