Balkan countries intend to improve relations with Turkey

Zdravko Marinkovic, president of the Chamber of Foreign Trade of Bosnia and Herzegovina, told Anadolu Agency that the president’s tour of the Balkans is important for the region.

The Turkish minister said that Turkey invested $265 million in Bosnia and Herzegovina last year, and it is one of the most important investment centers for us.

Marinkovic said that the volume of trade between the two countries rose to about 600 million dollars last year.

For her part, Marija Sebi, Director of the Europe Center of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, said that her country’s economic relations with Turkey are at the highest level. Sibi said that relations have evolved a lot in recent years.

In addition, imports from Turkey increased by 43 percent.

Sebi noted that we have come a long way in terms of the volume of foreign trade and investment, but we are below the real potential, and thanks to the good political relations, the economic relations between the two countries are at the highest level.

In turn, Silva Stepic, Director of the International Employment Center of the Croatian Chamber of Economy, explained that the bilateral trade volume between the two countries amounted to $845 million in 2021.

“We hit 501 million in the first five months of this year, which means we’re close to the target,” Stebek said.

During Erdogan’s visit to the Balkans, business forums were planned to be held in Sarajevo, Belgrade and Zagreb in cooperation with the Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board.

In recent years, the Balkans region has become an attractive market for Turkish investors thanks to its skilled workforce, business-friendly environment, and tax and financial incentives.

The region, which has deep historical and cultural ties with Turkey, is often described as the Turkish nation’s gateway to the European Union thanks to its geographical location.

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