Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations in the Council of Ministers, Staša Košarac, stated today that it is crucial to enable new markets for domestic winemakers, such as the Russian Federation and China, to avoid complete dependence on the EU market.
Besides the EU market, Košarac noted that there is significant export to CEFTA countries, but there is a need to secure new markets for wine placement.
- “It is important to provide such alternative markets to avoid total dependence on the EU market. It is essential to export wine to the Russian Federation, China, and other markets interested in products from Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Košarac told reporters in Mostar, where he visited the “Wine Roads of Herzegovina” festival.
Košarac emphasized the necessity of ensuring the continued placement of domestic products in EU countries and announced that, in cooperation with entity structures, a law on the organization of the wine market and regulations will be adopted so that winemakers from Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH can continue exporting to EU countries after 2024.
He assessed that domestic producers have diligently met all standards for wine production in Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH to be recognized and meet the standards for EU and other world markets.
- “We must highlight the great efforts not only of our producers but also of the institutions of Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH, which contribute to the production of grapes and wine,” Košarac said.
He noted that BiH has 81 wine producers who produce about 17 million liters of wine.
- “The vineyards cover 3,700-3,800 hectares of land. The dominant wines are Blatina and Žilavka, but we also have other experiences that we can utilize in some other varieties to establish ourselves in world markets,” Košarac said.
He mentioned that the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations in the Council of Ministers respects all the efforts undertaken by the Foreign Trade Chamber in promoting wine production in BiH.
- “We have excellent communication with the Foreign Trade Chamber and the Winemakers Association, and we expect to work together in the coming period to implement our obligations, which include defining several more regulations that, once adopted, will enable our winemakers to continue their export activities to EU countries,” Košarac said.
The Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH organized the “Wine Roads of Herzegovina” festival in Mostar today to promote wine culture and the tourism offerings of Herzegovina, featuring about twenty exhibitors.
The festival will showcase hotels, tour operators, restaurants, and wineries, with an all-day program including courses, panels, and workshops focusing on the potential of wine tourism and connecting the wine industry with other tourism sectors.
Source: RTRS
