Dedić: We have the most drinking water in the region, yet we import it from our neighbors

Federal Minister of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry Šemsudin Dedić opened the 15th International Ecology Fair – EKOBIS 2017 in Bihać today, reports Patria News Agency.

This year's central theme of the fair is water. Bosnia and Herzegovina has the most drinking water in the region. At the same time, this resource remains largely unused.

- The devastating fact is that we use just over one percent of our water sources. We import almost eight times more water than we export. Paradoxically, we import water primarily from neighboring countries such as Serbia and Croatia, which have much less than us. Also, experts often state that the quality of water in BiH is far superior to imported water. Therefore, we import and drink water of much lower quality than what is readily available to all of us - Dedić stated at the opening.

Therefore, bottled water producers gathered at the Vode BH stand were given a special place in the fair's program.

- For the first time, bottled water producers in Bosnia and Herzegovina – not just from the Federation, as we also have producers from Republika Srpska – are presenting their products together. This stand is proof that we have great potential when it comes to bottling and exporting water. Our goal is to enable domestic producers to present their brands and find potential partners for water distribution and export. It is also very important that through this and similar events, we raise public awareness about the natural resources we have at our disposal - said Dedić.

Minister Dedić also emphasized the role of the Federal Ministry, which unfortunately has not paid enough attention to water for a long time.

- In this mandate, we have done a lot to provide as much support as possible to our producers. The Government of the Federation is considering amendments to the Water Law today, which will enable better management of this resource. The Concessions Law is also in procedure to ensure that concessions for bottling drinking and mineral waters are regulated in the best possible way. We are also working on harmonizing our regulations on water management and protection with the legislation of the European Union - said Minister Dedić.