Meat exports from BiH to Turkey to continue in August, quota increase to 5,000 tons requested

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH Staša Košarac and ministers of agriculture, forestry and water management of the entities of Republika Srpska and Federation of BiH, Boris Pašalić and Šemsudin Dedić, discussed meat exports to Turkey today in Sarajevo with representatives of the company ''Tareks'', which operates within the Turkish Union of Agricultural Credit Cooperatives.

At the meeting organized by Košarac, it was agreed that, in accordance with the epidemiological situation, meat exports from BiH to Turkey will continue in August, and that the Turkish side will be asked to increase the quota by 2,000 tons this year, which would make the open quota 5,000 instead of the current 3,000 tons of meat. It was also emphasized that more than 2,000 tons of the approved quota have not been used this year and that it will be utilized in the period from August to December.

Ministers Košarac, Pašalić, and Dedić emphasized that exporting meat stocks, resulting from reduced local consumption due to the coronavirus pandemic, would further protect domestic production. In this context, a new model was agreed upon, which would be used from next year, and which would entail the competent ministries from Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH financing part of the meat purchase intended for export to Turkey, thereby influencing a significant increase in the meat export quota to this country.

Ministers Košarac, Pašalić, and Dedić informed the representatives of the company ''Tareks'' about the agreed position that in the process of exporting meat, it is necessary to have equal treatment for companies from Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH that are certified by the competent inspection authorities of BiH and Turkey. It was emphasized that the focus will be on purchasing primary domestic production so that the meat export project to Turkey is of a production, not just a trade, nature.

At the meeting, it was agreed that in the coming days, the competent ministries will contact the Turkish side to discuss the agreed activities and improve the business of exporting meat from BiH to Turkey.