Kosarac discusses protection of domestic meat industry with ministers and producers

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH Staša Košarac today organized a videoconference with the ministers of agriculture, forestry and water management of Republika Srpska, Boris Pašalić, and of the Federation of BiH, Šemsudin Dedić, as well as representatives of companies operating in the meat industry.

Minister Košarac expressed support for the measures of the entity governments and relevant ministries aimed at mitigating the consequences of the coronavirus epidemic on domestic agriculture. Minister Košarac said that he is fully committed to protecting the domestic economy, emphasizing that his policy, as the minister in charge, will go precisely in that direction, in coordination with all levels of government in BiH.

Today's videoconference discussed problems in the meat industry, focusing on production surpluses and the possibility of their placement on the market. It was noted that it is necessary to establish clear and continuous communication between meat producers and processors in order to more efficiently address the identified problems.

It was concluded that the relevant entity ministries, based on exact data on processing capacities in Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH, will submit lists of producers generating production surpluses, with the aim of helping domestic agricultural capacities.

Minister Košarac emphasized that he will request from the Veterinary Office of BiH to, in coordination with the competent bodies in the Federation of BiH and Brčko District, accelerate the process of abolishing vaccination against classical swine fever. He stressed that Republika Srpska has completed its part of the work in this regard. Minister Košarac specified that after the implementation of this measure, the continuation of pork exports to Macedonia will be enabled, which will significantly facilitate the work of domestic economic producers.

In order to help domestic agricultural capacities, Minister Košarac announced that he will also request from the Veterinary Office of BiH to, in coordination with the European Commission, examine the possibility for BiH to transitively use the Bijača border crossing in order to export live animals via the Port of Ploče to third-country markets.

The participants of today's videoconference expressed support for the efforts of Minister Košarac to respond to the existing challenges in the domestic economy through communication and cooperation of all levels of government in BiH. It was emphasized that this model of communication will continue, and it was announced that the next meeting will be held in about ten days.