Rusmir Hrvić: Successful concept of raspberry cultivation and purchase should be applied to other agricultural branches

Developing and strengthening the awareness of Bosnians and Herzegovinians about the importance of buying domestic products, better and higher-quality connections between domestic traders and domestic producers, and more extensive primary agricultural production are prerequisites for the further development of the FMCG, Retail & Agribusiness industry in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is the conclusion of a panel discussion organized at the FMCG, RETAIL & AGRIBUSINESS Premium Brunch in Sarajevo, which was attended by Rusmir Hrvić, President of the Management Board of AS GROUP, Ljiljana Kunosić, Executive Director of Bingo, Nicholas Penny, General Director of Banjalučka pivara, Nijaz Skenderagić, General Director of Atac, and Ševal Suljkanović, Assistant to the President of the Management Board of Bimal for Economic Affairs, reports the Bosnian news agency Patria.

The panel was moderated by Miljan Ždrale, the head of the agricultural sector for Central and Southeastern Europe at the EBRD.

- The recipe for success in the food products market is building strong domestic quality brands, but also investments in innovation, marketing, and human resources. With the acquisition of the Klas Group, which in addition to Klas d.d. Sarajevo also includes Sprind d.d. Sarajevo and Mlin i pekara Ljubače, along with the brands Vispak, AS, Master, Kent, and Oaza, conditions have been created within AS GROUP to initiate the development of the entire Bosnian-Herzegovinian food industry. A large system of national importance has emerged, which can initiate processes of producing domestic healthy and quality food at a higher level and on a larger scale. This system can bring great benefits to everyone in the chain, starting from primary agricultural production, through the processing industry, to the placement of quality brands on domestic and foreign markets - said Rusmir Hrvić, President of the Management Board of AS GROUP.

Pointing to a successful example of domestic agriculture in the segment of organized raspberry cultivation and purchase, behind which stands Klas d.d. Sarajevo, Hrvić emphasized that this concept can be applied to other agricultural branches, primarily to the cultivation of grains and fruits.

- Bosnia and Herzegovina's chance lies in its large arable areas. I am an optimist, and I believe that all together, farmers, industrial producers, traders, and end consumers, we can bring about a change in the ratio of produced and imported food. Why shouldn't Bosnia and Herzegovina produce 80% of its food, and import the remaining necessary 20% - these are Hrvić's words.

The panel discussed the potential of the fast-moving consumer goods market, retail, and the agri-food industry at the local and regional level, the placement of goods and services on foreign markets, finding successful business solutions, and attracting investments.