We want to return Visoko to where it was before the war in the leather industry

Partners from Turkey could have a special interest in cooperation with businessmen from Bosnia and Herzegovina, including Visoko, due to the proximity of the EU market with 500 million consumers of high purchasing power, but also the duty-free zone in this city.

In addition, the business advantages in Bosnia and Herzegovina are such that they could be attractive to Turkish investors: the corporate tax in Turkey is 20% or more, while in Bosnia and Herzegovina it is only 10%; tax incentives intended for exporters who generate at least 30% of income from exports also seem attractive, as they do not have to pay corporate tax, etc.

These and other interesting views and proposals were presented at a meeting of representatives of the BIGMEV Foundation for Bosnia and Herzegovina, 11 companies from Visoko, and representatives of the Economic Council of the Visoko Municipality, with the aim of stimulating interest among Turkish investors in establishing cooperation with business partners in Visoko.

The meeting was attended by Suada Koljenović, head of the economic department of the Visoko Municipality, and representatives of 10 companies from Visoko that had previously expressed interest in establishing cooperation with potential Turkish partners, including leaders in their fields IGM d.o.o. and Prevent Leather, then Albex – Group, Vita – Life d.o.o., Vimex d.o.o., Pak – Rampakt d.o.o., Hara d.o.o., Sinerga d.o.o., Pineto d.o.o., Vimes d.o.o., noting that Vispak d.d. from Visoko had already realized coffee exports to the Turkish market, and that this company has renewed efforts to continue exports to this country.

- We see our opportunity in possessing large raw material resources for the largest producer and buyer of lamb and sheep leather, which is the Republic of Turkey. We expect that with the help of the BIGMEV Foundation, we will achieve cooperation with partners from Turkey and utilize our capacities. Turkey's processing capacities are traditionally tied to the market area of the former Yugoslavia, so we also see this as our advantage.

We want to return Visoko to where it was before the war in the leather industry, and to ensure for the Republic of Turkey that it can meet its needs for production resources from one place, as well as for the sale of sheep and lamb leathers, by creating a central warehouse in Visoko« – said Alija Bojčić, owner of the company Albex – Group from Visoko.

At the meeting, it was emphasized that in previous attempts at cooperation with companies from Turkey, there was no direct communication, and that this method of establishing cooperation will enable it because BIGMEV will ensure direct meetings with Turkish companies that the companies from Visoko are interested in.

- The meeting with businessmen from Visoko was held on the initiative of the Economic Council of the Visoko Municipality. That positive, creative streak in their approach is encouraging for us. It is encouraging that they are the initiators of this meeting and that they are in a certain way seeking and offering cooperation. That is a good sign, and BIGMEV will make its service available in that regard - said the director of BIGMEV for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Selmo Cikotić.

All those who had not previously encountered exports to the Turkish market were surprised by the procedures. Businessmen agreed with the representatives of BIGMEV in the conclusion that to improve exports to the Turkish market, it is necessary to harmonize standards and procedures for export between the two countries as soon as possible, because in many cases these are completely identical quality controls, but which have different names.

One such example occurs during the export of Bosnian raspberries to the Turkish market, which are reliably known to be among the best in the world in terms of quality.