STRONG POTENTIAL TO BOOST ITALY - REPUBLIKA SRPSKA ECONOMIC TIES, ESPECIALLY IN AGRICULTURE

BANJA LUKA, FEBRUARY 19 /SRNA/ – The Prime Minister of Republika Srpska Savo Minić has stated today that Italy is one of Srpska’s most important foreign trade partners and investors, noting that there is significant room to further strengthen economic relations and cooperation, particularly in the field of agriculture.

During talks with Italian Ambassador to BiH Sarah Eti Castellani, Minić stated that over the past three years, 20 new companies with Italian ownership have been registered in Srpska, a considerable number of which are greenfield investments of major importance for the development of the local economy. The Prime Minister also informed Ambassador Castellani on the position of Republika Srpska regarding the European integration process, emphasizing that the Government remains committed to fulfilling its obligations, but that further progress requires a higher degree of mutual respect and adherence to the Dayton constitutional structure of BiH. Ambassador Castellani said that Italy has a long-standing tradition of economic and cultural cooperation with Republika Srpska and that her focus is on economic diplomacy and further development of bilateral economic ties, the Government's Public Relations Bureau said in a statement.