'BOSNIA, STRATEGIC GATEWAY FOR M'SIA INTO EU & CENTRAL EUROPE'

By Ainul Huda

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 (Bernama) -- Bosnia is offering itself as a strategic
gateway for Malaysian firms into the lucrative European Union as well as the
Central European markets, both of which have a consumer base of up to 500
million and strong purchasing power.

The potential areas for business and investment in Bosnia include the
fast-growing halal industry, Islamic banking, tourism, food production including
organic and health food, energy and education, Bosnian Ambassador to Malaysia
Ensar Eminovic told Bernama here.

He said Malaysian firms should take advantage of Bosnia that enjoys
tariff-free access into Europe although it has yet to be granted EU membership.

This is due to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement it had signed
with EU last year prior to its membership possibly five years from now. The
agreement means that anything produced in Bosnia can be sold in EU without being
subjected to quotas, tariffs or customs duties.

Eminovic said ties between Malaysia and Bosnia have always been strong, but
"it has always been a one way street" since Malaysia's help during and after the
devastating Balkan war in 1992-95.

"Bosnia wants to give something back to Malaysia. It has been Malaysia that
has always been helping Bosnia, and for a long time Bosnia has been a
humanitarian case. Lucky that is no longer the situation and now is the time for
business," he said.

Given the potential for trade and investment, the Bosnian envoy believes
that bilateral commercial linkages could be raised to a new level for mutual
benefits.

"This could be done through the Malaysian Global Business Forum which will
be held from the 8th to 11th of December this year in Kuching, Sarawak (an East
Malaysia state)," he said.

He said the forum aims to bring together business communities from Bosnia
and Malaysia and countries in the region as well as from Europe and Bosnia's
neighbouring countries such as Croatia, to form strategic alliances and explore
business opportunities.

Eminovic said Malaysian investors and entrepreneurs should take cognizance
of the fact that Bosnia is a signatory to the Central Europe Free Trade
Agreement.

The trade grouping includes non-EU members in South-East Europe such as
Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia, Albenia, Montenegro and Turkey, and has a combined
population in excess of 100 million people.

Bosnia has a stable currency in South-East Europe whereby one Euro is
equivalent to 1.95 Bosnian Mark, and it is fixed and has been like that for 10
years, he said.

"Through the forum, they can get to know each other and establish business
cooperation," he said.

The forum will be officiated by Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib
Mahmud, while former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, a key figure in
supporting Bosnia and reconstruction of its economy, would deliver a keynote
address during the opening dinner.

"The forum is also in line with the thrust of Prime Minister Najib Tun
Razak's call for Malaysian companies to go global and to make Malaysia
a global place for business.

"So, through the forum, we are also trying to promote Malaysia as a good
place for doing global business," he added.

Eminovic also said Bosnian educational bodies hope to sign a Memorandum of
Understanding with the Malaysian Qualifications Agency of the Higher Education
Ministry on mutual recognition of diplomas and degrees during the forum.

"We will also use this forum to launch the Bosnia-Malaysia Business Club
which will be registered in Malaysia," he said.

The club will have boards of trustees from both sides and will serve as the
forum's secretariat and a catalyst for future business cooperation between
the two countries," he said.

Apart from that, Bosnia now has many influential leaders who graduated from
Malaysian universities, said Eminovic, who himself was a student of
International Islamic University Malaysia in the 1990s.

"I am one of them, and I am very proud to say that I am a Malaysian
product," he said.

The Malaysian universities alumni association formed by graduates from
Bosnia has become quite an influential organisation and its 250-300 members are
probably the only group of non-Malaysians who celebrate Merdeka every year,
clearly reflecting they deep sense of gratitude to Malaysia for its part in
helping to educate Bosnians after the war in the Balkans.

"This group is very much passionate about Malaysia and identifies itself
with this country. We always gather on the 31st of August to celebrate Merdeka
and share our memories in Malaysia," he said.

-- BERNAMA