Council of Ministers’ Delegation Visits BiH Agro-Industrial Complex

Datum: 05.09.2013.

Brčko, 5 September 2013 – Today, within their official visit to the Brčko District Government and the town of Brčko, Chairman of the Council of Ministers Mr. Vjekoslav Bevanda. During the visit, the officials of the Council of Ministers visited the production capacities of BIMAL factory and STUDEN-AGRANA Sugar Refinery and discussed with STUDEN & CO Holding management the progress of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s economy on the state level. The topics were creation of the conditions to meet the actual domestic production needs. They are reflected in supporting the economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the existing bilateral and multilateral agreements, giving new opportunities for bilateral free trade agreements, protection of domestic production and building adequate competitive position. It is also reflected in overall strengthening of the economic cooperation with state institutions aiming at more adequate implementation of regulations, mutual awareness raising and information exchange.

„Any support to domestic production and achieving recognizable position of domestic brands in the market means that these efforts reap an immediate return and that the funds stay within the state borders. This will also mean a better foreign trade balance of our state,“ stated Mr. Ekrem Hanić, Vice President of STUDEN & CO Holding, and stressed that STUDEN & CO Holding produces basic food products of top grade quality ensuring maximum protection of its customers, both in BiH and in the countries where it exports its products.

Mr. Ilija Studen, President of STUDEN & CO Holding, believes that the visit of the officials of the Council of Ministers shows the state’s willingness to provide necessary support in the economic development. „There is a reasonable basis for establishing a good business environment to attract new foreign investors to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The high governmental officials’ visit to BiH Agro-industrial complex BiH indicates to us, the investors, that the state is very much willing to support the economic development of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is a precondition for a high quality of life of all citizens of BiH,“ stated Mr. Studen.

Agro-industrial complex BiH is the largest complex for the production of basic food products in Bosnia and Herzegovina which, among other facilities, also includes two largest and at the same time the only companies which produce oil and sugar in BiH: BIMAL Brčko and STUDEN-AGRANA Sugar Refinery Ltd. Brčko. Agro-industrial complex BiH produces over 300,000 tons of finished products of edible oil, sugar and coffee on annual basis.