Baku, Azerbaijan, April 3. Bilateral relations
between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Azerbaijan have advanced rapidly
in recent years, bringing mutual satisfaction to both nations, said
Željka Cvijanović, Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and
Herzegovina, in an exclusive interview with Trend.
“I can confidently affirm that our relations are now
exceptionally strong and marked by genuine friendship. Above all,
we owe our deepest gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev, whose
substantial personal contribution has been instrumental in
strengthening our institutional ties,” Cvijanović stated.
She highlighted a recent meeting in Baku, where both sides
discussed enhancing cooperation. Cvijanović also recalled the
signing of the Declaration on Strategic Partnership between Bosnia
and Herzegovina and Azerbaijan.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to further solidifying
our relations and establishing a comprehensive framework to foster
cooperation and business ties across all areas of mutual interest,”
she noted, expressing confidence that ongoing efforts will lead to
further advancements in bilateral cooperation.
Furthermore, she highlighted the strategic advantages that both
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Azerbaijan possess due to their
geographical locations, emphasizing their potential to drive
regional trade growth.
Cvijanović went on to underline the increasing importance of the
Middle Corridor, noting that Bosnia and Herzegovina has the
potential to become a central distribution hub for goods coming
from Azerbaijan, as well as for broader trade flows towards Central
and Western Europe.
However, she stressed that achieving this potential requires
substantial infrastructure development. “A crucial prerequisite for
this is enhanced infrastructure connectivity, including the
construction of new and modern transport routes that would
facilitate faster and more cost-effective goods transportation
through Bosnia and Herzegovina,” the chairwoman stated.
She also revealed that her government is actively engaging in
discussions with Azerbaijani partners to develop specific projects
aimed at improving transport infrastructure. “We are hopeful that
the implementation of these projects will take place in the near
future,” Cvijanović added.
Cvijanović emphasized that both entities of Bosnia and
Herzegovina – Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and
Herzegovina – are committed to creating a favorable economic and
business environment to draw in new investments.
“We offer numerous advantages to investors, from a highly
skilled and cost-competitive workforce by European standards to
various incentives and an excellent geographical position,”
Cvijanović noted. She added that these advantages position Bosnia
and Herzegovina as an attractive destination for investment,
particularly in sectors like energy, infrastructure, agriculture,
tourism, and education.
Cvijanović also identified the energy sector as a significant
area of potential development, especially in cooperation with
Azerbaijan. She explained, “Energy is one of the most promising
industries and has become a crucial pillar of overall development.
Azerbaijan, with its abundant natural and energy resources,
presents valuable opportunities for collaboration.”
She pointed out that Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly
Republika Srpska, possesses substantial untapped natural resources,
notably in hydropower and wind energy. “We have significant
potential in this sector, and I believe energy can serve as a key
point of economic cooperation between our countries,” Cvijanović
added.
Energy security, she stressed, is an existential challenge
worldwide, making the energy sector even more important for both
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Azerbaijan. Cvijanović also mentioned
that discussions on energy cooperation have been ongoing, with
high-level institutional meetings and continued communication at
the institutional level.