Germany is one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most important economic partners – not only because of the nearly three-billion-euro trade volume, but also due to the impact of German investments on industrial development, exports, and employment.
Germany has long been Bosnia and Herzegovina’s key economic partner, with trade in goods reaching approximately 2.8 billion euros in 2024. This strong connection between the two economies underscores the importance of cooperation in industry, exports, and investment, as well as the need to further empower domestic companies to apply European business standards.
In this context, and marking 30 years of German-Bosnian development cooperation, the German Chamber of Commerce in Bosnia and Herzegovina (AHK BiH) organised an event titled “Sustainable Supply Chains for Strong Economic Cooperation.” The event, supported on behalf of the German government by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, focused on strengthening knowledge through practical training and exchange of experiences with German partners.
The event brought together over 70 participants – representatives of companies, chambers of commerce, business support organisations, and experts in sustainable development. Special emphasis was placed on knowledge exchange between domestic and German partners and on further developing the capacities of companies aiming to operate in line with EU standards and principles of sustainability.
The training for Bosnian companies, titled “EU Standards for Supply Chains: From Risk Safari to Competitive Advantage,” was led by Antonio Žilić, a recognised expert from Croatia in supply chain management. Participants learned about ESG standards and ISO norms, as well as practical tools for identifying risks and strengthening business resilience.
An overview of key stages in the development of German-Bosnian economic relations and the contribution of German investments to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s economic growth was presented by economic analyst Faruk Hadžić in a presentation titled “30 Years of Economic Cooperation.”
A panel discussion titled “30 Years of Partnerships in the Supply Chain – Reflections, Achievements and Perspectives” gathered high-ranking representatives from institutions and the private sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Germany, including BiH Minister of Communications and Transport Edin Forto, Ali Mir-Hällmayer from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Yvonne Heidler from the German Association VDMA, and Dr. Christian Kuckertz from Roundliner d.o.o.
Participants discussed past experiences in developing sustainable and competitive supply chains, as well as future challenges and opportunities for strengthening economic cooperation between Germany and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Germany is one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most important economic partners – not only because of nearly €3 billion in trade, but also due to the impact of German investments on industrial growth, exports, and employment. As a result of this cooperation, local companies are becoming more resilient, competitive, and increasingly aligned with European standards. Our goal is to turn this partnership into an even stronger driver of modernization and export competitiveness for Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Azra Ramić, Deputy Director of AHK BiH.
Ali Mir-Hällmayer from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) stressed that “Germany and Bosnia and Herzegovina have been close partners for over 30 years. Our cooperation today focuses on climate and energy, sustainable economic development, and EU integration. Through KfW and GIZ, we support innovation, green and digital transformation, and sustainable supply chains – supporting companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina strengthen their competitiveness and access to the EU market.”
Certificates were ceremoniously awarded to training participants, followed by remarks from the German Ambassador to BiH, H.E. Alfred Grannas.
