Interview: Enormous potentials for economic cooperation between China, Balkan region: BBI chief

There are huge potentials for economic cooperation and trade between China and the Balkan region, said Amer Bukvic, Director of Bosnia Bank International (BBI) and Sarajevo Business Forum (SBF) on Wednesday.

During an interview with Xinhua, Bukvic noted it was mutually beneficial to combine SBF with the Trade and Economic Forum of the"16+1", or the cooperation between China and countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).

The 7th SBF, to be held in Sarajevo from May 4 to May 5, will focus on "16+1"cooperation under the topic "One region, One Economy -- Perspectives China+16". The annual event, hosted by BBI, is one of the largest business events in the region.

"It is an excellent combination (between SBF and '16+1')," said Bukvic, adding preparation for the business event went smoothly.

Companies and government delegations from over 30 countries will come to Sarajevo to join the SBF, which will bring huge opportunities for trade and investments, said Bukvic.

The Chinese economy is strong and develops quickly, and there are "enormous potentials" in economic cooperation between China and the Balkan region, he said.

Bukvic, however, noted the countries in the region needed to find a way on how to cooperate with China more efficiently as "one economy".

"Separately, we are so small, the point is how to integrate the region (economically) as one economy, "he said.

The region, with some 25 million people, could provide an attractive market for China and other economic powers, said Bukvic.

The SBF provided a good platform for regional cooperation and will have more cooperation with China in the future, he noted.

The BBI chief said the bank will begin the preliminary process to open an office in China to facilitate economic cooperation and trade.

"It would be our first office in East Asia, and it will be more easier for us to draw investment from China," he said. Endit