EXECUTIVE REPORT ON BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA's VISIT

Foeign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina- Institute for Education held a Seminar on 8 May 2013 entitled: Perception of lobbying into business, public and construction sector- Experiences of the countries in the Region.

Before the audience composed from the representatives of the state and entity institutions, chambers systems, employees, Bosnia and Herzegovina's companies, non-governmental sector, educational institutions and the media, reputable guest lecturers were: Christian D. de Fouloy, President of the Association of Accredited Public Policy Advocates to the EU; Prof. Dr. Mate Granic, President of the Croatian Association of Lobbyists; Prof. Dr. Kostadin Pusara, President of the Association of Lobbyists in Montenegro; Doc. Dr. Marjan Tanusevski, Head of the Macedonian Center for Lobbying and Pr. Dr. Radivoj Kosic, President of the Assembly of the Association of Lobbyists in Serbia.

Representatives of the Associations of Lobbyists from the countries in the Region and from the European Union gathered in order to exchange experiences and to determine the field of common actions. Macedonia and Montenegro legally administer the activity of lobbying, while Bosnia and Herzegovina still does not have neither law nor lobbyists and lobbying has yet to be understood in a proper way. The experiences of other countries will be of great help in order to establish an adequate environment and the right perception of lobbying in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On behalf of the Organizer of the Seminar, Dr. Ismet Kumalic, President of the Foreign Trade Chamber (FTC) of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FTC BiH) addressed the audience stressing the fact that FTC BiH through its daily activities confirms its direction towards development and improvement of the economic relations of the Bosnian and Herzegovina's economy with foreign markets, including partnership relation and representation of its members' interests before competent Bosnia and Herzegovina's bodies and corresponding international associations.

Upon the guests' presentations and discussion, the following conclusions were brought:

1. To continue work on systematic education of the business community on the benefits offered by professional activities towards decision makers. In this regard, FTC BiH will stimulate and motivate its members for a more active and aggressive attitude in their demands for the representation of their interests in the country and abroad, in order to improve the business climate and possibilities of developing production and increase foreign trade volume.
2. Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH will, via its Institute for Education, continue education on the manners of lobbying activities through the organization of specialist seminars, and in co-operation with its partners, arrange the visits of world recognized professionals from this field. In co-operation with the Association of Accredited Public Policy Advocates to the European Union, the Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH will organize seminars for journalists in order to adequately inform the community on the real meaning and role of lobbying.
3. It is necessary to work on the preparation of institutional infrastructure and establish in the near future the Center for Lobbying which will act as an independent institution at FTC BiH. The Center for Lobbying will be made up of Bosnian and Herzegovina's entrepreneurs who will by their knowledge and actions, help in creating systematic action towards decision-makers, and according to the European and neighbouring countries' examples, work on establishing a legal framework for this activity.
4. To continue cooperation with the Association of Lobbyists in the Region in order to provide exchange of experiences and common activities in the realization of certain problems, in order to improve the economic activities of our countries.
5. To form an Inititaive Board which will work on the organization of the institutional framework and institutional infrastructure of lobbying activities, along with the support from the representatives of competent ministries from the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
6. To initiate the opening of the BiH Office in Brussels which will offer services to our economic entities regarding the fulfilment of the conditions necessary for Bosnia and Herzegovina's accession to the European Union.

Note: This Executive Report was drafted by the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina