(ANSA) - TRIESTE - Italy is the second trading partner of the Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina, accounting for 14% of foreign trade. Minister of Industry and Energy Petar Dokic, head of an institutional delegation coming from the Balkan region, highlighted in Trieste, in the FVG Regional Council, in two meetings with President Franco Iacop and the Commission Presidents, Renzo Liva and Vittorino Boem.

''We look to Friuli Venezia Giulia'', said Dokic, ''for strengthening the ties and collaborations that are already in place and for those we are willing to establish by enhancing our relationship. We would like to renew and implement the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Regional Council.

Trade with Italy is worth 500 million euros, imports and exports are equivalent, our businesses are fully satisfied with these relationship and Italy is third-largest investor''.

Iacop has highlighted the historical ties between the two countries, in particular with the region and with Trieste, a city whose growth over centuries was also due to the presence of an active and important Serbian community. ''But Friuli Venezia Giulia - he added - has a lot of interesting expertise to offer in other fields, such as tourism, agro-food, protection and enhancement of the environment, wood supply chain, just to name a few''.

The visit of the delegation from Srpska includes a series of visits to economic and scientific entities: to Step Impianti, and Science and Technology Park in Trieste; and meetings, with a delegation from the Chamber of Commerce of Trieste and Gorizia and from the Italo-Serb Chamber of Commerce; tomorrow, in Western Friuli, Finest headquarters in Pordenone will host a focus meeting on wood, energy, textile, tannery, special economic areas - sectors which are mainly focused on exports - and the delegation will then visit Fantinel headquarters in Spilimbergo. (ANSA).