Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations at the Council of Ministers in Technical Mandate Mirko Sarovic said that this ministry will launch an initiative to reduce customs tariffs on new cars imported from the EU using electric and hybrid propulsion and new environmentally friendly vehicles, SRNA reports.
“The process is brought to an end and the Ministry decided to make this decision in the procedure to the Council of Ministers,” Sarovic told reporters in Sarajevo and added that the decision would last for a year and could be extended if good effects are shown.
According to him, the goal of this decision is to promote the use and sale of this type of car, which would contribute to reducing air pollution.
Sarovic said that in 2017, 18 such cars were registered in BiH, while in the EU more than a million is sold each year.
“This is the first concrete action to promote electromagnetism,” said Šarović after a meeting in the ministry with representatives of government and non-governmental sector on this issue.
The chairman of the BiH Chamber of Commerce and Industry Nemanja Vasic emphasized that, apart from the ecological and security aspect, making such a decision was a way for some of the world’s automotive companies to shift part of their production in BiH, which would have effect in economy.
Lazo Šinik from the Chamber of Commerce of the Republika Srpska said that there is multiple justification for deciding on the reduction of customs duties on electric and hybrid vehicles.
In addition to positive economic outcomes, making such a decision, said Šinik, contributed to greater use of ecological cars and a healthier environment.