Bosnia's Akova Group begins Gulf states exports

Bosnian meat producer Akova Group is all set to commence exports to Gulf countries following a recent visit of Qatari businessmen.

Family-run Akova Group comprises Sarajevo-based umbrella company Akova Impex, which is in charge of commercial activities, meat processing factory Ovako, and Brovis, a factory producing chicken meal and fodder.

The executive director of Akova Impex, Musan Mutevelic, said Qatari businessmen visited the Brovis factory located in Visoko, near Sarajevo, and held talks on potential investments in raising the output and selling it on the markets of Gulf countries. The Qatari businessmen were interested in Akova's chicken meat products.

"We presented our capabilities and the," current level of production, as well as some of our financial indicators, and we are waiting for their response, Mutevelic said.

Akova Group produces and processes chicken, lamb and turkey meat.

Mutevelic said Akova Group is planning a 6.0 million euro (US$7.4 million) investment to increase the processing capacities of its Ovako factory to 80 tonnes a day from current 40-50 tonnes.

"We hope possibilities will open before us to start exports to the EU," Mutevelic said.

He added the group currently exports to ex-Yugoslav countries excluding Slovenia, and sells token volumes of meat to partners in Australia.