Israel Opens Trade Chamber in Republika Srpska to Boost Economic Ties
In September 2026, the first Israeli trade chamber was officially inaugurated in Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, formalizing an expanding economic partnership. The opening ceremony saw Republika Srpska President Siniša Karan present tokens of appreciation to Israel's Minister for Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli and Ambassador Galit Peleg. The event was attended by various officials from both Republika Srpska and Israel, according to Nezavisne novine.
Minister Chikli stated that Israel remembers and supports its friends. Milorad Dodik, a leader in Republika Srpska, linked the new office to plans for joint projects valued at $2 billion. This economic push is built on political relations that intensified after October 2023, when Dodik referred to Republika Srpska as the "Balkan Israel" and received an award from the Knesset in January 2026.
Republika Srpska has maintained a representative office in Jerusalem since 1998. The acceleration of this partnership followed the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Dodik in October 2025.
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