VTK/STK BiH

What VTK/STK BiH does

VTK/STK BiH (Vanjskotrgovinska/Spoljnotrgovinska komora BiH — Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina) is a non-governmental, non-political, non-profit public-law association of economic entities established by the Law on the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Official Gazette BiH 30/01). It began operations on July 1, 2002, as the legal successor to earlier chamber formations dating back to 1909, and operates from its headquarters in Sarajevo with regional offices in Mostar and Banja Luka, plus a representation in Istanbul, Turkey. The chamber holds exclusive statutory authority to issue certificates of origin, ATA carnets, and TIR carnets, and serves all BiH legal entities registered for foreign trade through automatic statutory membership via entity-level chambers.

The organization's core product surface spans four areas: (1) export promotion through BHEPA (the Export Promotion Agency established within VTK in March 2008), including international trade fair organization (Global Food EXPO, Wine Paris, ANUGA, ECOMONDO, IDEF, Trade Expo Indonesia), B2B matchmaking, and export missions; (2) official trade documents — ATA carnets, certificates of origin (Form A and non-preferential), and TIR carnets — issued through the Public Documents and Transport & Communications sectors; (3) professional education via the ECOS Education Institute, offering FIATA School of Freight Forwarding (1,800 KM), Foreign Trade School (11 days), ESG/GRI sustainability reporting (495 KM), EU Project Writing School (900 KM), Economic Diplomacy School (free, 900+ participants since 2016), business English (351 KM) and German (400 KM) courses, and driver professional training (1,400-2,800 KM); and (4) digital services — Exporter Directory, Company Registry, foreign trade statistics databases, and weekly fuel price database (2019-2026, sourced from IRU). Underlying technology is a chamber management information system with online ATA carnet application, electronic public document submission portal, and trade statistics databases; ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certifications cover quality and environmental management.

Revenue is generated primarily through mandatory membership dues (članarina): Group 1 importers pay 0.1% of statistical import value quarterly, and Group 2 members (no imports) pay 0.2% of prior-year gross salaries, also quarterly. Supplementary revenue includes transaction fees for public documents (lower for members), fees for commercial education programs, and program delivery revenue from EU-funded projects (EU4PSD, EDU5WB, SPRING) co-financed by GIZ and BMZ. Distribution operates through direct sales at three domestic offices plus Istanbul, the Enterprise Europe Network (BITNET consortium) for EU market access, self-service e-service portals for documents and statistics, and collective stand organization at international fairs. Total disclosed headcount is 26 employees.

Name

VTK/STK BiH

Legal name

Vanjskotrgovinska komora Bosne i Hercegovine

Website

https://komorabih.ba

Company type

Private

Founded year

1909

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VTK/STK BiH (Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina) is a statutory public-law chamber, founded in 1909 and operating since 2002, serving all BiH export-oriented companies through automatic membership, official trade documentation, export promotion, professional education, arbitration, and EU network access.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sarajevo

HQ country

Bosnia & Herzegovina

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees (članarina): Chamber is financed through mandatory membership fees. Group 1 members (importers) pay 0.1% of statistical import value quarterly. Group 2 members (no imports) pay 0.2% of gross salaries from the prior year's financial statements. Fees are invoiced quarterly.
2. Public document fees: Fees for issuing certificates of origin, ATA carnets, TIR carnets, certificates of free sale, and other official documents. Lower tariffs apply for member companies.
3. Commercial education programs: Revenue from fee-based professional education programs including FIATA School of Freight Forwarding (1,800 KM), Foreign Trade School (11-day program), ESG/GRI training (495 KM), EU project writing school (900 KM), business English course (351 KM), business German course (400 KM), driver professional training (1,400–2,800 KM), and transport manager exams (500 KM).
4. EU project and international cooperation services: Participation in EU-funded projects (EU4PSD, EDU5WB, SPRING) with support from GIZ and German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), generating program delivery revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

VTK/STK BiH is the state-level Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina, operating as a non-profit public law association that represents BiH economic entities in international trade. It delivers mandatory export documentation (certificates of origin, ATA and TIR carnets), export promotion services through BHEPA, professional education (FIATA freight forwarding, foreign trade, ESG/GRI, languages), commercial arbitration, transport sector coordination, and EU business matchmaking via the Enterprise Europe Network.

Product overview

VTK/STK BiH is a Chamber of Commerce organization (not a traditional tech company) offering a portfolio of services organized into distinct units: BHEPA (Export Promotion Agency) for export assistance, ECOS (Education Institute) providing specialized training programs including FIATA School of Freight Forwarding, Foreign Trade School, ESG/GRI Reporting, Economic Diplomacy School, and business language courses; document services including ATA Carnets, Certificates of Origin, and TIR system; digital services including Exporter Directory, Company Registry, Foreign Trade Exchange data, and Fuel Price databases; plus arbitration and dispute resolution services. The organization is structured around sectors for transport, economy, public documents, macroeconomics, statistics and IT, with offices in Sarajevo, Mostar, Banja Luka, and a representation in Turkey.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BHEPA – Agencija za promociju izvoza BiH Agency for Export Promotion of Bosnia and Herzegovina, operating within VTK/STK BiH since March 2008. Provides assistance to all BiH companies seeking to develop and expand export markets through promotion of products and services across all sectors of the economy.
• ATA Carnets ATA Carnet issuing service for temporary export, temporary import and transit of goods, based on the Customs Convention on ATA Carnets, simplifying customs procedures for exhibitions, trade shows and professional equipment.
• Certificates of Origin Issuance of Certificates of Origin (Form A and non-preferential Of Origin) for Bosnian-Herzegovinian goods to facilitate preferential treatment under GSP and other economic policy measures in international trade.
• TIR Carnet System TIR Carnet issuing service for international road transport, providing customs guarantee and facilitating cross-border trade under the TIR Convention.
• Arbitration Court at VTK/STK BiH Permanent institutional arbitration operating since 1998, resolving commercial disputes between parties from BiH and foreign entities based on arbitration agreements.
• FIATA School of Freight Forwarding Specialised 14-module internationally recognised freight forwarding education aligned with FIATA standards. Costs 1,800 KM (VAT included) and awards an international FIATA diploma from Switzerland upon completion.
• Foreign Trade School (Škola vanjskotrgovinskog poslovanja) 11-day (55-hour) commercial training covering foreign trade operations including global trade, export strategy, Incoterms 2020, customs procedures, FTAs and digital marketing for international markets.
• ESG / GRI Sustainability Reporting Training Two-day (11-hour) commercial training on sustainability reporting using GRI standards. Costs 495 KM with VAT and provides official GRI certification upon completion.
• Economic Diplomacy School (Škola ekonomske diplomatije) Free educational program running since 2016 providing knowledge on economic diplomacy to business representatives and government officials, with over 900 participants trained since 2016.
• EU Project Writing School Three-day (13.5-hour) practical workshop on writing and managing EU projects. Costs 900 KM + VAT, with a 10% discount for VTK BiH member companies.
• Professional Driver Training for International Road Transport Professional training for drivers in international road transport (CPC), offering initial training (280 hours), accelerated initial training (140 hours) and periodic training (35 hours). Delivered as part of a consortium authorised by the Ministry of Communications and Transport of BiH. Initial training 2,800 KM, accelerated 1,400 KM, periodic 350 KM; free for member companies per Management Board decision.
• Online Business English Course Approximately 3-month online course (48 school hours) via Zoom covering business communication, meetings, negotiations, presentations and professional writing skills. Costs 351 KM with VAT.
• Business German Course (Škola poslovnog njemačkog jezika) Practical business German course for DACH region collaboration. 60 school hours, costing 400 KM + VAT, covering business correspondence, phone communication, meetings, EU regulations and specialised terminology.
• Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) BiH Services Enterprise Europe Network project for small and medium enterprises, providing support and services for internationalisation of their business, with VTK/STK BiH coordinating the BITNET consortium in BiH to connect BiH companies with EU partners.
• Exporter Directory (Direktorij izvoznika) Online database of BiH exporting companies maintained by VTK/STK BiH to help users find potential business partners in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Company Registry (Registar kompanija) Online company registry maintained by VTK/STK BiH with up-to-date data about BiH companies, including active exporters.
• Fuel Price Database (Cijene goriva) Weekly fuel price database covering multiple countries, sourced from the International Road Transport Union (IRU). Data available from 2019 to 2026 for transport operators and freight forwarders.
• Foreign Trade Exchange Statistics Service Online foreign trade exchange data service providing trade statistics by country, tariffs and sector analysis for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Bus Schedule Proposals Service (Prijedlozi redova vožnje) Public scheduling service for international bus routes, publishing proposals from transport companies and enabling carrier challenges within 15-day windows.
• Transport Manager Examination Written transport manager exam with two tests of up to 2 hours each, costing 500 KM + VAT, certifying competence for road transport management roles.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 900 participants trained in economic diplomacy since 2016
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and regional.

• BRAVO - Bosnian Representative AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2026VTK/STK BiH and BRAVO (Bosnian Representative Association) established a partnership for preparation and implementation of projects funded from European Union funds, signed on July 28, 2026.
• CETEOR - Centar za ekonomski, tehnološki i okolišni razvojcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 July 2026VTK/STK BiH and CETEOR (Center for Economic, Technological and Environmental Development) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on July 23, 2026, to strengthen cooperation in economic development and environmental sustainability initiatives.
• BHEPA - Agencija za promociju izvoza BiHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2008BHEPA (Bosnia and Herzegovina Export Promotion Agency) was established in March 2008 within VTK/STK BiH to strengthen the country's export promotion capacity. It provides assistance to all BiH companies seeking to develop and expand export markets, promoting products and services from all sectors of the economy.
• Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) / BITNET consortiumcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVTK/STK BiH coordinates the BITNET consortium of the Enterprise Europe Network in Bosnia and Herzegovina, enabling access to Europe's largest business cooperation network with thousands of company profiles updated daily for cross-border partnership matching.
• EurochambresflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerVTK/STK BiH is a member of Eurochambres (European Chambers of Commerce), enabling participation in European-wide chamber initiatives, policy advocacy, and international projects.
• ICC - International Chamber of CommerceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the International Chamber of Commerce, providing access to global trade rules, arbitration services, and international dispute resolution frameworks.
• FIATA - International Federation of Freight Forwarders AssociationsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember enabling the chamber to deliver FIATA-certified freight forwarding education (FIATA School) and access to international freight forwarding standards and networks.
• IRU - International Road Transport UnionflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember providing access to international road transport data, TIR system coordination, and participation in global transport policy discussions. IRU fuel price data is used by the chamber's transport sector.
• SECI - Southeast European Cooperative InitiativeregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of SECI contributing to regional cooperation in Southeast Europe, facilitating cross-border trade and investment facilitation in the Western Balkans.
• ABC - Adriatic Bidding CompanyregionalTechnology or IntegrationMember of ABC association contributing to regional trade facilitation and bidding cooperation in the Adriatic region.
• WB6 CIF - Western Balkans 6 Chamber Investment ForumregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerVTK/STK BiH participates in the Western Balkans 6 Chamber Investment Forum, a platform for regional chamber cooperation on investment promotion and market access.
• GIZ - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale ZusammenarbeitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGIZ (German Society for International Cooperation) co-finances the EU for Private Sector Development (EU4PSD) initiative and other chamber projects with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag (DIHK): DIHK is the umbrella of 79 German IHK chambers, providing export documentation, training, and international representation. It serves as a benchmark for the broader chamber-of-commerce model that VTK/STK BiH operates within and is a key collaborator via GIZ/BMZ-funded projects.
• Wirtschaftskammer Österreich (WKO): Austria's statutory chamber of commerce is a much larger European incumbent offering the same core services (export documents, education, international representation, legal services) as VTK/STK BiH, but at significantly greater scale and budget.

Others

• Enterprise Europe Network (EEN): EEN is the EU's largest business support network, of which VTK/STK BiH is the BiH coordinator via the BITNET consortium. It is an enabling network rather than a competitor, providing the chamber with pan-European matchmaking infrastructure.
• Privredna komora Republike Srpske: The Republika Srpska entity-level chamber mirrors the Federation chamber's role, providing sub-national services while funneling foreign-trade activity through VTK/STK BiH. It is a governance partner rather than direct competitor, but political dynamics can affect collaboration.
• Eurochambres: Eurochambres is the European association of chambers of commerce and industry, of which VTK/STK BiH is a member. It is an enabling network providing policy advocacy and international project opportunities rather than a direct commercial competitor.
• Privredna komora Federacije Bosne i Hercegovine (PK FBIH): The Federation BiH entity-level chamber is a sub-national counterpart that channels statutory membership into VTK/STK BiH for foreign-trade matters. It is part of the same chamber ecosystem and shares member companies, providing coordinated coverage rather than competition.

Direct peers

• SPIRIT Slovenia (Public Agency for Investment and Export Promotion): SPIRIT is Slovenia's national agency combining investment promotion and export promotion functions, structurally analogous to VTK/STK BiH's combined chamber and BHEPA mandate. Both serve as single national touchpoints for SME internationalization.
• CzechTrade: CzechTrade is a national export promotion agency under the Ministry of Industry, providing services comparable to VTK/STK BiH's BHEPA subsidiary — export consulting, market intelligence, trade fair participation, and matchmaking for SMEs seeking international growth.
• Privredna komora Srbije (Serbian Chamber of Commerce): Serbia's national chamber of commerce operates a structurally similar model of statutory membership, public-law authority, foreign-trade document issuance, and export promotion. It is the closest functional peer in the Western Balkans, mirroring VTK/STK BiH's mandate and service portfolio.
• Hrvatska gospodarska komora (Croatian Chamber of Economy): Croatia's national chamber of economy is a near-identical public-law association offering certificates of origin, ATA carnets, export advisory, education, and EU-accession-related services. Its post-EU-accession trajectory provides a benchmark for how VTK/STK BiH's mandate may evolve.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgGy1q0yNSBz5z-LSl1JJnA
• Facebookfacebook.com/VanjskotrgovinskaSpoljnotrgovinska-komora-BiH-1271962602858732
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vanjskotrgovinska-spoljnotrgovinska-komora-bih

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about VTK/STK BiH