On May, 28, 1981,Tianjin and Sarajevo became sister cities. Sarajevo is the capital city and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a population of 304,614(June,2008) in the four municipalities that make up the city proper, within the area of 142km². Sarajevo is located in the Sarajevo valley of Bosnia proper, surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated around the Miljacka River, whose most part is rugged mountain. After years of war, Sarajevo's economy has been rejuvenated. the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina opened in Sarajevo in 1997 and the Sarajevo Stock Exchange began trading in 2002. The city's large manufacturing, administration, and tourism base, combined with a large informal market, makes it one of the strongest economic regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While Sarajevo had a large industrial base during its communist period, its industries now include tobacco products, furniture, hosiery, automobiles, and communication equipment. Companies based in Sarajevo include B&H Airlines, BH Telecom, Bosmal City Center , Bosnalijek , Energopetrol , Sarajevo Tobacco Factory , and Sarajevska Pivara. Due to its 600 years of history influenced by both Western and Eastern empires, Sarajevo has a strong tourist industry, it has hosted travelers for centuries. Otherwise, Sports-related tourism is also famous. The city uses the legacy facilities of the 1984 Winter Olympics, especially the skiing facilities on the nearby mountains to attract tourists. Above all, tourism in Sarajevo is chiefly focused on historical, religious, and cultural aspects. The city is famous for its traditional religious diversity, with adherents of Islam, Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Judaism coexisting there for centuries. Due to this long and rich history of religious diversity and coexistence , Sarajevo has often been called the "Jerusalem of Europe". |