HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHAMBER

Even from the 10th century, when the first professional organizations of craftsmen and merchants had appeared, businessmen found the ways of protecting their interests, organizing common operating, providing security in trading as well as mutual support. From the Napoleon’s Law in 1802, the commencements of the chambers were established in all Europian countries and they have a tradition of 200 years.
The first forms of businessmen organizing, in the area of The Republic of Srpska, are registered at the beginning of the 20th century.  In 1902, the first Handcraft Society was established, and it included 120 members. Similar types of organizations were established in Sarajevo and Mostar. Up to the year 1909, Austro-Hungarian Law on the Trade–Handcraft Chambers was enforced on the area of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In The Kingdom of Yugoslavia, the Chambers continued operating up to the year 1932, when, in line with the By-Law on trading, industrial and handcrafts chambers; the new organization of chambers of economy was set.
Upon the end of the World War II, the pre-war chambers continued their operating. In 1946, the new prescriptions on trade and economy and chambers organizing were passed, in the conditions of state-planned economy.
The Chamber of Commerce of Yugoslavia was established in 1946, seated in Belgrade.
In accordance with the Law on Handcraft from 1949, the handcraft chambers were established (Districts’, Republics’ and Federal).
The Chambers of Commerce and Catering were established in line with the By-Law from 1952.
Changes in chambers’ organization   appeared upon the year 1953, along with the establishment of the chambers of commerce, catering, handcraft, agriculture and transportation on the Republic level. In Yugoslavia, the industrial and foreign-trade chambers were established.
In accordance with the Law on Unique Chambers Organization, passed in1962, the branch chambers operating ceased and unique chambers were established.
From 1962 to 1979, few laws on the chambers of economy were passed, in order to harmonize them with Constitution and Law of associated labor.
At the beginning of 1990s, along with passing the new Law on the Chamber of Economy, the former republics passed the new Republics’ laws (Bosnia and Herzegovina).
In the past period, the chamber system went through various forms of organization, but the work and activity program, based on world`s experience, was defined under the following basic functions:
- Supporting the interests of their members and of the economy in general in relationships with the Executive authorities’ bodies;
- Creating conditions and environment for the economic activities improvement;
- Providing adequate services to their members, in accordance with competence and program orientation of the chambers of economy.
The present legal and statutory decisions, determine the chamber as an independent, non-governmental, non-political, non- profitable, expert–professional, public-legal association of the economic entities (legal and private) and economic associations which function is directed   to the work and operating improvement and development, as well as to act on behalf of interests of their members in relations with the certain bodies of executive authorities.
All entities that perform the significant activities for the economy, such as enterprises, banks, insurance companies, farm cooperatives, science- research and educational institutions, as well as alliances, interest association, foundations, and other entities, can be members of the Chamber, on the basics of the interest expressed towards the membership in the Chamber, in accordance with Chamber’s constitution.
The legal entities gain their membership right into Chamber by their registration into court register, while the economic entities which don`t possess legal entity status, gain their membership right by registration into municipality administration register.
They submit the proof of registration at the registration action.
According to the Law on changes and additions on the Law on Chamber of Commerce (Official Gazette of the republic of Srpska No39/03), and which has been in force since January 1st 2004, membership within the Chamber is on voluntary bases.