This fall, Bosnia and Herzegovina will host one of the most important business gatherings in the region. This year’s project “100 largest in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region” and 100 EXPO, Sarajevo International Business Fair, which will gather leading companies, chambers of commerce, investors and decision makers from the region on October 20 and 21, were presented at the press conference in Sarajevo.
Poslovni novini from Sarajevo, the organizer of the project, announced that this year’s 39th edition will be the largest so far, with a focus on connecting the economy, strengthening regional cooperation, B2B meetings, investments and the promotion of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a business destination.
100 EXPO in CEFA
One of the most significant innovations presented at the conference is that Poslovne novine became a member of the Central European Fair Alliance (CEFA), an organization that brings together the leading fair organizers of Central and Southeast Europe. Owner and director of Poslovni novin Emil Kuckovic he pointed out that this is the first time that Bosnia and Herzegovina is getting its representative in that international network.
“This year we are raising the bar even further – 100 EXPO has two partner countries, Croatia and Serbia. Croatia comes with large and successful companies, including Ericsson Nikola Tesla, Infobip, Podravka, Ledo, Franck and others, while Serbia confirms its participation for the second year in a row through the performance of renowned businessmen.
In the meantime, Poslovne novine has joined the Central European Alliance of Fairs, CEFA, and the annual Assembly of this organization will be held in Sarajevo this year. The organizers of the largest fair events across Europe recognize that traditional fairs must be transformed, precisely in the direction of the concept we are developing through 100 EXPO – a combination of exhibition and visitor parts, conferences, business and social events, entertainment content and a unique experience for participants and visitors.” said Kuckovic.
This year, 330 newly ranked companies
Director of Poslovni novini projects Alena Ahmetspahić-Fočo presented this year’s preliminary results of the “Top 100” ranking, emphasizing that the rankings included 942 companiesaccording to realized revenues, exports, profits and number of employees, in the categories of large, medium and small enterprises.
“I would like to point out that this year’s rankings include even 330 new companies which were not ranked last year. This confirms that the business scene of Bosnia and Herzegovina is continuously changing, developing and gaining new successful companies that become carriers of economic growth.” said Ahmetspahić-Fočo and announced that this year the rankings of the most successful will be published in a special printed publication of Poslovni novina in October, as well as in a special e-edition called “Invest in B&H” in English, and the most successful will be awarded at a gala ceremony on October 20.
As she stated, data for the ranking of companies within the project “100 largest in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region” they are based exclusively on the financial reports that the companies submitted in their final accounts for the year 2025 to the relevant agencies, and for the purposes of the project, the complete processing, systematization and analysis of the financial data was performed by a renowned international company Dun & Bradstreetwhich ensures the accuracy, objectivity and credibility of the ranking results.
Support of the Chamber and the Ministry
He also addressed the media Zdravko Marinkovićpresident of the Foreign Trade/Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasizing:
“The Chamber of Foreign Trade of Bosnia and Herzegovina is proud to be a long-term co-organizer of the “100 biggest” event, which over the years has grown into a recognizable and relevant regional brand. We are glad that this year’s edition of the 100 EXPO fair will once again bring together more than 250 companies from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the region and the world. We believe that this event will further contribute to connecting businessmen, establishing new business partnerships and promoting the economic potential of our country. The Chamber will continue to be a reliable partner to initiatives that strengthen international cooperation, support the internationalization of business and open new opportunities for domestic companies.”
The Ministry of Economy of the Sarajevo Canton continuously monitors and supports the “100 largest in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region” and 100 EXPO – Sarajevo International Business Fair projects, recognizing their importance for the promotion of the domestic economy, strengthening the competitiveness of companies, attracting investments and the development of the Sarajevo Canton as a regional business center, he said in his address to the media Ph.D. Zlatan Mujak, Assistant Minister of Economy of Sarajevo Canton.
“Canton Sarajevo is the economic center of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with almost 44,000 registered business entities and more than 162,000 employees. That is why the special focus of the Ministry of Economy is on the development of entrepreneurship, improving the investment environment and strengthening the competitiveness of the domestic economy.
Through financial support programs and other measures, we create conditions for new investments, the development of domestic companies and the creation of quality jobs. The results achieved today by the economy of Sarajevo Canton confirm that such an approach is justified and that the private sector remains the key engine of economic development.
We are especially pleased that Sarajevo will host the most successful businessmen from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region. It is an opportunity to establish new business contacts, exchange experiences and present the investment potential of Sarajevo Canton.”
National pavilions from the region
The international character of the fair is confirmed by the participation of chambers of commerce from the region at the national pavilions.
Minister Advisor to the Office of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce at the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Bosnia and Herzegovina Nikica Pažin announced the arrival of eminent Croatian companies at 100 EXPO in Sarajevo. He also reminded that the trade in goods between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina exceeds that of Croatia four billion eurosand Croatia is among the leading investors in BiH. All this speaks of a connection of exceptional importance for the two economies.
“Fifteen leading Croatian companies will be presented at the national pavilion of Croatia at this year’s 100 EXPO. The fair will be a place for new business contacts, conferences, B2B meetings and additional strengthening of economic cooperation between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.”Pazin said.
Aleksandar Radovanovićhead of the Center for Regional Cooperation of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, was unable to attend the event and addressed the media with an official statement in which, among other things, he says:
“The Chamber of Commerce of Serbia (PKS) will organize the second consecutive appearance of Serbian companies at the International Fair and Conference 100 EXPOwhich will be held in Sarajevo. With a collective appearance at 100 EXPO, the Serbian Chamber of Commerce continues to support the internationalization of domestic companies, their connection with partners from the region and the creation of new business opportunities.
The importance of the regional market is also confirmed by foreign trade indicators. Almost 16 percent of Serbia’s total exports go to the markets of the Western Balkans, while trade with the economies of the region accounts for about 9.5 percent of Serbia’s total trade with the world. The region represents one of the most important markets for Serbian companies, which is why the Serbian Chamber of Commerce continuously supports their representation at leading regional business events, such as 100 EXPO.”
Strengthening business tourism
President of the Sarajevo Canton Tourist Board Ph.D. Haris Fazlagic he pointed out that international business events are one of the key drivers of the development of congress and business tourism.
“Today, business events, conferences and international fairs represent one of the most important drivers of MICE tourism, a segment that achieves high added value for each destination. That is why events that bring together the most successful companies, business leaders, investors and representatives of institutions from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region are of exceptional importance for the Canton of Sarajevo. They contribute to the strengthening of business ties, the exchange of experiences and new investment opportunities, but at the same time confirm Sarajevo as a leading destination for business meetings, congresses and international gatherings.
The Sarajevo Canton Tourist Board continuously invests in the development and promotion of business and congress tourism, aware of its direct contribution to tourist traffic, extension of the tourist season, increase in consumption and overall economic effects. We work intensively on the international promotion of Sarajevo as a destination for business and congress tourism through appearances at the world’s leading MICE fairs, development of new promotional tools and improvement of the tourist offer. We note the continuous growth of tourist traffic, significant investments in air transport and the connection of Sarajevo with key emission markets, which creates additional prerequisites for attracting large international business events and new visitors throughout the year, ” said Fazlagic.
October in the sign of business
This year’s 100 EXPO – Sarajevo International Business Fair will be held with the participation of companies, institutions and national chambers of commerce from several countries in the region. They will be especially interesting women’s entrepreneurship pavilion “Women 100”, as well as the pavilion where it will be presented fast growing companies. The program will include international conferences, panel discussions, business meetings, presentation of investment projects and new technologies, while the project will “100 largest in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region” and this year, during the months-long campaign, present the most successful companies according to key business indicators at a traditional gala ceremony, which will gather more than 500 leading businessmen.
The organizers expect that this year’s edition will further strengthen Sarajevo’s position as a regional center for business meetings, investments and international economic cooperation.
