The Ambassador of Italy to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarah Eti Castellani, visited today the production facilities of PMP Industries in Gradiška, a company originating from the Friuli region with decades of experience in precision mechanical manufacturing. As part of the visit, the ambassador also toured PMP’s newly opened plant in Laktaši, a project worth over 35 million euros, built to significantly expand the company’s overall production capacity.
The delegation was welcomed by the founder and president of PMP Industries and president of Confindustria Udine, Dr. Luigino Pozzo, along with the Mayor of Gradiška, Zoran Adžić, and the Mayor of Laktaši, Miroslav Bojić.
The visit was organized within the framework of the Italian Embassy’s “growth diplomacy” initiative, which aims to support Italian companies operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Italy is BiH’s largest supplier and second most important trading partner, while Italian manufacturing companies in the country currently employ more than 10,000 workers.
Ambassador Castellani emphasized that economic cooperation between Italy and Bosnia and Herzegovina is a strategic pillar of bilateral relations. She noted that companies such as PMP demonstrate how innovation, strong production capabilities and commitment to the local community can contribute to the economic development of BiH. According to her, PMP represents a success story and a clear example of the opportunities Bosnia and Herzegovina offers to the Italian economy.
Dr. Pozzo highlighted that PMP has been operating in Republika Srpska for two decades with very positive results, thanks to strong cooperation with local institutions and the company’s deep integration into the community. He underlined PMP’s contribution to the revitalization of technical education through cooperation with universities, as well as its support for sports and cultural organizations. The company’s facilities in BiH mainly support the parent company in Italy and work with European clients, with all production being exported to the European market, bringing mutual benefits. He added that the growth of European companies in BiH is also helping to reduce emigration and that return migration has recently been observed.
Ambassador Castellani stressed that the opening of the new plant in Laktaši further confirms the strong connection between the Bosnian and European economies, noting that 73 percent of BiH’s total exports go to EU countries. She stated that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU membership would bring greater stability and growth, attract new investments and strengthen the country’s industrial sector, recalling that trade between Croatia and Slovenia increased by 380 percent after Croatia joined the EU.
Concluding, Ambassador Castellani said that citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina clearly support EU membership, as shown by recent research in both entities. She warned that delays in reforms come at a real cost in the form of lost opportunities and investments, stressing that the European path remains essential for the country’s future prosperity. She also reaffirmed that Bosnia and Herzegovina can count on Italy’s continued support on this journey.
