From April 8 to 12 this year, Mostar will host the 26th International Economic Fair, one of the most important economic events in the region. This fair provides a platform for connecting businessmen, exchanging knowledge and promoting investments, and this year a special honor went to Italy as a partner country.
The Mostar Fair is continuously growing and adapting to the needs of the market. This year’s edition will gather around 800 exhibitors from about 30 countries, and all space capacities are filled. This shows how important this fair is for the development of the economy in BiH and the region – said the director of the Mostar Fair, Dalfina Bošnjak. She said that, following the current trends in the market, they continuously invest in the marketing of the Fair, as well as the visuals and impression. – We also monitor accompanying manifestations such as conferences, expert gatherings and B2B meetings, where, in addition to businessmen, professional experts from various fields are often presented – explained Bošnjak, writes Večernji list BiH.
Partner country Italy
This year’s partner country is the Republic of Italy, and Italian Ambassador to BiH Sarah Eti Castellani emphasized the importance of this fair as an opportunity to deepen economic relations. – We were happy when we decided that Italy would be a partner country again. Our economic ties with Bosnia and Herzegovina are strong, and the Mostar Fair further strengthens this cooperation. Italy is the second largest supplier for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and last year we were fourth in terms of foreign trade – the ambassador added. Italian exhibitors will present themselves in a common area of 400 square meters, with a special emphasis on the agricultural and food sector, industrial equipment and cultural heritage.
For us, agriculture is a strategic sector. Food producers, as well as companies that make machines for processing and packaging, will be presented at the Fair – added Castellani. – In addition, we want to show Italian excellence in the design and mechanization sector. We will have exhibitions of luxury cars, motorcycles and jewelry. Visitors will be able to see Ferrari, which always arouses great interest – she stressed. Ambassador Castellani also recalled the long-standing cooperation between Italy and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Cooperation between Italy and BiH has existed for a long time. Last year, we held the “Economic Dialogue” conference in Sarajevo, where the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, Antonio Tajani, highlighted Italy’s strategic interest in the Western Balkans region. The Mostar fair is a continuation of that successful cooperation – she stated. The President of the Chamber of Commerce of the Federation of BiH, Marko Šantić, emphasized the importance of the conference part of the Fair. – In recent years, we have been working on strengthening the conference segment, which gives additional value to the Fair. On the second day of the Fair, the “Connected Region” conference will be held, and we will also organize business meetings between Italian and BiH. companies – explained Šantić, stating that this year they expect significant agreements and new business arrangements that will contribute to the development of the economy in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition to business meetings, special attention is devoted to wine and viticulture. On the second day of the Fair, wine evaluation and awarding of awards to the best winemakers will take place.
Viticulture and winemaking is an important segment
Viticulture and winemaking are an important segment of the Economy Fair, and visitors will be able to taste wines from BiH and Italy. We are especially proud of the cooperation with Italian producers who will present their top labels – added Director Bošnjak. She recalled the path that the Mostar Fair has taken, highlighting the challenges and turning points that shaped it. She also recalled the turbulent periods. – We started in 1998 when the economy was on its knees. We survived the great global economic crisis in 2008, the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, but we never lost our purpose – concluded Dalfina Bošnjak.
Economic development
In addition to the economic part, the Fair also offers a rich cultural and entertainment program. The Italian band Musica da Ripostiglio will arrive at the Fair, while visitors will be able to enjoy the exhibition of eight Italian painters from the beginning of the 20th century, among whom Amedeo Modigliani stands out. The organizer of the entertainment program, Mija Martina Barbarić, also announced the promotion of indigenous wines, a fashion show, and cheese and prosciutto tasting. – We have reserved Tuesday for the grand opening, while from Wednesday we will start with promotions of wine and fashion trends – announced Barbarić. – On Thursday, we organize fashion days, where domestic and Italian designers will present their latest collections. In addition, we are preparing a series of gastronomically interesting events. Visitors will be able to taste the best Italian and Herzegovina specialties – she pointed out.
Mostar Fair 2025 will be an opportunity to connect businessmen, develop new partnerships and promote cultural diversity. The organizers expect that the Fair will result in significant business deals and investments that will contribute to the economic development of BiH and the region.
