Bosnia to hold 11th Sarajevo Business Forum

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - The 11th Sarajevo Business Forum (SBF) will open Wednesday in the Bosnian capital with Turkiye playing a prominent role.

Dubbed the "Balkan Davos," the event will focus on expanding regional economic cooperation and attracting international investment to southeast Europe with the participation of delegations from 33 countries.

Turkish Trade Minister Mehmet Mus features among this year's speakers.

Over 1,000 people are expected to attend the Sarajevo Business Forum, which had been suspended for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Regional investment projects in manufacturing, agriculture, energy, education, finance, infrastructure, construction, the service sector, tourism and other sectors will be promoted at the forum.

Bosnia Bank International (BBI) Board Member Nedzad Gusic said the main theme of the SBF is "Nearshoring - a perspective for the region,” i.e. presenting the potential for relocation of the production of European companies in southeast Europe.

Gusic said Bosnia and Herzegovina and other southeast European countries are in a position where foreign companies will move or establish their production centers.

"On this occasion, the economy of the countries will improve, new employment areas will be created, and thus the migration of the young population will be prevented," said Gusic.

Anadolu Agency is the global communication partner for the two-day business conference in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On the first day, the Sarajevo Business Bridge Awards will be presented to successful entrepreneurs with a ceremony.

At the SBF to be held this year, nearly 300 projects from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania will be presented to businesspeople.

Among the supporters of the SBF are BBI, the Sarajevo Canton Ministry of Economy, the Islamic Development Bank, Dubai Islamic Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank.

The event is expecting a record number of participants this year.

The forum aims to make the region a single economy.

It has been held since 2010 in a collaborative effort by Bosna Bank International and the Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank.