The Italian Pavilion, organized by ICE in collaboration with the Italian Embassy in Sarajevo, was inaugurated today at the Mostar International Economic Fair.
The Fair, which will close on April 18, is the leading multisectoral exhibition in Bosnia and Herzegovina and one of the key events for operators from across the entire Balkan region.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Italian Pavilion was attended by the President of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borjana Krišto; the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Andrej Plenković; the Member of the House of Representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Darijana Filipović, the Italian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarah Eti Castellani, the Director of the ICE Office in Sarajevo, Marilena Procaccio, and the Director of the Mostar Fair, Delfina Bošnjak.
The Italian exhibition space, once again among the most popular and visited at the Fair this year, hosts a delegation of companies active in the agri-food sector, an area in which Italy boasts recognized leadership in technology and quality.
Also present is a group of companies from Abruzzo coordinated by the Chieti-Pescara Chamber of Commerce.
“Italy remains Bosnia and Herzegovina’s leading supplier and its second-largest global trading partner this year as well,” stated Ambassador Castellani. “Our participation in the Fair aims to highlight this leadership and is part of the process of strengthening the bilateral economic partnership undertaken in recent years, beginning with the Economic Dialogue held in Sarajevo two years ago and chaired by Minister Tajani. One of the key sectors is the food industry, with exports having recorded steady growth in recent years.” Bosnia and Herzegovina represents a market of strategic interest for Italian companies, both due to its geographical proximity and the opportunities linked to industrial development and European integration processes. “In the current geopolitical context,” the Ambassador concluded, “it is more important than ever to continue supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina’s path toward EU accession, which guarantees stability, security, and economic well-being for the country and the entire region. This is another reason why it is important to believe in the potential of this market.” The Italian Pavilion’s program will continue in the coming days with food and wine cooking demonstrations, daily events dedicated to Italian agri-food excellence, and B2B meetings with local and regional buyers to identify new opportunities for collaboration.
