Beginning of September in Sarajevo Arms and Military Equipment Fair 'First Balkan Shield'

(Patria) - Minister of Defence of BiH Zukan Helez held a meeting today in Sarajevo with ambassadors and members of the Association of Military-Diplomatic Representatives accredited in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Helez invited them on this occasion to motivate companies from the defence industry of their countries to participate in a large military exhibition, which will be held in Sarajevo at the beginning of September.

The Arms and Military Equipment Fair "First Balkan Shield - Industrial Expo & Summit 2026", the first of its kind in BiH, will be held from September 1 to 4 in Sarajevo's Zetra Hall.

The organization is led by the renowned domestic company UNIS Group from Sarajevo and the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the support of the Ministry of Defence of BiH.

Federal Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry Vedran Lakić also participated in today's meeting with ambassadors and members of the VDP Association accredited in BiH at the BiH Armed Forces House.

Director of UNIS Group Denis Silajdžić presented the key details about the fair, including its importance for the development of the defence industry in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the opportunities for market expansion and connection with international partners.

- This event represents an important step forward in affirming the domestic industry and connecting it with regional and international partners - said Minister Helez.

He invited military-diplomatic representatives to motivate defence industry companies in their countries to come and present themselves at the fair.

- The defence industry in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been experiencing a kind of revival recently, with record results in exports and production. There is still significant room for further progress and new business.

Precisely for this reason, this fair represents an exceptional opportunity to further strengthen the sector, improve production capacities, attract new investments, and consolidate BiH's position in the international market.

I am convinced that today's discussions will also be the foundation for future projects and strengthening of partnerships, as well as for finding new ways for further modernization of the Armed Forces of BiH - stated Helez.

It is expected that the defence industry fair "First Balkan Shield" will gather exhibitors from all over BiH, the region, and the world, and enable the presentation of new technological solutions and industrial achievements on more than seven thousand square meters of exhibition space in Zetra.

- The fair will be a meeting place for experts, manufacturers, and partners, where innovations will be presented, ideas exchanged, and new opportunities for development and cooperation opened.

This event will further contribute to positioning our country as an active participant in contemporary industrial and technological trends - concluded Federal Minister Lakić.