ZEPS 2026: The Regional Business Event of the Year Connects BiH with the North African Market

(Patria) - The International General Business Fair ZEPS confirms
its position as the leading regional business event of the year, following the successfully realized first Libyan-Bosnian Business Forum which opened new markets and concrete business opportunities for companies from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Organized by the ZEPS fair and in cooperation with partners from Libya, the forum brought together representatives of institutions and the economy, resulting in a series of concrete
agreements and initiatives that directly contribute to strengthening economic ties and internationalizing the domestic economy.

During the Forum, an initiative was launched to establish the Libyan-Bosnian Business Association, an exclusive partnership was established with SANA Business Consulting to represent ZEPS in the Libyan and North African markets, and a twinning agreement was signed between the City of Zenica and the City of Misrata, creating conditions for strengthening exports, investments, and long-term partnerships.

The Forum was organized in cooperation with SANA Business Consulting & Exhibitions, led by Salem Zeidan, while the Libyan Iron and Steel Company, managed by Dr. Mohamed Abdelmalik Al-Faqih, a long-time partner of the ZEPS fair, provided additional institutional and industrial weight to the event.

Bosnia and Herzegovina was represented by a delegation of 15 members from the public and private sectors: Samir Šibonjić, Minister of Economy of Zenica-Doboj Canton; Mirsad Jašarspahić, President of the Chamber of Commerce of the Federation of BiH; Mirsad Heleg, Advisor to the Mayor of the City of Zenica; Selver Keleštura, Secretary of the City of Zenica; Snježana Vrhovac, President of the Zenica City Council; Sumeja Mujkanović, Assistant Mayor; Prof. Dr. Sc. Bahrija Umihanić, Full Professor; Jasmin Šarić, Director of Public Utility Company „Radnik“ Zavidovići; Fahrudin Šahmanija, Owner of FE-Metal Zenica; Senaid Husić, Owner of Bontex Maglaj; Kenan Agić, Owner of Metalon Visoko; Elvir Ajanović, General Director of the ZEPS fair; Jasmin Baručija, Owner of Glovis d.o.o. Zenica; Sanel Ibrić, Executive Director of the ZEPS fair;
and Ibrahim Salihović, Translator.

“Our friends from Libya emphasized that Libya's interest in economic cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina has never ceased, and that in this regard, they have tried to find serious partners in the last decade. They said that ZEPS is precisely a great platform on which future cooperation and networking of interested investors can be built, not only from Libya but from the entire North African region,” emphasized Sanel Ibrić, Executive Director of the ZEPS fair.

During their stay in Libya, the Bosnian-Herzegovinian delegation also visited metal industry companies, B2B meetings were organized between companies from BiH and Libya, and bilateral meetings were held between relevant ministries and institutions.

By realizing this Forum, ZEPS further confirms that it is growing beyond the framework of a classic fair and becoming an operational platform for international networking, investment realization, and opening new markets. Significant participation of companies from Libya at the ZEPS 2026 fair has also been announced, as well as the organization of the next business forum in Zenica, further strengthening the international
character of this event.

The ZEPS 2026 International Fair will be held from September 2 to 5 in Zenica, and a large number of domestic and foreign companies, investors, and institutions are expected to participate. Business entities are invited to take advantage of this opportunity to expand their business, establish new partnerships, and enter international markets.

ZEPS is among the most important business events in the Southeast European region, bringing together domestic and regional managers, capital owners, and institutional representatives. The fair represents an important strategic place for strengthening regional and international economic cooperation, knowledge exchange, and the placement of products, innovations, and technologies.