Ready for Business: The Swiss-BiH Forum 2026 will take place in Sarajevo on 11 June

Sarajevo will host the Swiss-BiH Forum “Ready for Business”, on 11 June. The Embassy of Switzerland in Bosnia and Herzegovina organises the Forum in partnership with the Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO), the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Swiss Global Enterprise, the Swiss-Central Europe Chamber of Commerce (SEC), and the Swiss industry associations SWISSMEM and Swiss Textiles.

“Ready for Business. Swiss-BiH Forum 2026' will bring together representatives of Swiss companies present in Bosnia and Herzegovina, local companies that collaborate with Swiss partners, and representatives of public institutions and business organisations from both countries. It will also gather entrepreneurs from the BiH diaspora. Participants and speakers will include representatives of key Swiss institutions and business networks, such as Swiss Global Enterprise (mandated by the Swiss Confederation and the cantons to promote exports and investment), the Swiss-Central Europe Chamber of Commerce, SWISSMEM (the association of the Swiss technology industry) and Swiss Textiles (the association of the Swiss textile industry).

The Embassy of Switzerland in Bosnia and Herzegovina is marking its 30th anniversary this year. Over the past three decades, relations between the two countries have steadily strengthened. Through its international cooperation programme, Switzerland has provided substantial support to the development of Bosnia and Herzegovina in areas where the country's needs and priorities align with Swiss know-how and experience, including local governance, economic development, employment, security, healthcare and culture. Today, both countries are seeking to further strengthen the economic dimension of their partnership through enhanced trade, investment, and business cooperation.

The Forum will provide an opportunity for businesses, institutions, and business leaders to network, present successful examples of economic cooperation, and establish new partnerships and investments. This will contribute to strengthening the economic relations between Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina further.

Swiss Ambassador to BiH Gabriele Derighetti will open the event, followed by a keynote address entitled AI as a Driver of Innovation: The Road to Success”.

The first panel discussion will focus on investment and trade opportunities between Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to national data, Switzerland consistently ranks among Bosnia and Herzegovina's top ten foreign investors and trading partners. Participants will discuss ways to strengthen economic ties, expand exports, develop nearshoring cooperation, and improve the business environment for foreign investors. In recent years, Swiss investment in Bosnia and Herzegovina has grown steadily, providing a solid basis for further expansion and the development of long-term partnerships.

The second part of the programme will focus on the role of the diaspora as a driver of economic development. Panellists will discuss how the diaspora can contribute to economic growth through investment, business networking, knowledge transfer, and creating new market opportunities, given that it is one of the country’s greatest assets.

The forum will also feature an initiative to establish the Swiss-BiH Chamber of Commerce. Designed to bring together companies, investors and business leaders, the Chamber is expected to strengthen business ties and create new opportunities for cooperation between the two countries.

During their stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina, members of the Swiss business delegation will participate in the forum and hold meetings with relevant institutions. They will also visit several companies to gain first-hand insight into successful examples of economic cooperation and the country’s business potential.

The event programme and speakers’ biographies are available here.