Bosnia and Herzegovina to Host First-Ever Defense Industry Expo

Minister Vedran Lakić revealed that the idea had been in development at the Ministry for over a year, carefully prepared before its public announcement.

"I believe the defense industry of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has a lot to show, and this expo is a very important activity for the Ministry, the Federal Government, and our defense industry companies," Lakic said.

The event will occupy 7,000 square metres of total exhibition space — 4,000 square metres indoors within the Zetra arena and an equal amount in the adjacent outdoor area. Exhibitors will come from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the wider region, and internationally, with more than a few thousand visitors expected, including institutional representatives, business community members, and industry professionals. Alongside Federation and entity-owned companies — including Igman, BNT, Pretis, Zrak, TRZ and Binas — private sector firms will participate for the first time, presenting their full product portfolios and latest technological advances.

Unis Group Sarajevo, with 75 years of heritage in the defence industry, has been tasked with implementing the project.

Director Silajdzic described the expo as "the culmination of years of effort in investing in new technologies and building ties with international partners who will be present at the show." He confirmed that Unis Group already acts as a de facto government export agency — 100% owned by the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina — and has been actively coordinating the joint participation of domestic defense firms at international exhibitions.

Organisers also confirmed that the expo is planned as a recurring event, scheduled to take place every two years — placing it on the regional defense industry calendar going forward.

Strategic context

Minister Lakic outlined a broader strategic mandate for Unis Group: organising the participation of domestic defense companies at international exhibitions worldwide, and opening overseas representative offices for those firms — a model reminiscent of the role played by Energoinvest in previous decades.

Asked about the potential role of the expo in integrating BiH's defense industry into Western logistics and supply chains — including in the context of growing US interest in the region — Lakic described it as "one of the leitmotifs" of the event. He noted that BiH's defense firms have in recent years moved toward greater coordination after a prolonged period of operating in isolation, citing BNT Novi Travnik taking on responsibilities for Zrak, and ongoing discussions around TRZ potentially coming under Pretis's umbrella.

On the question of which foreign companies and countries would be invited to exhibit, Lakic said organisers would be "geopolitically sensitive" in their selections, declining to name specific participants at this stage but pledging transparent communication as invitations are issued.

Lakic also announced that a 10-year defense industry development strategy for the Federation has been completed in draft form and is expected to be presented to the Federal Government and Parliament shortly — potentially using the expo itself as the platform for its public launch.

Venue and format

The Zetra Olympic Hall was described by organizers as a "perfect choice" for an event of this type, offering both the main indoor arena and adjacent outdoor space for static equipment displays, alongside several smaller conference rooms for bilateral meetings and expert panels.

First Balkan Shield Industrial Expo and Summit will be held 1–4 September 2026 at the Zetra Olympic Hall, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.