Regional trade summit Banja Luka 2025: Western Balkans aims for a joint, globally competitive market

The First Regional Summit of Trade in Banja Luka brought together in 2025 leading entrepreneurs, representatives of economic institutions and chambers of commerce as well as guests from across the Western Balkans region and the European Union. The summit provided an important platform for a strategic exchange on the economic future of the Western Balkans – in particular on regional integration and the development of a common market whose products are to be exported to the European Union to a greater extent.

The discussions centred on the current challenges and opportunities for the regional economy, easier access to the EU single market and the need for closer industrial and technological cooperation. Successful entrepreneurs from various sectors shared their expertise on brand building, the promotion of innovation and the international export of goods, and offered valuable insights into sustainable growth models in the region.Representatives of large corporations from Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia also appeared on stage as panellists and presented their distinctive experience and practical insights from the business world to the audience.

The prominent participants included Mr Levente Magyar, Deputy Foreign Minister of Hungary, who highlighted his country’s close economic partnership with the region, Mr Zdravko Mamić, for many years Vice-President of the football club Dinamo Zagreb, Mr Slavenko Ristić, founder and director of the company TRB, and Ms Sandra Đukanović, founder and owner of Vendom.The OESW was represented by Mr Rodoljub “Rudi” Savić – entrepreneur, owner of the Austrian retail chain Spar Savić and an active member of the Austrian-Serbian business community. In his address Savić emphasised the role of our Forum as a central bridge between the Austrian and the Western Balkan economies, and highlighted the importance of long-term regional networks, structured cooperation and joint investment initiatives, which are decisive for the economic stability and competitiveness of the region.

All the representatives came to the joint conclusion that the region possesses great potential and that the creation of a common, economically integrated and globally competitive market would represent a decisive step for the future positioning of the Western Balkans in the global economy.

The summit made clear: only through close economic cooperation, continuous exchange of knowledge and strong innovative capacity can the Western Balkans realise its full potential and position itself as a reliable, modern partner of the European economy.