The EBRD in Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Old town of Mostar, with the famous Old Bridge (Stari Most), Bosnia and Herzegovina

The EBRD has been investing in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1996

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, we focus on supporting the restructuring and expansion of the local private sector, forging closer links with wider regional markets and promoting a more efficient and sustainable use of resources, while continuing to coordinate the EBRD’s activities with the European Union and international financial institutions.

A Bosnia and Herzegovina success story: how EBRD investment is helping iFORM, a forward-thinking manufacturing firm, in its digital transformation, with the support of the European Union.

248

Number of projects to date

€3,384m

Cumulative EBRD investment

€2,778m

Cumulative disbursements

22%

Private sector share of portfolio

108

Number of active portfolio operations

€1,348m

Current portfolio of projects

€827m

Operating assets

Equity share of portfolio

17 June 1996

Joined the EBRD

50,710

Capital subscription (€000)

EBRD Governor: Borjana Krišto
EBRD Alternate Governor: Staša Košarac
EBRD Board Director: Elisabeth Vitzthum
EBRD Board Alternate Director: Esti Feldman

EBRD Shareholders information

Focus areas

Restructuring and expanding the local private sector

Bosnia and Herzegovina has a strong industrial heritage, an abundant supply of energy, and significant resources to support processing industries. The EBRD will target local and foreign companies for investments in the country and provide financing for the restructuring and expansion of smaller local firms. We will provide credit lines for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through local banks, microfinance loans and non-financial support.

Forging closer links with wider regional markets

A small open economy such as Bosnia and Herzegovina's can reach its full economic potential only by integrating closely with wider regional markets. Regional integration, both physical and commercial, will be even more important in the new EBRD strategy period, in light of Bosnia and Herzegovina's border with the EU following Croatia’s accession to the EU. The EBRD will support private investment, increased trade flows and infrastructure improvements to deepen regional integration. We will encourage greater private-sector involvement in public infrastructure upgrades and strongly emphasised improvements in standards towards EU norms.

Promoting a more efficient and sustainable use of resources

Public entities and private companies make inefficient use of existing resources, resulting in unnecessarily high energy costs and significant environmental damage. To support more efficient and sustainable use of resources, the Bank will focus on sustainable energy investments that have significant demonstration effects. The EBRD will provide direct financing for energy- and resource-efficiency improvements for large corporate clients, both in the private and public sectors, and for the restructuring and commercialisation of municipal utility firms. In close cooperation with other donors, the Bank will continue an active policy dialogue on the sustainable use of resources, using technical assistance.

The EBRD's Annual Meeting and Business Forum 2019 was held in Sarajevo.

2.5%

EBRD forecast for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s real GDP growth in 2025

2.7%

EBRD forecast for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s real GDP growth in 2026

Economic growth in 2024 was 2.5 per cent, according to preliminary data. Net exports made a negative contribution to growth due to a sharp rise in imports and a decline in exports, affected by weak external demand, also reflected in a decline in industrial production. Growth was primarily supported by services and construction, strong private consumption and an increase in investment.

Inflation declined from its peak value of 17.4 per cent in October 2022 to 1.7 per cent in November 2024, driven by global disinflation, and has stayed around 2 per cent since then. Our growth forecasts have been revised downwards to 2.5 per cent in 2025 and 2.7 per cent in 2026 based on the expected effect of the new US import tariffs as well as intensifying domestic political tensions negatively affecting the outlook for much-needed reforms and private investment.

Bosnia and Herzegovina strategy and snapshot

Bosnia and Herzegovina diagnostic paper

PDF format / 1.55 MB

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Bosnia and Herzegovina strategy

PDF format / 1.58 MB

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Local language translation

PDF format / 1.74 MB

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Report on public comments

PDF format / 0.96 MB

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Bosnia and Herzegovina country snapshot (English)

PDF format / 2.03 MB

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Bosnia and Herzegovina country snapshot (Bosnian)

PDF format / 1.99 MB

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Contact the EBRD in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Head of Office, Stela Melnic

Address:

EBRD Sarajevo Resident Office, 15th Floor, Tower B, Unitic Towers, Fra Andela Zvizdovica 1, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Telephone:

+ 387 33 257 900

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The EBRD in Bosnia and Herzegovina

A Bosnia and Herzegovina success story: how EBRD investment is helping iFORM, a forward-thinking manufacturing firm, in its digital transformation, with the support of the European Union.

Focus areas

Restructuring and expanding the local private sector

Forging closer links with wider regional markets

Promoting a more efficient and sustainable use of resources

Bosnia and Herzegovina strategy and snapshot

Contact the EBRD in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The EBRD in Bosnia and Herzegovina

A Bosnia and Herzegovina success story: how EBRD investment is helping iFORM, a forward-thinking manufacturing firm, in its digital transformation, with the support of the European Union.

Focus areas

Restructuring and expanding the local private sector

Forging closer links with wider regional markets

Promoting a more efficient and sustainable use of resources

EBRD and EU finance renovation of Sarajevo water supply network

EBRD and EU support energy-efficiency improvements in Tuzla

EBRD and EU boost digitalisation in Bosnia and Herzegovina

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