On Thursday evening, the awarding of prestigious business awards “100 largest in Bosnia and Herzegovina” for the most successful companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2023 was held in Sarajevo.
The event, for the 37th year in a row, is organized by Poslovne novine, and for the first time it is realized under the high patronage of the Chairman of the BiH Presidency, Denis Bećirović. The co-organizer of the project is the Chamber of Foreign Trade of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and this year’s support was given by the president of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lidija Bradara, and long-term partners.
– Our country is naturally rich in resources that have not been fully utilized. Tourism is a rapidly recovering industry in BiH, and the IT potential is used in foreign markets. Our greatest value is people. But 600,000 people left Bosnia and Herzegovina. We need to return them and protect all our resources, which are the conditions for our competitiveness and export potential – said Vjekoslav Vuković, president of the Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH.
Ceremonial announcement, presentation of awards and recognition of the “100 largest in BiH” to the most successful companies in BiH are awarded according to the achieved revenue, export, profit and number of employees in 2023. Awards were given in the following categories: small, medium and large enterprises. Awards were also presented in the Activity category.
The total income in 2023 of all ranked 928 companies was 47.9 billion KM, the total profit of these companies was 4.2 billion KM, and the total export was 7.8 billion KM. The companies that ranked on the list of the 100 largest in Bosnia and Herzegovina employed 196,517 people last year.
The domestic company Bingo Tuzla won two awards in the category of large companies, first place according to revenue and number of employees in 2023. Last year, Bingo’s revenue was 1.9 billion KM, while the number of employees last year was 8,108.
The company with the highest realized profit, among large companies, is Telekom Srpske Banja Luka – m:tel Banja Luka, with realized profit in the amount of over 332 million KM. In the same category, but for the achieved export, the first place and recognition of “100 largest” was awarded to the company SSL Lukavac, which last year exported goods worth 381.9 million KM.
In the category of medium-sized companies, the first place in terms of revenue in 2023 went to the energy company HSE BH Sarajevo, with revenue of 175.7 million KM. In the category of small companies, Sword Security Sarajevo has the most employees, 214 of them.
Special awards “Vision 100”
Since last year, Poslovne novine has established a special award “Vision 100” which is awarded for a project, initiative or business move to banks, individuals, companies and institutions as important partners in strengthening and supporting the domestic economy. A total of 10 “Vision 100” recognitions were awarded for sustainability, innovation and support to local businesses and the local community, as well as the creation of a positive economic environment.
The “Vision 100” recognition was presented to Helena Lagerlof, Ambassador of Sweden in BiH and Renaud Meyer, resident representative of UNDP in BiH for the Award for Business Leaders of Sustainable Development in BiH, for highlighting companies from the private sector in achieving the goals of sustainable development in BiH. The award for business leaders is supported by the Kingdom of Sweden and implemented by UNDP. On behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Elmedin Konaković, Dino Selimović received the award. The award is given for promoting and helping the economy.
Branimir Muidža, president of the Council of Foreign Investors in BiH, received the award for improving the work of the Council of Foreign Investors and promoting investment potential in BiH. For the contribution to the introduction and construction of the electronic signature infrastructure, the Vision 100 recognition was awarded to IDDEEA, the Agency for Identification Documents, Records and Data Exchange of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Director Almir Badnjević received the award on behalf of the Agency. On behalf of the Government of Sarajevo Canton, the Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton Nihad Uk received the award. The KS government was awarded for its contribution to the development of road infrastructure and the connection of Sarajevo’s municipalities.
Lidija Žigić, President of the Management Board of NLB Bank Sarajevo, received recognition for the improvement of ESG management within NLB Bank Sarajevo and responsibility towards business and clients. Elvedin Lagarija, director of the Sarajevo Canton Fund for housing construction, received recognition for his contribution to housing construction and the initiation of the construction of a building for young people in the Sokolović Kolonija settlement. Haris Fazlagić, director of the Sarajevo Canton Tourist Board, was presented with Vision 100 for the promotion and improvement of Sarajevo Canton’s tourist offer. For creating prerequisites for a successful digital transformation of education adapted to the needs of children and young people in cooperation with UNICEF, the Vision 100 award was presented to the company Nelt Istočno Sarajevo. Mirsad Bektasevic received the award on behalf of the company.
The leader in the production of firefighting vehicles in the region, the company SU-AD Živinice, Suad Bešlić, the director of the company, received the Vision 100 award. And thanks to the company CORE Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina received its first prototype of an electric scooter – E-Scooter by CORE, which is more but enough to award the Vision 100 award. On behalf of the CORE company, he was received by General Manager Jens Ceribašić.
