FIPA Activities

WORK-AFTERCARE VISIT TO ADRIATIC METALS BH LTD COMPANY

6/12/2025

Representatives of the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FIPA) and the Ministry of Economy of the Sarajevo Canton visited the company Adriatic Metals BH Ltd. - a limited liability company for geological exploration and exploitation of minerals.

Adriatic Metals BH Ltd entered the BiH market in 2017 after the acquisition of a domestic company in Vareš. They currently employ 550 workers. Investments to date amount to over 400 million US dollars, and the company is fully export-oriented.

Adriatic Metals BH holds a concession for research and exploitation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The project in Vareš consists of two exploration sites, where copper, iron ore and barite were previously exploited.

Before the 1990s, the company conducted in-depth exploration and identified significant quantities of lead, zinc, silver, gold, copper and barite.

So far, due to problems related to state land and its disposal, the investment has been delayed by a year. This delay has resulted in a loss to the state budget in terms of direct taxes, contributions and VAT, which at the same time means less funds in the budget in terms of direct taxes and contributions as well as VAT.

During the meeting, this problem was discussed, related to the disposal of state land, and the company representatives proposed as a possibility to overcome the problem the establishment of a Management Board for State Land so that it could be given for use for a limited number of years, without changing the ownership structure.

During the meeting, other challenges at the BiH market that are important for foreign investments, were also discussed. It was emphasized that there is good cooperation with government representatives, as well as a review of the positive aspects of the BiH market.

The visit was carried out as part of the Aftercare program that FIPA implements together with other institutions from the so-called Collaborative Network, which was formed with the technical support of IFC from the World Bank Group.

 

Testimonials & Success Stories
 

Global Investment Promotion Best Practices 2012 of the World Bank has cited one example of support that FIPA provides to foreign investors who are running business in Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to contribute to increase the flow of foreign capital in the country.

The article said:  

„The Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA) of Bosnia and Herzegovina was an early convert to the idea of providing facilitation services to agribusiness investors as a way to maximize the positive impact of agriculture on the economy.

In 2007, for example, FIPA assisted a Dutch food processing company establish a US$1.6 million production facility to process unused milk ingredients into value-added products in Sarajevo to sell to markets in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

As part of its aftercare program, FIPA assisted the company with its expansion plans. Among other things, the agency helped facilitate veterinary permissions, navigate various bureaucratic hurdles and played an important role in securing funding for the company’s expansion. It also helped develop a network of local suppliers and customers. As a result of these efforts, the Dutch investor developed stronger links with the Bosnian economy, thus increasing the positive spillover effects on the local economy.

Currently a new investment to establish a drying facility for milk powder is under way. This will further expand the processing facilities of unused milk ingredients. This additional planned investment is worth approximately US$2.8 million, thus nearly trebling the company’s original investment in the country“.

 

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