Economic and cultural development in Široki Brijeg

Široki Brijeg has demonstrated significant cultural and economic development within Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Local celebrations recently marked the reopening of the renovated Kino Borak cinema at the Croatian Cultural Center. During the City Day festivities, officials noted the municipality’s economic transition from bauxite mining toward modern entrepreneurship and European exports.

Data from 2025 indicates that Široki Brijeg has become a leading economic hub in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It ranks 8th in the overall development index for the Federation, the highest ranking for any local government unit outside the Sarajevo region. The municipality leads the country in the density of high-revenue companies, supported by a diverse landscape of enterprises including TT Kabeli, FEAL, and Mepas.

As of August 2026, Široki Brijeg continues to lead the country in the density of successful businesses, reporting 4.6 companies with million-KM revenues per 1,000 inhabitants. This performance occurs amidst broader economic shifts in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where employment reached nearly 549,000 in June 2026, even as collected contributions saw a decrease compared to the previous year due to reduced contribution rates implemented in July 2025.

Broader national economic trends show mixed results, including fluctuations in hydroelectric production that could impact the economy by up to 210 million euros, and wage disparities across sectors. While Široki Brijeg remains a primary corporate hub alongside Tešanj and Živinice, national discussions continue regarding financial support for the country’s 470,000 pensioners.