Iskra planning investments in Balkans
The Slovenian privately-held electronics group Iskra has announced plans to build a new production plant in Bosnia-Herzegovina and a new logistics centre in Serbia this year. The financial details of the plans have not been disclosed, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.
Announcing the plans on LinkedIn, Iskra said it will build a new facility in Nova Topola in the Republika Srpska entity of Bosnia-Herzegovina. It will span 12,000 m2, increasing production capacity and creating new jobs.
The announcement comes after the group last year concluded the construction of a factory in Laktaši, near Banja Luka, also in Republika Srpska, reports the regional business news portal SeeNews.
The plan is to equip the new factory in Bosnia-Herzegovina with additional robotic lines to improve efficiency, Iskra said on LinkedIn.
Iskra also plans to set up a new laboratory equipped with advanced testing devices at the Croatian electric cable manufacturer Elka, which the group acquired in May 2021.
Since May 2019, Iskra has also owned the shipyard in Šibenik in Croatia, which repairs Croatian navy vessels and produces ships for Norwegian fishermen, and at the beginning of 2024 it acquired a majority stake in the Split-based company ELMAP.
ELMAP is a leading company in automation of wastewater and drinking water treatment plants, water supply systems, and energy and infrastructure systems.
In May 2024, Elka acquired a 50% stake in Elkakon, the Croatian producer of round and profiled industrial wire for transformers and electric motors, SeeNews also reports.
Iskra is also active in Serbia, having announced that they will build a new, state-of-the art logistics centre near the capital of Belgrade.
Owned by the Šešok family, Iskra develops sustainable solutions for intelligent automation of public infrastructure, energy efficiency and management of homes and industry, and produces advanced electrical installation products.
A Yugoslav-era electromechanics, telecommunications, electronics and automaton giant, Iskra was founded in Kranj in 1946. After independence it was divided into several companies and privatised with the Šešok family holding one of its parts.
