Socio economic values

Due to its canyon character, the river's middle course is used for hydro-energy. There are ten hydropower plants in the river basins, seven in Neretva and three in Trebisnjica. There are also plans to build further big ones, three in Neretva and four in Trebisnjica basin, including the plan of transferring water from the karstic fields of the so called "Upper Horizon" of Eastern Herzegovina into the Trebisnjica River basin with the purpose of exploiting its hydropower potential.

Several towns are situated along the Neretva river, the biggest being Mostar (101,249 inhabitants in 1998 and expected to rise until 2015 even up to 180,000). Industrial plants are mainly situated at bigger settlements (primarily food, aluminium, lumber, construction material and light industry).

Small and medium enterprise (SME) is the most important and vital segment of economic in the region of Neretva river basin. Out of the total number of employed persons in Herzegovina, the SME sector employs 65 to 70% of people. The structure of the existing SME sector in Herzegovina is primarily of service and trade character and the remaining is of manufacturing character.

Regarding industrial sector, the leading is food industry, mainly meet industry, then industry of vine and non-alcohol beverages, so as milk industry. Other industries in the region are mostly textile and metal industry.


Agriculture plays an important and strategic role in the economic development of this region. It might be a key segment of economic development. Natural resources such as climate, land and water ensure high potential for developing various primary agricultural productions. As the most productive part of the Neretva basin are areas around Čapljina and Gabela, and around Mostar, Ljubuški, Stolac and Trebinje.

The identified priority focus areas in agricultural production are:

• agricultural production (specified cereals, cattle feed, potato) in mountainous areas;
• tobacco with slightly changed tobacco type, new land parcelling and new technologies as an indigenous Herzegovina product (Herzegovina rolled tobacco "škija", tobacco for pipes);
• production of fruit, wine and seedlings;
• production of vegetables, medicinal and aromatic herbs, spices and seeds;
• floricultural production;
• gathering herbs and fruit in nature;
• cattle breeding, small cattle, fish-farms (river and sea fish), production of honey;
• rural production, small dairy farms, production of indigenous agricultural products using raw materials produced in the region and autochthonous cultivar and technologies including production of organic food.

Tourism
The geographical position of Herzegovina, its mild Mediterranean climate, exit to the Adriatic coast and its hinterland provides ample opportunity for development of summer tourism. The existing tourism development trends do not include exclusively "sunshine and sea", but also well-planned and organized additional tourist attractions such as cruising, rafting, hiking, visiting historic sights, etc.

Herzegovina is also one of the world famous religious tourist sights. There are plenty of very valuable religious and cultural monuments in this area belonging to different religions, the most important ones being an Orthodox Church cut in solid rock, fourth in the world by the value of its frescos, Roznamedzijina and Karadjozbegova Mosque in Mostar, Franciscan Monastery in Scit, Monastery in Humac, Monastery in Trebinje, Islamic pilgrimage house in Blagaj, fortress in Pocitelj, Monastery in Siroki Brijeg, as well as numerous other valuable sights.

Medjugorje is a world famous Christian pilgrimage sight, a meeting point of various civilizations and religions that has been visited by over one million pilgrims during the past 25 years.

High concentration of cultural and historic monuments and sights and an abundant wealth of natural beauties present a sound foundation for perspective development of nature, religious and cultural tourism throughout the year.