FRUIT FORUM SOUTH- EAST EUROPE 2023A specialized business event for the fresh fruit and vegetable industry, FruitNet Forum South-East Europe, which was held at the&nbsp;Chamber of Commerce and Industry of&nbsp; Serbia, gathered more than 40 producers and exporters from Serbia and the Western Balkan region. These companies had the opportunity to meet 10 prestigious European buyers and distributors of fresh fruits and vegetables, such as Champion-Fruit Kft - Hungary, ICA - Sweden, Arctic - Poland/Norway, Eurogroup - Italy, Consorfrut - Poland, Greenyard - Belgium, and others.
Fruitnet Forum South East Europe 2023 was organized in partnership with the international media house Fruitnet Media International, with the support of the Project "Big Small Economy" financed by the American Agency for International Development (USAID).

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Belgrade - A New Center in Europe and Export Hub for Companies Matchmaking 

The start of the production of the electric car "Fiat Grande Panda" in Kragujevac is one of the most significant dates for the Serbian economy in the last few decades, said Marko Čadež, the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS).Čadež, in a guest appearance on national TV, pointed out that what is coming to Serbia with the "electric panda" is technology, knowledge, and revolutionary developments in eMobility. Today, he added, Serbia is a country where many things are produced for the automotive industry, which employs thousands of workers, and half of our exports to Germany are products related to "e-mobility". Čadež said that the whole project has a much greater reach than the impact on GDP, the investment itself, or the export gain. "This is first of all revolutionary when it comes to moving the Serbian economy into the future, that is what is important and I would not look at it separately from other things that have been happening in Serbia for the last ten years," said Čadež.
Talking about the growth of the Serbian economy, he emphasized the importance of the recently signed free trade agreements with the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Egypt, and in particular, the memorandum of the EU and Serbia on strategic raw materials, which, as he said, would enable alignment in every step with&nbsp;European norms when it comes to environmental protection, consumer protection, food safety... He added that the Olympics in France would also significantly contribute to the development of the domestic economy because, in addition to promoting our country at the "Serbian House" in Paris, the CCIS, together with the Government of Serbia and partners, will organize a business forum of Serbian and French companies, which, he said, had already expressed their desire to cooperate with domestic businessmen.

Čadež: The Start of Pproduction of "e-Panda" is One of the Most Significant Dates for the Serbian Economy

Cairo, July 14th
The President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS) Marko Čadež presented a Digital Business Assistant at the Egyptian-Serbian Business Forum in Cairo and pointed out to Egyptian partners the possibility of using this service based on artificial intelligence to connect and cooperate with businessmen.
He pointed out that the CCIS already has a large number of databases on how to do business in Serbia and stated that within the next ten days, companies from Egypt can check the customs rates, or the quantity and price of exported apples per ton, on the English page of the CCIS website, for example. Also, as he said, to find partners, find out how to open an account, and get all relevant information important for business or opening a company. This platform exists to help entrepreneurs add value, expand businesses&hellip; The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, stated that the two countries are opening a new era in relations, as well as in economic cooperation, and invited Egyptian companies to participate in the specialized Expo 2027 exhibition in Belgrade. "We see a new era in our relations with the friendly country of Egypt. There is a lot to be done and there is a lot ahead of you and Serbia, and I hope that we will be able to fulfill it appropriately. We invite you as a country and companies to participate in the specialized exhibition EXPO 2027 in Belgrade, which means that we are interested in seeing some of your companies. We hope they can come to Belgrade and see what we can do together in the territory of Serbia," said Vučić. The President of Serbia announced that Air Serbia will resume flights between Belgrade and Cairo as soon as possible.
The Prime Minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Mostafa Madbouli, assessed that the organization of such a forum marks a new era in the development of economic relations between the two countries, which goes hand in hand with exceptional political relations.
"This forum reflects the fruitful cooperation and strong ties that connect our two countries, especially since the historic visit of His Excellency President of Egypt&nbsp;Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to Serbia in July 2022. It reflects our common commitment to strengthen our economic ties and to expand investment cooperation between Egypt and Serbia," Madbuli said.
Madbuli welcomed the signing of the Agreement on Free Trade between Egypt and Serbia signed in the presence of President Vučić and Sisi, and assessed that the agreement will multiply the trade between the two countries in the next five years.
&nbsp;"As one of the largest nations in the Western Balkans, Serbia is the gateway to Europe, and Egypt is the gateway for Serbian products to Africa, thanks to the free trade agreements we have with the African continent," Madbuli said.
&nbsp;He welcomed President Vučić, as he said, the president of the friendly country of Serbia, as well as the Serbian delegation to "their second homeland, Egypt".
The president of the General&nbsp;Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce, Ahmed Al Wakil, called on Serbian entrepreneurs to do business with the Egyptian ones and emphasized that the two countries can together increase exports to third markets and thereby achieve additional benefits from the signed Free Trade Agreement.
&nbsp;"Egypt, thanks to its position at the crossroads of trade routes, connects more than three billion consumers", said the President of the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce and said that now is the time for Egypt and Serbia to unite and further improve their economic potential.
The president of the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce, called on Serbian entrepreneurs to do business with the Egyptian ones and emphasized that the two countries can together increase exports to third markets and thereby achieve additional benefits from the signed Free Trade Agreement.
&nbsp;"Egypt, thanks to its position at the crossroads of trade routes, connects more than three billion consumers", said the President of the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce and said that now is the time for Egypt and Serbia to unite and further improve their economic potential.
"Together we can increase exports to third countries, through subcontracts that provide us with added value, but we can also have large investments and benefits from the Free Trade Agreement," Vakil said.
&nbsp;The Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of Egypt, Hassan Al Khatib, said that the positive economic projections of Serbia and Egypt indicate great opportunities to strengthen and expand economic and trade relations.
He stated that the growth rate of the Serbian economy accelerated in the second half of 2023 and that the economy of Egypt has also shown that it is resilient in times of challenges and crises and that they have an influx of large foreign investments.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
Al Khatib also said that the forum is taking place while Serbia and Egypt are celebrating 115 years of bilateral relations, during which the partnership has only strengthened, as evidenced by the recent visits of the heads of state.
Minister of Internal and Foreign Trade Tomislav Momirović said that partial and full liberalization for agricultural products from Serbia will begin immediately, as soon as the Free Trade Agreement with Egypt enters into force without a transition period, and that the liberalization for industrial products will be in phases of 10 years from entry into force of the Agreement.
"Almost 50 percent of agricultural products originating from Serbia will be able to be exported immediately without customs duties when it comes to industrial products. The agreement foresees that 30 percent of industrial products over 10 years will be marketed similarly," said the minister. Serbia will improve access for about 83 percent of agricultural and fruit products originating from Egypt, Momirović emphasized, and full liberalization will apply to 55 percent of tariff lines for imports from Egypt to Serbia.
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​Čadež Invited Egyptian Businessmen to do Business in Serbia

Marko Čadež, the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia&nbsp;(CCIS), said today in Cairo, where the Serbia-Egypt Women's Business Forum is being held, that the cooperation between the two countries in the coming years will be marked by greater mutual trade and mutual investments, more Serbian products and companies in Egypt market and Egyptian in Serbian, and most importantly, more joint projects - companies and investments.
At the Forum, which brought together domestic entrepreneurs, businesswomen, and representatives of large companies, and which was attended by the first lady of Serbia, Tamara Vučić, Čadež called on the Serbian and Egyptian women's business community for even stronger cooperation.
"Neither our economies separately nor our joint story will be complete or successful enough if businesses run by successful women are not part of it. There are so many opportunities for Egyptian companies to be present on the European continent through joint ventures and cooperation with Serbian companies and for Serbian companies to be present through Egypt on the entire African continent," said Čadež, speaking at the Forum.
There is something else, he points out, that makes Serbia special when it comes to female entrepreneurship, today's new economy, and the digital world.
"We are one of the first countries in the number of women in leadership positions in new technologies, artificial intelligence, data science, and machine learning, and 40 percent of leadership positions in these fields are occupied by women. This is something we are very proud of," said Čadež.Čadež pointed out that Serbia is a new European technological and biotechnology hub whose first product is software, while the IT sector is the fastest growing segment of the economy and noted that our country is above the European average in the number of women in science and the leader in the number of women working in artificial intelligence and gaming industry.
Today, the President of the CCIS had a meeting with the President of the Federation of Egyptian Chambers, Ahmed al-Wakil, the Ambassador of Egypt to Serbia, Bassel Saleh, and Dalia al-Havari, the Vice-President of the&nbsp;General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) of Egypt, with whom he discussed the possibilities of cooperation on joint projects. and strengthening economic ties between the two countries.

Čadež: Cooperation between Serbia and Egypt will be Marked by Greater Trade and Mutual Investments

The economic cooperation between Serbia and Austria is excellent and our country represents an important export point for Austrian companies, while those operating on the Serbian market see Serbia as a leader in dual education in the Western Balkans and are satisfied with the professionals who are trained according to the dual education model. This was pointed out during the talks between Marko Čadež, the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia Harald Marer the president of the&nbsp;Austrian Chamber of Commerce, and Friedrich Stift, director of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).
Western Balkan is the focus of Austrian businessmen for the first time, especially the Serbian and Albanian markets, said Čadež in Vienna, where he attended the traditional Export Day organized by the Austrian Chamber of Commerce. Marer said that the trust between the two chambers was important, since they advise governments&nbsp;on valid economic issues, adding that he has excellent cooperation with the president of the CCIS. "Austria is happy to invest in the Balkans, Austrian companies are happy to invest in Serbia. We have a long tradition of thinking together about what Europe needs, we are oriented towards innovation and technological progress," said Marer. As he pointed out more open borders are needed with&nbsp;the Western Balkan region to strengthen trade further. "This strengthens the future of our continent." We want the Balkan countries to get one step closer to EU membership. The stability that the region can have in the future is based on shared prosperity. We are ready to contribute to this at all levels, including our companies that want to work and make money. Our countries can develop on those foundations," Marer said.
In the conversation between Čadež and Fridrich Stift, director of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), it was stated that in terms of dual education, Serbia was the leader in the Balkans, while interest in this educational model is growing in Kosovo and Albania. The economic cooperation between Serbia and Austria is excellent. Serbia is an important export point for Austrian companies, while Serbian market operators see Serbia as a leader in dual education in the Western Balkans. They are satisfied with the professionals trained according to the dual education model. This was highlighted during discussions between Marko Čadež, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, Harald Marer of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, and Friedrich Stift, director of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).
Čadež mentioned that the Western Balkans, especially the Serbian and Albanian markets, are the focus of Austrian businessmen for the first time. Marer emphasized the importance of trust between the two chambers, which advise governments on valid economic issues. He also expressed excellent cooperation with the president of the CCIS. 
Marer stated, "Austria is happy to invest in the Balkans, and Austrian companies are happy to invest in Serbia. We have a long tradition of thinking together about what Europe needs, oriented towards innovation and technological progress." 
It was indicated that more open borders with the Western Balkan region are necessary to further strengthen trade and "the future of our continent." They aim for the Balkan countries to get closer to EU membership, contributing to shared prosperity and stability in the region. 
During the conversation between Čadež and Fridrich Stift, director of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), it was stated that Serbia is a leader in the Balkans in the field of dual education. Interest in this educational model is growing in Kosovo and Albania.

Marer: Serbia is an Important Export Point for Austrian Companies

"Serbia, together with the other economies of the Western Balkans, has great potential to be a serious partner to large economies like France, especially in the context of the inclusion of our companies in global supply chains," said Mihailo Vesović, Director of the Sector for Strategic Analysis, Services and Internationalization of the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia, on the panel dedicated to the cooperation between France and the Western Balkan region within the Business Forum "France-Western Balkans: Production, supply chain, and ESG practices".
At the meeting organized by the French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the French Embassy in Belgrade and the French foreign trade advisers, it was pointed out that the economic ties between Serbia and France are very strong and have base in developed trade exchange of goods and services and significant French investments, especially in capital projects in Serbia. The Ambassador of France to Serbia, Pierre Koshar, said that holding the Forum is a sign of the vitality of relations between France and Serbia.&nbsp; "Since the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron in 2019, we have strengthened the economic exchange between our two countries, and at the regional level there is also a dynamic that favors the French presence, supported by the strategic priority we give to the Western Balkans," Koshar said. According to him, the exchange between Serbia and France has tripled in the last 10 years, and energy, transport, and sustainable development are the leading sectors of cooperation.&nbsp; Serbian Minister of Trade, Tomislav Momirović invited French companies to invest in Serbia, highlighting the potential for expanding cooperation in agriculture and agro-industry. Since, as he said, large companies are interested not only in Serbia, but in the entire Western Balkans because individual markets are small and they must consolidate, Serbia has "taken a leading role and developed into a regional industrial, commercial, but also digital 'hub'", which means that it has attracted 80 percent of French investments in the region - the minister pointed out.&nbsp; Momirović mentioned the preparation of the specialized world exhibition "EXPO 2027" in Belgrade as an important project, where he expects the participation of French companies as well. The president of the French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Dragan Stokić, said that the two-day forum gathered 150 companies from France and the countries of the Western Balkans and more than 20 panelists from renowned French companies, representatives of institutions and companies from the Western Balkans.<div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/20240613_152110_960x720.jpg" id="image-tag-1718370105433" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="1207"></div>

France an Important Partner for the Region of Western Balkans

Around 40 Belgian companies from the river transport, logistics, and shipping sectors will visit Serbia in September to explore investment opportunities. Additionally, a business forum will be held in Belgrade with representatives from the Israeli Federation of Chambers of Commerce. This was announced by Marko Čadež, the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia&nbsp;and a member of the Board of Directors of the Eurochambres.
In Antwerp, where the Assembly and Congress of the Eurochambres is being held, Čadež pointed out that the economic environment in Serbia has changed significantly in recent years. He emphasized that there is a substantial, untapped potential for investment in Serbian rivers, particularly the Danube. "We are aiming to become a logistical hub for the entire continent, and it is crucial to be well-prepared," said Čadež. The president of the CCIS articulated that the Assembly of the Eurochambers,&nbsp; the&nbsp; European business association representing 20 million companies, presented an exceptional platform for engaging in discussions with peers from multiple chambers of commerce. These discussions have encompassed aspects of further cooperation and the integration of business communities, in addition to considering the expectations of entrepreneurs and the ramifications of the recently held European Parliament elections on the European economy, our region, and our country.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Eurochambers, Ben Butters, stated that the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia is an important member of the Eurochambers, and that its president has been a very active member of the Board of Directors of the European Association of Businessmen for years, and that a lot has been done together to improve cooperation with the chambers of the Western Balkans. "We are extremely interested in cooperation with the Chambers of Commerce of the Western Balkans - to support them and provide new opportunities on the way to the EU," Butters said. Leaders and representatives of European chambers of commerce agree that cooperation with CCIS, Serbian companies, and institutions is good and that there is a strong desire of European partners for an even stronger connection with the economy of Serbia. &nbsp;Vice President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, Marta Schulz, recalling the long-term joint activities of the Serbian and Austrian chambers, says that "as an entrepreneur, she knows how important it is to have strong chambers of commerce and that they cooperate in the European Union under the auspices of the Eurochamber." President of the Chamber of Commerce of Ukraine Gennady Chizhikov emphasized the hospitality of the CCIS to the Ukrainian delegation that visited Serbia in November last year. "We had an excellent economic forum at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Ukrainian companies are interested in continuing cooperation with Serbian companies. There are many possibilities, starting from the reconstruction of Ukraine to joint inclusion in the EU single market," Chizhikov said. The President of the Chamber of Commerce of Latvia, Aigars Rostovskis, emphasized that it is important that the Serbian Chamber and the economy are part of the European business community, while the President of the Chamber of Commerce of Georgia, Georgi Pertaja, stressed: "that the Georgian Chamber of all European chambers has perhaps the most intensive cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia". Konstantinos Moraitidis, representative of the Chamber of Commerce of Thessaloniki confirms his excellent experience with the Serbian Chamber, institutions and companies. "We are here to strengthen business ties and encourage our businessmen to cooperate even better."
According to Andras Rev, the president of the Danube Federation of Chambers of Commerce, this business association is an excellent platform for improving cooperation between states and business associations and is useful for all entrepreneurs because it opens up opportunities for them to jointly apply for funds from EU funds. The president of the CCIS affirmed that the Assembly of the Eurochamber, the largest European business association encompassing 20 million companies, presented an exceptional opportunity for engaging in constructive dialogues with colleagues from various chambers of commerce. These discussions centered on fostering enhanced cooperation, fostering connections among business communities, while also addressing the expectations of entrepreneurs and the ramifications of the recently concluded elections for the European Parliament on the European economy, our region, and our country.

Čadež: Belgian Investors Interested in Serbian Rivers

At the symposium dedicated to economic cooperation between Serbia and Turkey, Mihailo Vesović, director of the Department for Strategic Analysis, Services and Internationalization of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, pointed out that economic relations between Serbia and Turkey are on an upward trajectory, which is the result of the joint work of the institutions and business communities of the two countries.
“In the last ten years, the focus of trade relations between our two countries has shifted from the textile industry to the automotive industry, from the metal industry to the plastic industry, and today the development of the financial services sector is dominant," Vesović said. He added that when financial institutions, such as the Turkish Halkbank, show up in a certain market, it signals to the business community that it can safely operate in that market with reduced risk. "For us, the construction sector is also important, which significantly contributes to GDP growth, and the specialized exhibition EXPO 2027 will be an opportunity for cooperation between Serbian and Turkish companies, which will contribute to the accelerated development of the Serbian economy," Vesović added.
Osman Arslan, the president of the Turkish-Serbian Business Association and general director of Halkbank, pointed out that this bank has been operating in Serbia for nine years, has 41 branches, and 90 percent of its clients are Serbian companies. "Serbia and Turkey are opening new horizons in strengthening economic cooperation, which is important for business stability, especially in a world facing political and economic challenges," said Arslan. Hami Aksoy, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Serbia, emphasized that the economic relations between the two countries are at an extremely high level. "Over 1,000 Turkish companies operate in Serbia, and the number of investors is constantly growing. Cooperation between Serbian and Turkish companies is present not only in traditional sectors but also in the renewable energy sources and the IT sector," said Aksoy. He added that cooperation is also significant in the tourism sector, where the number of Turkish tourists in Serbia has increased by 40 percent. "The fact that there are 50 flights a week between Belgrade and Istanbul, as well as the fact that there is a direct flight from Belgrade to Ankara, testifies to the strong tourism sector and business relations," said Aksoy.

New Horizons in Cooperation Between Serbia And Turkey

Serbia and Japan have entered a new era of economic relations, as evidenced by the increasing investments from Japan in recent years said Marko Čadež, the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia,&nbsp; during his visit to Japan, highlighting the collaborative efforts to reach an agreement on protecting and promoting assets.&nbsp;
A state-economic delegation from Serbia is currently in Tokyo from June 3 to 6. During this economic mission, they showcased the potential of the Serbian economy to Japan. The visit was organized in collaboration with the Government of Japan, as well as the Development Agency of Serbia (DAS) and CCIS. The delegation included the ministers of trade, science and economy, Tomislav Momirović, Jelena Begović and Adrijana Mesarović, alongside Marko Čadež, and representatives of DAS and Serbian companies such as ELIXIR Group, MIND Group, MIKROELEKTRONIKA, BITGEAR, SMARTCAT, and Pepper consulting group (PSG).&nbsp;
Marko Čadež emphasized the significant progress in economic relations, stating, "We have a clear mission and have come with a clear message following the Serbia-Japan Business Summit held in Belgrade two years ago. We are now in a new era of economic relations, with the number of Japanese investments and established factories showing an increasing trend. Over 250 million euros have been invested since then, and almost 500 million euros over the last five years, demonstrating a growing trend."
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Companies from Japan are interested in coming to Serbia and investing in production processes and facilities, primarily because of the proximity and entry into the European market. There is a noticeable trend of shifting investments from Asia to Europe, and according to Čadež, Serbia is in a good geographical position.
It was agreed to speed up the work on the development of an agreement on the protection and promotion of investments, and the president of the CCIS said that the finalization of this agreement could be expected at the beginning of the following year. Also, he added that it has been agreed that a visit of Japanese companies to Serbia would be organized already at the beginning of autumn, primarily in the field of artificial intelligence, IT, and innovative hardware.
"We came with domestic companies to show that Serbia can offer innovative solutions to the largest Japanese companies and corporations that have big challenges and need fresh ideas and smaller companies that will offer some solutions more flexibly," explains Čadež. The President of CCIS emphasized that the reopening of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) office in Serbia would be additional support for existing and new investors in the Serbian economy and a significant signal for strengthening the long-term economic dialogue between Serbia and Japan. 
During the meeting at the Japanese Business Association "Keidanren", Čadež pointed out that the Serbian economy has transformed into a knowledge-based economy, moving from traditional industries to high-tech industries. As part of this transformation, Japanese colleagues, who possess expertise and advanced technologies, were presented with the potential for investments in green transition projects and cooperation in the field of information and communication technologies.
During the visit to Japan, meetings were held with representatives of several Japanese ministries - for foreign affairs, internal affairs, and communications, which is responsible for artificial intelligence, trade, and science, as well as with representatives of the Japan Foreign Trade Organization.
A business forum was also organized where investment and business opportunities in Serbia were presented to Japanese companies. Discussions were held with members of the most influential and largest Japanese business association "Keidanren", which represents the interests of the largest Japanese companies, and meetings were also held with fifteen of the largest multinational companies from Japan, including Mitsubishi, Toyota, Hitachi, Itochu, Japan Tobacco, Toshiba, Takenaka. 

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A New Era of Economic Relations between Serbia and Japan

At the Business Forum held at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, more than 90 Serbian and over 20 Greek companies in various industries such as food, chemical industry, construction, production of construction materials, environmental protection, energy, logistics, and renewable energy sources had the opportunity to establish contacts with business partners, exchange knowledge and experience, and improve business through new cooperation.Mihailo Vesović, Director of the Sector for Strategic Analysis, Services, and Internationalization of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, highlighted the potential for improving economic cooperation between Greece and Serbia, especially in the sector of services and investments. He pointed out Serbia's recent intensive development in the ICT sector, energy, and digitization, and mentioned the upcoming opportunities for investments and new jobs within the Expo 2027 projects. <div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/28052024 Пословни форум Србија - Грчка (14)_960x639.jpg" id="image-tag-1716984776895" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="1191"></div>The presence of numerous Greek companies in Serbia was highlighted as an indicator of good economic ties by the ambassador of Greece in Serbia, Maria Levanti, and acting Assistant Minister for Economic Diplomacy, Ambassador Jagoda Lazarevic. They emphasized that both sides should utilize the full potential for improving cooperation. Eleni Foti and Viki Makrigiani, directors of International Economic Relations of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and the Greek Federation of Enterprises, referred to the record results of the trade exchange between Serbia and Greece in 2023, and pointed out the possibilities of concrete cooperation in the field of logistics, construction, the metal sector, energy, and waste treatment. <div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/28052024 Пословни форум Србија - Грчка (24)_960x639.jpg" id="image-tag-1716984789322" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="1192"></div>The forum was organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Greece in Belgrade, the Association of Greek Companies, the Chamber of Commerce of Athens, and the Agency for Export Promotion and Investment Support of Greece. The event included about 140 B2B meetings within the framework of the European Entrepreneurship Network. Presentations were given by Elias Eliades, representative of Enterprise Greece, and Vladimir Tomić, representative of the Development Agency of Serbia, focusing on opportunities for business and investment in Serbia and Greece.

Knowledge Exchange and New Business Contacts at the Serbia-Greece 2024 Forum

Serbia is facing a new big investment cycle, greening and modernization of technology and economy, said today Marko Čadež, the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia at the Italy-Serbia Business Forum in Trieste and invited Italian businessmen to invest in our country, which thanks to the numerous signed and announced free trade agreements, gives access to markets of almost 2.8 billion consumers.
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A year after the business forum of Serbian and Italian businessmen was held in Belgrade, according to Čadež, the results are visible today. "Since the last forum we organized a year ago, more than 100 companies with a majority Italian or mixed Italian-Serbian capital have been established in Serbia. That's already a big result. In that period, almost all the most important agencies for financing and promoting investments from Italy opened their offices in Belgrade and operated in the entire region from there. This is very important because these agencies were not present at all in our region before" said Čadež. According to him, more than 200 companies, both Serbian and Italian, are present in Trieste today, and CCIS has organized almost 500 B2B talks. The President of the Chamber says that it is a very important segment of the Forum that businessmen have the opportunity to talk with the ministers present and invited Italian colleagues to use the BizChat Service created by CCIS through which they can get all the necessary information for doing business in Serbia. He emphasized the importance of Trieste as a port city in Italy in the future, both for the Serbian and the European economy, and said that the two economies ought to work together and use all the potential for cooperation.

He expects as he pointed out, that in six months, a new business forum of Italian and Serbian businessmen will be organized and held in Serbia, thereby continuing the strengthening of cooperation between the two economies. "Today, we are creating something together that is a new framework for the new European economy." We are not divided into southern, northern, old and new Europe, or into members and those who are not, but into those who have a vision and those who don't," said Čadež.

Čadež in Trieste: Serbia Is Facing A New Big Investment Cycle

Green transition, information and communication technologies, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology, in addition to traditional sectors of cooperation, will be the focus of the Business Forum of Serbian and Italian businessmen, which will be held tomorrow in Trieste, announced the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, Marko Čadež, in an interview with the Italian news agency "Nova".&nbsp;
Economic relations between Italy and Serbia have been traditionally successful and new chapters for further cooperation are opening in sectors that are yet to be explored. The business forum of Serbian and Italian businessmen, the second in a row, will gather more than 200 companies, with the participation of high political officials, which is very significant because many of our projects, such as those on infrastructure, green transition, sustainability, are part of the Government's state plan and are financed from public sources, pointed out the president of the CCIS.&nbsp;
"1,300 Italian companies are working in Serbia that employ about 30,000 people, almost like a 'small town'." Italy is one of our major trading partners, the trade exchange of goods and services reached around 5 billion euros, and what is specific about Italy is that 60 percent of Italian companies in Serbia are small and medium-sized enterprises," clarifies Čadež.
The president of CCIS states that Italian companies were forerunners in many sectors, such as Fiat in the automotive industry and the joint venture of Fintel and MK Group, which built the first wind farm in Serbia. He pointed out that Serbia is one of the countries with the highest economic growth on the continent in the last five years, and the driving force is the most innovative sector. "The ICT sector is continuously growing by about 40 percent per year, and the growth rate is still increasing. &nbsp;In the field of new technologies, Serbia is today recognized as one of the most competitive centers. &nbsp;We have 6.5 million inhabitants, and the value of software exports is expected to reach around 5 billion euros this year, while it is estimated that this number will reach 10 billion by 2027. Italian companies recognize this competitive advantage and are coming to Serbia," Čadež emphasized.
Among the traditional sectors, the most important is infrastructure, and as he points out, the ``ace up a sleeve'' is Expo 2027, which will be held in Belgrade. Belgrade will be the “center of the world” in 2027 and huge development is expected in the field of real estate and infrastructure. This is a real opportunity for Italian companies.
"Trieste is very important as a maritime hub and center of trade between Western Europe, Italy, and our southeastern part of Europe. The connections exist, they just need to be completely modernized, he added.
The President of the CCIS reminded us that Serbia has a competitive advantage thanks to free trade agreements, not only with the EU but with Turkey, China and all former Soviet republics, which enable direct duty-free access to markets with 2.8 billion consumers.
"The Western Balkans is the region in Europe that will have the greatest growth in the next five to seven years, counting the starting point where we are now", notes the president of&nbsp; CCIS and adds that there are also significant capacities in the hydropower sector and the field of solar energy.
The economic connection between Serbia and Italy is part of a wider geographical vision, the region of the Western Balkans and Europe. Economic perspectives and possible courses of action to strengthen the Italian presence in the region are exactly what the strategic plan for the Adriatic-Balkan region of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy, created in February 2023 in cooperation with the institutions' ICE, SACE, SIMEST, and diplomatic missions, foresees. In the period from 2023 to the beginning of 2024, offices of SACE, SIMEST, and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) were opened in Belgrade.
Čadež positively assessed the Italian government's decision to open agencies and regional offices, as well as to allocate funds for credit support to Italian companies that want to do business in the Western Balkans market, especially in Serbia. As he pointed out, the inclusion of the Western Balkans in the EU even before full membership is a new growth plan that is already being implemented. "We are aware that enlargement is a political process that is still in progress, but our competitiveness as a European economy cannot wait if we want to play a role among the big players," indicates Čadež.
He called on Italian companies and entrepreneurs to invest now and be part of the success because the Western Balkans region, and especially Serbia, which is the largest country, will experience expansion in the next seven years from an economic point of view, and judging by the numbers, it is already on the rise.
"It is obvious that after entering the single market, and eventually with EU membership, things will change exponentially in all sectors," concludes Čadež.<a href="https://www.agenzianova.com/news/cadez-camera-di-commercio-serba-a-nova-aprire-nuovi-orizzonti-nella-cooperazione-storica-con-litalia/">Article Agenzia Nova</a>&nbsp;

Čadež: We Invite Italian Businessmen To Invest In Serbia

In the United States Congress today, the Memorandum on the Cooperation of the Chambers of Commerce of the Western Balkans in the field of tourism was signed. Mihailo Vesović, Director of the Sector for Strategic Analysis, Services, and Internationalization at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, signed the memorandum on behalf of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Vesović stated that this is the first joint step in presenting the Western Balkans as a unique tourist destination for American visitors. He also emphasized that this is part of the joint effort to change the image of the region in the American public. Vesović highlighted the opportunity for better positioning and promotion of other economic areas of cooperation for Serbia, as the largest market in the Western Balkans.<div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/image2_634x640.jpeg" id="image-tag-1716477735910" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="1185"></div>The CCIS delegation participated in the Economic Forum of Southeast Europe, held in the US Congress and organized by the Transatlantic Leadership Network, the European Center of the Atlantic Council from Washington, and the Institute for Politics and Economics of Southeast Europe from Belgrade. The forum brought together state officials, representatives of chambers, business associations, the US administration, and experts dealing with the Western Balkans. The forum discussed the improvement of economic cooperation and integration in the Western Balkans provided by the "New EU Growth Plan" and the role of the USA, as well as the challenges that the business community is facing. <div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/image31_960x393.jpeg" id="image-tag-1716477745636" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="1186"></div>The forum also delved into the discussion on energy diversification and the challenges and opportunities that the green energy transition provides. Nenad Đurđević, advisor to the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, emphasized the importance of deepening regional cooperation as one of the preconditions for participation in the EU single market. Đurđević highlighted the need for better institutional coordination and cooperation of all actors in the Western Balkans to take advantage of the Single European market. During the visit to Washington, the CCIS delegation will have meetings with representatives of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the US Congress, representatives of the State Department, Assistant Secretary for Europe, Eurasia David DeFalco, co-chair of the Caucus for Serbia, Claudia Teni, and representatives of the DFC (Development Finance Corporation).