Multinational and high-tech company Jaga based in Belgium, a world-renowned manufacturer of air conditioners, will open a production facility and a research and development center in the MIND Industrial park in Kragujevac, announced today Marko Čadež, the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS). 
This company is one of the most innovative in its field, it operates in 35 countries and will employ our engineers in the scientific research center in Kragujevac. In Serbia, we aim to create a hub for Belgian and other companies. Following Jaga and thanks to the cooperation of CCIS and the East West Valley investment group, we are expecting other investors soon, and some have already announced their arrival, Čadež emphasized. &nbsp; "Our Belgian friends decided to come to the MIND park in Kragujevac, one of the most modern in Europe, which shows that Serbia is an excellent investment destination and that it offers everything that top companies need, bringing the most modern technologies and knowledge," said the president of CCIS.
Bratislav Milanović, founder and director of the MIND Group, thanked the representatives of the East West Valley Group for choosing MIND Park for their project. Opened in 2018, Mind Group, Siemens Mobility, Avnet, Skoda transportation, IME Autolift, HADLER Serbia, CAF, STEFTRANS, Selvadia and Nelt are already operating in this technology park.

Herbert Huben, the president of the East West Valley company, pointed out that MIND Park and Kragujevac have all the infrastructure and educational centers important for the realization of this company's plans in Serbia. The is investment worth 35 million euros, said Huben and&nbsp;the plan is to build large plants and gradually expand capacity. East West Valley CEO Bart Kanini said that the focus of this investment group is on small and medium enterprises as well as nearshoring. "This is the beginning of successful cooperation, and we expect new companies in Serbia very soon," Kanini concluded.<div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/Sequence 01.00_09_24_05.Still001.jpg" id="image-tag-1690027831649" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="992"></div><div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/Sequence 01.00_12_04_03.Still002.jpg" id="image-tag-1690027867942" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="993"></div>

Čadež: Belgian Company Jaga Invests in Kragujevac

The signing of a free trade agreement between Serbia and Israel would be a significant step forward and concrete support for increasingly intensive economic cooperation and connecting economies in various fields. This includes increasing the exchange of goods and services, sharing knowledge, and collaborating in innovative technologies. This was a joint message from the presidents of the two countries, Aleksandar Vučić and Isak Herzog, the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, Marko Čadež, as well as representatives of organizations and institutions who participated in the Round Table "Synergy in Innovation and Trade: Talks between Serbia and Israel".
President Vučić stated that he&nbsp;expects to complete all the&nbsp;necessary steps and finalize the Free Trade Agreement with Israel within a few months. Ministers in the Serbian government were instructed to&nbsp;speed up the preparatory actions required to sign that document. "That would be the most effective continuation of today's round table and the beginning of a new, much deeper, more serious and responsible cooperation," said Vučić. He also highlighted the need for Serbian businessmen to learn from the Israelis on how they became the center of the world in terms of startup companies.
"The President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, believes that there is a significant potential for economic cooperation between his country and Serbia. He expects that this cooperation will triple and that the ultimate goal of the relationship between the two countries is to sign a Free Trade Agreement."
"Serbia has an incredible economy that is experiencing constant growth and has great potential. Serbia is located in the heart of Europe, between East and West, and is less than a three-hour flight away from Israel in many spheres of life. The labor market is very good, with high-quality experts who have good skills, and we can talk about endless investments in both countries," said Herzog.
Marko Čadež, the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, highlighted that in recent years, Israel has emerged as Serbia's fourth largest export market outside of Europe. Since the official opening of the CCIS representative office in Jerusalem in 2021, the bilateral trade between the two countries has tripled. He emphasized that the nature of collaboration has undergone a qualitative shift, now focusing on innovation.
"Since 2021, we have connected several hundred Serbian and Israeli companies and done a good part of the work when it comes to marketing our products, but there is still a long way to go in terms of what I believe we can achieve together," said Čadež. According to the president, CCIS has prepared a catalog of goods and services that Israel currently imports, and Serbia can be more competitive in terms of pricing.
"What is much more important, we have prepared a catalog of our industrial and free zones, chemical parks, where we can very quickly establish a kind of temporary production center in Serbia with complete logistics for Israeli companies," Chadez said. He says that the focus in future cooperation will be on the transfer of knowledge and experience that Israel possesses.
Aleksandar Nikolić, director of the CCIS Representative Office in Israel, has pointed out that 2023 marked a record year in foreign trade exchange between the two countries, reaching 121.3 million euros. He emphasizes that this is the opportune time for a forum and meetings involving representatives of institutions, organizations, and businesses from Serbia and Israel. This is due to the high level of interest from Israeli investors in investing in Serbia, particularly in the renewable energy sector.
He mentioned that the EXPO 2027 exhibition presents an excellent opportunity for Israeli companies and joint projects. The exhibition was introduced to Israeli guests by Sinisa Mali, the First Vice-President of the Government of Serbia and the Minister of Finance.
The head of the Directorate for Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, Yael Ravia Caduk, assessed that this is a time of great opportunities for our economies, and the synergies of our innovative eco-systems. She pointed out that Serbian companies have opened doors in the field of hi-tec and traditional trade.
The round table "Synergy in Innovation and Trade: Talks between Serbia and Israel" was organized by CCIS in cooperation with the Embassy of Israel in Belgrade. The aim was to exchange past experiences and create plans for future cooperation between representatives of the economies and institutions of the two countries.
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The Free Trade Agreement is the Most Concrete Support for the Economies of Serbia and Israel

The economic cooperation between Serbia and France is on an upward trajectory according to preliminary&nbsp;results from a recently held Business Forum in Paris, organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS),&nbsp;where just in one day deals worth 4,5 million euros were discussed, said Marko Čadež, the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia in the Serbian National News.
Čadež stated that the trade exchange between Serbia and France is three times greater than it was 6, to 7 years ago and that this is the result of good political relations between the leaders of the two countries. Exchange with France exceeded two billion euros, and the structure of exports took a turn.
"Raspberries were Serbia's main export product until 2020, but thanks to the digitization policy and support to the IT sector, now for the first time we are exporting more software than raspberries," Čadež pointed out.
Commenting on the global supply challenges in the energy sector, the president of the CCIS indicated that the earthquake in the energy sector occurred due to a complete change in the structure of demand and the development of technologies, artificial intelligence, and telecommunications. Comparing the energy sector of Germany and France, Čadez notes that the situation in France is much better because, as he pointed out, they found a way to provide for electricity demand. "France, through smart nuclear technology, can be a solution for the entire European continent and industry, and therefore for ours," adds Čadež.
Speaking about the upcoming Web Summit in Lisbon, one of the world's largest technology conferences, Čadez notes that it is a unique event that brings together CEOs of companies such as&nbsp;&nbsp;"Apple", "Microsoft", and "Facebook".&nbsp;
The president of CCIS states that the Chamber of Commerce and Industry&nbsp;of Serbia has already started activities for Lisbon, from over 80 registered startups at the pitch on September 5 in Belgrade, 24 will be selected. Those 24 companies will have their stands within the Serbian IT island.
"Performing at the Web Summit is an excellent opportunity for Serbia to demonstrate its technological capabilities and become an important player in the global IT scene," said Čadež and pointed out that this is the beginning of Serbia's positioning as an innovative hub in Europe, which is an introduction, as he says, to EXPO2027.

Čadež: Economy is a Pillar of Good Relations between Serbia and France

Wine Vision is the largest and most impactful wine, food, and tourism fair in Southeast Europe, which brings together wine experts, judges bearing the title of Master of Wine, industry leaders, wine traders, and awarded chefs from New York to Tokyo, and from Oslo to Cape Town.
The fair's significance is underscored by the fact that it serves as a platform for professional buyers and visitors, who held more than 3.000 828 meetings, in 2023. The previous Wine Vision brought together over 600 exhibitors, who, across an area exceeding one hectare, showcased thousands of wine labels, spirits, and local food. And the numbers keep growing yearly, showcasing the region's immense potential to deliver quality wines, spirits, and genuine gastronomic experience.
As both, a trade exhibition and a consumer fair, Wine Vision is divided into thematic zones showcasing authentic wines of the Western Balkan, Old and New World wines and renowned wine-growing regions, dedicated zones for wine equipment manufacturers, and food and gastronomy.
Qualified professional visitors must be from the relevant sector (trade, media, hospitality industry). Organizers will bear the travel costs only for short-listed applicants. Professional visitors can count on custom-designed facilities for workshops, presentations, and B2B meetings.Apply&nbsp;<a href="https://winevision.biz/" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">HERE</a>. 
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SAVE THE DATE - WINE VISION 2024, 22-24 November 

More than 80 Serbian and French companies from the construction, IT, and agriculture sectors participated in the Serbian-French business forum held today in Paris at the <a href="https://serbianhouse.org/">Serbian House</a>. The event was organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia in cooperation with the French business associations Medef International and Business France.

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Mihailo Vesović, Director of the Sector for Strategic Analyses and Internationalization of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS), presented the prospects for cooperation between Serbia and France, highlighting as a priority the collaboration on the development of innovations, new technologies, and IT solutions that can be applied and enhance the construction, agriculture, and energy sectors.
“We aim to develop new technologies, and innovations, and invest in research centers with our French partners,” said Vesović. He emphasized that new opportunities for cooperation are also brought by the recently signed free trade agreements with China and Egypt. Vesović highlighted that trade cooperation between the two countries is on an upward trajectory, reaching nearly 2 billion euros, and noted the rapid growth of the IT sector in both Serbia and France.

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The Serbian Ambassador to France, Ana Hrustanović, stated that Serbia and France are celebrating 185 years of diplomatic relations this year and that Serbia has been a strategic partner of France since 2011. Hrustanović invited French companies to invest in Serbia, emphasizing that “Serbia is a dynamic market in the Western Balkans, attracting 80 percent of French investments in the region.” She added that, just as in sports, our country can win “medals” in the field of economics through increased investments and cooperation with French partners.
Hrustanović underscored the significance of the EXPO 2027 project in enhancing economic ties between Serbia and France. She added that this initiative will position Belgrade and Serbia as global hubs, akin to the current status of Paris and France.

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Gérard Wolf, President of the Center for the Development of Sustainable Cities within Medef International, and Pierrick Bonard, Director of the association Business France, highlighted the importance of strengthening economic ties with Serbia, particularly in the areas of green transition, the development of sustainable cities, and the EXPO 2027 project. They expressed their desire for Serbia to become part of the European market as soon as possible.

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Dušan Borovčanin, Director of the EXPO 2027 project, announced that Serbia and Belgrade will host a specialized exhibition focusing on sports and music in 2027. The event is anticipated to draw over 4 million visitors and more than 100 participating countries. He called on French companies, renowned for their extensive experience, expertise, and technology, to participate in the realization of the project.
Following the Business Forum, bilateral meetings between Serbian and French business representatives were held.

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Photo Boban Ristić

Serbia and France Strengthen Cooperation

The "Serbian House" has been officially opened in Paris and already in the first few hours has attracted more than 1000 visitors!&nbsp;&nbsp; 
The house was opened in the presence of the President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić, the President of the Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik, the French Minister for Foreign Trade Frank Rister, the Minister of Sports of the Republic of Serbia Zoran Gajić, high-ranking officials of France and representatives of the diplomatic corps.
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The "Serbian House", located in the La Villette Park,&nbsp; known as the "Park of the Nations" which gathers more than fifteen&nbsp;national houses, will represent a unique center that will offer visitors a rich and interactive experience of Serbian culture, history, sports, and gastronomy. 
"This multifunctional pavilion is designed as a place where tradition and modernity intertwine, through innovative multimedia presentations and cultural events.&nbsp;

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"It will be a unique Serbian hub to see the Serbian heritage. It is a journey into the essence of Serbia where you can see all our achievements. In the heart of the pavilion is a sculpture, a tree of life in which there are Serbian ancestors who became liberators. This is the crown of all our and the duty to present all our roots that will paint our future and represent us," the President of Serbia emphasized. 

"Here we also see the paintings of Nadežda Petrović, one of the most prominent painters, and the works of Tesla and Milutin Milanković. You can see our most important achievements, as well as the achievements of individuals who represent Serbia. You can also taste the flavors of Serbia prepared by young and talented chefs, who will prepare the most famous dishes and drinks. This is an unforgettable taste and smell experience," Vučić said.
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French Foreign Trade Minister Frank Rister said that the opening of the Serbian House in Paris shows Serbia's willingness to strengthen relations with France.
As he stated, the fact that Serbia has invested so much in the Serbian House is a great honor for France.
He pointed out that the first visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Serbia in 2019 was important for the improvement of relations between the two countries, which had numerous high-level contacts after that. 
"Trade between our two countries has tripled since 2010 and France is trying to deepen our economic ties," he said. 
He reminded that a Memorandum of Understanding was recently signed between the Government of Serbia, Vansi, and the Suez company regarding the water treatment plant in Veliko Selo, the first of its kind in Belgrade. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; He also stated that French companies are interested in participating in the specialized exhibition "Expo 2027" in Belgrade. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "See you in 2027, when Serbia will host a specialized exhibition on the topic of sports and music. French companies will be happy to participate in that big project," Rister said. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; According to him, Serbia and France are celebrating 185 years of diplomatic relations, and sport is an extremely important part of those relations.

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"Serbian House" will be open every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and entry will be free for all visitors. In addition to cultural and gastronomic events, a rich accompanying program is also planned, including performances by&nbsp; Serbian&nbsp;celebrated artists.
Project "Serbian House"&nbsp; has been jointly implemented by the&nbsp;Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, while the key partners are the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia&nbsp;in Paris, the Tourist Organization of Serbia, and the Olympic Committee of Serbia.

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Serbian House Opened in Paris 

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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Video:
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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.