Čadež: Belgian Investors Interested in Serbian Rivers

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 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,  the  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.
 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.