President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, Marko Čadež was elected Vice-Chairman of the Neighborhood and Enlargement Committee of the Eurochambers, at the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Eurochambers. 
Čadež will perform this function in a body that aims to support the establishment of a Common Regional Market, widening green corridors at border crossings with neighboring EU member states, reducing roaming costs between the EU and the WB region, as well as implementing the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans.

Čadež elected Vice-Chairman of the Neighborhood and Enlargement Committee of the Eurochambers

The main focus of the Serbian pavilion at the &nbsp;<a href="https://impact.indiaai.gov.in/">India AI Impact Summit 2026</a>&nbsp;in New Delhi is the national AI platform and the national LLM – a large language model essential for the full implementation of artificial intelligence, said Marko Čadež, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS), speaking in New Delhi.
The Serbian national pavilion at this leading global event dedicated to artificial intelligence was organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia and the Office for Information Technologies and eGovernment. The pavilion presents the “Sovereign AI Serbia Concept,” demonstrating how Serbia, through a long-term and consistent digital development strategy, has built institutional, infrastructure, and human capacities enabling the development of a sovereign AI system&mdash;something that remains rare even among significantly larger countries.<div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/PHOTO-2026-02-17-14-50-59_960x539.jpg" id="image-tag-1771495310800" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="2051"></div>
Čadež, who is part of the state-business delegation&nbsp;to India headed by the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, emphasized that having its own language model is crucial for applying artificial intelligence in business processes and predictive analytics.
“If a country wants to use artificial intelligence to predict disease outbreaks in specific regions at certain times, to plan pharmaceutical consumption, and similar purposes, it is essential to have its own language model,” Čadež explained.<div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/PHOTO-2026-02-17-14-51-00 (5)_960x539.jpg" id="image-tag-1771495320947" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="2053"></div>
He recalled that, thanks to investments over the past decade, Serbia has built a national Data Center platform capable of collecting and processing large volumes of data.
“We have two supercomputers, and soon, through an agreement with France, a third will arrive, on which the national language model will operate. This is not only about preserving our language, but about safeguarding our overall knowledge base. If you want to develop AI-based tools to improve and optimize business operations or facilitate navigation through domestic regulations, you need domestic knowledge,” Čadež stated.<div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/PHOTO-2026-02-17-14-51-00_960x719.jpg" id="image-tag-1771495336206" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="2054"></div>
He added that he had arrived in India directly from Paris, following a meeting with Mistral AI, with which Serbia has a strategic partnership for the development of its national language model.
“We will be among the few countries in Europe to have this. Analyses show that if you do not use the full potential of artificial intelligence in the economy, the GDP gap over ten years can exceed 11 percent. Thanks to the national language model alone, annual GDP growth could increase by 0.8 to 1.2 percent. That is a significant impact. Having a national language model means being competitive on the global market, especially for smaller countries like Serbia,” Čadež stressed.<div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/MC Indija 2.png" id="image-tag-1771495294843" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="2055"></div>
The Director of the Office for IT and eGovernment, Mihailo Jovanović, stated that more than 100 countries were invited to the summit, and that Serbia is one of 13 with its own pavilion. He noted that Serbia is presenting achievements in data center development, with a particular focus on the State Data Center in Kragujevac, its capacities, and expansion plans within the “Serbia 2030” program. In addition to the first supercomputer installed in 2022, the launch of a second system&mdash;seven times faster&mdash;is expected soon, followed by a third, which will position Serbia as the leading country in supercomputing capacity in Southeast Europe.
State Secretary at the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation, Marija Gnjatović, emphasized that Serbia holds a significant advantage in its well-developed IT and AI infrastructure, built through years of investment. She also highlighted investments in science and technology parks across Serbia, as well as the upcoming development of the BIO4 Campus project in Belgrade.
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is taking place from 16 to 20 February 2026 in New Delhi, bringing together political leaders, representatives of leading technology companies, researchers, and decision-makers from around the world, to strengthen global cooperation and promote the responsible use of artificial intelligence in the service of society and economic development.
The summit focuses on the practical impact of artificial intelligence on society, the economy, and public policy, with particular emphasis on inclusive development, ethics, safety, and responsible deployment of technology. The program includes plenary sessions, panel discussions, thematic workshops, and an exhibition segment where companies showcase the latest AI solutions, while dialogue between governments and the private sector addresses regulatory frameworks, standards, and the future direction of AI development at the global level.

​  Čadež: Serbia Showcases National AI Platform in New Delhi

Serbia has the opportunity to steer the accelerated development of its cities toward a model of smart and sustainable urban planning, drawing on Nordic experience and applying best European practices in energy efficiency and green construction. Partnership, innovation, and responsible planning are key to the competitiveness and long-term development of cities in Serbia and the region, which was the message of the conference “Smart Engineering for Urban Development,” held at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia.

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The fourth and final conference under this title was organized as part of the initiative “Nordic Green and Smart Cities – Building Partnerships in the Western Balkans,” implemented by the embassies of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden in cooperation with the Nordic Business Alliance.
With the support of the Nordic Council of Ministers, the initiative aims to present the Nordic experience in the development of smart and sustainable cities, encourage the exchange of knowledge and technologies, and strengthen cooperation between Nordic and local institutions and companies in Serbia and Montenegro. The closing conference at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia focused on the concept of future smart cities, with particular emphasis on the application of new technologies and artificial intelligence in their planning and development.

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Cooperation with Nordic partners is of exceptional importance, particularly in the fields of smart cities, high-quality urban planning, well-organized traffic flows, and energy efficiency, which are the foundations of modern development, emphasized Mihailo Vesović, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia.
Vesović noted that the accelerated development of Belgrade and other cities presents an opportunity to apply the best European practices in energy efficiency and green construction, stressing that green building will be a key factor in the competitiveness of construction companies in the future. As he stated, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia will continue to connect domestic and international partners and improve construction standards. He added that sustainability requires responsible planning and a different approach to development, pointing out that Serbia and the region still have room for progress in understanding and implementing these standards. He also highlighted the importance of the construction industry, which accounts for around five percent of GDP, assessing that its development contributes to positioning Belgrade as a strong industrial and service hub.
“Our theme, Smart Engineering for Urban Development, is closely linked to the broader Swedish narrative of innovation, sustainability, and partnership &mdash; what we call #MadeWithSweden. It reflects our belief that the most effective solutions to today’s complex urban challenges emerge when public institutions, academia, and the private sector work together,” emphasized Charlotte Sammelin, Ambassador of Sweden, welcoming the participants.

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In addition to the Ambassador of Sweden, the conference was attended by the ambassadors of the other Nordic countries: Pernille Dahler Kardel, Ambassador of Denmark; Kristin Melsom, Ambassador of Norway; and Niklas Lindqvist, Ambassador of Finland.
The opening of the conference was also attended by Igor Conić, Editor-in-Chief of the conference’s partner portal “Gradnja”; Christina Salmhofer, Sustainability Strategist for the City of Stockholm; and Paul Dixelius, SymbioCity Project Manager, as well as representatives of academia, non-governmental organizations, and Nordic and local companies.
Through this cycle of conferences, the Nordic “Smart Cities” initiative has reinforced the commitment to cooperation already demonstrated by the countries of the region in the field of sustainable urban development. As the concluding event in the series, the conference confirmed the shared ambition for the Nordic region, as a leader in the development of green and smart cities, to continue advocating sustainable urban practices at the international level.
By conveying the guidelines of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Nordic Smart City Roadmap, the initiative has contributed to the exchange of knowledge and experience, facilitated urban transformation processes, and encouraged the development of greener, smarter, and more sustainable communities, laying the foundations for a long-term and sustainable future in the Western Balkans.

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Nordic Experience for the Development of Smart Cities in Serbia and the Region

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia and the Development Agency of Serbia traditionally organize the participation and promotion of Serbian companies within the national pavilion of Serbia at the 33rd International Food Industry Trade Fair “Prodexpo 2026”, held in Moscow from February 9 to 12.
Eighteen Serbian companies are presenting their products in Moscow, including producers of dairy products and meat products, frozen and dried fruit and vegetables, confectionery, jams and juices, truffles, spirits (rakija), wines and beer, with the aim of increasing exports to the strategic export market of the Russian Federation.

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The following companies are participating in the fair:
MLEKARA ŠABAC (Šabac), BUDIMKA (Požega), NEOPLANTA (Novi Sad), MAMBIKOM AGRAR (Belgrade), MLEKARA UB (Ub), FRUCOM FOOD (Arilje), COJA PROMET (Žitkovac), DAMAR CONFIT (Belgrade), JAFFA (Crvenka), PACKOM INTERNATIONAL (Leštane), SIMEX ORIGINAL (Subotica), SMILJANIĆ-KOMERC (Požega), TARTUFI SR (Belgrade), VINARY CHOKA PLUS (Subotica), VALJEVSKA BREWERY (Valjevo), VINARY JEREMIĆ (Smederevo), ARETOL (Novi Sad) and ZLATIBORAC (Belgrade).<a href="https://fairs.pks.rs/prodexpo-2026/">CLICK HERE FOR THE CATALOGUE OF EXHIBITORS</a>Participation in the international trade fair enables Serbian exhibitors to promote and place their products in new export markets, as well as to enhance existing business relations and establish new commercial contacts.
During the four days of the fair, business meetings and commercial negotiations are organized with experts from leading Russian, federal, and international retail chains, importers, and distributors of food products.

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“Prodexpo” is the largest and most significant specialized food industry exhibition in Russia and the region, providing a platform for meetings between Serbian producers and exporters on one side and importers, distributors, and representatives of leading retail chains on the other. The fair is visited annually by around 70,000 visitors, who have the opportunity to learn about the product ranges of more than 1,800 exhibitors from 36 countries.
The placement of Serbian products in the Russian Federation, based on a unique preferential trade agreement and duty-free exports to a market of approximately 150 million consumers, is characterized by an initial price competitiveness advantage compared to other imported products.

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Photo: Dejan Delić

Serbian Food Producers at “Prodexpo 2026” Trade Fair

The President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS), Marko Čadež, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding at Web Summit Qatar in Doha with Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor Al Thani, Chairman of the Qatar Communications Office, formalizing a strategic partnership aimed at connecting the Serbian and Qatari startup ecosystems and strengthening economic and technological ties between the two countries.
As part of the conference, Čadež also met with Web Summit founder Paddy Cosgrave, whom he introduced to a new project focused on the development of a Serbian Large Language Model (LLM).
The Memorandum envisages the official presentation of Serbia at Web Summit Qatar through the Serbian Startup Pavilion, joint participation in international forums and events, and a stronger presence of Serbian startups on the global innovation scene. The signing ceremony was attended by Soud Ahmed Al Boinin, Chairman of Web Summit Qatar, as well as Dr. Marija Jović, Chargé d’Affaires of Serbia in Qatar.
During talks with Sheikh Jassim, the establishment of a joint platform between Serbian and Qatari technology and engineering companies was discussed. The goal, as emphasized at the meeting, is long-term and structured cooperation that would enable Serbian companies to offer their technological solutions, products, and expertise to the Qatari and regional markets, as well as to jointly enter third-country markets. Major events such as Web Summit were recognized as key platforms for networking and building partnerships through concrete projects and activities.<div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/WhatsApp Image 2026-02-03 at 12.03.39 (3)_960x720.jpg" id="image-tag-1770125840613" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="2027"></div>
At the meeting with Cosgrave, the strong performance of the Serbian delegation in Qatar and the great potential of the startup community were highlighted, along with the fact that the European Web Summit will remain the “flagship” event. Čadež and Cosgrave also discussed trends in artificial intelligence (AI) and developments in Europe in this field. The President of CCIS informed the Web Summit founder about the development of AI infrastructure in Serbia and the new project for creating a Serbian LLM currently in preparation.
For the first time, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia is organizing the participation of Serbian startup companies at Web Summit Qatar, which is being held from February 1 to 4, 2026, in Doha. The conference brings together more than 30,000 participants, 1,500 startups, 700 investors, 350 speakers, and around 600 media representatives from over 120 countries.
Serbia is presenting itself through the national exhibition area “Serbian Island,” where eight Serbian startup companies from the fields of the digital economy, industry, security, and healthcare are showcasing their solutions: Smart Part, SpiceAds, MyFlow, Baby FM, Marina Int, Protokol, CyberParent, and Advanced Security Technologies. These companies have the opportunity to present their innovations to investors, global corporations, and institutions, as well as to participate in numerous B2B and B2G meetings, further strengthening the international visibility of the Serbian startup ecosystem.<div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/03022026 qatar seik (2)_960x720.jpg" id="image-tag-1770125861703" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="2026"></div>

Partnership Between Serbia and Qatar for Strong Startups and Innovation, Serbian LLM Presented to Cosgrave

The President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, Marko Čadež, announced today that the domestic startup Cloud City has become, among the first in this part of Europe, a member of the NVIDIA Inception program – the world’s most prestigious program for the development of artificial intelligence. In the world of&nbsp;technology, this is considered an entry into the “Champions League.”As he emphasized, this represents strong confirmation that Serbia possesses knowledge and innovation potential recognized at the global level, as well as a clear signal that domestic startups are becoming part of the most advanced international technological trends.&nbsp;Čadež highlighted that Cloud City’s inclusion in this program further strengthens Serbia’s position as a growing technology hub and confirms that solutions shaping the future of urban life worldwide can be developed in our country. On this occasion, the company’s founder and CEO, Marko Šćepanović, stated that membership in the NVIDIA Inception program for Cloud City – a visionary startup he leads together with Slavko Fodor – represents a strategic leap and a turning point in the company’s development. According to him, this step is not only recognition but also “rocket fuel” that gives the company direct access to NVIDIA’s most advanced AI infrastructure, experts, and development resources, which until now were reserved exclusively for the world’s largest technology companies.&nbsp;Šćepanović added that Cloud City’s teams will use the best and fastest NVIDIA technology to develop creative, scalable, and fully autonomous, specialized AI agents for cities, effectively making the company part of the global NVIDIA team developing a new generation of smart urban systems. Joining the NVIDIA Inception program enables Cloud City to use state-of-the-art hardware and software architecture to develop complex AI systems capable of processing massive amounts of data in real time and independently managing key urban processes. The solutions the company is developing are intended for cities and other complex environments, such as large residential and commercial infrastructure projects, universities, airports, stadiums, and transport hubs, where continuous management of infrastructure, waste, public services, energy consumption, logistics, and sustainability is required. Relying on NVIDIA technology, Cloud City is building a platform that allows cities to become not only “smart,” but also self-learning systems that predict problems, optimize resources, and improve citizens’ quality of life.

​  Čadež: Serbian startup Cloud City enters the “Champions League”

The President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, Marko Čadež, stated at Web Summit Qatar 2026 in Doha that Serbia today has a strong and globally competitive startup ecosystem. This is confirmed by the growth of software exports and the increasing presence of Serbian innovative companies at major global technology events, including the participation of eight Serbian startups at this year’s Web Summit, held from February 1 to 4.Speaking on a panel dedicated to building regional companies with global impact at Web Summit Qatar 2026&mdash;one of the most important international technology conferences in the Middle East&mdash;Čadež emphasized that significant structural changes have taken place in Serbia over the past decade, most clearly reflected in software export figures.<div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/foto 39_960x540.jpg" id="image-tag-1770040968106" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="2023"></div> “Ten years ago, Serbia’s software exports amounted to around €350 million, while today they exceed €5.1 billion annually,” Čadež said, adding that Serbia now has around 30,000 engineers.He recalled that the foundations for this growth were continuous investments in digital infrastructure, supercomputers and data centers, as well as the introduction of programming as a mandatory subject in primary schools. According to him, these steps have contributed to the arrival of research and development centers of leading global companies in Serbia.Addressing the challenges, Čadež noted that Serbia has a strong base of knowledge and innovation, but that additional efforts are needed in sales and the global positioning of domestic technological solutions. As he pointed out, conferences such as Web Summit are an important platform for connecting Serbian startups with investors and international partners. He added that years of operating in complex economic conditions have contributed to the resilience and innovativeness of Serbian companies.Speaking about future priorities, Čadež stressed the need to continue investing in infrastructure, supercomputers, and data centers, strengthen cooperation with the scientific community, and build a strong link between expert knowledge and advanced technologies.The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia is organizing, for the first time, the participation of Serbian startup companies at Web Summit Qatar 2026, held from February 1 to 4, 2026, in Doha. The conference brings together more than 30,000 participants, 1,500 startups, 700 investors, 350 speakers, and around 600 media representatives from over 120 countries. Serbia is presenting itself through the national exhibition area “Serbian Island,” where eight Serbian startups from the fields of the digital economy, industry, security, and healthcare are showcasing their solutions: Smart Part, SpiceAds, MyFlow, Baby FM, Marina Int, Protokol, CyberParent, and Advanced Security Technologies. These companies have the opportunity to present their innovations to investors, global corporations, and institutions, as well as to participate in numerous B2B and B2G meetings, further strengthening the international visibility of Serbia’s startup ecosystem.

Čadež in Doha: Serbia Has a Globally Competitive Startup Ecosystem

Companies from Serbia recorded an exceptionally successful appearance at the International Food Industry Trade Fair “Gulfood 2026” in Dubai, as confirmed by the results achieved over the four-day event. Serbian exhibitors held around 1,300 business meetings, while the estimated value of concluded and expected export deals reached €8.2 million.
The largest number of business contacts was established with partners from the United Arab Emirates, Israel, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United States of America, Canada, the Russian Federation, Iraq, the Netherlands, India, Japan, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, China, South Korea, Turkey, Oman, Lebanon, and Bahrain, further confirming the global interest in products from Serbia’s food industry, emphasized Zorana Delić from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia.
During the event, the Serbian national pavilion was visited by the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the United Arab Emirates, Vladimir Marić, who spoke with company representatives and highlighted the importance of the continuous presence of Serbian producers in the Middle East market.
Within the Serbian national pavilion, organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia and the Development Agency of Serbia, 24 companies from various segments of the food sector presented their products from January 26 to 30: AGROPARTNER (Lučani), ARETOL (Novi Sad), BENLIAN FOODS (Niš), BUDIMKA (Požega), DAMAR CONFIT (Belgrade), DBA PROMET (Arilje), FRIGO PAUN (Požega), FRIGONAIS (Niš), FRUCOM FOOD (Arilje), FRUITICA (Čantavir), GENEZA (Kanjiža), ITN GROUP (Belgrade), LAKI (Arilje), MASTER FOOD (Užice), MASTER FRUITS (Belgrade), MLEKARA UB (Ub), PACKOM INTERNATIONAL (Belgrade), PIP NOVI SAD (Novi Sad), RUBUS HILL (Kušići), SIROGOJNO COMPANY (Sirogojno), ŽUTI LIST (Vranje), TARTUFI SR (Zemun), UNIAPAK (Niš), and YAYLA PAN (Sečanj).
Serbian exhibitors showcased a wide range of products &mdash; from frozen fruit and vegetables, dairy and confectionery products, jams, juices, baked goods, and ready-made meals, to truffles, mushrooms, spices, soups, coffee, and snack products &mdash; and participated in numerous business meetings and commercial negotiations with international buyers, importers, and distributors.
A special contribution to Serbia’s visibility at “Gulfood 2026” was made by the company “Damar Truffles,” which took part in the prestigious World of Taste program as the only brand from Serbia among selected European names. As part of the Tastes of the World program, the company’s director, Daniel Trifunović, held a culinary presentation of truffle pasta preparation in front of a large international audience, placing the Serbian stand among the most striking at the fair.
The participation of Serbian companies at “Gulfood 2026” once again confirmed the competitiveness of the domestic food industry and the importance of this event as a key platform for boosting exports and positioning Serbia on the global food market.
“GULFOOD” (<a href="http://www.gulfood.com">www.gulfood.com</a>) is one of the largest and most significant specialized food industry exhibitions in the UAE and the Gulf region. For the first time in its history, in 2026, the fair was held at two locations &mdash; the Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai Expo City.
This year’s partner country was India, and more than 8,500 exhibitors from over 190 countries participated in the event across 12 sectors, including startups, logistics, and digital innovations.

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Photo: Zorana Delić, CCIS Video: Tijana Ranđelović, Damar Truffles

<a href="https://fairs.pks.rs/gulfood-2026/">GET IN TOUCH WITH ALL SERBIAN EXHIBITORS AT GULFOOD 2026</a>

New Export Deals Worth €8.2 Million Agreed at “Gulfood 2026” Trade Fair

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS) has launched the first Balkan Negotiation Academy (Balkan Negotiation Academy – BNA), a specialized and practice-oriented program designed for business leaders and decision-makers from the public and private sectors. The program aims to strengthen negotiation capacities within institutions and companies, while enhancing cooperation and trust across the region and Europe.<div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/4331_960x540.jpg" id="image-tag-1769684255401" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="2018"></div>
The program is based on the innovative Highly Reliable Negotiation Framework (HRNF) methodology, enabling participants to improve their ability to manage complex and international negotiations, develop reliable negotiation processes and decision-making under pressure, acquire practical tools applicable immediately in their work, and become part of a regional and European professional network, namely the European Negotiation Association (ENEA).
“The program is intended for directors, managers, entrepreneurs, public sector representatives, and professionals involved in business, public-private, and cross-border initiatives,” said Mirjana Kovačević, Head of the CCIS Center for Education, Dual Education, and Educational Policies. She added that the program consists of six modules delivered in 21 teaching hours in English.<div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/7100_960x540.jpg" id="image-tag-1769684266123" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="2020"></div>
Over the past years, the Western Balkans region, and Serbia in particular, has made significant progress in political and economic reforms and in strengthening relations with the European Union, Kovačević explained. The further success of this process, she noted, largely depends on the development of cross-border cooperation and the strengthening of economic ties between companies, public institutions, and other stakeholders.
“That is precisely why this program was designed as a concrete contribution to enhancing negotiation capacities, cooperation, and trust in the region and the broader European context,” she emphasized.<div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/5215_960x540.jpg" id="image-tag-1769684278530" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="2019"></div>
The program is delivered by a team of distinguished international experts with extensive relevant experience and recognized professional credentials. The team is led by Francesco Marchi, Director of Negotiation Expertise at the Paris-based consultancy ALTERNEGO, specializing in complex negotiations and conflict resolution.<div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/2626_960x540.jpg" id="image-tag-1769684247270" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="2017"></div>
Francesco Marchi previously led the “Negotiators of Europe” program at ESSEC’s IRENE Institute and, as head of a European consortium, trained European Commission teams, including the Brexit Task Force and several Directorates-General. He is a certified mediator (CEDR, London) and lecturer in international negotiations at Sciences Po, INSP, the College of Europe, and the Sorbonne. He is also the founder and president of the European Negotiation Association (ENEA).
Photo: Boban Ristić

CCIS Launches the First Balkan Negotiation Academy – BNA

President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS), Marko Čadež, warned today that due to bureaucratic procedures and the inadequate response of the European Union regarding the stay of professional drivers in the Schengen Area, Western Balkan economies are suffering direct losses of around €100 million per day solely in terms of goods exports.<div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/Камиони1_960x540.jpeg" id="image-tag-1769502758210" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="2011"></div>
During a visit to the Batrovci border crossing, where freight traffic is blocked, and more than 50 trucks are waiting in line, Čadež stressed that the current situation seriously threatens the operations of thousands of companies and the stability of entire supply chains.
“This is only the damage related to exports. On top of that, there are penalties and fines that manufacturing companies are paying for undelivered goods, ranging from €10,000 to €50,000 per day. Around 10,000 companies from Serbia alone export to the European Union, so it is clear that we are talking about truly significant figures,” Čadež told Tanjug.<div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/Камиони_960x540.jpeg" id="image-tag-1769502770502" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="2010"></div>
He pointed out that, unlike previous global supply chain crises, such as those caused by the COVID-19 pandemic or the blockage of the Suez Canal, the current crisis was not triggered by an external factor, but by the inflexibility of the European administration. As he emphasized, businesses from Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania, and Montenegro have been jointly warning about this issue for more than two years, along with EU companies operating in the region, yet no solution has been found.
“We have a paradoxical situation in which Europe and European companies are slowing themselves down and blocking their own operations,” Čadež said.
He added that companies are extremely concerned about the current crisis, which is why he visited the border crossing together with the President of the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Filip Simović. According to Čadež, in the past seven days alone, nine drivers have been arrested in Germany because European regulations are being applied to professional drivers in the same way as to illegal migrants, leading to serious disruptions in supply and the functioning of the European economy.<div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/МЧ3_960x540.jpeg" id="image-tag-1769502785372" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="2012"></div>
“This is not only a Western Balkan problem, but a European one. We hope that the European administration will listen to major companies in member states that are now addressing their governments, because this approach is endangering Europe’s own economy,” Čadež said.
Mirko Bjelobrk, a member of the Management Board of the Business Association “International Transport,” stated that blockades of freight terminals at border crossings are currently the only way for transport companies to make their voices heard within the European Union. He noted that contacts with European institutions have been ongoing since 2014, intensifying over the past three years, and that everything possible has been done to resolve the issue.
He emphasized that Serbia has supported transport companies within its competencies and made maximum efforts to help, expressing confidence that joint action would secure conditions for the unhindered operation of international transport. He recalled that several thousand international transport companies operate in Serbia, employing around 30,000 people.
The President of the Management Board of the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Filip Simović, said that the blockades at border freight terminals are not an incident or a short-term disruption, but a systemic warning not only for the domestic economy, but also for relations between the European and Serbian economies.<div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/АХК_960x540.jpeg" id="image-tag-1769502803273" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="2009"></div>
“The German economy is extremely affected by these blockades. Serbia exports goods worth €5 billion to Germany, which means the current situation is causing daily losses of between €100 million and €150 million,” Simović said.
Transport companies from Western Balkan countries began blockades of freight traffic at Schengen border crossings on Monday at noon as a last-resort measure, due to restrictions on the stay of professional drivers during their regular work activities. An expansion of the blockades to alternative crossings with Bulgaria – Mokranje near Negotin and Ribarce near Bosilegrad – has also been announced.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia is intensively working on an urgent solution to this issue in cooperation with regional chambers. Proposed solutions include the introduction of a special visa or permit for professional drivers valid throughout the Schengen Area, an increase in the number of permitted days of stay, and the exemption of drivers from the Entry/Exit System (EES) until a permanent solution is reached.<div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/МЧизјаве_960x540.jpeg" id="image-tag-1769502817009" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="2013"></div>

Photo/ Video: Boban Ristić ( CCIS)

Čadež: EU Regulations Cost Western Balkan Economies €100 Million a Day

The President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, Marko Čadež, together with his associates, met with Anaïs Jan, Director of Membership Development for Europe at the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA), to discuss the further development of World Trade Center Belgrade (WTC Belgrade), with the aim of positioning this business platform as a regional hub for international trade, leading global trade fairs, investments, and the networking of companies from Serbia, the region, and around the world.
The focus of the talks was on plans to intensify WTC Belgrade’s activities through the organization of major international events and trade fairs, including Expo 2027 Belgrade, the arrival of the world’s largest technology exhibition, GITEX GLOBAL Dubai, to Serbia, as well as cooperation with other leading technology and business platforms. Special emphasis was placed on digitalization, the development of the IT sector, and the creation of new opportunities for networking among companies, investors, and partners.
Presenting the development plans, Čadež recalled that Serbia is becoming a host to major international trade fairs such as GITEX AI Serbia, and that activities are underway to attract other leading global events.<div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/DSC08381-21.jpg" id="image-tag-1769158533538" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="2008"></div>
“The arrival of trade fairs such as GITEX AI Serbia confirms that Serbia is increasingly positioning itself on the map of global business and technology centers. Our goal is also to, through WTC Belgrade, integrate Serbia and the region into these global flows, act as organizers of major business events, and create a regional hub that connects companies, investors, and innovators from around the world,” said Čadež.
WTCA brings together over 300 centers in more than 100 countries and territories worldwide, making it one of the largest global business networks. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia holds the license for WTC Belgrade and is one of only 25 chambers of commerce worldwide that are members of this prestigious association.
WTC Belgrade is being positioned as a platform for the internationalization, promotion, and business networking of the Serbian economy with the world. It will provide domestic companies with direct access to the global business network, participation in international trade fairs, forums, and trade missions, integration into global supply chains, as well as connections with partners, distributors, and investors worldwide.

<div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/DSC08408-2.jpg" id="image-tag-1769158473652" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="2006"></div>

Photo: Boban Ristić, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia

WTC Belgrade on the Path to Becoming a Regional Hub for International Business

Nine companies ranked among Serbia’s leading domestic IT and technology firms, along with the Mihajlo Pupin Institute, presented their work today to representatives of the Dubai Chambers at the round table “Tech & Innovation Exchange,” organized in Belgrade by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS).
The President of the CCIS, Marko Čadež, stated that Serbian IT companies are recognized as high-quality partners in the field of software and digital solutions, including in Dubai, which is why the delegation of the Dubai Chambers came to Belgrade with the aim of expanding cooperation.
“Many of our companies already have representative offices in Dubai and operate not only on the market of the United Arab Emirates, but also on other global markets. Precisely for this reason, we wanted to focus on deepening the partnership with the Dubai Chambers,” Čadež emphasized.
He noted that the goal of today’s meeting was to present concrete solutions that Serbian IT companies can offer for joint projects already being developed in Dubai, primarily in the areas of logistics, air transport, and infrastructure.
Čadež stressed that the mission of the CCIS is to support innovative companies from Serbia, as well as companies from the UAE, in opening their development and research centers in Serbia for the European market, bearing in mind the availability of a highly qualified workforce and a favorable regulatory environment.
He recalled that Serbia has strong infrastructure for the development of new technologies, such as the State Data Center in Kragujevac and two supercomputers, and that it is the only country in Europe, apart from Turkey, that has a Free Trade Agreement with the United Arab Emirates.
He added that the CCIS and Dubai are already successfully cooperating through the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA), one of the largest international trade organizations, bringing together around 100 countries and connecting more than 300 world trade centers, of which the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia is also a member.
“This is a strategic partnership related to the development of major trade fair events in Belgrade. We have already brought GITEX Global, the world’s largest technology fair, from Dubai, which will be held in Belgrade for the first time in 2027 as part of the EXPO exhibition, and subsequently over the next ten years,” Čadež said.<div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/DUbai 5_960x540.jpg" id="image-tag-1769007276054" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="2003"></div>
He added that cooperation is also expanding to include the largest food industry fair held in Dubai, which could, in the future, also have its European edition in Belgrade.
“Fairs in the fields of tourism, medicine, and real estate are also in preparation,” said the President of the CCIS. Čadež specified that around 150 companies with UAE capital currently operate in Serbia, while approximately 300 companies with Serbian capital operate in the United Arab Emirates.
The President of the Dubai Chambers, Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, stated that there is significant room for enhancing cooperation in the field of IT and innovation.<div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/Дубаи5_960x540.jpg" id="image-tag-1769007319637" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="2001"></div>He emphasized that the UAE is actively working to diversify its economy and that the digital economy is increasingly catching up with the oil industry, which currently accounts for approximately 20 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.
“Artificial intelligence has recently become a priority for our country. We see it as a tool that various sectors can use to improve operations&mdash;from supply chains and logistics to healthcare. This is how we strengthen and safeguard our economy,” Al Mansoori said.
He stressed that the Dubai market is fully open to innovation and the digitalization of new projects, citing as examples the improvement of public sector services as well as the development of major infrastructure projects, including the construction of the world’s largest airport. “Dubai is a global logistics hub, and we are particularly interested in innovations in the supply chain,” he emphasized. Al Mansoori added that the Dubai Chambers can assist Serbian IT companies in connecting with potential partners and becoming involved in concrete projects in Dubai. Leading domestic and internationally oriented IT and technology companies presented themselves to the Dubai business delegation, covering a wide range of areas&mdash;from software development and digital transformation, through artificial intelligence and data analytics, to cybersecurity and communication systems. The event was organized during the two-day visit of the Dubai Chambers delegation to Serbia, as part of the “Growth Corridors” trade mission.&nbsp;
(Source: Beta)

​  Serbian IT Companies Present Their Capabilities to the Dubai Chamber of Commerce

Support from the European Union and Germany, strengthening the partnership with Europe’s strongest economy and its swift recovery, is crucial for Serbia’s path toward EU accession&mdash;a process that has stagnated for years despite Serbia’s impressive economic results and the fact that integration of the Western Balkans into the EU will not be possible without Serbia.
This was one of the key conclusions of a roundtable organized last week in Berlin by the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI). Through dialogue between German and Serbian experts and an open, direct discussion with German media, the event aimed to draw attention to the historic transformation Serbia is undergoing, the structural pressures shaping Serbian policy, the role the EU and Germany must play in the accession process, and the consequences should such support be lacking.
“Urgently integrating Serbia and the region into the EU single market&mdash;even before full EU membership&mdash;is important not only for Serbia and the region, but also for European and German companies operating here,” said Marko Čadež, President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
As he explained, Serbia conducts around 60 percent of its total trade with the EU, exports 16 percent of its total global exports to the German market and nearly a quarter of its exports to the EU. German companies, which have invested billions of euros in the Serbian economy, along with local firms, are equally bearing the costs of problems arising from delays in integrating Serbia and the region into the EU.
“Full access to the single market even before EU accession is, in fact, a solution proposed by the Western Balkans business community&mdash;one that no government in the region would reject,” said the SCCI President when responding to journalists’ questions about “light membership.”
Viewing Serbia’s reality and European integration from a political perspective, Peter Beyer, CDU member of the Bundestag and Chair of the Subcommittee on Crisis Prevention, Strategic Foresight, Stabilization and Peacebuilding within the Foreign Affairs Committee, sees Serbia as a “key country in the Western Balkans” and warns of the danger of Europe turning its back on it.
“If we abandon Serbia, we will see the strengthening of foreign powers that do not share our values right in the heart of Europe,” Beyer believes, noting that the “appetite for EU enlargement has diminished” and that the Berlin Process launched by Angela Merkel&mdash;aimed at bringing the region closer to the EU&mdash;was practically dormant for several years.
Limited membership, according to Beyer, should only be a transitional step: “In the end, there must be full membership, with all rights and obligations. Otherwise, the EU’s credibility would be undermined.”
Unlike current European policy, which, despite promises, has postponed the accession of Serbia and the region for two decades, shifting the focus from achieved economic progress to the political arena, representatives of German business have no such doubts. They reminded German journalists that Serbia is not only the largest, but also the strongest and most advanced economy in the Western Balkans&mdash;the only one with an investment-grade rating&mdash;whose investment performance and economic strength equal that of the rest of the region combined.
Serbia is an important manufacturing location and supplier for the German automotive industry, sharing with it the challenges this sector faces in Germany. German companies have invested nearly four billion euros in Serbia, employ more than 80,000 people, and&mdash;most importantly&mdash;88 percent of all German investors would invest again in the Serbian economy, pointed out Dr. Volker Treier, Member of the Executive Board and Head of Foreign Trade at the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK).
Filip Simović, President of the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce (AHK) and Managing Director of M&M Militzer & Münch in Serbia, confirmed Serbia’s importance as an investment destination for German business for multiple reasons&mdash;from its geographical position to a skilled and motivated workforce. Volker Hagen, Head of Strategic Planning at Brose, a company that has been manufacturing in Pančevo for years, said he had “nothing but recommendations for investing in Serbia.”
“Serbia is the locomotive of the region, whether we like it or not. But we should like it,” observed Jörg Heskens, advisor to Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
According to Heskens, Serbia’s economic progress&mdash;the fact that over the past ten years it has recorded the highest economic growth in Europe, that 90 percent of its trade is conducted with the EU and the region rather than with Russia, China, or the United States, and that it serves as a regional hub for German and European companies&mdash;should be the key anchor for accelerating European integration, just as it is the main pillar of Serbian policy.
“In Serbia, two million people vote for the president because their economic situation is better, not because they watch those ‘strange’ television channels,” Heskens said, responding to the simplified image of Serbia often presented by Western politics and media, which fails to take Serbian realities into account.
Photo: Olivera Papestiјević