Čadež: Serbian Goods on China’s Priority List

The participation of Serbian companies at the 3rd China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing—one of the most significant industrial events in China, Asia, and globally—has led to concrete business deals for Serbian entrepreneurs and opened new doors to the Chinese market and cooperation with large systems. The Chinese Customs Administration has placed Serbian goods on a priority list to accelerate certification and other necessary procedures, which is strategically important for our exports, stated Marko Čadež, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS), from Beijing.

“These are extremely important days for Serbia’s economy. In just three days of the expo, our companies have held over 500 business meetings with Chinese partners, with some already establishing partnerships and finalizing deals. Serbian companies are entering the supply chains of major Chinese systems,” said Čadež.

Logistics companies like Intereuropa Group, Milšped, and Nelt met with over 60 firms from the automotive and other industries to discuss service provision and integration into Chinese supply chains. “It seems we are on the verge of signing significant deals,” Čadež added.

Belgrade-based Silver Bell Group, a leader in the BPO sector, is opening an office in Beijing after holding over 200 meetings.

Special attention was drawn to Bambi, which held a series of meetings with leading distributors and retail chains in China. It is expected that the “Plazma” brand, along with other Bambi products, will soon appear on shelves across the Chinese market.

“This would not have been possible without the Free Trade Agreement with China, which gives Serbia a unique advantage as one of the few European countries with such a deal. Following the strong political ties and friendship between Presidents Xi Jinping and Aleksandar Vučić, it is now time to solidify our economic relations,” emphasized Čadež.

Serbia is already recording significant export growth to China, and Chinese investments in the Serbian economy have exceeded €5.5 billion over the past four years.
To further strengthen Serbian exports and business cooperation, CCIS has signed an agreement with one of China’s leading consulting firms, which will provide free legal and technical support to Serbian companies interested in placing their products and services on the Chinese market.

“We also agreed on key steps with the Chinese Customs Administration for faster certification and procedural alignment. Serbia has been placed on a priority list, which is of strategic importance for our exports,” added Čadež.

He called on all Serbian businesses—regardless of size—to seize the opportunity and find their place in the Chinese market, noting that there are many chances and possibilities.

During his visit to China, the President of CCIS spoke at the conference of the International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC) Alliance, of which CCIS is a co-founder along with 18 national chambers. At the event, the Alliance’s new digital platform was launched, open to businesses worldwide, offering access to trade and logistics services across a corridor that connects 20 countries.

The CCIS delegation also visited the Internet 3.0 Metaverse Industrial Base within the Zhongguancun Internet 3.0 Industrial Park in Beijing, where cutting-edge technologies in artificial intelligence, virtual reality, energy, digitization, and Serbian innovations were presented.

A significant meeting was also held at the headquarters of COFCO Corporation (China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation), one of China’s leading state-owned conglomerates in the food industry and a member of the Fortune Global 500.

Additionally, an agreement was signed with Chaoyang District of Beijing—one of China’s key economic and innovation hubs—and discussions were held on opening a Beijing office of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) in Belgrade.

CCIS and the Development Agency of Serbia jointly organized the participation of 12 Serbian companies at the 3rd China International Supply Chain Expo, running until July 20. Wines from four Serbian wineries were also promoted.
The Serbia Pavilion, covering 300 square meters, brought together leading Serbian companies from the sectors of IT, logistics, food industry, furniture manufacturing, and advanced technology solutions.