The announcement by the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, that he could soon embark on his first major tour of Africa, is being welcomed by the Serbian companies. The President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia ( CCIS)&nbsp;Marko Čadež says that companies from Serbia have a lot to offer to African countries. 
"The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia has been doing market research in Africa for&nbsp;a year now, in order to&nbsp;find the best investment opportunities for our companies. We have already successfully organized first missions in Kenya and Angola and we have very good partners in South Africa", said Čadež.
According to his words, if the announcement&nbsp;comes true, CCIS is ready to organize a large business delegation together with the head of state to visit Africa.
"It would be a special opportunity for our companies to outperform far&nbsp;more developed countries present in the African continent. Taking all the parameters into account, from demography to increasing purchasing power, to natural resources and potential, Africa is a market of the future and a great opportunity for our economy", says Čadež.
&nbsp;Photo: CCIS Archive

Čadež: We Have Been Researching African Market for Our Companies for a Year Now

The ICT sector, agriculture, energy, pharmaceuticals, chemical industry, tourism, higher education, and digital skills have joint potential for enhancing economic cooperation between Serbia and the Kingdom of Eswatini, it was&nbsp;highlighted at the roundtable "Serbia and Eswatini&mdash;Innovation as a Driver of Growth.”
The roundtable, held at the Palace of Serbia, featured speeches from the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, King Mswati III of Eswatini, the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, Marko Čadež, and Sibani Mnongomezulu, CEO of Eswatini's Investment Promotion Authority.
President Vučić emphasized that Serbia is among the top 50 global exporters of high-tech products in the ICT sector, positioning the country as a regional leader in innovation technologies. He noted that King Mswati III has also recognized scientific and technological advancement as the cornerstone of Eswatini’s strategy, much like Serbia.
King Mswati III highlighted that increasing trade between Serbia and the Kingdom of Eswatini is essential for strengthening bilateral relations and offers opportunities for deepening economic cooperation.
Marko Čadež stressed the significance of King Mswati III's visit, as it opened new perspectives for Serbia. He emphasized that Africa is a continent of friendship, respect, and future growth in the global economy.
"This visit is particularly important because it opens new perspectives. Today's forum is crucial not only for the market Eswatini represents but also for our joint cooperation with over 50 African countries, which we can reach through collaborative projects," Čadež said.He pointed to numerous proposals for significant projects between the two countries, ranging from collaboration between mining institutes to partnerships in agriculture, agricultural machinery, and the chemical industry. 
Čadež added that companies like Galenika, in the pharmaceutical sector, and Elixir, in fertilizer and biocide production, have already shown interest in collaborating with Eswatini. Serbian companies specializing in disinfection and water purification have also expressed interest.
According to him, Eswatini is making significant efforts to transition its agriculture from primary production to commercial farming, which presents opportunities for Serbian companies, especially those involved in irrigation systems and agricultural machinery.
"I'm especially proud that we had the chance yesterday to host the Eswatini delegation at our Center for Digital Transformation and that today we're discussing new technologies and their applications through joint projects," Čadež added.
He emphasized that the leaders of both countries, by fostering strong bilateral relations and personal friendships, create the best framework for encouraging economic cooperation."It's up to us to fill that framework with successful business and investments," Čadež concluded. 
Sibani Mnongomezulu, CEO of Eswatini's Investment Promotion Authority, stressed that the current trade volume between Eswatini and Serbia is small, and enhancing it is a priority for his country. To that end, it was agreed with PKS that an eight-member Serbian delegation will visit Eswatini in April next year to explore further cooperation opportunities.The roundtable also featured presentations on the investment conditions and business environments in both countries, the Expo 2027 project, and the signing of multiple memoranda of understanding between Serbia and the Kingdom of Eswatini in various fields. <div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/1527.jpg" id="image-tag-1729509054398" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="1309"></div><div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/viber_image_2024-10-19_14-54-36-609.jpg" id="image-tag-1729509161471" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="1311"></div>

Eswatini Opens New Prospects for Cooperation with Over 50 African Countries

Serbia boasts highly successful companies across almost all sectors, from ICT to the food industry, which can serve as reliable partners to Japanese firms in Europe, and together we can create solutions for the future, said Marko Čadež, the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS), at the Serbia-Japan Business Forum.&nbsp;
The forum was organized as part of the visit of the largest Japanese business delegation to Serbia, which included over 100 businesspeople from 75 companies. The first part of the forum was dedicated to discussions between the Japanese delegation and Serbian government ministers, with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić addressing the participants.&nbsp;&nbsp;
“This is the largest Japanese business delegation that has ever visited Serbia, and I thank you for being here. We have successfully advanced our relations and achieved a lot of good work together, including new Japanese investments in Serbia. Strengthening ties with Japan is of utmost importance to us, and that’s why I urge you to visit our country more often. Dear friends, I hope you feel at home in Serbia, and we will do our best to prove ourselves as reliable partners,” said President Vučić at the Serbia-Japan Business Forum, which was attended by representatives of Japan's Foreign Trade Organization JETRO and various Japanese companies.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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 Speaking at the gathering at the Palace of Serbia, which brought together more than 250 Serbian and Japanese businesspeople, Čadež emphasized that leading companies from both Serbia and Japan, which are already “living the future,” are participating in the forum, and together they can create the most innovative solutions across all sectors. He thanked Prime Minister Vučević for his support of the business community and dedication to building a business environment that sets records in attracting investments&mdash;75% of all investments in the region are in Serbia, with an annual value exceeding four billion euros.&nbsp;&nbsp; “Our top export is software, and exports have grown tenfold in the last ten years. Our children are learning programming from elementary school. There’s no sector where we can’t successfully collaborate with Japanese companies,” Čadež said.&nbsp;&nbsp; He highlighted highly successful, innovation-leading companies such as the Biosense Institute, Mind Park in Kragujevac, Termometal, Netico Solutions, DP World, Mikroelektronika, and others. The CCIS president also announced the organization of a major business forum in Japan as part of the Expo 2025, which will be held next year in Osaka.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Prime Minister of Serbia Miloš Vučević noted that the stable and predictable business environment in Serbia is reflected in its stable monetary and fiscal policies. He added that the country’s education system is being developed in cooperation with the business sector, especially through the introduction of dual education programs.&nbsp;&nbsp; Addressing both Serbian and Japanese businesspeople and institutional representatives, the Prime Minister emphasized that reforms in the rule of law sector have also been made, which is very important for investors. "I believe that, after this visit, foreign investments will increase both in quality and quantity," Vučević stated.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
He invited Japanese companies to take advantage of Serbia’s geopolitical position, which provides duty-free access to a market of nearly three billion people, and emphasized that Serbia has strong economic relations with the U.S., European, Asian, and African countries. He also invited them to visit EXPO 2027, just as Serbia's representatives will attend EXPO in Osaka next year.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Nikola Janković, Director of the International Cooperation Sector at the Serbian Development Agency, pointed out that Serbia and Japan have strong political and diplomatic ties and that bilateral cooperation has excellent prospects for further growth. Key investors such as Nidec and NTT recognize Serbia's favorable business environment, skilled workforce, and significant investments in innovation. "The government is investing in infrastructure, science, and technology, and thanks to free trade agreements, Serbia exports to a market of 2.7 billion consumers," Janković said.&nbsp;&nbsp; 

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Susumu Kataoka, President of the Japan External Trade Organization, emphasized that this is the largest Japanese delegation ever to visit Serbia, a clear sign of the great interest in cooperation. "The Japanese agency has been following Serbia's development for the past 15 years. The first Japanese investment in Serbia was made by JTI in 2006, followed by investments from companies like Hi-Lex and Yazaki. Today, Japanese investments have expanded into the pharmaceutical and ICT sectors," Kataoka said. He added that, according to a recent survey among Japanese businesspeople, 50% of companies plan to expand their operations in Europe. He also invited Serbian companies to visit Expo 2025 in Osaka.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
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Čadež: Serbian and Japanese Companies  are Building the Future Together

The conference "The Power of Joint Planning: Transport and Logistics for a Stable Regional Economy" emphasized the importance of infrastructure investments, regional cooperation, digitalization, expert and professional development, and the implementation of innovations for the further development of the transport and logistics sector in the region. The event brought together over 200 business leaders from Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, and Greece at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia.
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At the conference, an Agreement on Empowering Women in the Logistics Sector was signed, aiming to improve their representation in leadership positions in transport and logistics.
The agreement was signed by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, Confindustria Serbia, the Slovenian Business Club, the Croatian Chamber of Economy’s Representation in Serbia, and the Hellenic Business Association in Serbia.
Recent data shows that the participation of women in the logistics sector in the region varies between 15% and 33%, depending on the country, and the signed agreement aims to further promote women in leadership roles in this sector. 

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Mihailo Vesović, Director of the Sector for Strategic Analysis, Services, and Internationalization of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (SCC), emphasized that the flow of goods across borders has increased by almost 50% in the last three years and has multiplied over the past decade.
"The quantity and volume of supplier exchange across the entire region demonstrate how transport and logistics are key parts of economic activities and how they can impact the competitiveness of companies and their products," Vesović said. He added that logistics represent the economic lifeblood without which the economy becomes dysfunctional, but collaboration between the private and public sectors is essential.
"It is impossible for transport and logistics to function well without regional cooperation. We are talking about the Western Balkans region, the nearest route for goods to the European Union, which is the main buyer of almost 65% of the goods produced in this region," Vesović noted, adding that workforce issues and environmental concerns are also important in this sector.

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Eric Kosuta, a member of the board of Confindustria Serbia, emphasized the importance of the supply chain for investors, particularly during global crises and challenges. He mentioned that Serbia's policies are increasingly attractive to investors, leading to a growing presence of the EU in the country. Kosuta also discussed the agreement on empowering women in logistics, noting the increasing presence of women in companies and the potential impact they will have. He emphasized the importance of providing visibility for women, especially in key positions within companies.
He emphasized that visibility should also be given to the entire supply chain, with its digitalization progressing alongside infrastructure development.

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Daniela Fišakov, President of the Slovenian Business Club, emphasized that this year's conference is titled "The Power of Joint Planning for a Stable Regional Economy." She highlighted the strength of collaboration during the preparation of the conference and thanked all the women involved in organizing this significant event in the field of transport and logistics for the third consecutive year.

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Pero Mijakić, Director of the Croatian Chamber of Economy's Representation in Serbia, emphasized the significance of robust regional cooperation for the efficient operation of the transport and logistics sector. He highlighted that any disruptions in this sector can impact product prices. Additionally, he mentioned that the Croatian Chamber of Economy provides comprehensive support to its members across all aspects of their business.
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Nikolaos Sliousarengko, President of the Hellenic Business Association in Serbia, emphasized the importance of the transport and logistics sector for both Greek and Serbian companies. He highlighted that the gathering confirms the willingness of institutions and business representatives to engage in open dialogue and cooperate to create a more stable business environment in Serbia.<div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/15102024 III REGIONALNA KONFERENCIJA O TRANSPORTU I LOGISTICI (11).jpg" id="image-tag-1729003315308" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="1293"></div>
"Serbia is at a strategic crossroads. With its central position in the Western Balkans and along key European corridors, Serbia has a unique opportunity to position itself as a logistics hub that can foster growth both domestically and regionally. However, achieving this requires vision, planning, and partnerships," said Fabiana Urbani, First Secretary of the Italian Embassy in Serbia.
"Infrastructure investments, regional cooperation, and sustainable innovations will define the future of transport and logistics in the region. By continuing to align with European standards, Serbia and the region can unlock new opportunities for trade, particularly with the EU, its primary trading partner. In this, Italy can be a reliable and strategic partner," Urbani emphasized.
The conference included expert panels that brought together institutional representatives, leading experts, and industry leaders from transport, logistics, and supply chains. The participants included representatives of the EU Delegation, Serbia’s Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, the Thessaloniki Port Authority, Port of Split, Port of Koper, MSC Global Shipping Company, DP World, Transfera, Dragon Maritime, Milšped Group, the Italian company Alpe Adria, Intereuropa, WTO, and CBS International, one of the leading real estate consulting firms. Panel topics included infrastructure projects, planning in times of instability, supply chain sustainability, strengthening competitiveness and regional cooperation, as well as innovations and intermodal transport.<div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/15102024 III REGIONALNA KONFERENCIJA O TRANSPORTU I LOGISTICI (5).jpg" id="image-tag-1729003351825" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="1287"></div>
The conference "The Power of Joint Planning: Transport and Logistics for a Stable Regional Economy" was organized in partnership by the Italian Industrialists’ Association Confindustria Serbia, the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, the Slovenian Business Club, the Croatian Chamber of Economy, and the Hellenic Business Association in Serbia.

​  Regional Cooperation Key to a Stable and Competitive Regional Economy

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS) and the Frankfurt Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) will organize a business forum next year, where innovative Serbian companies from the field of digital agriculture and food production will present domestic solutions based on the latest technologies to German companies, announced Marko Čadež, President of CCIS.After meeting with Ulrich Casper, President of the Frankfurt Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Čadež emphasized that this is a new way of showcasing Serbian companies globally, offering solutions tailored for traditional industries. "We are preparing a new type of business forum where we will present innovative Serbian companies from various sectors, including fintech, digital agriculture, food production... We have quite a few excellent companies in these fields that offer solutions for traditional industries," said Čadež. According to the CCIS President, discussions are ongoing with German partners and companies regarding the organization of the business forum in Frankfurt. "We are talking with partners and companies from Germany, who are providing us with specific problems and challenges they face, and we are coming with our companies to offer concrete solutions based on the latest technologies. This is a new way we aim to represent Serbia," Čadež stated. Casper highlighted the traditionally strong relationship between IHK and CCIS, noting that economic relations between Serbia and Germany are continuously developing. "We are very pleased to see that Serbia is increasingly adopting innovative new topics, such as the expansion of dual education and strengthening the presence of IT and computer sciences in schools. This is an important foundation for investments in Serbia and good cooperation between our economies," Casper said. The IHK President mentioned the strong interest in further strengthening economic cooperation, adding that a meeting between German and Serbian companies will be organized next year to further enhance collaboration between the two economies. "We are also pleased to see the progress of Serbia's EU accession process because we need that cooperation in Europe, and Serbia would be an important partner for us," added Casper.

Čadež: Smart Solutions from Serbia Soon in Germany

The Serbian-Turkish Business Forum on Friday afternoon gathered more than 177 Serbian and 120 Turkish companies from all sectors of the economy, bringing concrete projects to strengthen cooperation and business ties. Without the strong support and personal friendship between Presidents Vučić and Erdogan, it would have been difficult for our economies to achieve what they have accomplished to date, said Marko Čadež, the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia.&nbsp;
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At the forum's opening, which was attended by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Čadež also mentioned another piece of good news: according to the Serbian Statistical Office, Serbia's annual exports to Turkey had already surpassed last year's figures by August, and the two countries are on track for record trade exchange. "This is a week of good news: Serbia has received an investment-grade credit rating, and the market where Serbian products can be sold duty-free has expanded to 2.8 billion people. A new era has also begun as we have entered the battery alliance, creating the opportunity for Serbia to be one of the key players in the new green industrial revolution," Čadež said, emphasizing the honor of holding business forums in the presence of both presidents for the fourth time. "This speaks volumes about the great friendship and excellent relations between our countries," he added. Speaking about the companies that came to the forum with concrete projects and bilateral meetings with Turkish partners, Čadež mentioned that PIK Bečej and Friglo are ready to double their trade with Turkey, Jagodina’s Jela wants to increase furniture exports to the Turkish market, and there are many opportunities for cooperation in IT and almost all sectors. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated that the arrival of Turkish investors is of great importance to Serbia and thanked the Turkish entrepreneurs for creating jobs and investing their profits in the country. "We will open the Novi Sad-Subotica railway in just one month. We will be connected to Budapest by a fast railway as soon as the Hungarians complete their part of the work, in less than two years. At the same time, we have begun constructing the Belgrade-Niš high-speed railway, and we are already working on the Niš-Dimitrovgrad route, which means that we will reach Istanbul much faster and be able to have a true Orient Express, as in the past, connecting Belgrade, Niš, Pirot, and other cities in southern and southeastern Serbia with Turkey’s largest city in just a few hours," said Vučić. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized that Turkish companies employ 9,600 people in Serbia, with total revenues exceeding one billion dollars. He also said that doors are wide open for all Serbian entrepreneurs who wish to work in Turkey. Addressing the forum participants, Erdogan noted that Turkish companies are creating good business opportunities and that there are currently 850 investors in Serbia, whose capital value has grown from an initial one million to 540 million dollars over the past 12 years."Our two countries have achieved a lot, and our foreign trade exchange over the past two years has surpassed two billion dollars, demonstrating the upward trend of our trade relations," said Erdogan.
Nail Olpak, Chairman of the Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board, said that trade between Serbia and Turkey has increased and further growth is expected. "I believe the ability to travel without visas will also contribute to this. I know that traveling with ID cards is something being worked on, which will greatly facilitate business," Olpak stated at the gathering. Turkey and Serbia are countries with vast economic potential, and digital and green transitions are two important topics where the two countries can make significant joint progress, Olpak concluded. After the plenary session, bilateral meetings were held between business leaders who discussed concrete business opportunities and projects in energy, infrastructure, tourism, the automotive industry, the food industry, and other sectors.

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Čadež: The Best News from the Forum - Around 300 Companies with Concrete Projects

For the first time, the prestigious "Embedded World North America" fair and thematic conferences on embedded systems were held in Austin, Texas, where eight leading Serbian companies proudly showcased their expertise in this advanced technology sector.
As the premier global event for embedded systems, traditionally held in Nuremberg, Germany, "Embedded World" expanded to North America, selecting Austin&mdash;the epicenter of the American ICT industry&mdash;as the ideal location for its debut.
Serbia's national pavilion featured top innovators, including "MikroElektronika," "Veriest Venture Serbia," "Digital Logic," "RT-RK," "ARS Embedded System," "Bitgear Wireless Design Services," "Inova Tech," and "Advanced Security Technologies," presenting cutting-edge products and services.

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“The high concentration of tech leaders such as Silicon Labs, Advanced Micro Devices, Apple, Dell, Google, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Oracle, and Wincor Nixdorf firmly positions Austin as the optimal venue for the first North American edition of this renowned fair,” emphasized Bojana Lalović from the CCI's Unit for Fair&nbsp;Organization, Events, and Exhibitions.&nbsp;
Under the banner "Powered by Intellect, Driven by Values," Serbian companies are demonstrating their technological strength and innovation, backed by the support of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia&nbsp;and the Development Agency of Serbia (RAS).
With a strong focus on connectivity, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and security, "Embedded World North America" is not only showcasing breakthrough technologies but also offering an extensive program of conferences, presentations, and workshops that highlight the future of embedded systems and sustainable development.

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Serbian Companies at "Embedded World North America" in Austin

New investments amounting to 40 billion euros are expected by 2040 as part of Serbia's green transition process, stated Marko Čadež, the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS), at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference.
Čadež emphasized the importance of Serbia's delegation, led by President Aleksandar Vučić, attending the conference, noting that among the 11 world leaders present, Vučić and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz were the only ones from Europe.
"This speaks volumes about the potential and what we can expect in the future from strategic cooperation with both Germany and the EU," Čadež pointed out.
He reminded that Germany is Serbia's most important economic partner and largest export market and that this country is now becoming a partner in Serbia’s new investment cycle focused on new technologies, particularly the so-called green industrial revolution, especially in e-mobility.
He mentioned that since 2012, Serbia has attracted 40 billion euros in foreign direct investment (FDI), crediting this achievement to President Vučić, his team, and Danilo Cicmil, the president’s investment advisor.
Half of the 40 billion euros in FDI has been invested in Serbia’s automotive industry, Čadež explained, adding that this sector is now transitioning to the production of electric vehicles and e-mobility, which will lead to a new investment cycle. By 2040, further investments of around 40 billion euros are expected as part of Serbia’s green transition.
He noted that the current crisis in the German auto industry has not yet affected Serbia, describing it as a structural crisis in Germany that could allow regional manufacturers to increase production, making Serbia even more important to Germany.

Čadež: 40 Billion Euros in Green Transition Investments by 2040

At the invitation of USDA, United States Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agriculture Service, six women from Serbia participated in the Cochrane scholarship program, sponsored by Isaac Ehlers-Weiss and Essence Bell (USDA), and implemented by Iowa State University, Department of Economics and the Extension and Outreach Farm Management Team (Aleksandra Ostrčil, Aria Ais doo, Danica Micanović, PKS, Ivana Panović, Slatka Jesen doo, Marija Radojčić, Iriški sir doo, Noćni bazar, Mirjana Bojčevski, MAŠV RS, Nataša Milanović, Biosil doo). More than 18,900 participants from 126 countries have attended the Kohram program so far.
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Since 1984, U.S. Congress has made funds available to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Cochran Fellowship Program to provide short-term training to Fellows from middle-income and emerging market countries in order to expose agricultural officials and industry representatives to U.S. agriculture products and policies, helping facilitate lasting, global relationships. The Cochran Fellowship Program is part of the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), Global Programs, Fellowship Programs has implemented U.S.-based training for over 18,900 international participants from 126 countries worldwide.&nbsp;

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Dr. Ebby S. Luvaga and Madeline Schultz, transferred research and knowledge from Iowa State University to build confidence and inspire the activities of the women's entrepreneurial system in the field of food production in Serbia. dr. Luvaga and Madeline Schultz developed an extremely complex and adequate course for Women in agricultural entrepreneurship and food production for Serbia, through highly professional training, examples of good practice, financing and branding, and transfer of knowledge and technology, with the aim of informing and raising the level of knowledge of the participants in order to increase sustainable food systems in Serbia and the improvement of trade and agricultural ties with the USA. Through an exceptionally designed program, skills were built in financial management, product development, food packaging, marketing, and entrepreneurship in agriculture with added value, and knowledge transfer, and at the same time tools and systems were developed that encourage business growth and promote social and economic empowerment of women. Iowa State University, as the host, has demonstrated an outstanding reputation as an open, welcoming, global and professional university. 


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Women from Serbia met with strong agricultural organizations (American Farm Bureau Federation), urban farms (Charles Kornier Conservancy for Urban Farming), banking system (Farm Credit Council and CoBank), accelerators for the development of innovative ideas of entrepreneurship and business (Union Kitchen Food Accelerator), government regulators and food system leaders in Washington (USDA, Iowa Department of Agriculture). They attended the Southeast Produce Council Southern Innovations conference and trade show in Nashville. In Iowa, they got to know the system of knowledge transfer through the opening of a company at the university for the production of ice cream and cheese ISU Creamery, the Center for transfer of Knowledge (ISU Horticulture Research Station), the production of vegetables through the innovative system of hydroponics Clayton farm salads, the distillery of drinks - Iowa Distilling Company, strong women leaders, Annie's Project on Farm Business Management for Women Educators and Participants, visited agricultural marketing firms such as World Food Prize, food and beverage processors and manufacturers, grocery stores, innovative companies, urban farms such as Koiner Farm, and other key areas of the food supply chain. After the end of the program, work was done on improving the knowledge of the participants and defining individual goals, which include the development of their business through new products, new packaging, new markets, and franchising. The plan is to create national programs and policies to support other women in agriculture and encourage entrepreneurship, as well as institutional support for the success of women in Serbia. Efforts will be made to strengthen cooperation and partnership between the Serbian food industry, the Government, educational institutions, and support for entering the American market. In addition to official visits, special tours were organized to visit the Capitol, the White House, museums... 
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​USDA support for the improvement of the food production sector in Serbia

The General Assembly of the Federation of Danube Chambers of Commerce (DCCF) was held at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS).&nbsp;Participants emphasized that the countries of this region are important partners to one another, that there are significant opportunities for even stronger economic ties, and that through joint implementation of infrastructure, transport, and other projects, more funding can be attracted from EU funds within the Danube Transnational Programme.
At today’s meeting in the CCIS, presidents and representatives from 16 chambers of commerce from eight countries of the Danube region, and members of this business association, participated, including Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Germany, Romania, Serbia, and Turkey.

Joint Projects in the Danube Region Open Doors to EU Funds

This November, Web Summit&mdash;the largest conference dedicated to new technologies&mdash;will host the highest number of startups ever, including a record number of Serbian companies. 
For the first time, the number of Serbian startups presenting in Lisbon will exceed 50, more than double compared to 2023. This explosive growth confirms Serbia’s increasing influence on the global tech scene, said Paddy Cosgrave, co-founder of the Web Summit conference.
In a LinkedIn post, he mentioned that many countries will have more participants at this year’s Web Summit. The number of startups from the United States will exceed 250, while the UK and Germany will each have about 300 startups, a significant increase compared to last year. Spain will have around 170, and Italy 100 startups, representing over a 50% increase for both countries compared to 2023.
He also pointed out that what is particularly interesting is the growth of participants from non-traditional markets. In addition to Serbia, Finland also sees a doubling number of startups in just one year.
Estimates suggest that Web Summit will gather around 15,000 founders this year, with many more participating in networking, listening, and learning, Cosgrave stated.
He emphasized that much of this growth is driven by a wave of startups that are self-funded, without traditional venture capital investments. This phenomenon signals a new era in the tech industry. Instead of seeking investment, the main focus of new startups is finding customers.The tech world is changing, and Web Summit is adapting to this new reality,Cosgrave explained.
He pointed out that more and more startups are self-funding, citing reasons such as lower software development costs, more accessible scaling opportunities, and it being easier than ever to reach customers.
This year in Lisbon, a new generation of founders and startups will participate at the Web Summit, including Serbian tech pioneers.

 Serbian Startups at Web Summit

At this year's prestigious international evaluation of strong alcoholic beverages, the <a href="https://spiritsselection.com/en/">CMB Spirits Selection</a>, held in China at the beginning of September, Serbian brandy won 18 medals.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, in collaboration with the <a href="https://savezrakija.rs/en/about-us/">Association of Brandy Producers of Serbia</a>, organized the participation of 22 distilleries in this international competition, which has been held for 30 years in various countries around the world, aiming to draw the attention of the business community and consumers to less known alcohol drinks.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Serbian brandy evaluated by 154 international judges from 38 countries who assessed 2,754 samples of alcoholic beverages from 62 countries, won a total of 18 medals, including two Grand Gold, six Gold, and ten Silver awards. The Grand Gold medals were awarded to <a href="https://destilerijazaric.com/en">“Destilerija Zarić”</a> for their plum brandy “Kraljica 14” and <a href="https://podrumpevac.rs/">"Podrum Pevac"</a>&nbsp;for their plum rakija “Zlatni Pevac”.
Gold medals were won by <a href="https://bbklekovaca.rs/">“BB Klekovača Distillery"</a> for their plum brandy “Bela Drinska”,&nbsp; <a href="https://www.tok.rs/en/">Distillery Tok</a>&nbsp;for their plum brandy “Alba”, Hubert 1984 for their "Williams" pear brandy, <a href="https://www.vinskorakijskihub.rs/kategorija-proizvoda/rakija/mali-podrum-vukojicic/">Mali Podrum Vukojičić</a> for their six-year-old plum brandy “Draža”,&nbsp; <a href="https://www.gorda.rs/en/home">Destilerija Gorda</a>&nbsp;for their apricot brandy, and <a href="https://rakijapotpis.rs/">Destilerija Potpis</a>&nbsp;for their five-year-old plum brandy.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Representatives of the Association of Brandy Producers of Serbia, Ivan Urošević and Milan Zarić, also participated in the program segment of the competition in China, presenting the tradition, uniqueness, and exceptional quality of Serbian brandies to the global professional audience in a masterclass.&nbsp;&nbsp;
In addition to the notable achievements in China, at the major International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) held in London this summer, which is one of the world's most significant competitions for assessing quality, Serbian brandies won 16 awards: five Gold, eight Silver, and three Bronze medals.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The Gold medals went to <a href="https://emperus.rs/">Distillery Emperus</a> for their 25-year-old plum brandy “Emperus Privilege”,&nbsp; <a href="https://www.vinskorakijskihub.rs/kategorija-proizvoda/rakija/mali-podrum-vukojicic/">Mali Podrum Vukojičić</a> for their 12-year-old plum brandy “Toja 12”, <a href="https://www.gorda.rs/en/home">Distillery Gorda</a> for their quince brandy, and <a href="https://podrumpalic.rs/en/">Podrum Palić 1896</a>for their plum and apricot brandies.
&nbsp;With these awards, Serbian fruit brandy continues to gain recognition on the global strong spirits scene, supported by the growing trend of brandy exports, which reached €13.3 million in 2023, compared to just €5.6 million five years ago in 2019.<div class="article-photo"><img src="https://en-api.pks.rs/storage/assets/Rakija 1.jpg" id="image-tag-1727792196154" data-image-alignment="article-photo" data-image-size-id="original" data-asset-id="1264"></div>

Serbian Brandy Conquers the Global Market  

The "Made in Italy" conference, held at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS) gathered over 100 representatives from companies and institutions from Serbia and Italy, with the aim of presenting Italy's national branding concept and improving economic cooperation between the two countries.
Mihailo Vesović, Director of the Sector for Strategic Analyses, Services, and Internationalization at CCIS, emphasized that the "Made in Italy" concept is an example of successful branding from which Serbia can learn a lot. According to him, Italy is one of Serbia's most important partners in trade and services exchange, particularly in innovation and technology. Vesović highlighted the importance of further developing Serbia's national brand through initiatives such as "Najbolje iz Srbije" and products bearing the "Čuvarkuća" label.

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Anino De Venezia, President of the Italian-Serbian Chamber, pointed out the continuous interest of Italian companies in investing in Serbia, emphasizing that Italy offers a wide range of products and technologies. Fabrizio Cosimi, Economic Attaché at the Embassy of Italy, presented the "100% Made in Italy" brand as a response to the issue of counterfeit products bearing the "Made in Italy" label, which poses a significant economic challenge.

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The conference was organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia in cooperation with the Chamber of Italian-Serbian Entrepreneurs and the Embassy of Italy.