CCIS Organized B2B Meetings with Manutan: New Opportunity for Serbian Products in the French and EU Market

As part of its program supporting the internationalization of domestic companies, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS) organized B2B meetings between Serbian business representatives and the French company Manutan, one of Europe’s leading suppliers of office furniture and workplace equipment.

Ivana Adamović, Advisor to the President of the CCIS, emphasized that the goal is to provide Serbian companies with stable access to major European supply chains through direct business connections, targeted B2B meetings, and ongoing institutional support. Adamović also noted that Manutan’s visit to Serbia was part of a series of events organized by the Chamber to connect domestic companies with international partners, and that a similar program of visits and meetings had been organized for Buic Construction.

 The visit of Manutan and the B2B meetings with our manufacturers show that the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia is actively working to connect domestic companies with the French market. Manutan, as one of the leading European B2B distributors, recognized the quality and potential of the Serbian furniture and equipment industry. This is an important signal of confidence and a strong basis for concrete export arrangements,” said Adamović.

Jean-Christophe Gac, Group Purchasing and Sourcing Director at Manutan, stated that the main motivation for the visit was to find new partners in the region.

“In our search for suppliers in Eastern Europe, we reached out to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia to obtain a list of potential partners. I was eager to learn more about the Serbian market, and this visit provided an excellent opportunity to do so. The organization of the meetings was outstanding. I had very productive discussions with companies of different sizes and profiles,” Gac said, adding that a careful assessment of the production capacities of potential partners is crucial for the next steps, emphasizing that consistency is key in long-term partnerships.

“I am pleased to see that Serbian companies are highly motivated to cooperate and expand their presence in international markets,” he added.

The program of business meetings included Serbian companies from the wood, construction, and metal sectors, with a particular focus on the production and furnishing of office spaces.

Aleksandar Stojanović, representative of Metal Art, a company specializing in metal processing and operating as a subcontractor for other companies, highlighted the potential for collaboration and manufacturing according to partner specifications. “We will send our product catalog to Manutan representatives and continue discussions on concrete models of cooperation,” Stojanović said.

David Marković, Director of Ktitor, noted that the company had not previously had the opportunity to cooperate with French companies.

“This is a serious and strong private company operating across the entire European Union market. We are interested in the possibility of placing our products, particularly in the segment of office furniture production and furnishing. We are pleased to have had the opportunity to participate in these discussions and to use this chance to establish new partnerships,” Marković stated.