PKS Hosts Business Delegation from Four Central Asian Countries

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS) is hosting, for the first time, a business delegation from four Central Asian countries — Armenia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. The seven-day study visit brings together 17 business representatives and is aimed at strengthening business cooperation, exchanging experience, and opening up new business and investment opportunities for companies from Serbia and Central Asia. The visit represents an important step towards strengthening Serbia’s economic relations with the Central Asian region and creating new opportunities for the internationalization of Serbian companies’ operations in this market.

The event has been organized as part of the cooperation under the “Trade Promotion in the East” (TPE) project, in cooperation with the International Trade Centre (ITC) and with the support of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).

On behalf of the CCIS, the delegation was addressed by Dušanka Kalezić, Adviser to the President, who expressed her gratitude to the International Trade Centre and the TPE Project for the results achieved over the past four years. Kalezić emphasized that the TPE project has provided significant support to Serbia’s food and agricultural sectors in strengthening the international competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Through expert activities focused on export promotion, Serbian producers of fresh apples and sour cherries participated in seven international trade fairs, held more than 1,200 B2B meetings with potential buyers, and generated business opportunities estimated at approximately EUR 12 million.

In addition to providing direct support to companies, the TPE project also contributed to strengthening the institutional capacities of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia. Through the “Training of Trainers” programme, CCIS experts enhanced their knowledge and practical skills in using the International Trade Centre’s digital trade intelligence tools, including Trade Map, Export Potential Map and Market Access Map.

On this basis, a new export support service was established, enabling Serbian SMEs to access high-quality market intelligence and tailored advisory services for entering foreign markets.

One of the important outcomes of the project has also been the development of regional cooperation with Central Asian countries and the creation of opportunities for new business and investment partnerships.

“Diversification of markets, supply chains and business partnerships is today a strategic necessity for building resilient economies. Serbia remains strongly integrated into and committed to the single European market, while our companies are simultaneously adapting to an increasingly demanding regulatory environment, including sustainability requirements, the European Green Deal, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, industrial decarbonization policies and other evolving regulatory frameworks,” Kalezić said.

In this context, strengthening economic ties with Central Asia represents an opportunity not only to diversify export markets, but also to build long-term partnerships based on complementary economic potential, growing demand and shared ambitions for sustainable economic development.

A particular focus of the study visit is on the fruit processing sector, with an emphasis on drying and freeze-drying, as well as the production of planting material. The members of the delegation are interested in learning about modern production processes and technologies, exchanging experience with Serbian companies, and exploring opportunities for developing long-term business relationships.

During the seven-day programme, with the support of the ITC project, the delegation will visit selected companies in Šabac, Valjevo, Osečina, Čačak and Kruševac. The visits will provide an opportunity to gain first-hand insight into production capacities, the application of modern technologies and examples of good business practice, as well as to discuss opportunities for developing joint projects, investments and trade cooperation.

The study visit represents another step towards connecting the economies of Serbia and the Central Asian countries and confirms the commitment of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia to actively support the internationalization of domestic companies, the opening of new markets, and the establishment of business ties with partners from a region of growing strategic importance.

Photo: CCIS