Serbia and Italy: Partnership for Success

Cooperation between Serbia and Italy in the fields of innovative technologies, trade, and logistics, as well as joint efforts to open new markets and strengthen existing business ties, is key to further enhancing economic and investment collaboration between the two countries. This was emphasized at the Business Forum "Serbia – Nord Est Italy – Regional Business Networking" held at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS).

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić invited Italian businesspeople to invest in Serbia and expressed gratitude to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani for the exceptional respect they show towards Serbia, noting that relations between Rome and Belgrade are currently at a high level.

"I am delighted to be here today, and discussions with business representatives from the regions of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, and Trentino are of great importance to us," said Vučić during his address at the Business Forum.

He highlighted that trade exchange with Italy has surpassed €5 billion annually for the first time, while service exchange stands at €650 million. He expressed confidence that trade with Italy will continue to grow in the coming years, emphasizing the need to further attract Italian investors and for Serbian companies to invest in Italy as well.

Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević announced a joint session of the governments of the two countries to be held on January 31.

"This meeting should bring new strength and energy to overall Serbian-Italian relations, particularly in the economic field," Vučević said.

The key message from the government and President Vučić is that Serbia will safeguard peace and stability in the country and the region while continuing its accelerated path toward European integration, the Prime Minister emphasized. Vučević also noted that Italian capital-funded companies in Serbia employ 30,000 people, primarily in the banking and insurance sectors.

Italian Ambassador to Serbia Luca Gori stated that the Forum's organization demonstrates exceptional progress in bilateral relations between Serbia and Italy. "This is a future we will build together in every sense and aspect," said Gori. He added that to further bring the two countries closer, simplifying customs procedures is essential, citing the Port of Trieste as a key point of cooperation.

Alessandro Minon, President of the Italian company Finest, emphasized that the collaboration between Nord Est and Finest with countries like Serbia is crucial for opening new markets and strengthening ties between Serbia and Italy.

President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS) Marko Čadež noted that the Business Forum gathered 115 Italian and Serbian companies and highlighted the importance of introducing Serbian businesses to the potential of the Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, and Trentino regions.

According to Čadež, these regions invest heavily in innovation, which is essential for enhancing company competitiveness and the business environment.

“This region is not just a market of 6.6 million people but also a hub of 700,000 enterprises and a significant logistics center,” Čadež stated.

"A notable number of companies here are engaged in green and energy transition, high-tech applications, food production innovations, infrastructure development, and mobility advancements," he added.

He invited Italian businesspeople to explore the specialized EXPO 2027 exhibition and the business opportunities it offers.

As part of the Forum, B2B meetings were held between Serbian and Italian companies, with the majority representing sectors such as agrotechnology, energy, green transition, transportation, logistics, construction, healthcare, artificial intelligence in the industry, environmental protection, smart cities development, sustainable mobility, finance, insurance, and ICT.