Vesović: Proposal to Establish a Business Council of the Danube Chambers of Commerce Federation

The cooperation of chambers of commerce and businesses in the Danube region opens the door for projects funded by EU funds and It fosters the overall development of the Danube area, which is of great importance to Serbia. This was the conclusion of the meeting between Mihailo Vesović, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS), and Karoly Zsolt Balogh, Secretary General of the Danube Chambers of Commerce Federation (DCCF), held at the CCIS.

The meeting focused on improving the functioning, cooperation, and information exchange between the member chambers of DCCF, with an emphasis on sharing ideas to strengthen business ties and collaboration among companies from the Danube region.

"For Serbia, the markets of the Danube region countries are extremely important. All inland waterways in Serbia are directly or indirectly connected to the international Danube River and, through it, to the European waterway network," said Vesović.

With the aim of enhancing economic cooperation between Serbia and the Danube countries, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia became a full member of the Danube Chambers of Commerce Federation in November 2021 and actively participates in the organization’s projects and initiatives along with Serbian companies, Vesović recalled.

As a way to further improve cooperation within the DCCF, Vesović proposed the formation of the DCCF Business Council, composed of entrepreneurs – members of DCCF chambers from three sectors of particular relevance to the Danube region: transport, tourism, and energy.

Through the sessions of the Business Council, entrepreneurs from the Danube region, supported by DCCF member chambers, would be able to directly exchange ideas on enhancing mutual cooperation, discuss challenges and issues affecting their operations, and seek solutions within the Council framework. They would also have the opportunity to initiate joint projects eligible for funding under the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (https://danube-region.eu/).

DCCF members include national and regional chambers of commerce from the Danube region countries: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Serbia.

Vesović also proposed organizing an annual Danube Business Forum under the DCCF framework. This forum would gather a wide range of stakeholders – businesses, chambers, and government representatives – to address the needs of the private sector, propose solutions to existing cooperation barriers, and foster stronger ties between entrepreneurs and chambers, as the key pillar of any successful long-term collaboration.

DCCF Secretary General Karoly Balogh presented the association’s ongoing and planned activities, highlighting upcoming events such as the Constanța meeting in July and the DCCF General Assembly in Ulm, Germany, in September 2025.

As part of the European Parliament of Enterprises, traditionally organized by Eurochambres in November, DCCF will facilitate meetings between representatives of DCCF member chambers and Eurochambres members to improve networking and partnerships.

At the CCIS meeting, the Danube Cup (https://danubecup.eu/), a student startup competition held across the Danube region, was also presented. A proposal was made to organize a separate industry startup competition under the DCCF umbrella.

DCCF also plans to become a member of Eurochambres and to establish cooperation with other international chamber associations such as the Forum AIC and ASCAME.