Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications Rasim Ljajić met today with the Ambassador of the Russian Federation Alexander Chepurin to discuss the next steps in order to improve economic relations and increase the volume of trade between the two countries, as well as the cooperation in the field of tourism.

Deputy Prime Minister Ljajić said that in the coming period, the Russian market will be given special attention when it comes to attracting tourists to Serbia. To this end, Ljajić said, Russia’s participation in the upcoming International Fair of Tourism in Belgrade in February next year would be of great importance bearing in mind that Russia has not been participated in the event in question so far.

During the meeting, Ambassador Chepurin informed Deputy Prime Minister Ljajić that the Russian side, in cooperation with its partners, will prepare a draft agreement on free trade between Serbia and the Eurasian Union, which consists of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan by the beginning of October, when negotiations on its conclusion could start.

Ljajić and Chepurin expressed hope that the agreement will be signed in the near future, which will result in expanding the list of goods that will be in the free trade regime, but also in increasing the market for Serbian exporters.