The first Conference on’’Swiss-Serbian bilateral relations’’ was held on October 30, 2014 in Belgrade. The Conference was organized by the Swiss-Serbian Chamber of Commerce with the aim of establishing proactive dialogue between the public and private sector and providing an opportunity for direct talks among business people and the policy makers.
In an address to the participants of the Conference, State Secretary at the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications Stevan Nikčević presented the current bilateral cooperation in economy and trade and expressed his satisfaction that 150 Swiss companies are currently operating in Serbia. The priority of future cooperation should be to increase the presence of Swiss investors in the production and export sectors, as well as to promote mutual trade, both in volume and in terms of its structure.
Machinery and textile industry, tourism, the IT sector, the pharmaceutical industry, the export of fresh vegetables and fruits, meat and meat products have all been highlighted as promising fields of cooperation. In the context of industrial cooperation, opportunities exist in the production of machinery, electronic industry and vehicles, the chemical industry and the agro-food sector.
The importance of holding regular meetings of the Joint Economic Commission between the two countries, as the highest form of institutional cooperation at a national level, has also been highlighted. The next session will be held in March 2015 in Berne together with a business forum, business opportunities in the Serbian market will be presented.
The Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications is ready to promote the development of economic and trade cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and the Swiss Confederation, together with all the organizations and institutions whose activities are relevant for the improvement of bilateral relations.
The audience was also addressed by the Swiss Ambassador in Belgrade, H. E. Jean-Daniel Ruch. His address was followed by a panel discussion on investment and trade relations.
