German support to development of Serbia and region - Mid-March 2016 to see one more in a series of German-Serbian business forums held in Frankfurt

German institutions and business community are going to back sustainable development and growth of the economy of Serbia through joint projects focusing on dual education, entrepreneurship promotion, employment boost, and the strengthening of the capacity of economy to attract investments and increase exports, as well as through initiatives for stronger infrastructure and business ties across the Western Balkans, the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (SCC) has announced.

On 21 January 2016, SCC President Marko Cadez talked in Berlin about further steps in the implementation of bilateral and regional initiatives at separate meetings, first in the cabinet of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and then in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economy and Energy and the Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, as well as in the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry. On his visit to Berlin, Cadez was accompanied by Safet Gerxhaliu, the president of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce. The interlocutors of the two chamber of commerce presidents spoke highly about previous results in the cooperation between the chambers of commerce of Serbia and Kosovo, elimination of obstacles to trade and investments, and the establishment of connections between member companies of the two business associations as well as between business communities of the region. The general manager of the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Martin Wansleben, particularly complimented the Serbian Chamber of Commerce on its progress in the reform of the chamber system, and Marko Cadez expressed gratitude to German chambers for their previous strong support to the process of modernization as well as the preparation and promulgation of the new Law on Chambers of Commerce.
Some concrete actions aimed at improving the chamber activities and helping the growth and development of the economy of Serbia and the region were agreed upon at the meeting in the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry. As early as in mid March, one more in a series of German-Serbian business forums will be held in Frankfurt. It is expected to be attended by the highest government officials. German chambers of commerce and industry will boost the promotion of Serbia as an investment and business destination among their members, while the cooperation between the SCC and the National Association for Logistiscs and Procurements will allow for Serbian companies to join the pool of suppliers of large German companies. Wansleben announced support of German chambers to the activities of the Chamber Investment Forum of the Western Balkans and other forms of regional cooperation initiated by the two chambers to boost the capacity and increase the participation of business communities in the implementation of projects focusing on the economic strengthening and faster European integration of the region.

Aside from the progress of bilateral projects in the domain of economic cooperation and modalities for strengthening the German support to the economy of Serbia and the region, participants in meetings on the premises of the Association of German Chambers and competent German ministries also discussed the potential for cooperation in projects aimed at overcoming the challenges Serbia and the region are facing after the outbreak of the migrant crisis.

Privredna komora Srbije

Privredna komora Kosova i Metohije Kosovska Mitrovica

Marko Cadez

Angela Merkel

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany

Ministry of Economy and Energy of Germany

Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany

Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry

DIHK

Safet Gerxhaliu

Kosovo Chamber of Commerce

Martin Wansleben

Law on Chambers of Commerce

German Serbian business forum

National Association for Logistics and Procurements

Chamber Investment Forum of the Western Balkans