PM meets with German businesspeople

PM meets with German businesspeople

Addressing reporters afterwards, Vučić said that "one large company had said it would create more than 3,000 jobs in Serbia by 2016."

"They already operate in Serbia and need support from the Serbian government. It is a great thing for us," he told reporters after the meeting organized by German economy committee for the east.

He said he would meet some of the officials from the meeting in Belgrade on Monday.

The companies pointed out the issues they had faced so far, he noted, adding that some had been resolved, while others would be addressed in the days and weeks ahead.

"We have somewhat serious problems in the pharmaceutical industry and face difficult talks with officials of some of our institutions," he remarked.

A proposal was put forth at the meeting to organise a similar event in Bavaria, Munich, Baden-Wurttenberg and Stuttgart because of their strong industrial associations, he stated.

"Even if this meeting results in nothing more than these few thousand employees, it is still a great success and I am very happy because of it," said Vučić, who expects an increase in investments in the future.

"I believe that we had a fruitful and successful meeting," Vučić said.

He noted that he is proud of the reception of Serbia in Berlin and that he is deeply grateful to German Chancellor Angela Merkel for the attention she devoted to the country and her attitude toward the problems Serbia is facing.

Vučić also expressed gratitude to German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier for his genuine appreciation of the specificities of Serbia's position in the contemporary world, and he also thanked the Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations and businesspeople who are interested in investing in Serbia.

"We can only draw benefits from Germany. We have nothing to lose and I want Serbia to be as close to Germany and as attractive and good investment destination for Germany as it can be," the prime minister noted.

I hope that by a wise policy, serious work and strenuous efforts, we will manage to attract greater Germany's attention and support, he noted.

Director of the Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations Rainer Lindner said that he informed the Serbian prime minister that German businesspeople raised EUR 1.1 million worth of aid for the flood-hit population.

He also notified Vučić that German businesspeople will intensify their activities in Serbia, both in terms of investments and new job openings.

Lindner announced that the continuation of the meeting with German businesspeople will be organized in Serbia in September or October.

By the meeting with German businesspeople, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić concluded his visit to Germany.

"Best in region"

Earlier in the day, Aleksandar Vučić presented measures the Serbian government plans to take to improve business climate in the country.

At the beginning of a working breakfast organized by the Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations, Vučić said his idea is to present a plan of activities for the near future aimed at creating a sustainable economy after the devastating floods that hit Serbia in May and at creating a favorable business climate.

Pointing out that Serbia has not been very successful in creating a favorable business climate in the past, he said that it will adopt a number of modern laws to deal with the issue.

Vučić said that a new labor law, which he called "the best in the region", will be passed in the Serbian parliament "in 10 to 20 days."

New laws on bankruptcy, building permits and other areas essential for attracting investment are also planned to be passed, the Serbian prime minister said, adding that something should also be done in the area of fiscal consolidation.

He asked the German businesspeople "to tell him about their experience and any obstacles they may have faced while doing business in Serbia, so that these problems could be solved and new investors from that country may be attracted to come and do business."

Rainer Lindner, Executive Director of the Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations, praised the Serbian prime minister's commitment to making Serbia more attractive to investors, in particular in the wake of the massive floods that hit the country.

This meeting should also address how the German economy can help in that context, Lindner said.

Lindner said that bilateral trade relations are good and that the volume of investments is a good signal that the German economy backs Serbia on its path towards the EU.

At the same time, he expressed hope that Serbia will make fast progress towards the EU and described as encouraging a recent message of German Chancellor Angela Merkel that all Western Balkan countries have European prospects.

Serbia leads the pack on that path, Lindner said.

In 2013, Serbia managed to reduce its foreign exchange deficit in trade with Germany by 34.5 percent, down to EUR 383 million, according to the German Foreign Office.

In 2013, Serbia's exports to Germany totaled RSD 1.3 billion, an increase by 28.4 percent.

In the same year, Serbia's imports from Germany amounted to EUR 1.7 billion, up by 5.7 percent.

However, the real volume of trade between Serbia and Germany is higher than shown by the figures as many German companies use their sister companies in Serbia for supplying the so-called third markets, something not covered by official statistics.

The most important German investments in Serbia include STADA, METRO, Fresenius, Boss, Henkel, Siemens, Daimler Benz and Messer.

Direct German investments in Serbia since 2000 total EUR 1.743 billion.

The working breakfast at Berlin's Regent Hotel was attended by representatives of Crosmobil, KPMG, Vallourec, SAP, RWE, Airbus, Andritz Hydro, Unicredit bank, Leoni, Bombardier, Bayer, Toennies, MobilMediCare, Maquet, Wolf, Meser, Continental and Metro