Serbia pitched as gateway to "billion-people market"

Serbia pitched as gateway to "billion-people market"

The forum was opened by Baden-Wurttemberg Minister for the German Federal Council, Europe and International Affairs Peter Friedrich, who stressed that Serbia and this German state have "traditionally good relations based on personal relationships," while "strategic relations must be developed, both in the area of economic cooperation and in all other areas," the Serbian government said.

Friedrich said that Baden-Wurttemberg wants to help Serbia in economic development because it will make the region stronger and will help Serbia in the process of joining the European Union.

He said that the European Union "needs enlargement, as it will make the Union stronger and more stable" and added that representatives of his state will submit an initiative on February 6 for the first negotiating chapters with Serbia be opened.

According to him, the accession process is time consuming and therefore should be started as soon as possible.

Serbia is on the right track and companies from Baden-Wurttemberg have recognized that, he said, and pointed out that Bosch has so far invested EUR 70 million in the development of its plant in Serbia.

Vucic presented economic and legal reforms undertaken by his government, adding that Serbia "will not give up serious measures aimed at healing Serbian economy."

"We offer good conditions to investors, better than many countries in the region. Serbia has free trade agreements with the EU, the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Turkey, which is a market of one billion people which you can reach through your affiliates in Serbia," said Vucic and expressed gratitude for the support to Serbia's European path.

After addressing the forum, the Serbian prime minister met with Peter Friedrich, with whom he discussed the political and economic situation in Serbia, the European integration process, "as well as the situation in Ukraine," the Serbian government said.

Vucic "thanked for support and efforts to improve relations between the State of Baden-Wurttemberg and Serbia."

During the conference in Stuttgart, Vucic will have separate meetings with five largest companies in the region, including Daimler and Bosch.

German companies that are already present in Serbia, such as Dunkermotoren and Hemofarm Stada, will present their experience of doing business in Serbia.

The conference is dedicated to economic cooperation between Serbia and Germany, as well as potential investments of German investors in the Serbian economy.

This business matchmaking event will present the ICT sector, as part of which representatives of five major companies will present their sophisticated products.