Swiss-Serbian Chamber of Commerce "sign of trust"

Swiss-Serbian Chamber of Commerce "sign of trust"

"Today is a special moment in Swiss-Serbian relations because this opens an avenue to build better relations between our nations," Burkhalter said at the ceremony, also attended by Serbia's next Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić.

The establishment of the Swiss-Serbian Chamber of Commerce in Belgrade sends a strong message about the friendship between the two countries, Burkhalter said.

It is a sign of trust in Serbia's future and Swiss-Serbian ties, and reflects the confidence of the business sector that structural reforms will be carried out, Burkhalter pointed out.

He said that he is confident that economic cooperation will contribute to a boost in investments and job creation in Serbia.

A good future lies ahead for Serbia in terms of economic freedoms, Burkhalter said, adding that Switzerland fully supports Serbia's European pathway.

Burkhalter added that he had "a good meeting earlier in the day with Vučić."

The Swiss official also met with Serbian Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkić and President Tomislav Nikolić.

"Learn from the Swiss"

Aleksandar Vučić said on Thursday that Serbia is a good place for investment, better than many countries in the region, and that the reforms will be carried out to improve a business environment.

He told Serbian businesspeople that they have much to learn from their Swiss colleagues.

Noting certain steps forward in the last two years, especially given that the import/export ratio rose from 31.9 to 49.1 percent, Vučić said that the most important thing is to learn from Swiss friends how to be a responsible, serious and reliable partner.

For 25 years, there was no courage for conducting reforms that would create a better business environment for arrival of more foreign companies, Vučić said.

"In talks with Burkhalter, I have underlined that Serbia will become a better place for investment, that laws will be changed and everything that hindered private business, and I am convinced that we will have more Swiss investments in coming years," Vučić said.

He said that it is not fitting to compare the Swiss and Serbian economies, but there will be more success in Serbia if we realize that "money does not grow on trees, but that it has to be earned".

Wishing businesspeople every success, he warned that Swiss companies come to Serbia only when they know they could make profit.

"Five times higher"

Serbian exports to Switzerland increased by five times over the past 10 years, and the setting up of the Swiss-Serbian chamber of commerce will further strengthen the two countries' economic ties, president of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) Željko Sertić said Thursday.

The export-import ratio rose from 11 to nearly 50 per cent over the period of ten years, Sertić noted at the chamber opening ceremony held at PKS.

The president of Serbian business owners' association thanked Switzerland for the support provided to Serbia from 2001 to 2012, which totaled EUR 122 million in donations intended for the energy sector, reform of the state administration and as assistance to local self-governments.

Sertić pointed to economy as the basic activity which is essential for social welfare, health care, or any modern and well-regulated state.

Serbia can follow the example of Switzerland in terms of the state governance, as well as the banking system, infrastructure and regional development, said Sertić.