Visit to Kuwait ends with Business Forum

The Serbian state delegation headed by President Boris Tadic ended the official two-day visit to Kuwait by participating in a business forum. Tadic called on the Kuwaiti businessmen on Monday to invest in Serbia, adding that they can count on having the best conditions for their business activities. Visit to Kuwait ends with Business Forum Kuwaiti businessmen "expressed their readiness to include the Serbian companies in government projects worth over a billion U.S. dollars," according to reports. "I will support each of Kuwaiti businessman and investor and, as Serbian President, I guarantee you that you will have the best possible conditions for doing business," Tadic stressed, opening the Serbia-Kuwait Business Forum, attended by representatives of over 30 Serbian companies. According to Tadic, Serbia and Kuwait have great opportunities for improving cooperation in the area of agriculture, tourism, construction and defense industries. Kuwait has one tenth of world's oil reserves, but only 0.84 percent of its land is arable. Tadic reiterated that Serbia has significant food production capacities, and that large surfaces are still in state property, adding that it would also be possible for Kuwait to cooperate with private Serbian companies which have great results and contemporary production technologies. When it comes to cooperation in the area of health care, Tadic pointed to natural resources and capacities of Serbian spas, which can "very quickly achieve European standards," as well as the Military Medical Academy (VMA), whose technology is being implemented in other countries. Speaking about the Serbian defense industry, Tadic underscored that its capacities are well-known. "The history of cooperation with Kuwait is well known from the times of former Yugoslavia. Serbia's military overhaul institutes have great potential. I believe we can find a common interest," Tadic pointed out. Serbia gave Kuwait an offer for the repair and modernization of 149 M-84 tanks purchased from former Yugoslavia in 1990, and Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac hopes that the agreement on cooperation in the area of defense signed on Sunday will mean one step forward in getting that job. Tadic concluded that peace and stability are of Serbia and Kuwait's fundamental interest, and added that Kuwait will always have friends in Serbia. He pointed out that the Serbian companies took part in the restoration and construction of Kuwait, and that representatives of some of those companies participate in today's forum, which confirms that they are ready to be once again included in business activities in this Arabic country. Chairman of the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ali Mohammed Thunayan Al-Ghanim also invited Serbian companies to bid for projects which are part of the ambitious development plan adopted by the Kuwait government, whose total value is over a billion dollars. Our plan is based on privatization and market orientation, on major projects. It encompasses the construction of cities and ports, islands, oil fields, communications and traffic infrastructure, new power plants, and other giant projects necessary to realize our vision of becoming a regional financial and trade center, Al-Ghanim added. The chairman of the Kuwait Chamber noted that trade between Serbia and Kuwait is not at the desired level, and expressed hope that the visit will boost the number of trade opportunities and help strengthen business ties between the two countries. The economic cooperation between the two countries is characterized by modest trade that totaled only USD 1.3mn in 2010. Tadic conferred in Kuwait on Sunday with Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah IV Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and Speaker of the National Assembly Jassem Al-Kharafi. Tadic thanked Kuwait on its consistent policy regarding Kosovo and Metohija, as the country has not recognized the ethnic Albanian unilateral declaration of independence made in early 2008. After the meeting between the delegations of Serbia and Kuwait, four intergovernmental agreements were signed in the Emir's palace, including a particularly interesting memorandum of understanding in the field of defense, trade agreement, agreement on air services and on abolishing visas for diplomatic and official passports. The Serbian delegation meets with the emir of Kuwait (Tanjug) "Excellent political relations" Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic stated in Kuwait on Sunday that political relations between Serbia and Kuwait are excellent, with open issues between the two countries. Ties between Serbia and Kuwait represent an example of how good political relations can open possibilities for enhancing cooperation in all domains, said he. "We support each other fully at international forums and we maintain close cooperation in the area of diplomacy," Jeremic said and added that this is a good example of how opening of political relations can contribute to the development of relations in all domains, including the field of economy. He pointed out that the two countries would continue cooperating closely in the time to come. "We are about to organize the conference of the Non-Aligned Movement in Belgrade and Kuwait should attend the gathering," Jeremic said and added that the dialogue would continue by mutual visits of the two countries' top state officials. Jeremic is currently visiting Kuwait with the delegation headed by Serbian President Boris Tadic. Following the meeting between delegations of Serbia and Kuwait, the two countries' high officials signed four agreements at the emir's palace, including the Memorandum of Understanding in the domain of defense, Trade Agreement and agreements on air traffic and abolishment of visas for holders of diplomatic and official passports.

Visit to Kuwait ends with Business Forum

Kuwaiti businessmen "expressed their readiness to include the Serbian companies in government projects worth over a billion U.S. dollars," according to reports.

"I will support each of Kuwaiti businessman and investor and, as Serbian President, I guarantee you that you will have the best possible conditions for doing business," Tadić stressed, opening the Serbia-Kuwait Business Forum, attended by representatives of over 30 Serbian companies.

According to Tadić, Serbia and Kuwait have great opportunities for improving cooperation in the area of agriculture, tourism, construction and defense industries.

Kuwait has one tenth of world's oil reserves, but only 0.84 percent of its land is arable.

Tadić reiterated that Serbia has significant food production capacities, and that large surfaces are still in state property, adding that it would also be possible for Kuwait to cooperate with private Serbian companies which have great results and contemporary production technologies.

When it comes to cooperation in the area of health care, Tadić pointed to natural resources and capacities of Serbian spas, which can "very quickly achieve European standards," as well as the Military Medical Academy (VMA), whose technology is being implemented in other countries.

Speaking about the Serbian defense industry, Tadić underscored that its capacities are well-known.

"The history of cooperation with Kuwait is well known from the times of former Yugoslavia. Serbia's military overhaul institutes have great potential. I believe we can find a common interest," Tadić pointed out.

Serbia gave Kuwait an offer for the repair and modernization of 149 M-84 tanks purchased from former Yugoslavia in 1990, and Defense Minister Dragan Šutanovac hopes that the agreement on cooperation in the area of defense signed on Sunday will mean one step forward in getting that job.

Tadić concluded that peace and stability are of Serbia and Kuwait's fundamental interest, and added that Kuwait will always have friends in Serbia.

He pointed out that the Serbian companies took part in the restoration and construction of Kuwait, and that representatives of some of those companies participate in today's forum, which confirms that they are ready to be once again included in business activities in this Arabic country.

Chairman of the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ali Mohammed Thunayan Al-Ghanim also invited Serbian companies to bid for projects which are part of the ambitious development plan adopted by the Kuwait government, whose total value is over a billion dollars.

Our plan is based on privatization and market orientation, on major projects. It encompasses the construction of cities and ports, islands, oil fields, communications and traffic infrastructure, new power plants, and other giant projects necessary to realize our vision of becoming a regional financial and trade center, Al-Ghanim added.

The chairman of the Kuwait Chamber noted that trade between Serbia and Kuwait is not at the desired level, and expressed hope that the visit will boost the number of trade opportunities and help strengthen business ties between the two countries.

The economic cooperation between the two countries is characterized by modest trade that totaled only USD 1.3mn in 2010.

Tadić conferred in Kuwait on Sunday with Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah IV Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and Speaker of the National Assembly Jassem Al-Kharafi.

Tadić thanked Kuwait on its consistent policy regarding Kosovo and Metohija, as the country has not recognized the ethnic Albanian unilateral declaration of independence made in early 2008.

After the meeting between the delegations of Serbia and Kuwait, four intergovernmental agreements were signed in the Emir's palace, including a particularly interesting memorandum of understanding in the field of defense, trade agreement, agreement on air services and on abolishing visas for diplomatic and official passports.

"Excellent political relations"

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić stated in Kuwait on Sunday that political relations between Serbia and Kuwait are excellent, with open issues between the two countries.

Ties between Serbia and Kuwait represent an example of how good political relations can open possibilities for enhancing cooperation in all domains, said he.

"We support each other fully at international forums and we maintain close cooperation in the area of diplomacy," Jeremić said and added that this is a good example of how opening of political relations can contribute to the development of relations in all domains, including the field of economy.

He pointed out that the two countries would continue cooperating closely in the time to come.

"We are about to organize the conference of the Non-Aligned Movement in Belgrade and Kuwait should attend the gathering," Jeremić said and added that the dialogue would continue by mutual visits of the two countries' top state officials.

Jeremić is currently visiting Kuwait with the delegation headed by Serbian President Boris Tadić.

Following the meeting between delegations of Serbia and Kuwait, the two countries' high officials signed four agreements at the emir's palace, including the Memorandum of Understanding in the domain of defense, Trade Agreement and agreements on air traffic and abolishment of visas for holders of diplomatic and official passports.