PM invites Indian counterpart to visit Serbia

PM invites Indian counterpart to visit Serbia

Vucic invited Modi to visit Serbia, "stressing that it would be a new impetus to the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries on all levels."

The two officials discussed the promotion of cooperation in the field of food production, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, defense industry, tourism and information technology.

"There is a great potential for cooperation between the two countries in the export of edible oil, soy and oil seed from Serbia to India," Modi said and suggested Serbia as India's partner in the program for the development of food industry and food processing for 2017-2018.

Vucic "expressed gratitude for the principled stance that India has with regard to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia, and expressed his support in the fight against terrorism India is facing, stressing that only united can we fight against this evil of modern times."

Speaking late on Monday Ahmedabad, Vucic said that the promotion of economic cooperation and political relations and the arrival of Indian investors in Serbia will be among the most important issues during his visit to India.

Vucic told reporters it was "a great honor for Serbia that its prime minister is received at a high level in India, which has not happened since 1986," and stated that he believes that we will be able to make the best use of that and recalled that India is the world’s second largest country by population.

Vucic said that among the most important topics during his visit will be the improvement of economic cooperation and political relations with India, and military technical cooperation.

"I think we have a huge potential in development of economic relations and I believe that we will manage to make a good cooperation in military technical issues, which will contribute to the development of the Serbian economy," he said.

Noting that India is one of the countries with the fastest growing economy, Vucic said that Serbia should use that for a greater presence on the Indian market.

He noted that Serbia’s tractor industry is a good opportunity and that after many years Serbia can restart this branch of industry, not only for its market, but also for the region and some countries in the East.

"It is important to open Serbia to India as a big market, which we have not been able to do in the past," Vucic concluded.

Vucic is currently on a several-day visit to India, where he is attending the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit. While in the south Asian country, the Serbian prime minister also met with Russian Deputy PM Dmitry Rogozin.