"New chapter" in Serbia-UAE cooperation - Mihajlovic

"New chapter" in Serbia-UAE cooperation - Mihajlovic

Addressing the gathering, she noted it was "a new chapter in the two countries' cooperation in many areas."

The cooperation can particularly be improved in the health care, education, tourism, agriculture and infrastructure sectors, the spa industry and other fields, said Mihajlovic, who is also minister of construction, transport and infrastructure.

The DBWC delegation is headed by Raja Al Gurg, named by Forbes as one of the most influential women in the Middle East.

The conference is attended by over 100 Serbian businesspeople, government ministers and Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia President Marko Cadez.

Serbia is referred to as the crossroads between the East and the West, which has been a problem for us in the past, but now this position can encourage cooperation and provide fertile ground for investment and friendly relations, Mihajlovic said.

Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, are maintaining a very good relationship and Serbia can never forget the assistance provided by the UAE during the floods, she said.

"Together, we are building the Belgrade Waterfront, one of the largest infrastructure projects in the region, and we believe that many more of our companies can work on projects with the UAE," Mihajlovic said.

Over the past years, no other country has matched the United Arab Emirates in terms of the intensity of the revival of economic ties with Serbia, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (PKS) President Marko Cadez said at a Serbia-UAE business forum, held as part of the first-ever visit to Serbia by a Dubai Business Women Council delegation.

UAE-based companies were the fifth biggest investors in Serbia last year, and women will definitely help enhance the business cooperation with the UAE, Cadez added.

"In addition to enhancing trade, we have also marked defence technology, tourism, health and recreational tourism, the green industry and the information and communications technologies as areas requiring enhanced cooperation," Cadez said.

Strategic investments are under way, such as the strategic partnership between Etihad Airways and Air Serbia, while Eagle Hills has launched the Belgrade Waterfront project, worth EUR 3.5 billion, he said.

Al Dahra investments in agriculture have also arrived in Serbia, added Cadez, noting that the PKS backs all those investments.