Čadež notes that great new oppor- tunities are opening up for this re- gion that we mustn’t miss out on. You recently announced a more aggressive approach of the Western Balkans in the race to entice foreign investment. What are you planning; how can this re- gion’s economies attract the most investors from around the world as pos- sible? “We can only utilise the oppor- tunity to attract new foreign invest- ments in the best way if we work together, performing as one region - one economy, as a common re- gional market and a single invest- ment destination. Individually we are small, but as a region we have great potential, are more attractive to foreign investors and when unit- ed we can more easily engage in the supply chains of global companies and better respond to the demands of customers around the world for our products. That’s why we formed the WB6 CIF Investment and Trade Promotion Unit within the scope of the joint regional chamber.” Where can potential in- vestors and partners from around the world expect to see Western Balkan compa- nies this year? “We will present ourselves joint- ly at important business events, from Berlin via Dubai to Shanghai. At the world expo event Dubai Ex- po 2020, companies from across the region, from all sectors - from ag- riculture, food and energy, via the manufacturing/processing indus- tries, to tourism and IT - will have access to space for presenting them- selves and networking with compa- nies from 190 participating coun- tries in the Dubai South Free Zone, from October to the end of March. In the autumn we’ll appear jointly at one of the world’s largest fairs, China International Import Expo CIIE 2021, and we are also plan- ning an investment conference in Germany similar to the one we or- ganised in London with the Finan- cial Times before the pandemic.”
I’m convinced that nothing will contribute as much to the improving of the business climate, the recovery and growth of our economies and the greater inflow of foreign investment in the Western Balkans as economic integration and the building of a joint regional market with almost 20 million consumers
In the meantime, prepa- rations are underway for June’s Summit on the Western Balkans in Berlin? “Yes, within the scope of the business forum, we will launch a new, regional online platform in- tended, in the first phase, for com- panies from the food, automotive, light industry and circular econo- my sectors, for mutual connections and networking with large region- al companies and companies from around the world. An integral part of this platform will be a database of suppliers from the Western Bal- kans that will be useful to foreign companies seeking partners in the Western Balkans.” What can Serbia, as the Western Balkans’ larg- est economy, which has for years attracted more than half of all foreign invest- ments in the region, cur- rently offer foreign com- panies? “First and foremost security and stability, preserved even under the most difficult circumstances during the pandemic in a way that few in- vestment destinations around the world can boast of having achieved, viewed in both the medium and long term, with better prospects than most comparable economies. And open borders for businesspeople from all over the world, who are able to enter Serbia during the pan-
demic with fewer formalities than other travellers. And special bene- fits for investing in high-tech sec- tors, research, development and in- novation, as a strategic development direction of the Serbian economy.” What can investors who decide to invest their capi- tal here count on? “That they will launch their busi- ness more simply, acquire building permits faster, and find it easier and cheaper to do business than in many competing locations. Here they will have lower operating costs, an en- tire package of financial incentives - tax and customs breaks, state sub- sidies, local government incentives, more functional infrastructure and the shortest routes for transport- ing goods along European corridors. Investors in Serbia can also count on the local economy: reliable do- mestic companies capable of joining the supply chains of multinational companies and satisfying the stand- ards of the most complex markets and the most demanding consum- ers. Our special trump card in the race for investors are our people, a high-quality and available work- force. And in the end, or at the be- ginning of everything, there’s no better recommendation to future in- vestors than the experiences of the almost 20,000 foreign companies that are present here, which operate successfully in Serbia and expand their business from year to year.”
Business » Biznis | 23
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