Despite the setbacks prompted by the pandemic, there is great energy among Italian and Serbian companies to make it up for the times when they were less active and to launch new business endeavours
Italian-Serbian Chamber of Commerce President Annino De Venezia is certainly very busy these days. There are new Italian companies looking to enter the Serbian market, but also Serbian companies wanting to present themselves to the Italian market. On top of that, De Venezia – as the association’s new president – wants to meet its members and let them know what the CCIS can do for them.
What are the Chamber’s most important initiatives that you, as the new president, intend to pursue for the benefit of members and the Italian-Serbian business community as a whole?
My personal task is to provide all possible support to both Serbian and Italian Companies interested in sharing business in either Serbia or Italy. We never forget that Serbia is a strategic location for Italian business. How can I do this? Firstly, by understanding their needs. I wish to visit all our associates to catch up on their needs and expectations. My intention is also to acquaint them with our most relevant activities aimed at our associates. I think that our members are not always fully aware of the ways we can support them. There needs to be constant dialogue between the Chamber and its members, so that the Chamber can implement targeted initiatives to support to the operations of its associates.
The right mix of positive Italian and Serbian energies and experiences can work wonders in the business world
What do you see as the advantages of carrying out activities in Serbia and Italy in the business context following the pandemic?
After the Covid-19 Pandemic, I saw great enthusiasm among managers and business owners. I understood that the end of the pandemic was a sort of “time of a new renaissance”. Everyone is exerting efforts to rebuild business and open some new markets. That’s confirmed by the fact that, over recent months, the Chamber has received a large number of requests from Italian companies looking to enter the Serbian market, but also Serbian companies intending to place their products on the Italian market.
The company I head was under pressure, since the automotive sector contracted dramatically, but we succeeded in reorganising our production processes and restarting without big drama.
How much is the Italian business style accepted today among Serbian companies? Which skills do Serbian businesses have to adopt in order to work better with their Italian counterparts?
Italians are hard workers. That is one of the reasons we are leaders in certain market segments, like the automotive, machinery, chemistry, electronics and fashion sectors, for example.
Serbia has a very good and strong capacity to offer investors major opportunities. Its workers are good and professional. The right mix of positive Italian and Serbian energies and experiences can create the right fertile soil for doing business.