Defence-industrial cooperation encompasses much more than just buying and selling military or special equipment; it’s a reflection of the strength of relations between countries that’s built on trust, mutual respect and friendship ~ Jan Bondy
The new ambassador of the Czech Republic sees Serbia as “one of the most attractive investment destinations in Europe at the moment”, while he recognises opportunities to boost bilateral economic cooperation in the IT and biomedicine sectors. Speaking in this interview for CorD Magazine, Ambassador Bondy explains that a platform for this new cooperation should be represented by the memoranda of understanding that were signed by the two ministers of the economy and industry during the Czech prime minister’s recent visit to Serbia.
Your Excellency, how would you assess the impact of the recent visit of the Czech Prime Minister to Serbia?
— The recent visit to Belgrade of Mr Petr Fiala, the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, was very important. Our countries are deeply connected not only historically, but also, and more importantly, in modern times, mainly through economic and cultural ties. It was therefore necessary to build on the political dialogue as well, and I greatly appreciate that both Prime Minister Milos Vučević and President Aleksandar Vučić created a very dignified environment for the meeting and bilateral talks.
The delegations had the opportunity to meet in person and discuss current issues for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic. The prime ministers of both countries share a similar view on current security threats, and both are committed to even deeper mutual ties. Prime Minister Fiala has long been a strong supporter of Serbia’s accession to EU structures, regularly mentioning Serbia in his speeches and showing interest in developments in Serbia and across the Western Balkans. Together with President Vučić, he launched a business forum that was attended by a large number of companies. A Memorandum of Cooperation was also signed, which will serve to intensify mutual trade and investments.
What effects should we expect from the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between the Serbian Ministry of Economy and the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade?
— The signed MoU is proof of the common interest in further developing and increasing our mutual business cooperation, especially in the field of transport. By signing it, both sides also confirm their interest in working further on the identification of other areas of mutual interest.
Prime Minister Fiala has long been a strong supporter of Serbia’s accession to EU structures, regularly mentioning Serbia in his speeches and showing interest in developments in Serbia and across the Western Balkans
We are now discussing with the Serbian side the upcoming session of the Joint Economic Committee that is scheduled to take place in Prague during spring 2025. We believe that, by that time, we will be able to prepare the draft of the document that will specify further areas of common interest for business cooperation. There is huge demand among our companies, particularly in the fields of defence, railways, retail and the agriculture industry.
Trade between Czechia and Serbia has shown steady growth, surpassing €2 billion. Cooperation to date has been particularly notable in agriculture, telecommunications and the chemical industry. One of the most well-known brands in Serbia, Knjaz Miloš, is now Czech-owned. What do you see as new potential areas for cooperation?
— First of all, the majority of our investors who are already present in Serbia have an appetite and intention to further develop their existing investments. Furthermore, they are also exploring the possibility of investing in new areas. Serbia is one of the most attractive investment destinations in Europe at present. I believe this is valid not only for Czech investors.
When it comes to specific investment opportunities, we can also point out the interest of our investors in IT and biomedicine. The most recent new investments have arrived exactly from these two areas. Looking at the structure of Serbia’s future investment plans, that can’t be surprising for anyone.
The Forum on Czech-Serbian Cooperation in the Defence Industry, held in Belgrade last spring, included an announcement of strengthened cooperation between the two countries. How might this be made tangible and should citizens be concerned about growing investment in the defence sector?
— Defence-industrial cooperation is about far more than just buying and selling arms or special military equipment. It’s a reflection of the strength of relations between countries, built on trust, mutual respect and friendship. It involves collaboration at multiple levels—not just between industries and companies, but also between defence departments and governments.
What sets the Czech Republic apart is its approach. Instead of merely showcasing its advanced production capabilities, it seeks to actively integrate Serbian industries into its supply chains. This isn’t just about trade; it’s about fostering a partnership that benefits both nations, particularly in today’s unpredictable global environment.
We are happy that we have opened here the Czech Centre that is the cultural institution and an integral part of Czech foreign policy and a one of the tools of diplomacy
Given the strong historical ties between Czechia and Serbia, this cooperation is an opportunity to build on that foundation and create a model for sustainable and inclusive collaboration. One of the most notable recent examples is the €24 million investment by Czechoslovak Group into its production facility in 14. Oktobar. This step not only strengthens the European and global standing of Czech defence companies, but also contributes to the consolidation of the European defence industry as a whole.
For Serbia, it brings significant benefits—new jobs, modern manufacturing technologies and the chance to be part of the dynamic growth of our defence sector. Given the sensitive nature of this field, it’s not appropriate to discuss all the details publicly, but I’m confident that you’ll see an even greater presence of Czech companies in Serbia in the future.
During his recent visit to Belgrade, Prime Minister Fiala inaugurated the Czech House, envisaged as a future hub for cultural, scientific and educational exchanges. Since one of your goals is to promote cooperation in these fields, do you already have plans for activities at Czech House?
— As regards the Czech House, we are happy that we have opened the Czech Centre here which is the cultural institution and an integral part of Czech foreign policy and one of the tools of diplomacy.
They operate within the domain of public diplomacy, the mission of which is to promote and support the good reputation of Czechia abroad and to strengthen cultural relations between countries.
The Czech Centre in Belgrade is also a great meeting place for people in Serbia who are interested in the Czech culture, language and traditions. The centre provides Czech language classes and participates in organising certified language exams.
They do a lot of other activities as well and you can easily check out the kinds of events you can attend via their webpage: www.belgrade.czechcentres.cz/sr