Environmental protection, alongside IT, pharmaceuticals, the auto industry and renewable energy sources, is becoming a new field of potential cooperation and one of the areas in which a new wave of U.S. investments could arrive in Serbia, said Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Marko Čadež, speaking at the opening of the Trade Winds 2017 conference.
“American investors in Serbia are growing in number year on year and their contribution, through production, exports and employment, is ever greater. According to U.S. sources, investments of American companies in Serbia total almost four billion dollars,” noted Čadež.
“Alongside all of that, Serbia is also a good export platform thanks to its position and the opportunities offered by the wider regional market, with about 20 million consumers and free trade agreements for export to markets with more than a billion consumers,” added the CCIS president.
Ambassador Kyle Scott pointed out that the U.S. will continue to build good relations with Serbia not only in the field of investment but also in bilateral relations and the growing service sector.
“This is something upon which we will build our partnership,” said Ambassador Scott, underlining that the U.S. wants to be among Serbia’s 10 most important partners.
The ambassador recalled that the U.S.-Serbia trade exchange last year alone was worth $ 500 million.
“Our partnership helps people gain employment both in America and in Serbia, and that’s a win-win situation,” said Ambassador Scott.
Serbian Environmental Protection Minister Goran Trivan said that investments worth billions of euros or dollars are needed in environmental protection in Serbia and that the green economy generates the creation of several thousand new jobs.
John Wobensmith, State Secretary of the Federal State of Maryland, who led a state-economic delegation on a several-day visit to Serbia at the invitation of Minister Trivan, noted that his state has implemented numerous investments in the environmental protection sector.
Wobensmith emphasised support in strengthening economic cooperation and establishing partnerships between Serbia and the U.S. companies, as evidenced by the Maryland state delegation’s inclusion of 15 U.S. companies specialising in the field of environmental protection.
Trade Winds, which visited Serbia under the organisation of the CCIS and in conjunction with the U.S. Embassy Commercial Service, is the U.S. government’s largest annual trade mission, which aims to familiarise companies from the United States with the potential for cooperation with other markets. Among the American companies visiting Belgrade – before heading on to Bucharest – are Wheeling Truck Center, A La Carte Specialty Foods, Lindsay Corporation, Amalie Oil Company and CURELINE.
Following the plenary session in the offices of the CCIS, bilateral trade talks were held between Trade Winds representatives and businessmen from Serbia. Local participants included representatives of 35 domestic companies specialising in environmental protection, agriculture and food, the machine and medical industries, retail and distribution.
During its mission in Serbia, the Maryland State-economic delegation will also visit the cities of Novi Sad and Niš.