Bilateral Trade on the Rise Again
You have been at the forefront of Confindustria Serbia for five years. Despite numerous challenges and global crises, have you managed to realize the plans and ambitions with which you took on this important role?
I am an entrepreneur so I am used to starting conversations with numbers as the best way to display results. In December 2023 Confindustria Serbia counted 200 member companies, the highest number since this organization was established in 2012. Secondly, I am also satisfied with the strengthening of our offices: the President is a figure who appears, but the quality of the association is given by the dedicated work of the people who work in our offices every day. Their dedication and skills are the key to our results. Confindustria Serbia has established itself as a central point of reference for Italian companies and institutions in relations with Serbia. On the other hand, during these years at the presidency of Confindustria Serbia, I felt the growing trust of the Serbian institutions and business community towards us and our work. It’s undeniable that in the past five years, we have gone through “black swans” such as the pandemic and international crises, but on the other hand, this climate has strengthened the awareness of the importance of cooperation within the European continent. Italy and the Western Balkans are natural partners and my job as President has been to work to make this natural affinity increasingly evident.
Confindustria Serbia has a clearly defined strategy encompassing several key aspects and has been delivering results for its members over the years. Could you explain this in more detail for us?
Our goal is simple: we work to make it easier for Italian companies to do business in Serbia. It is an encompassing task that covers the initial phases of the internationalization process but also the daily problems arising from bureaucracy, legislative aspects, or relationships with local institutions. The heart of our strategy is the strengthening of institutional relations with the Serbian authorities at all levels, from mayors to ministries. Confindustria Italia is in Rome and has a direct relationship with the ministries, it is consulted by the ministers when reforms are made. We have set ourselves the same goal with our offices in Belgrade: we firmly believe that where politics and businesses dialogue and cooperate, growth is stronger.
The economic relations between Italy and Serbia are characterized by decades of successful cooperation, now gaining new opportunities for further deepening. Which areas and sectors offer the best prospects for improvement?
As it emerged during the Italy-Serbia Business Forum held in Trieste, trade between our countries in 2023 reached 4.5 billion euros. Growth is transversal across all sectors, both traditional ones such as manufacturing and agriculture and even more in IT and sustainability. As for Confindustria, we see extraordinary margins for growth in the circular economy, as in the entire agri-food chain. The latest edition of Wine Vision hosted more than 570 wineries with great interest from Italian companies. Another sector in which Serbia has great room for growth is that of logistics and transport. Confindustria Serbia has been trying to keep pace with these tendencies, launching an ESG Lab to offer concrete support to SMEs also by organizing conferences and workshops on green tech solutions as well as transport and logistics. The real challenge will be to enhance advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, to put them at the service of the sectors in which Serbia already represents a natural partner today.
How important is it for potential Italian investors to receive encouraging messages from Serbia, to understand that they can count on the unwavering support of both our Government and Confindustria Serbia?
It is crucial. Bottom line, this is my main job as president. For this reason, I always want to remember that beyond my role in Confindustria, before anything else I am an Italian entrepreneur who decided to invest in Serbia about ten years ago. I am satisfied with the choice I made so I am fully convinced to recommend it to anyone who is thinking about this country. The economic continuity demonstrated by Serbia even through political crises demonstrates the country’s maturity and its desire for growth. Furthermore, I have a lot of confidence in the work of our office and in general in the entire Italian business community which can support not only Italian companies but all European companies in general. The Italian business community in Serbia is a network of highly experienced professionals who, in the past decades, have built a strong knowledge of the Serbian culture and community. The support of the Government, ministers, and authorities has never been lacking. We have always found collaboration and pragmatism.
The second Business Forum of Serbian and Italian Entrepreneurs was recently held in Trieste, bringing together more than 200 companies. How important are such events for our two countries and our cooperation?
The Business Forum was a success. More than fifteen representatives of our governments participated, including Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia Miloš Vučević. In addition to a strong political presence, there was a significant participation of financial institutions. SACE, SIMEST and CDP have their offices in Belgrade. This means that the Italian Government not only believes in relations with Serbia, but concretely encourages companies to internationalize in this country. Five bilateral agreements were signed in Trieste to start concrete collaborations between Italy and Serbia in the sectors of infrastructure, energy, telecommunications and decarbonisation. Finally, but not less important, the Forum was a chance for over 150 Italian companies to meet potential partners and clients among the 100 Serbian companies who participated.
Considering that Europe is increasingly opening up to the Balkans, does the intensification of relations between Italy and Serbia represent a crucial factor for enhancing stability and economic development in the Balkans?
We are, also due to geographical proximity, natural partners. We must have the ability to look at what the World will be like in ten years, and in that context I want to see Serbia within the European Union. Because the European process is not complete without Serbia. For years it has been said that the US creates, China copies and the European Union regulates. Europe must regain its role and position as the leading continent in creation, ideation and production of ideas and products. We must have a common industrial strategy and remove the obstacles, whether infrastructural or bureaucratic, which currently limit our ability to compete. But History has taught us that commercial relations are not always enough to stop wars. For this reason, besides of process of economic integration, we need to work together on strengthening a common European spirit.