Sertic invites Slovenian companies to invest in Serbia

BELGRADE - Slovenian investments in Serbia reached EUR 1.4 billion, president of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) Zeljko Sertic said on Friday, and invited Slovenian companies to continue investing in the country, pointing in particular to the benefits of Serbia's Free Trade Agreement with the Russian Federation.

Opening the Serbia-Slovenia Business Forum in PKS, attended by Slovenia's President Borut Pahor, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Rasim Ljajic and numerous members of Serbian and Slovenian business communities, Sertic pointed out that the level of economic cooperation between the two countries is constantly rising, and added that Slovenia is one of Serbia's ten most important trading partners.

The total trade in goods and services between the two countries at the end of 2013 was in excess of USD 1 billion, or 4.4 percent more than in 2012, noted Sertic, adding that Serbian exports to Slovenia increased by approximately 13 percent last year, while imports saw a rise of 2.4 percent.

The positive trend continues this year as well, with Serbia reporting only a slight deficit in the trade with Slovenia of approximately USD 700,000 in the first quarter of 2014.

The best cooperation between the two countries was achieved in the metal industry, agriculture, food processing and pharmaceutical industry, said Sertic, pointing out that growth potential still exists in the sectors of transport, construction industry, agriculture, IT and tourism.

Serbian investments in Slovenia total EUR 108 million, while Slovenia-based companies carried out 16 investment projects and created 4,000 jobs in Serbia, said Sertic.

During the Serbia-Slovenia Business Forum on Friday, members of the two countries' business...

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