The visit of Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to Serbia is a good signal for additional improvement of the two countries’ economic cooperation, the potentials of which have so far been insufficiently exploited, Serbian businessmen and economists have stated for Tanjug.
The visit of Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to Serbia is a good signal for additional improvement of the two countries’ economic cooperation, the potentials of which have so far been insufficiently exploited, Serbian businessmen and economists have stated for Tanjug.
Economist Miroslav Zdravkovic assessed that after Putin’s visit “one should certainly expect more Russian investments and the granting of a loan, as well as the recovery of Serbia’s export to Russia, whose interannual growth was nearly 60 percent in January.”
“It is also very likely that by the end of the year Serbia will become the biggest exporter to Russia out of all former Yugoslav countries,” Zdravkovic said, adding that Slovenia has so far headed the list.
President of the Serbian Business Club Privrednik Branislav Grujic stressed that Putin’s visit will provide great encouragement for further improvement of Serbia-Russia economic relations, and finding new ways to increase the volume of mutual cooperation.
He pointed out that the potential for the improvement of relations lies in trade, cooperation in joint projects, both in the territory of Serbia and Russia, as well as in breaking into third markets.
President of the Serbian Association of Corporate Directors Toplica Spasojevic underscored that the visit of Russia’s prime minister is extremely beneficial for Serbia “as it strengthens the good relations Serbia has had with Russia so far, and opens new perspectives.”
“I believe we can do a lot more, especially in the areas such as agriculture, connecting of Serbia and Russia’s automotive and tractor industries, and I am certain that we can even employ our logistics,” he said, adding that the construction industry is also insufficiently exploited.
Consulant for foreign investments Milan Kovacevic pointed out that Serbia has not fully exploited the opportunities for export to Russia, and noted the great gap between the large import of energy from Russia and Serbia’s modest export, which is, nevertheless, growing.
Stressing that the political climate is important for the development and improvement of economic cooperation, honorary president of the Tarket company Nikola Pavicevic assessed that the major energy agreements between Serbia and Russia are a positive influence on the cooperation of private companies from the two countries.
“In addition to energy cooperation, the real future of our relations lies in the cooperation of private capital – Russian capital that needs to come to Serbia, and Serbian capital that needs to enter the Russian market,” he believes.
Economist Ljubomir Madzar assessed that the South Stream gas pipeline will be one of the most important projects for Serbia’s overall development.
Commenting on the newly signed agreements on Russian-Serbian cooperation in tourism, science and road traffic, as well cooperation between Belgrade and Russian electric energy company Inter RAO, Madzar said Serbia can only benefit from these agreements.
“Our economy is still not capable of entering the highly demanding Western market, because we lack the knowledge, money and organizational capacities, and our goods can still succeed in the Russian market with relative ease,” Madzar said, noting that this could jumpstart Serbia’s production.
Source Emg.rs
