NORDIC CORPORATIVE VALUES ARE NEEDED IN SERBIA
NORDIC CORPORATIVE VALUES ARE NEEDED IN SERBIA
Minster Zeljko Sertic discussed in Serbian Chamber of Commerce with representatives of Nordic Business Alliance about making conditions for foreign companies which are already present in Serbia, to stay and reinvest. Minister of Economy Zeljko Sertic announced savings, increase of responsibility and efficiency in public enterprises, as well as plans for reorganization of Power Industry of Serbia (EPS), PE „Roads of Serbia“, Serbia gas and Railways of Serbia, which will be divided in three companies. Emphasizing Government's determination for reforms, Sertic said that Government is preparing measures in order to make public administration and public enterprises services of citizens, which is „normal thing in Nordic countries“. With representatives of NBA, Sertic discussed about creating better environment for new investment, as well about conditions for foreign companies which are already doing business in Serbia to reinvest. In order to achieve that goal, Government of Serbia is conducting numerous reforms. „Arrangement with IMF is first step towards healing Serbian economy”, said Sertic. He emphasized that reform of public enterprises is not a condition of IMF, on the contrary, Serbian negotiators with IMF have themselves suggested grate percentage of measures, which IMF haven't even expected. Mr. Sertic have announced new Law on planning and building, which he graded as very important for foreign investors, because he will simplify procedures and make them more transparent and shorten the deadlines. Minister brought up example of IKEA, which is waiting for construction permit ion for more than a year. Minister reminded the audience that the document which is the result of interviews with around 1200 entrepreneurs from different fields and which detected several hundreds of problems will soon be published. „Opening dialogue between Nordic companies, Ministry of Economy and Serbian Chamber of Commerce is needed in order to express expectations and to start working structured at the realization of plans“, said President of the Board of Governors of NBA, Mr. Dragan Skalusevic, Regional director of IKEA for SEE. He emphasized that Nordic companies are probably one of biggest employers in Serbia and Telenor one of biggest investments. „Our common goal is promoting how Nordic companies which are present in Serbia do business, in order to pass those corporative values to Serbian companies with whom we want to cooperate in the future”, said Skalusevic and emphasized that transparency and code of conduct goes parallel with laws and regulative. “Nordic countries are examples of good public and economy regulation, and those are models which Serbia wants to follow”, said Jesa Ercic, Director of Services and Entrepreneurship Division SCC. He reminded the audience that numerous large companies from the North are working in Serbia: Carlsberg, Telenor, Ericsson, Tetrapak, Elopak, Securitas and others. “However, Nordic market is unfamiliar for Serbian economy, which has a lot to offer, especially agricultural products and highly appreciated organic food”, said Mr. Ercic and emphasized that SCC together with NBA could be the cohesion factor for induction of new business relations. H. E. Ambassador of Kingdom of Norway Nils Ragner Kamsvag, was present at the event. He emphasized the importance of investments made by Nordic countries in Serbia in last 10 years, and reminded us that North is an interesting market of 26 million consumers. He reminded the audience that Norway and Sweden are among biggest donators to Serbia in last 14 years. Ambassador expressed his strong support to Serbian path towards EU
