NORDIC INNOVATION FOR BETTER BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
Nordic innovation for better business environment
On Monday, 1st of June, fair of Nordic design and innovation has been held at Radisson Blu Hotel in organization of Nordic Business Alliance in Serbia. Visitores have had opportunity to see products and services of IKEA, Telenor, Volvo, DSV, etc. Representatives of Embassy of Sweden and Finland and Ministry of Economy have been present. Nordic Business Alliance in Serbia organized fair of Nordic design and innovation on Monday, 1st June at Radisson Blu Hotel. Visitors have had opportunity to see numerous products and services offered by Nordic companies which are doing business in Serbia. Among them were members of Nordic Business Alliance in Serbia, as well: IKEA, Telenor, Husqvarna, AgroMArket, Volvo, Triplan, etc. Besides exhibition, there has been held an opening ceremony. Speakers at the opening were H.E. Christer Asp, Ambassador of Embassy of Kingdom of Sweden in Serbia, Ms Outi Isotalo, Deputy Head of Mission of Embassy of Finland in Serbia, Mr. Milos Petrovic, State secretary of Ministry of Economy of Serbia and Mr. Andreja Pavlovic, Executive Director of Nordic Business Alliance in Serbia. H.E. Christer Asp, said that Serbia is key engine in regional cooperation in Western Balkans. Nordic countries are big supporters of economic reforms in Serbia, emphasizing stability, free and fair trade as a key component of this process. It is noticeable new trend when it comes to presence of Nordic companies in Serbia, especially in IT, it has been mentioned by Asp. He explained that the key of success and growth of Nordic companies is in incorporating innovation, design, CSR, transparency, etc, when doing business. Ambassador said that there are over 150 companies from Sweden that are currently doing business in Serbia, that trade between Serbia and Nordic countries is increasing, but that there is still space for growth. In order to make more intensive trade exchange, Embassy of Sweden in Serbia and Embassy of Serbia in Sweden, are developing joint cooperation in order to increase trade between these two countries. Mrs. Outi Isotalo, Deputy Head of Mission of Embassy of Finland in Serbia, emphasized Nordic values: high quality products, innovative thinking, education, research, development, love for nature. She said that the products coming from Nordic companies are long lasting, environmental friendly and sustainable products, and that are these qualities expected from imported products, as well. Isotalo emphasized that there has been increase interest of Finish companies for Serbia, especially now that Serbia is negotiating to become EU member. It is a positive signal for Nordic companies that Serbia is politically, economically and socially suitable for investments. She mentioned that her self is a big supporter of networks and alliances such as Nordic Business Alliance in Serbia and that it is a good way of promoting Serbia in Nordic countries. State Secretary Milos Petrovic expressed gratitude for support towards economic reforms. He emphasized that Serbian market is opening and that there is trust in reforms, also through work of organization such as Nordic Business Alliance in Serbia. Nordic market is not well known among Serbian producers, among other, because high criteria that products need to fulfill. Petrovic said that successful companies, as well as countries, are those who are efficient in implementing innovations. Given the fact that Telenor is biggest direct foreign investment in history of Serbia, there is a hope that similar examples will show up in future. He emphasized that the Ministry of Economy will encourage companies from Serbia to improve their products in terms of quality and sustainability. Petrovic said that good practices of Nordic companies should be taken over. After the ceremony, cocktail has been organized
