Serbian President Boris Tadic met President of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region Renzo Tondo in Trieste on Monday, with whom he discussed prospects for deeper economic relations between the region and Serbia, and for organization of a joint business forum.
Tadic and Tondo agreed that such a forum, which could be held in spring, would help intensify the cooperation, particularly between small and medium sized companies, to the benefit of both countries.
After the meeting with Tondo, Tadic underlined the importance of this cooperation which could lead to job creation in Serbia, as well as in this northern region of Italy, as well as great potential for inter-regional cooperation between Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Vojvodina.
Each country is determined to safeguard jobs, and this mode of cooperation not only protects the existing ones, but also secures new jobs. A job is something we all fight for in the world burdened with the crisis, so I see that this cooperation will benefit both sides, Tadic said.
Tadic recalled that the Serbs and Triestians have had two centuries’ long tradition of good relations, and noted that in the new circumstances the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region with its capital Trieste and Serbia naturally rely on each other, since the distance between Trieste and Belgrade is smaller that the one between Belgrade and Rome, but also because the two economies are more compatible, and infrastructure systems linked.
During his visit to Trieste, the Serbian President called for revival of cultural ties and cooperation in other domains.
Following his short stay in Trieste, President Tadic departed for Udine, where he will meet with Gianpietro Benedetti, the
Chairman of the Board of Directors at Danieli company.
Later on Monday, the president will confer with Chairman of Benetton Group Luciano Benetton in Treviso.
Italy has been a first-class trade partner of Serbia for years, and according to the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, the trade between the two countries could reach the record sum of USD 3 billion in 2011.
Back in November 2009, prime ministers of Serbia and Italy signed the Declaration of Strategic Cooperation.
Source emg.rs
