Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic stated today that the Serbian government endorses exporters, as this is part of a new economic development model, initiated several years ago.
At a ceremony to present the traditional SIEPA awards for the exporter of the year, Cvetkovic stressed that statistical data indicate that Serbia’s export has marked a significant growth over the past two-three years, and in the ten months of 2011 alone it increased 25% against the same period in 2010.
Serbia has reached a record export-to-import ratio this year for the last 15-20 years, Cvetkovic underlined, noting that awards for the best exporters should be an incentive to these companies to continue increasing their export volume.
The Prime Minister observed that Tarkett received the Exporter of the Year award because its export in 2011 will exceed €100 million, and besides countries in the region, its main products were also sold in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Sweden and Poland.
In 2011 Tarkett created 100 new jobs, he added.
Deputy Prime Minister for Economic and Regional Development Verica Kalanovic, who presented the award in the small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) category, said that SMEs are the pillar of the Serbian economy and that two-thirds of all employees in Serbia are employed in this sector.
Kalanovic underlined that the SME sector encompasses 99% of all Serbian companies and in the time of crisis it proved to be the most flexible and enduring. She also added that a higher living standard and employment are only attainable by strengthening this sector.
The prize for winning a new export market went to Patent Co from Misicevo, which placed its products on the markets of Peru and Thailand.
Medica Systems and Products got the Best Export Product award for a medical scanner that uses a beam of X-rays to generate three-dimensional images of teeth and head.
The award in the category of SMEs went to FSO Gosa from Simicevo, while Eleks Komerc from Belgrade got a special recognition.
Biljana Jovanovic from Luna company got the special Best Entrepreneurship award, and a special recognition in this category was delivered to Marina Milovic from Maja Promet.
In addition to SIEPA award, ProCredit Bank delivered a check work €15,000 to FSO Gosa for the improvement of export activities and DHL company gave €10,000 to Patent Co in export services.
Orange Studio will work out a marketing campaign worth €10,000 for Medica Systems and Products, while SIEPA awarded Luna with a staff training programme.
Source emg.rs
