The executive member of the Board of Directors at the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Aleksander Markus, highlighted today the success of the regional B2B project “German initiative for finding suppliers in the countries of the Western Balkans,” which has facilitated over 5,000 meetings in the past decade. During this period, Serbia has notably emerged as a significant supplier for German companies.
Markus informed Tanjug that Serbian firms are enhancing their quality standards, obtaining certifications, and gearing up for the global market. He emphasized that the growth in German-Serbian trade in recent years underscores the strong economic ties between the two nations. From 2020 to 2021 and from 2021 to 2022, there was a 25% increase in trade, followed by a 13% rise in exports and imports from 2022 to 2023. This growth is attributed to German investors establishing production facilities in Serbia, thereby integrating the country into the value chain of German enterprises.
When asked about German companies’ satisfaction with Serbian counterparts, Markus expressed confidence in Serbian partners, citing trust as a crucial aspect of their collaboration. He noted that criticisms or complaints have been minimal over the years.
Markus further explained that while doing business in other countries, finding reliable partners could be challenging, but in Serbia, such issues have been scarce over the past decade.
Regarding the challenges faced by German and Serbian companies during collaboration, Markus pointed out that these obstacles typically arise from border crossings and logistics rather than issues specific to Germany or Serbia. Delays in border crossings, particularly from Serbia to Hungary, pose logistical challenges, making delivery times unpredictable. Efforts are underway to address these challenges, with a focus on streamlining border procedures to enhance efficiency.
The tenth iteration of the regional B2B project “German initiative for finding suppliers in the countries of the Western Balkans” convened 20 German companies and 22 Serbian companies in Munich, with a total of 99 suppliers from the Western Balkans region. The project aims to connect German companies with suppliers from Serbia and other Western Balkan countries, primarily focusing on industrial sectors such as metalworking, automotive supply, plastics processing, and electronics.
Supported by the Ministry of Economy and Energy of Germany and various German business associations, the project serves as a platform for fostering economic cooperation and facilitating business partnerships between Germany and the Western Balkans.
