The Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications, Tatjana Matic, also talked with the EU Ambassador, Sam Fabrizi, stating that the EU is Serbia’s largest trade partner and its first investor, and that trade should remain a strong driver of further economic growth.
According to the statement, Fabrizi stated on that occasion that the EU is committed to helping Serbia recover quickly from the crisis, as well as that the recently adopted Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans represents a strong incentive and support for trade and investment in the region.
“Serbia’s new commitment to joining the World Trade Organization is a positive step and the EU is ready to help in that process,” Fabrizi said, noting that Serbia’s geographical position along major logistics corridors strengthens its role as a regional trade hub.
Matic said that Serbia is a “European country committed to European accession”, but that “reaching European standards and the support of the European Union on that path” is crucial for Serbia.
As it is stated, the interlocutors pointed out the importance of the role of the digital agenda for accelerating recovery, especially having in mind that the digital industry is one of the economic areas with the highest growth in Serbia and that it can be a catalyst for further growth.
Matic cited the construction of broadband infrastructure in rural areas and a computer network in school facilities in Serbia as priority projects.
Fabrizi said that Serbia has already shown that it is committed to the digital agenda inspired by the EU, and reminded of the positive achievements since the Digital Summit in April 2019 in Belgrade, where a regional roaming agreement was signed.
“The fact that Serbia has embraced the digital economy is an important resource to take advantage of the opportunities brought by the Economic and Investment Plan, especially in digital connectivity, taking into account the commitment to creating a Common Regional Market,” Fabrizi said.
They also discussed initiatives to strengthen tourism in Serbia, which has been particularly affected by Covid.
The Minister thanked for the close cooperation and positive effects of the EU grant of 15 million euros for the project “Cultural Heritage and Tourism”, which aims to increase the competitiveness of the Serbian economy by investing in market-oriented innovations and encouraging tourism development as a driver of economic progress in eastern Serbia, N1 reports.
