December  13^th 2011.

PRESIDENT OF THE BELGRADE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ACCEPTED UEAPME'S INVITATION AND PARTICIPATED AT THE SESSION OF EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE

Members of European Economic and Social Committee discussed, at their regular session, on existing business environment within European Community in the context of current financial crisis, measures, savings, and their impact on investments in R&D, innovations and education. The session was attended by the representatives from numerous institutions, such as Mr. Philippe de Buck, Director General of Businesseurope, Mr. Andrea Benassi, Secretary General of UEAPME, Mr. Arnaldo Abruzini, Secretary General of Eurochamners, etc.
All participants agreed that the most important task is undoubtedly to find the way out of the crisis. In that sense, the cooperation between partner organisations, actors of social dialog at all levels is crucial.    
This is the most serious crisis since World War II and priority is reduction in public spending and responsible saving measures. EC and SEC warned budgetary cuts should not be at expense of investment in education and innovation. Results of recent analysis clearly show that member states that most efficiently fight the crisis are those that respect the recommendation to allocate at least 3% of GDP to R&D, whose real sector is well developed and that respect think small first principle, focusing that way on 23 million of SMEs that generate 80% of jobs. It is also important to research new markets, to assure economic growth through the export, facilitate access to financing, and, above all, to start the implementation of the regulation related to the settlement of all invoices within 30 days.

december 6-8^th, 2011 

PRESIDENT OF THE BELGRADE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PARTICIPATED AT 20^th CONGRESS OF EUROPEAN PEOPLE'S PARTY IN MARSEILLE

The Congress was opened by EPP's President. Wilfred Martens, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Congress was focused on economic subjects. The most important message of this event was that values of the EU, established from the very beginning of Union's creation, have to be preserved. Its universal values, on which integrations philosophy is based, are the freedom, peace, stability, prosperity, rule of law, and equality. The term "European Union" was replaced by the "Union of European values" in most of the speeches.
Political leaders gathered in EPP strongly believe it is necessary to harmonize economic and fiscal politics within monetary Union, respecting at the same time "the golden rule" that public debt must not exceed 3% of GDP. 
German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated that having common currency and different fiscal and economic policies had to result with differences in the eurozone.  If there is a common currency, all members should have same obligations.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy warned that "never has the risk of disintegration been greater" He said the eurozone economies still had a few weeks to decide, but that time was working against them.
President of EPP, Wilfred Martens, said that the crisis is testing the limits of European economies, even survival of the EU. Nevertheless, elections' results show that citizens in EU countries trust leaders who propose efficient and sustainable solutions for getting out of the crisis.
EU leaders support the Euro as a stable currency that reflect the strength of the eurozone. It is a visible symbol of European community and the indicator of European position in the world.

October 27th, 2011 

COOPERATION BETWEEN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

At the meeting in the Belgrade Chamber of Commerce, attended by President of the Belgrade Chamber of Commerce, Mr Milan Jankovic, and President of Vienna Chamber of Commerce, Ms Brigitte Jank, representatives of the Embassy of the Republic of Austria in Belgrade and business community, the main topic was further improvement of cooperation between Belgrade and Vienna and chambers of commerce of the two cities.
Ms Brigitte Jank pointed out that strong economy of the capital cities is very important for the growth of national economy in every country. All chambers of commerce in Austria, and especially Chamber of Commerce of Vienna, significantly contribute to stability and economic growth with their educational and networking role, and they represent important partner to companies and the Government when it comes to business related legislation. 
Austrian chamber system is based on mandatory membership, and as Ms Jank pointed out, that organization system is the platform for realization of the basic role of Chambers of Commerce in European-Continental legal system, and that role is the association support to all companies, micro, small and large ones. details

September 9, 2011 

THE FIRST "SERBIA-EU" FORUM

President of the Belgrade Chamber of Commerce, PhD Milan Jankovic attended the first “Serbia-EU” Forum, organized by the Serbian Government in Hotel “Hyatt”. Beside the President of the Republic of Serbia Boris Tadic and numerous officials from the state, region and EU, the Forum was also attended by Mr. Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council and Mr. Martin Schulz, future President of the European Parliament. The main topic of this Forum was "Overcoming the crisis, moving towards the EU". Besides the important issues, such as sustainable development, fight against corruption, illegal migrations etc., the biggest part of this two-day Forum was dedicated to problems Serbia is coping with today, in the period when it expects to become a candidate for EU membership. EU representatives stated that the key factor in that process is dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, while President Tadic stressed that Serbia did everything in its power to start negotiating with EU and would not accept any new conditions on that matter.

September 6, 2011

BUSINESSPERSONS AT NON-ALIGNED CONFERENCE

Serbian and Belgrade Chambers of Commerce, in cooperation with Siepa, organized the participation of 18 companies at non-aligned conference, held in Belgrade. The companies from varous industries (agriculture, chemistry, pharmacy, construction) presented their export potentials. Companies from Belgrade that participated at this event were: PKB corporation, Torlak Institute,  Mihajlo Pupin Institute, Pupin Telekom, Galenika, Beohemija, Energoprojekt, Ktitor, Jugoimport Sdpr, etc. Most of listed companies has the significant experience in business cooperation with Egypt, Libya, Congo, Gabon, India, Azerbaijan, and wish to further develop their activities on their markets. Traditionally good interstate relations and political will exist for the long time, and Serbian companies are welcome to enter their markets. The Vice–president of Serbian Government in charge for European integration, Mr. Bozidar Djelic, invited businessmen to present their activities and capacities.

August 25, 2011

THE NEW INITIATIVE OF THE BELGRADE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR THE PROMOTION OF SMEs POSITION

Chamber's Center for SME development organised a meeting for the owners of SMEs and accounting agencies, with the aim of discussing current sectoral problems and relation between the public, especially tax administration and tax payers. As a result of this meeting the public advocacy campaign should be launched in order to promote business environment, improve SME position and jobs preserving. The campaign will also include public administration capacity building, since the affirmative attitude toward users and efficacy of public administration counts among basic principles of Small Business Act.

NEW SERVICE OF BELGRADE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS INFORMATION CENTRE

Belgrade Chamber of Commerce formed Center of Business Information - CPI, in order to be at service for its member companies and other interested parties.

CPI consists of two segments important for business performance of companies:

1. Companies presentation data base
2. Business knowledge data base

E-mail address of the center: www.poslovneinformacije.rs 

June 6, 2011

BELGRADE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WAS AWARDED A GRANT FOR EU PROJECT INCO (COOPERAZIONE INNOVATIVA PER UNA CRESCITA COMPETITIVA)

The Italian Government awarded a grant for the implementation of project INCO (Cooperazione Innovativa per una Crescita Competitiva) regarding international cooperation on technological and general innovation in doing business, in accordance with the Decree 519/2010 and the Law No 19 of the Region FVG, dated October 30, 2010. This project is being implemented by five partners: business associations from Serbia (Belgrade Chamber of Commerce and Italian-Serbian Chamber of Commerce) and Italy (Chamber of Commerce of Udine, as the leading partner, Confindustria Udine and Friuli Innovazione-Centre for research and technology transfer)