French enterprises showing increasing interest in Serbia – Focus on energy sector and infrastructure

The trade between Serbia and France has been growing considerably in the past years, and last year's growth amounted to 17% and the trade exceeded one billion euros, the director of the French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce in Belgrade, Sanja Ivanic, told RTS.

Ahead of the meeting between presidents Vucic and Macron in Paris, she says that she hopes that the date of the visit of the French president to Serbia will be known today, because, as she says, it is important for several reasons.

As she said, the delegation accompanying the president will also feature business people. She adds that the French are interested in the energy sector and infrastructure. Furthermore, they are interested in the food industry, production, service industries...

In the past years, the digital industry has been in focus as well, which is one of the priorities in France, especially investments in AI research.

Ivanic added that, in the past years, there have been inquests regarding Serbian investments in France, but notes that “this is harder then we expected, as the French market is competitive and large, and Serbian companies often lack the capacities for the production of that scope”. Because of this, she says, a strategy needs to be prepared, as Serbia has potential.

French companies are satisfied with the business environment in Serbia, Ivanic says and notes that all those companies have stayed in the country and developed their business.

As she says, there's always room for improvement, which pertains to political stability, transparency, exemptions and administrative problems.

She also says that small and medium enterprises are finally becoming interested in Serbia, which is new, as the French economy is much more cautious than others and needs time to make sure the country is safe.

Ivanic notes that, in the first six months of 2018, seven small and medium companies came from France to Serbia, whereas there had been a total of five in the preceding six years.

Francusko-srpski poslovni klub

Sanja Ivanic

trade between Serbia and France

trade cooperation between Serbia and France

infrastructure in Serbia

energy sector in Serbia

digital industry in Serbia

artificial intelligence in Serbia

small and medium enterprises in Serbia

entrepreneurship in Serbia

economic cooperation between Serbia and France

Serbian investments in France

French investments in Serbia