Stronger economic cooperation between Serbia and Great Britain - Agriculture and IT most interesting to British investors

(Michael Davenport)

British Ambassador to Serbia Michael Davenport stated in Belgrade on Thursday evening that in spite of the difficult economic situation in Great Britain and Serbia, the two countries had recorded a slight increase in the economic cooperation.

At a reception organized at the British Embassy on the occasion of Chairman of the British-Serbian Chamber of Commerce Sir Paul Judge's visit to Belgrade, Davenport said that we had witnessed an increase in the Serbian-British cooperation in the previous 18 months.

Davenport welcomed the Serbian government's focus on fostering ties with Great Britain in the area of education, noting that 1,100 Serbian students had been sent to Britain to continue their education.

He noted that an important jubilee - 175 years of the Serbian-British diplomatic relations - would be celebrated in 2012.

(Paul Judge)

Paul Judge, who was yesterday awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Belgrade, observed that the most important step in attracting investors that the Serbian government should take was to simplify procedures and continue its fight against corruption.

As Judge said, the trade between Serbia and Britain stands at between 80 and 100 million euros, but there is plenty of potential for its further growth.

- Serbia needs money, and there are many who would invest in this country – Judge noted.

He also pointed out that our country had a large number of banks, "maybe even too many, so that they should be restructured".

Judge added that Serbia had a great potential in the agricultural sector, stressing that he epxected that sector to be presented much better to British businessmen in order to attract more investments.

The ceremony in the residence of the British ambassador was also attended by representatives of the company KPMG, British companies in Serbia, Serbian Minister of Construction Velimir Ilic, TV Pink's owner Zeljko Mitrovic and many other guests.