New regional online platform to connect Balkan businesses
Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIS) President Marko Čadež announced that a new regional online platform will be launched at the upcoming Western Balkans Summit in Berlin, which should contribute to a better connection between companies in the region and with companies in third markets.
Participant in the event entitled “Western Balkans and Serbia: Implementing the Action Plan for the Common Regional Market – Benefits and Challenges”, organized by the Western Balkans Chamber Investment Forum (KIF ZB6), Čadež said the new platform would initially be aimed at companies in the food sector, the automotive light industry and the circular economy.
“We want to map all companies that have something to offer and can be part of international supply chains with their trade and production standards,” Čadež said. He also underlined that the project of building a common regional market was one of the most important activities for the Western Balkan countries in the process of joining the European Union and said that companies from the six countries of the Western Balkans should help their respective governments to implement the plan better and faster.
Čadež went on to say that the first observations and measurements of how the plan will be implemented will be known at the upcoming Western Balkans summit in Berlin.
The General Secretary of the Chamber Investment Forum, Tatjana Duškovska, said that KIF represents more than 350,000 companies in the region, mostly small and medium-sized. Some of the main issues facing businesses in the region include long queues at border crossings, not recognizing each other’s certificates or other export documents, and hours uncoordinated work of all border services and inspections.
According to her, the situation is further complicated by the problems that arise when sending workers to other countries, in terms of obtaining residence and work permits or recognition of qualifications and licenses.
Duškovska also underlined that the action plan offers solutions to these problems, but also has a development component as it lays the foundations for increased cooperation, better connectivity and improved competitiveness and productivity. companies in the Balkan region.
(eKapija, 12.05.2021)
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