The Foreign Ministry’s Secretary General for International Economic Relations and Development Cooperation, Peter Mihalos, visited Belgrade from 23 to 25 June, on the occasion of his participation in the 14th Serbian Economic Summit.
The Serbian Economic Summit, which is the country’s most important economic forum, is hosted annually, with participation from across the political spectrum. In his speech, Mr. Mihalos put particular emphasis on the importance of reforms for Serbia’s future course, underscoring the need for immediate implementation of reforms in order to put the economy on a growth track.
He noted the Greek experience in this sector, as an outcome of the crisis, and the vast effort made towards fiscal adaptation and the adoption of the reform programme. He categorically reiterated Greece’s support for Serbia’s EU accession course.
Mr. Mihalos also stressed the important contribution of the Greek government, various non-governmental organizations and Greek enterprises to confronting the huge problems in the flood-hit areas of Serbia.
Finally, he expressed Greece’s intention to participate in the Donors Conference that is to be held in Paris to gather assistance for the flood-hit areas.
Mr. Mihalos also met with Finance Minister Dusan Vujovic and Deputy Finance Minister Dragan Stevanovich, with whom he discussed the provision of incentives for attracting investments to the two countries and increasing bilateral business cooperation.
In his meeting with Energy Minister Aleksandar Antic, issues of bilateral energy cooperation were raised, and there was a discussion of developments with South Stream, as well as of the outlook for the construction of a central corridor starting in Greece and carrying natural gas to Central and Eastern Europe.
Finally, Mr. Mihalos’s meeting with the Presidency of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Zeljko Sertic, focussed on ways to expand the cooperation between the two countries chambers’ so as to increase business synergies, and it was agreed that a Chamber visit will be carried out to Greece for the purpose of developing new contacts with Greek enterprises.
June 25, 2014