Serbian President Boris Tadic stated in Zagreb on Thursday that a new form of cooperation is being established between Serbia and Croatia in the political and economic areas, and underlined that the two states have to be open and competitive so as to make progress.

At the opening of the Serbia-Croatia Business Forum, attended by 60 Croatian and more 70 Serbian businessmen, Tadic said that if it is true that the Serbian businessmen do not have the same treatment in Croatia as the Croatian businessmen have in Serbia, he expects that to change.

The data of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) show that there are over 200 Croatian companies currently doing business in Serbia, whereas only a dozen Serbian companies have opened their offices in Croatia.

"It is also very important that we realize our joint resources and use the capacities we have in the metal industry, as well as the huge capacities in the defence industry," Tadic said, adding that it is necessary to follow the trends in the friendly markets, all with the aim to increase the standard of living of the citizens in both states. Neither Serbia nor Croatia can realize a high rate of growth and standard unless the current structure of economy is changed, and unless the countries do not focus on export and high technology, Tadic underscored. If we do not do that, we will always lag behind and will not be able to persevere in the international market, the Serbian president concluded.