The exhibition “Historical Ties and Cooperation between the National Banks of Serbia and Belgium 1883–2010” was opened last night in the Scientific Library of the National Bank of Belgium by the governors of the two central banks – Mr Dejan Šoškić and Mr Guy Quaden.

The opening was attended by Mr Radovan Diklić, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to Brussels, and representatives of the Mission of the Republic of Serbia to the EU, as well as by representatives of European, Belgian and Serbian institutions and other eminent guests.

The National Bank of Serbia has prepared the exhibition in collaboration with the National Bank of Belgium to mark Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The exhibition focuses on historical ties between the two central banks and the importance of their cooperation for the development of Serbian institutions and the Serbian state in general. It also sheds light on the Serbian central bank’s achievements in the reform process, and the links between the two countries.

A special asset to the exhibition are historical exhibits of the National Bank of Belgium testifying to its technical assistance in the establishment of the Privileged National Bank of the Kingdom of Serbia in 1884–1885.

The section devoted to economic relations between the two countries displays historical exhibits of the “Club of Timok Railway Supporters”, illustrating the exploitation of the Vrška Čuka Mine, coal transport via the “Belgian Railway” to the Danube Radujevac port and operations of the briquette plant owned by Belgians in late 19th century.

The exhibition also presents a book titled Administrative, economic and trade aspects of Serbia, as seen by Émile de Borchgrave, Belgian resident minister in Belgrade in October 1883, and a number of detailed reports about Serbia he sent to the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The exhibition will be open until 14 January 2011.