Serbia will join the World Trade Organization (WTO) next year, Vice-President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce Mihailo Vesovic said Monday.

During a public debate on the draft strategy for the development of intellectual property, he said that Serbia is also expected to become a candidate for European Union membership in 2011, which will accelerate some processes.

CEFTA is the framework in which greater attention should focus on intellectual property, as the economy benefits from that sector, he said. The Serbian government expects the strategy to be adopted in December.