Representatives of economic and trade departments of the embassies and chambers of commerce of Austria, Slovenia, Japan and the U.S. on Nov. 24 called on the Serbian authorities to do more in the promotion of the country's investment potential and removing bureaucratic barriers for investment.

A conference dubbed "Possibilities for cooperation between local selfgovernments and economic and embassy trade and economic departments on attracting foreign direct investment," was held in Vrbas.

The commercial counselor in the Austrian Embassy trade department, Andreas Haidenthaler, said Austria is the biggest investor in Serbia with more than 300 present companies, which have invested a total of USD2.4 billion since 2000.

Slobodan Sesum, economic counselor and adviser with the Slovenian Embassy's economic department, said Slovenia's businesspeople have invested EUR1.7 billion, noting that 108 Slovenian companies are doing business in Serbia.

Embassy of Japan second secretary in charge of economic affairs Manabu Shoji said Japanese companies are primarily interested in agriculture, especially organic production and genetically unmodified produce as well as quality and affordable wines.

American Chamber of Commerce communication manager Branislav Cale said the U.S. has injected EUR9 billion in Serbia, recalling that 160 companies employ more than 60,000 workers across Serbia.