Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia for European Integrations, Božidar Đelić, was a guest of the 7th Forum of Managers, organised by the Serbian Association of Managers in Belgrade last evening. The last Forum this year, hosted by Tigar, was attended by more than 150 managers of the largest companies operating in Serbia.

Deputy Prime Minister Đelić invited the present managers to more open and efficient dialogue and proactivity, announcing that the next year would be the year of full stabilisation and strong reforms.

- Europe is money. Pirot-based Tigar is one of the first domestic companies which will use funds of the European Investment Bank, and out of EUR250 million, EUR100 million will be allocated for export-oriented companies, with the state providing sovereign guarantees. It is very important not to stop at one station on the road to the European Union and to make the still abstract European standards real - said Đelić.

Participating in a discussion, President of Tigar a.d. Dragan Nikolić underlined that Tigar was celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, and that it managed to survive and grow owing to attracting significant international investments and partnerships, open management and stakeholder relations, particularly employees.

- The real sector lives in real time, and we cannot achieve the European vision without real instruments. In addition to political and economic stability, further growth of the company is also provided by the compliance with regulations in accordance with international standards and practices, and the establishment of better conditions for investment financing, including an improved access to funds, said President of the Pirot-based corporation, adding that Serbia needed a development bank, so that companies from the real sector could have more favourable sources of financing.

During the discussion, Deputy Prime Minister Božidar Đelić answered questions on how to attract new investments and improve the business climate in Serbia and competitiveness of the Serbian economy.