Prime Minister Cvetkovic invited Cypriot companies to invest in Serbia and cooperate with Serbian businessmen, because the excellent political relations between the two countries represent a good foundation for more intensive economic cooperation, while Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias believes that Serbia should use his country as an international and regional business and financial center.

At a Serbia-Cyprus business forum in Nicosia, Cvetkovic pointed out that Serbia has a stable economy, is permanently oriented toward EU accession and expects to get candidate status by the end of the year.

Serbia should record a three percent GDP growth this year, which is a good foundation for higher growth, which the country will strive to achieve in coming years, the Serbian prime minister pointed out. Inviting Cypriot investors, the prime minister reminded that Serbia has free trade agreements with the EU, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and CEFTA countries.

At the forum held at the Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, Cypriot President pointed out that business cooperation with Serbia is very important for his country.Christofias pointed out that countries like Serbia can use Cyprus as an international and regional business and financial center, which will make it easier for them to enter the EU and Middle East markets.

According to him, ties with Serbia have played a very important role in the development of the Cypriot economy and the close bilateral cooperation should continue in the future.

President of the Chamber of Commerce pointed out that the priority sectors for bilateral cooperation are the agricultural and food industry, energy and renewable energy sources, the metal industry, tourism and investment in free trade zones.

Bugarin pointed out that the trade between Serbia and Cyprus reached a record high in 2005, and a record low last year due to the global economic crisis. According to him, the data for the first four months of this year is encouraging, with a 45 % increase from the same period last year.

President of the Cypriot Chamber of Commerce Mantos Mavromatis said that the institution is aware of the great potential for economic cooper., which is why it will help with its promotion and strengthening.