Member companies of American Chamber of Commerce in Serbia have met today with Minister of Economy and Regional Development, Mr Nebojša Ćirić. The agenda has included potential for improving cooperation between Serbia and the CEFTA members, status of Serbia in the process of association to the World Trade Organisation, and plans of the Regulatory Reforms Office of the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

As a member of the CEFTA, Serbia has so far experienced benefits of free trade in the region, primarily from the aspect of exporters, as well as through the enhancement of investment potential of the country. The meeting has specifically highlighted the importance of consistent implementation of the CEFTA and compliance with its provisions in practice.

“In that respect, we believe that it is necessary to prevent the introduction of various customs and non-customs barriers, since it is important for member companies of American Chamber of Commerce to have the CEFTA function seamlessly, since its implementation contributes to a faster transfer of goods, thus increasing the interest of investors in our country,” underlined Vice-President of the American Chamber of Commerce, Mr Miloš Đurković.

Mr Đurković has added that, in the aim of establishing a better investment climate in the country, American Chamber of Commerce, as a generator of proposals for reducing bureaucratic procedures for investors, fully supports activities of the Regulatory Reforms Office of the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

In addition, it has been pointed out that the arrival of new foreign investors to Serbia would be largely supported by completing the process of association to the World Trade Organisation and obtaining a candidate status on the road to the European Union, since these are some of the guarantees regarding stability of the future direction of the economic policy development.