Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Milutin Mrkonjic said today that the Serbian-Italian economic cooperation in the near future will focus on preparations for the summit of the two countries which will be held in Belgrade on 8 March.

After the meeting with Italian Ambassador to Serbia Armando Varricchio, Mrkonjic underlined that a letter of intent on the development of the existing pan-European multimodal axis with a very significant branch between Bucharest and Belgrade to Bar and Bari should be signed at the summit, which is vital for implementation of the project Corridor 11.

He stated that the project of direct participation of Italian companies in the financing of reconstruction and modernisation of the Belgrade-Bar railway is equally important, due to the fact that the feasibility study has been successfully completed and that a tender will be called soon so that Italian businessmen can apply for this venture.

The Minister informed the Italian ambassador that all procedures regarding the payment of compensation to owners of the land at locations where Italian entrepreneurs invest have been completed.

Ciric speaks with Italian investors

Minister of Economy and Regional Development Nebojsa Ciric said today that he spoke with representatives of four Italian companies in Rome about prospective investments in Serbia.

Ciric told Tanjug news agency that these are companies from the field of wood-processing industry, manufacturers of furniture and software, from the field of railway and automotive industry.

The Minister said that Kragujevac and its success with Fiat were presented to potential investors, as well as the examples of other Italian companies that do business in Serbia.

Ciric and Italian Minister of Economic Development, Infrastructure and Transport Corrado Passera spoke about areas in which agreements on cooperation should be signed, with the aim of bringing economic and political relations to a higher level.

Italian representatives reiterated their country’s absolute readiness to continue supporting European integration of Serbia.

Ciric visited Rome at the invitation of Minister Passera and attended the session of the Serbia-Italy business council at which he presented Serbia as an investment destination.