There is still room for expanding the economic cooperation between Serbia and Belgium despite the public debt crisis and aggravated business circumstances, stated participants of the Serbian-Belgian Business Forum, held in the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) on Monday.

Belgian Ambassador in Serbia Alain Kundycki stated that it is exceptionally important for Serbia to be strongly engaged on its path to European integration, which can only help the economy grow stronger.

According to Kundycki, the Belgrade-Pristina talks paved the path for Serbia to win the EU candidate status, and the ambassador believes that there is a chance for Serbia to win the status.

The ambassador pointed out that Serbia holds considerable potential to attract the interest of Belgian ambassadors, and underscored that better cooperation takes reforms to enhance business conditions.

The newly-appointed Serbian Ambassador to Belgium Vesna Arsic expressed satisfaction that it would hold office as the diplomatic representative in Belgium at such an important economic and political moment for Serbia.

Arsic pointed out that regardless of the success it achieved in attracting investments, Serbia is characterised by insufficient industrial production and economic growth, as well as a high unemployment rate.

Serbia needs economic growth rate of five per cent, Arsic noted and called on Belgian businessmen to invest in Serbia.

She pointed out that additional encouragement to cooperation would be embodied in more frequent bilateral meetings and signing of an agreement on incitement and protection of investments and prevention of double taxation.

PKS Deputy President Mihailo Vesovic pointed out that Serbia is not present on the Belgian market and that it is up to PKS and diplomatic offices to change this. Also, Belgian businessmen do not know enough about Serbian market.

Vesovic recalled that imports from Belgium totalled USD 218.3 million while exports added up to USD 133.8 million, thus setting Serbia's foreign exchange deficit at USD 84.5 million.