The BSBA, together with the Camera di Commercio Italo Serba, the Deutsche

Wirtschaftsvereinigung in Belgrad (DWB), Advantage Austria, the Slovenacki Poslovni Klub

(SPK), the British Chanber of Commerce, the Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie France

Serbie (CCIFS), as well as the Greek Business Club agreed earlier to intensify their

cooperation with regard to improvement of the business climate in Serbia and strengthening

trade relations between Serbia and EU countries. The initiative was given the provisional

name “European Initiative”. At this point the initiators, welcoming more European business

representations, have decided to kick-off the initiative as a working group which will focus on

SMEs and their specific interests. The SME sector needs more attention and support for

development in order to become more influential in the economic theatre in Serbia. The EI

will at start, in close cooperation with the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry,

identify and develop positions on diverse issues, related to the SME sector, with common

interest to present a single voice towards the Serbian government, ministries and authorities.

There is a long way to go but the first steps have been made.

Word of the Chairman : The “European Initiative”

Special points of interest:

Brussels

Activities

Our members in-

form

New members

Trade Commis-

sioner

Upcoming events

Newsletter April 2016 Vol 5 issue 1

BSBA / BSPA

Words from the Belgian Ambassador: Thank you for your condolences

Following the two terrorist attacks in

Brussels, on 22 March, leaving 32

people dead and several hundreds

injured, the Embassy of Belgium in

Serbia has received many expressions of

condolences. Prime Minister Vucic

immediately wrote to Belgian Prime

Minister Michel, and came to personally

sign the condolence book at the Belgian

residence, followed by several other

Ministers as well as an impressive

number of officials, diplomatic colleagues, business partners and other citizens. I would like

to take this opportunity, offered by the BSBA, to wholeheartedly thank the Serbian-Belgian

(business) community for this immediate, sincere and most-appreciated sympathy expressed

to the Belgian Embassy. Through tragic circumstances we have experienced a warm solidarity

which illustrates the depth and cordiality of our bilateral relations.

January 28th BSBA Happy Hour at the Epigenia Wine and Tapas Bar, Resavska 25

For the first Happy Hour of the year, the choice of the Epigenia

Wine & Tapas Bar seemed an obvious one: with its pleasant fire

place and located right around the corner of the Belgian Embassy,

the new location attracted 17 members and friends. For some

participants, this was a first encounter with our business club, for

others a moment shared with friends and exchange belated New

Year wishes. All agreed that it was a success, to do again! One

remark though: our first Happy Hour did not last one, but four

hours, proof of a successful event indeed.

Small and medium sized businesses

create about 85% of the new jobs in

the EU and will continue to be a

source of growth in the future. At the

BSBA General Assembly held in

December 2015, members were

invited to fill in a questionnaire and

put forward topics to be discussed at

future BSBA seminars. Two thirds of

participants suggested the issue of

SME’s in Serbia. This is why the

first ‘formal’ event of 2016 featured

‘EU support mechanism to SME’s’. Mrs. Milica Zatezalo, National Coordinator for the European

competitiveness program COSME for Serbia at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and editor in

Chief of the Exporter Magazine was one of two guest speakers, together with Mr. Marko

Kovacevic, Senior Adviser with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, Bureau for

EU Integration and in charge of the COSME program. Mr. Kovacevic is also Coordinator the

Enterprise Europe Network EEN, a platform tailored to SME’s and aimed at facilitating their

access to various business opportunities. With their long term experience, both speakers answered

the many and diverse questions of all 19 participants. The exercise was a good example of

coordination between the Ministry of the Economy and the CCIS. The feedback received was

extremely positive. http://www.ebrd.com/news/2016/ebrd-channels-30-million-to-serbian-smes-

via-komercijalna-banka.html

Page 2 BSBA / BSPA

As part of the yearly Francophone month held in Serbia and

organized by the French Institute in Serbia, the French Serbian

Chamber of Commerce and supported by important French

companies, the BSBA was invited to participate at the round table on

the language strategy held in the Belgrade Chamber of Commerce.

After one minute of silence dedicated to the victims fallen after

terrorist attacks in Brussels, HE Ms. Christine Moro, Ambassador of France, opened the round

table highlighting the action of the International Organization of Francophonie as a model of

sustainable development as well as cultural and linguistic diversity. The ELAN Study on ‘Effects

on the European Economy of Shortages of Foreign Language Skills in Enterprise’ commissioned

by the EU Directorate General for Education and Culture, confirms the impact of language

strategies and the direct relationship between language and the trade performance of small and

medium-sized enterprises.

The average loss per business over a three year period caused by lack of language skills amounts

according to ELAN €325,000. In the sample of about 2000 businesses, 11% SMEs had lost a

contract as a result of lack of language skills. 43% reported to have increased their turnover by

more than 25% by introducing a strategy with new languages and for 73% SMEs sales turnover

has increased by a minimum of 16%. Mrs. Marija Tasic, Managing Director of Tasic&Partners,

and member of the Board of Directors of the BSBA represented the BSBA at this event, as well

as Honorary Ambassador Denise De Hauwere.

The round table highlighted the fact that the economic cooperation between Serbia and France

has not yet reached its full potential, with room for growth in the energy, construction and

agricultural sectors, and with public-private partnership as the most interesting and attractive

model for investors. Education of foreign languages in Serbia concentrate too much on literary

and linguistic aspects and do not pay enough attention to their commercial and technical use,

according to some delegates. On the other hand, the French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce

offers courses of Serbian to French speaking business persons wanting to set up a business in

Serbia. Whether future French ‘business’ courses will be offered to Serbian wanting to go

abroad, is still to be examined.

February 10th, COSME seminar –

EU Programme for small and medium-sized enterprises funds available for Serbia

March 23rd Round Table ‘Why and how should a company develop a Language Strategy?’

Vol 5 issue 1 Page 3

GOMEX

GOMEX continues with strong investment activities in 2016 with focus on

reconstruction and refurbishment of existing stores in the first quarter and opening

new ones (started in April). So far 14 stores have been reconstructed and 4 new

ones opened and the lease agreement for the next four is signed. The total amount

for both investments is about around 230k Euros. Beside this Gomex is opening

two construction sites in Zrenjanin, spreading store network and improving our

distribution and logistics capacities. The estimated investment in both warehouses in Zrenjanin is about 1,5 mil Euros. We are

continuously enhancing the number of employees, mostly in the retail department as well in other sectors and special services at

headquarters. With 44 new employees Gomex employs 1363 staff. There is also a significant Investment in vehicles and

equipment, especially in IT technology and solutions (to be launched in the coming months) basically related to e-invoicing, a

loyalty program and strengthening our relations with consumers as a main and final goal.

Metech

On March 31st, Metech received its umpteenth award, this time the ‘Capitan Misa

Anastasijevic’ award for founding and developing the Tree Trade Zone in

Smederevo. With a renewed investment of one million €, Metech launched the

start-up of a Trulaser robot, making this the first private manufacturer in Serbia

using this state of the art technology. And with an extra investment of 100 000

Euro a new E-break bending machine was acquired. Metech offered in house

training for its engineers; a new and sophisticated production is ongoing.

TASIC & Partners Law Office

Practical Law, the Thompson Reuter Legal Solution website, has published in its Q&A

section for Serbia, the Guide to Doing Business in Serbia, authored by the law office

Tasic&Partners team, as a part of its global guide Doing Business in 2016. The chapter

on Doing Business in Serbia is an overview of key recent developments affecting doing

business, as well as an introduction to the legal system, foreign investment, including restrictions, currency regulations and

incentives, as well as business vehicles and their relevant restrictions and liabilities. In addition, there are comprehensive

summaries on taxation and tax residency and intellectual property rights over patents, trademarks, registered and unregistered

designs. The guide is, also, a confirmation of the experience and hard work made by all the members of the Tasic&Partners team

that has significant experience in providing our clients legal advice and services within aforementioned areas - founding of

companies, representative offices and branches in Serbia, organizing registration, preparing drafts of general acts and other

statutory documentation, as well as the services and legal advice regarding the intellectual property rights, taxation issues,

energy and environmental law, contract law, including both standard commercial contracts and specialized JV, public and PPP

contracts.

There is a new website called 'Focus on Belgium' (see http://focusonbelgium.be/en ) with interesting news about Belgian

lifestyle, culture, science, international and business news.(source:Doing business in Serbia (TASIC)

News from our members

Law Office MARIC

At the board meeting of the World Federation of Consuls

(Fédération internationale des Corps et Associations consulaires

FICAC) held in the Dominican Republic, Mr. Rajko Maric was

appointed Chairman for East and South East Europe as well as co-Chairman of the legal committee. The World Federation of

Consuls, founded in 1982 to give consuls a much-needed forum to share experiences and co-ordinate efforts to enhance their

status and effectiveness and to bring together Consular Associations and Corps from all around the globe, has United Nations

recognition as an NGO with ECOSOC Status. Since then, FICAC has spread wide and fast. Today it has over 87 member –

associations and affiliated members. World Congresses and General Meetings have been held every three years, as well as

periodical conferences aimed to strengthen bonding among Consuls and to channel their experience in professional fields.

The directors of the company Elicio NV Ludo Vandervelden and Nicolas Brynooghe discussed in

Belgrade with the Minister of Energy and Mining Aleksandar Antic about development of pro-

jects in the field of renewable energy and the adoption by law for the implementation of projects.

Mr Vandervelden thanked the Minister for the efforts made to improve the investment environ-

ment and noted that the company Elicio ready to be-

gin construction of wind farms Alibunar Malibunar

and immediately after the adoption of regulations that

regulate the field of renewable energy, which stipu-

lates the adoption of the Energy Law. Minister Antić

stressed that investors have the support of the Minis-

try, that Serbia is committed to fulfill the commit-

ments to produce and consume 27 percent green

energy until 2020.

ELICIO: Ministry of energy supports green projects

News from other Belgian Companies in Serbia

The Nuscience Group, manufacturer of premixes, concentrates, mineral feed, nutritional concepts

and feed additives, is a key partner for feeds manufacturers worldwide. Nuscience offers a wide

range of products for feed mills, integrators and home-mixers. With its headquarters in Drongen,

Belgium where state of the art technology and infrastructure is applied, Nuscience has plants in

China, the Netherlands, Brazil and in Velika Plana, Serbia. ‘Challenge, Change and Care’ is not

only a sales slogan but also a philosophy for Nuscience: ‘Challenge: we live in a world that will

soon be occupied by over 9 billion people, a world whose resources are being run down at an

unsustainable rate. Change will and must come; innovation is needed to provide science-based,

practical solutions, and commercial growth will allow these solutions to reach an ever-

increasing portion of the globe. But sustainable solutions require care: respect for animal and

human health and welfare’.

Page 4 BSBA / BSPA

The Belgian company Reynaers Aluminium,

a leading European specialist in developing

of innovative and sustainable solutions in

aluminum for windows, doors, facades, and

sliding systems, presented its new ‘Master

Line 8’ system in Belgrade – a

groundbreaking platform which offers

absolute freedom and access to the latest

trends in the construction industry. This is a

unique system for windows and doors which

combines unlimited design options with first-

class performances, energy efficiency and

production speed. HE Mr. Leo D’AES, Ambassador of Belgium welcomed the invitees and Mr.

Albertas Jerusevicius, Regional Director and pointed out the importance of this region and

announced future investments. Reynaers Aluminium marks eight years of doing business in

Serbia. During that time they managed to cover the entire region so partners from Rijeka, Osijek

and Skoplje also attended the presentation. In previous years, the company has been engaged in

the construction of various objects: from cultural, sports, touristic, to residential objects and

private villas. At this moment Reynaers is engaged in early stage projects in the Belgrade office

park, the West 65 complex, hotel Padova in Croatia, as well as various other projects abroad.

Welcome to a New Member NUSCIENCE

April 14, 2016 - Reynaers Aluminium presents its new ‘Master Line 8’ System

This 5th of January was a great day for Jiway ! Jiway is proud to announce the opening

of their offices in Novi Sad (Serbia) with a new team of developers and a commercial.

Based on its strong experience with its clients in more than 20 countries, Jiway

provides full web business solutions! Our modular solutions optimize your authoring &

documentary flows and manage sales and marketing operations with your clients. The

team has a double background: they both know your business and have a strong IT

expertise. Jiway provides modular solutions that can be easily integrated into the

existing IT landscape and meets your industry standards. Since 2003, Jiway offers software solutions based on the latest

technologies in terms of development. It also provides high-level of services & support to its clients, from its offices worldwide.

Jiway (Luxemburg) in Serbia

From the Office of the Belgian Trade Commissioner

The Office of the Commercial Attaché, in

cooperation with Flanders Investment and

Trade www.flandersinvestmentandtrade.com

and AWEX- Wallonia Export & Investment

Agency www.awex.be organized on 17th and

18th of March a visit of 19 Belgian companies

to Serbia. After their visit to Zagreb and

Ljubljana, Belgian companies had the occasion

to meet their potential Serbian partners at B2B

meetings and explore various opportunities of

the Serbian market. About 100 Serbian

companies participating at this event. The first

impressions were very positive, so new

contracts are to be expected in the coming

months. After the B2B meetings, Ambassador

D’aes hosted a reception in his residence, inviting other Serbian experts as well as BSBA members. All were able to discuss the

general economic environment as well as market opportunities with the delegates and their partners and to conclude that they

returned to Belgium with new business opportunities on their minds.

Vol 5 issue 1 Page 5

Belgian Economic Mission to Serbia

MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN

The BSBA Secretary, Gilberte Delva will be contacting all BSBA member with a membership renewal request. Membership

can be either ‘individual’ for one member, ‘SME’ for two members or ‘Corporate’ for three members. Membership allows you

to participate free of charge to all seminars and working luncheons and to invite your friends and business partners to the Happy

hours (minimum charge for drinks and food). The BSBA, together with the Belgian Embassy, the Office of the Trade

Commissioner and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry will also organize a ‘Belgium Open Day’ event in November 2016,

inviting the large Serbian business community. The Board of Directors of the BSBA would like to thank its members for their

continued support.

Mark your agenda for 2016

UPCOMING EVENTS

April 19th : Working Lunch at the residence of the Belgian Ambassador with

guest speakers Mrs. Ana Firtel, Executive Director of the Foreign Invesment

Council FIC, Mrs. Ana Brnabic, President of NALED and Mr. Milan Petrovic,

President of the Serbian Association of Managers SAD

April 20th : Luxembourg Economic Mission in cooperation with the Chamber

of Commerce and Industry of Serbia

May 11th 18:00 : Happy Hour, VIVA Splav, Belgrade

June 11th : Outing Fruska Gora, with a visit to a monastery, a winery and

dinner in a ‘salas’

For more information on these upcoming events, please contact

Gilberte Delva, Secretary, Business Relations Manager of the BSBA at

g.delva@bsbiz.eu

The BSBA LinkedIn discussion and

information open group is counting

already 640 followers and not only

from Serbia and Belgium. We are

looking forward to meet you also there

http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=4439388&trk=anet_ug_hm

Business Address

Beogradska 4

11000 Belgrade

Serbia

Redaction

Chairman

h.vanveghel@bsbiz.eu

Secretary & Business Relations Manager

g.delva@bsbiz.eu

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