Message from Ambassadors

Increased Interest for
Economic Cooperation
between Serbia and Japan

Nenad Glišić
Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to Japan

H.E. Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Nenad Glišić, spent his early academic days in Tokyo, back in theseventies. H.E. said “it is with a great sentiment that I had the opportunity to come back to Japan, 35 years later, as asenior diplomat”. Representing Serbia in Japan is a great privilege that brings tremendous responsibility. Along withthis responsibility comes sincere intention to deepen bilateral relations and friendship between our two nations- andJOI is an important part of this process.

Serbia is a member of JOI since 2005. This period

Serbian King Milan Obrenović the First, following Berlin

bia, and relations between Serbia and Japan. In 2011 thendent state, wrote, after his coronation in March 1882, abrought many changes in the world economy, in Ser-President of Serbia, Boris Tadić visited Japan, met with His

Imperial Majesty Akihito, then Prime Minister Naoto Kanand many other high officials and representatives of lead-ing companies. This, historical visit marked the introductionof visa free regime to Serbian citizens visiting Japan andthe beginning of official approval of the, so called, “yenloan”. The project, worth EUR 250 million, focuses on

fume gas desulphurization at thermo electric plant “NikolaTesla” in Serbia, near Belgrade, which brings this mainelectric power producer in Serbia, in line with EU environmental standards.

In spite of recent catastrophic floods, that took place in

May this year, Serbia has a solid reconstruction plan that isCongress in 1878, which recognized Serbia as an indepenpersonal letter to Japanese Emperor Meiji. This was thefirst diplomatic correspondence between sovereigns ofSerbia and Japan.

Although Serbia faced many challenges, its market
based, euro driven economy proved to be able tocope with difficulties brought by Lehman shock and European debt crisis. The most prosperous sectors areagriculture, food processing, automotive industry and components, metal processing, electrical appliances andelectronics, IT sector and pharmaceuticals. Great numberof foreign investors from US, Germany, Austria, Italy andmany other countries confirm this fact.

backed by international donors, among which Japan plays

In order to improve its economic position Serbia is com-

vided substantial and warmhearted aid to people in Serbia,

values investments from Japan. Companies like Japan To-

significant role. Generosity of Japanese citizens, who prowas another confirmation of traditional friendship between
two nations that last for more than 130 years.

mitted to attracting foreign direct investment and highly
bacco International (that exports approximately USD 40

million a year from Serbia), joint venture of Mitsui-Alltech
in beer yeast and food additives production (helped by Asa-hi Food and Healthcare management and technology) andPanasonic, producing components for LED lighting, all increased their production capacities, investment and numberof employees in Serbia.

Continuous efforts of Serbian Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SIEPA) to promote Serbia and its

potentials, supported by JOI, resulted in organizing a small
H.E. Mr. Nenad Glišić in his office
16

2014.11scale seminar at JOI, in May this year, about the IT industry

in Serbia. Seminar was a great success as it discovered,investments in Serbia.

great number of young, talented people and companies in

Political stability, Government committed to economic de-East countries.

number of free trade agreements and preferential treaties

what has not been well known in Japan, that Serbia has aIT sector, that have market access to the EU and Middle

velopment, EU candidate status, adoption of new laws andVwith EU and US bring Serbia advantages that are hard toopportunity to meet Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar

between our countries. Therefore we encourage you toisit of Keidanren in September this year brought one

more historically important change in relations be-tween two countries as 26 member delegation had theVučić, relevant ministers, institutions and company representatives. Main organizers were Serbian Chamber ofCommerce and Industry and SIEPA.

match. Increased number of Japanese companies that visit
Serbia confirms this and offers a strong motivation to continue our efforts in intensifying economic cooperation
contact SIEPA, our Embassy, gain more information and,most of all, to visit Serbia.

Seminar about investments in Serbia, held in the beginningof October this year, in JBIC auditorium, organized by
SIEPA and JOI, supported by JBIC, JETRO and UNIDO

was yet another event of key importance in the process ofbringing Serbia closer to Japan. More than 70 attendees

could learn about experiences in Serbia from esteemed representatives of Japan Tobacco International, Asahi Foodand Healthcare and Panasonic. Honest, unbiased, yet very

positive comments encouraged the audience to find out
more, and will, hopefully, increase already growing inter-Contiuous friendship between Japan and Serbia
since the MEIJI era

est of Japanese companies to develop business or

Serbia IT seminar held in May

Serbia Investment Seminar held in the beginning of October

JOI 特別会員『セルビア投資輸出促進庁（SIEPA）』のご紹介
セルビア投資輸出促進庁（SIEPA）は、セルビアに進出・同国でのビジネス拡大を検討する外国企業をサポート、またセルビア企業の海外進出を促進するため、2001 年に設立されました。駐日セルビア共和国大使館と連携しながら、情報提供はもちろん、視察のアレンジ、セルビア企業（パートナー候補）や、工業・事業用地もご紹介します。日本語での対応も可能ですので、ぜひお気軽にお問い合わせください。

セルビア投資輸出促進庁（SIEPA）
日本担当：犬丸マテヤ・ミレンコヴィッチ輸出促進アドバイザー
Website: www.siepa.gov.rs E-Mail: mateja.milenkovic@siepa.gov.rs

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