Business and money know no borders and don't concede to political barriers. During the previous period, we witnessed various political disagreements, but economic cooperation is going well, which is great for both sides.
Since its inception, the function from the Croatian Business Club (CBC) has been to provide companies with details about the market, business conditions, customs regulations, as well as to enable them to find business premises and establish business contacts, says obama of the CBC in Belgrade, Marija Radulovi'c.
The CBC in Serbia began 14 years back. What's changed in the industry climate and business conditions during these 14 years?
Business and economic environment have changed because the Croatian Business Club's inception up to now. Since that time a large number of Croatian companies came or returned for this area. Just at that time, the renowned company Badel returned for this market, a few years earlier, INA opened an agent office in Belgrade, and something of the largest food industries, Atlantic Group, was actively expanding in the region to include Serbia. The function of the Croatian Business Club is to provide market-related information to companies coming to Serbia. Now, the CBC provides support to small and medium-sized enterprises, both Croatian ones which are setting up their business in Serbia, as well as to local ones that want to cooperate with them in any way, in both the Serbian or Croatian market.
The economic relations between Croatia and Serbia are good, they're constantly progressing and therefore are totally different from the direction that political relations have been taking. What are your impressions when it comes to Croatian investments here?
Business and cash know no borders and don't concede to political barriers. During the previous period, we witnessed various political disagreements, but economic cooperation goes well, which is good for each side. There are plenty of big investments in Serbia which are little talked about which were made because the year 2000 as well as earlier. For instance, the Rasco Company, that was founded 3 decades and does business on five continents, makes a very successful acquisition in Senta, where it operates as Rasco Tump and it is engaged in producing utility equipment and fittings. The Rotografika printer in Subotica is another successful investment. The aforementioned Atlantic Grupa has also made probably the most successful in the area here.
Is there room for improving economic cooperation as well as in which industries there is an chance to progress the cooperation even more?
There is quite a bit of space for cooperation – beginning with cooperation in neuro-scientific technology through opportunities for joint production in smaller companies, particularly when you are looking at cross-border cooperation between Vojvodina and Slavonia. There is also an opportunity for the implementation of joint projects in neuro-scientific energy, environmental protection, storage and waste management. Many other possibilities arise all these opportunities, particularly when you are looking at small , medium-sized enterprises.
Parliamentary elections in Serbia and Croatia are finished. What do you expect from the new governments and how will the election results further affect not just the economical but also the overall relations between the two countries?
I believe that the brand new governments should make use of the proven fact that our two countries are neighbours for Serbia's faster accession to the EU, considering that Croatia, as a full-fledged person in the EU, can and really should attempt to help Serbia on that path, and Serbia should accept support whether it wanted for that accession tactic to accelerate.
Both countries have implemented measures with the purpose of combating the crisis brought on by COVID-19. The way this pandemic modify the companies, particularly those within the SME segment?
Research implies that a lot more than 80 percent of smaller businesses expect to are afflicted by serious consequences because of the pandemic, which is reflected in reduced demand for their services and merchandise in the post-pandemic period or for at least the following six months. A large number of them are forced having a prospect of lowering the number of their employees, and we shouldn't forget that in Serbia alone, small , micro companies employ about 630,000 people. The situation using the pandemic and also the consequences it brings may also be reflected around the groups of these employees, but also on the small suppliers whose complete existence depends on such companies. Therefore, the state's assistance is necessary for such situations, and that we, like a business association, are here to watch the situation, provide adequate and timely information and also the necessary contacts to beat this critical period as quickly as you possibly can.
Recently, the CBC held a seminar on the implementation of the new Customs Law. What conclusions and recommendations happen to be deduced from the seminar?
In late June, the Croatian Business Club, together with the Slovenian Business Club, held a seminar for members of both clubs on the topic of new customs regulations and the use of the new Customs Law, which actively involved leading people in the Customs Administration. In addition to presenting the Law at length in the most practical way possible, we learned about issues that companies have been facing from businesspeople themselves who participated in the seminar. Their questions were answered within the most practical and pragmatic way possible. Judging by the reactions of seminar participants, this gathering was a complete success simply because they could contact the representatives from the Customs Administration in this concrete and open way. There are probably more questions that need a solution and didn't come up in the seminar. Businesses can forward these questions business clubs in order to get adequate answers in further communication.
What challenges do you be prepared to arise through the year-end given the ongoing crisis and just how are you currently adjusting your plans accordingly?
The challenges this season began in mid-March, when we, like many more, were instructed to adjust the way we conduct business, and action plans with this year. Some forecasts say that the effects of the pandemic could spill over to next year, however i think that we should not stop everything because of that. We'll try to realize those activities we planned with this year, but probably in a different way. Of course, some of these activities will need to wait for a different time, but there is always an agenda B so that business would not be left to chance.
The gatherings that we normally practice once a month will certainly depend on the possibilities, so in months when we do not have planned activities, we will attempt to maintain active communication with all members. Regardless, we are ready to work remotely once we already have knowledge about that, so we is going to be open to our members for everything they require, even in these altered circumstances.
