Vera Veljanovski, Project Manager ARIES , Special Agency of the Chamber of Commerce of Trieste

1. “Mission to the North of Italy” Trieste, Genoa, Milan(28-31 May 2012)South East Europe Information Day Vera Veljanovski, Project Manager ARIES, Special Agency of the Chamber of Commerce of Trieste Trieste, May 29th 2012

2. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY OF SERBIA Independent professional business association of all enterprises, entrepreneurs and other forms of organizations on the territory of the Republic of Serbia In accordance to the EU standards, the CCIS has Euro-Continental organization form meaning the mandatory membership With the highly-qualified employees who work in the best interest of the Serbian economy

3. MISSION, VISION, GOAL MISSION • To provide and realize professional and expert support to its members with a view to improving their business and general developing of the national economy VISION • Strong Serbian economy- market oriented, with open possibilities based on the European values, competitive, sustainable, created on knowledge, creativity and innovations and optimal usage of the available human resources, along with the latest IT solutions GOAL • To improve the economic development of Serbia, to boost the export and foreign direct investments, to strengthen competitiveness and development of entrepreneurship, and the business climate of Serbia as a respectable investment destination

4. CCIS MEMBERSHIP STRUCTURE • Gathers around 100.000 companies and • 200.000 entrepreneurs • Membership: • Economic communities of all sectors and branches, and in all forms of property • Banks and other financial organizations • Insurance organizations • Agricultural cooperatives – as collective members by its association • Entrepreneurs by its entrepreneurial associations

5. ОRGANIZATION UNITS • ASSOCIATIONS, BOARDS • Monitor and analyze the economic trends in certain economic sectors and propose the measures for the improvement of business climatefor their members; prepare, adopt and follow up the macroeconomic policy in the Republic of Serbia • CENTRES, BUREAUS • Professional departments of the Chamber whose organization is stipulated by the Act on internal organization and systematization • ENTREPRENEURIAL UNION • CCIS DEPARTMENTS

6. CHAMBER SYSTEM • Representing the entire economic sector on the local, regional and national level, • the system comprises: • 2 Provincial Chambers of Commerce • 16 Regional Chambers of Commerce • Belgrade Chamber of Commerce • under the umbrella organization of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS)

7. ACTIVITIES • Representing its members’ interests • Public Powers performance through the document issuing • Promotion of the economy in the country and abroad by organizing participation in the fairs and exhibitions and through other forms of communication • Business information on current economic trends, business environment, drafting of regulations, business standards, new technologies and information from the Chamber’s database... • Improvement of international economic relations by providing information to its members in order to find business partners abroad, to improvebilateral and multilateral relations, as well as by its membership in many international organizations

8. ACTIVITIES • Consulting services in the field of the legal consulting in implementation of the regulations and the realization of the quality system management, making the web presentations, introduction ad protection of innovations and setting up business • Business training at the level of the lectures, professional seminars, specialized courses and other forms of training aimed at continuous improvement of professional competences and business skills of employees • Fostering good business practices and business ethics through the adoption of relevant codes • Courts and Court of Arbitration at the CCIS- Court of Honour, Permanent Elected Court (Arbitration) and Foreign Trade Court of Arbitration

9. CCIS - SERVICES TO SMEs Providing professional business support services in order to develop entrepreneurship (assisting in enterprises start-up, drafting Business plan, consulting for SME, Business Incubator, Clusters...) Organization of trainings, business meetings and “BtoB” in the country and abroad, promotion of the programs/projects important for economic development... Cooperation with national/international stakeholders at national and local level Project implementation (target gruoup: SMEs) Providing information about the modalities of financial support profitable program (EU support programs, foreign and domestic credit facilities, international funds, grants, competitions) and a way of accession to the various funds Providing advisory assistance in project proposal planning and drafting Providing assistance in finding project partners in the country and abroad for participation in the EU and other support funding programs Counsil for Clusters, Counsil for Women Entrepreneurship Participation at Fairs

10. SMEE SECTOR IN SERBIA Small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurship sector (SMEE) an important economy segment Total number : 319.044 enterprises in 2010 The entrepreneurial sector: 99.8% (318,540 enterprises) • SMEE sector accounts: • 45.4% of total employment • 43.9% of total investments • 44.5% of exports • 52.3% of imports • 63.3% of foreign trade deficit in economy • the national GDP - 33%. In 2010, the SMEE sector generated: • 66.4% of employees (814.585) • 65.3% of turnover (4.678 billion RSD) • 55.9% of GVA (817.4 billion RSD) • 52.6% of the non-financial sector investments

11. STRUCTURE OF SMEE SECTOR SMEE sector in Serbia, in 2010 Employmentin the SMEE sector in Serbia, in 2010

12. KEY STRATEGIC DOCUMETS AND REPRESENTATION OF INTEREST OF SMEs The Small Business Act is applied in the EU since June 2008. In 2010 document was adopted by the Serbian Government After success in implementation of European Charter of Small Enterprises from 2003 to 2008, Serbia started with adjustment in accordance with the SBA. In Serbia last year carried out 33 measures, the highest among the ten European countries outside the EU SBA is the key SMEs policy document in next period for EU and Western Balkans countries and Turkey In Serbia, in implementation of SBA document participate 35 institutions In Serbia exists SME Forum under CCIS from 2008 for permanent dialogue between representatives of SMEs sector and Serbian Government, and also implementation of the SBA in Serbia CCIS and SME Forum under CCIS play very important role in implementation ten SBA principles in Serbia

13. INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES CCIS Representative Offices abroad: • Russian Federation • Ukraine • Germany • Italy • Belgium • Austria • France • Montenegro

14. INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES • CCIS membership in the international organizations: • ICC, Eurochambres • ABC, ASCAME • Regional initiatives: CEI/ CECCI, BSEC, Danube initiative • CCIS associations’ membership in the international organizations: • Group of Pharmaceutical wholesaler in the GIRP • Association of Private Security in the Confederation of European security services • Association of Textile Industry in the EURATEX • Association of Transport and Telecommunications in the IRU, FIATA, TRANSFRIGOROUTE INTERNATIONAL • CCIS – one of the founders of National Petrol Committee of Serbia of the World Petrol Council • Fairs • Economic delegations

15. CCIS - PROJECTS/ 1 • Aid for Trade 2012 “Support of Trade development in Serbia”, Czech Development Cooperation Program • RISEE Italy South East Europe Network, Italian Law 84/2001 • Aid for Trade 2011 – “Economic and social development of the area, building up the network of centers for creation and management of development projects in the Republic of Serbia”, Czech Development Cooperation Program • W-tech - Technology Transfer and Innovation Centre for Advanced Welding Technologies, Material Science and Application of Engineering software, IPA • PACE - Partners for Acquis Compliance and Energy Efficiency, IPA • Tex Web - Networking and Capacity Building for Textile and Clothing Industry Associations in the WBC, IPA • WENS - Women Entrepreneurship Network Serbia, CIP • PLATO KOOPERA, Flanders Government • EEN - European Entrepreneurship Network in Serbia, CIP

16. CCIS - PROJECTS/ 2 • SECEP - Project for Competitiveness Development and Export Promotion • SME Week 2011 - European SMEs Week 2011, European Comission • Project of Partnership of the DIHK and CEFTA chambers of commerce • EU Legislation transfer to Serbia and Montenegro, Flanders Government • PLATO SERBIA, Flanders Government • Partners for Investment Promotion "PARTNERS 2“, Eurochambres, CARDS • PARTNERS 2 “Network of Centres for Project Development and Management” • Forum Permanente • BALKANET • FACILITY FOR SMEs and Capacity Building • Balcani OnLine • Reset D

17. REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

18. WHY INVEST IN SERBIA? • Favourable geographical location in the center of South East Europe, which makes favourable environment for producing and exporting goods to developed markets • Highly educated and cheap labour force • Good education system • Favourable tax system with the lowest taxes in Europe by 10%, lowest rates of VAT, lowest rate of corporate income tax - exemption from payment of corporate income tax for investments exceeding EUR 7 million it employs at least 100 new employees • Duty-free exports to the countries of South East Europe, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan... • Tax credit of 80% following the completion of investment • Exemption from customs duty on import of equipment and materials under certain conditions • Loans and benefits for greenfield investments • Incentives for those who create the conditions for employment • Simple procedures for a company start-up and registration

19. INTERNATIONAL FREE TRADEAGREEMENTS OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVESTMENT • Foreign direct investment (Greenfield) • Brownfield investments • Joint venture • Application framework for Public Private Partnership (PPP) • Privatization • Buying stocks on Belgrade Stock Exchange • CEFTA • EFTA - The European Free Trade Agreement states • Russia • Kazakhstan • Belarus • Turkey

20. FOREIGN TRADE COOPERATION BETWEEN SERBIA AND THE R. OF ITALY Source: Statistical Office of RS, SCC Italian exports to Serbia, the most important commodity groups: vehicles, machinery, textiles (mostly underwear and socks), special purpose machines, clothes... Serbian exports to Italy: clothing, iron and steel, nonferrous metals, shoes, plastic products....

21. LEADING ITALIAN INVESTORS IN SERBIA Source: ICE, Opportunities, APR, the company

22. FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT IN SERBIA DURING 2002 - 2011 IN MIL. USD Source: National Bank of Serbia

23. BUSINESS COOPERATION • ITALIAN BUSINESS DELEGATION IN SERBIA • Organizer: Union of Italian Chambers (Unioncamere) and the CC of Trieste Aries • Place: Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, Belgrade • Date: 14 March 2012 • SERBIAN STATE BUSINESS DELEGATION IN ITALY – BUSINESS FORUM • Place: PROMOS, Milan CC, TriesteDate: 29 - 30 March 2012 • IN FOCUS ! • Project "RISEE Italy-South East Europe Network“, Italian Law 84/2001 • BUSINESS MISSION "SERBIA-MONTENEGRO", 11th - 14th June 2012 • ROUND TABLE AND „BTOB“ MEETINGS OF ITALIAN AND SERBIAN COMPANIES • Organizer: Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, SIEPA, PROMOS, ICE • Place: Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, Belgrade • Date: 12 June 2012 • SERBIAN BUSINESS DELEGATION IN ITALY • Organizer: Union of Italian Chambers (Unioncamere) and the CC of Trieste Aries • Place: Chamber of Commerce of Trieste,Trieste • Date: 27 - 29 June 2012

24. Thank you for your attention! Chamber of Commerce andIndustry of Serbia Board of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises ______________________________ Vera Veljanovski Project Manager phone: (+381 11) 3304 523 fax: (+381 11) 3230 949 e-mail: vera.veljanovski@pks.rs web-site: www.pks.rs _______________________________