2018 was an extremely dynamic year for the Croatian Business Club in Serbia. The Club started the new year with five new members, and throughout the year, it continued to bolster the cooperation between the Serbian and Croatian economies through numerous events and by organizing a series of activities for its members. Also, in April 2018, the Croatian Chamber of Economy in Serbia re-opened its office after a five-year-recess.
ANNUAL MEETING OF CBC ASSEMBLY
Close to thirty members of the Croatian Business Club attended the annualž session of the Club’s Assembly, held onž January 25th at the Belgrade Falkensteiner Hotel.
While discussing the meeting’s agenda, which was unanimously adopted by all members, the CBC President, Marija Radulović presented a detailed report on the Club’s activities in 2017 and its plans for 2018. At the beginning of 2018, the Club got five new members. The Club also decided to continue working on increasing the number of members throughout the year via direct communication with companies, as well as through cooperation with regional and local chambers of economy.
It was also decided for the Club to continue expanding its cooperation with mixed chambers and clubs, and carry out additional activities focused on the cooperation with the Croatian Chamber of Economy in Belgrade and the Croatian Embassy, through providing mutual support and joint improvement of the business conditions for Croatian companies in Serbia, and the cooperation between Serbian and Croatian firms.
At the Assembly meeting, the Deputy President of the CBC, Mr. Stanko Krstin and the minister plenipotentiary of the Croatian Embassy in Serbia, Mr. Stjepan Glas addressed the Assembly members.
They relayed their good impressions of the work done by the Croatian Business Club, with a special emphasis on a series of activities and doubling of the Club’s membership in the last two years.
CROATIAN WINES PRESENTED AT TATAMATA RESTAURANT IN BELGRADE
Nine Croatian wineries, that were exhibiting at the Belgrade Fair, at the BEOWINE 2018 Trade Fair, presented their wines to restaurateurs and media representatives at the TataMata restaurant.
The presentation, which was organized by the Croatian Chamber of Economy in Serbia, took place on Thursday, February 22nd. Somelier Igor Luković presented the wines of Vino San Martino, Kutjevo dd, Vinoplod dd, Belje dd, Degrassi doo, Iločki Podrumi dd, Dingač-Skaramuča doo, Dalmacijavino Split doo and Osilovac doo. Apart from hearing about the geographical and historical origin of wine, the guests also had the opportunity to get acquainted with wine and food matching methods.
CBC REPRESENTATIVE AT „FAMILY BUSINESS – PILLAR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT” BUSINESS FORUM
One of the members of the Croatian Business Club and President of the Serbian Employers Union, Stanko Krstin spoke at the “Family Business – Pillar of Economic Development” business forum, organized by Color Media Communications and the Pro Educa Educational Centre, on Wednesday, March14th, at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Belgrade. The topic of family-run businesses is an important one because 75 percent of new jobs globally are created by family companies.
INTERNATIONAL NETWORKING COCKTAIL 2018
Over 200 representatives of the business sector and influential economic figures in Serbia gathered at the most important annual meeting of the chambers of commerce – International Networking Cocktail 2018 – held on May 24th, on the Vizantija ship in Belgrade. In a pleasant and informal atmosphere, 11 chambers of commerce got together to so their members can network and work on improving the cross-border cooperation.
This unique event was organized by the Italian-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with their counterparts from the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, the French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, the Hellenic Business Association, the Nordic Business Alliance, the Slovenian Business Club, the Croatian Business Club, the Belgian-Serbian Business Association, the Japanese Business Alliance in Serbia and the Canadian-Serbian Business Association.
FRANCE – BALKANS BUSINESS FORUM
Along with 400 other business people from the region and France, the representatives of the Croatian Business Club attended the France – Balkans Business Forum, where potential investors from France were presented with investment opportunities in the Balkans. The forum was opened by the Serbian Prime Minister, Ana Brnabić who said that the Forum was an announcement of a new tide of French investments in Serbia and the region.
AUTUMN GATHERING OF MEMBERS
The autumn gathering of the Croatian Business Club members took place Belgrade’s wine bar Vino Bar & Shop. On the occasion, this catering facility was presented as a new member of the club. The gathering was pleasant and the guests also engaged in wine tasting. Over the course of the evening, they exchanged information about their experiences during the past summer, and plans for cooperation for the following period.
EU INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN SERBIA
The presentation titled „EU Investment Opportunities in Serbia“, which took place at the residence of the Croatian Ambassador to Serbia, H.E. Goran Bakota on October 25th, attracted a great deal of attention from the representatives of business communities – chambers and business clubs – who were invited to this gathering. The event was organized by the Croatian Business Club together with the Belgian Chamber of Commerce, the Hellenic Business Association and the Nordic Business Alliance. The Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation in Serbia, Mr. Yngve Engström, also had a presentation on the topic.
EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT – THEMATIC GATHERING OF CBC IN NOVEMBER
The November meeting of the Croatian Business Club was marked by a brief introduction of the MONS Platform – Monitoring the Social Situation in Serbia, presented by the Club’s guest, Olivera Vuković, Executive Director of SeConS – Development Initiative Group, one of the creators of the MONS. At the presentation, Ms Vuković talked about the education in Serbia in relation to the countries in the region, job training for young school graduates, employers’ expectations for young workers and should education be viewed as business.
CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR GATHERING
The Croatian Chamber of Economy and the Croatian Embassy to Serbia held the traditional Christmas / New Year cocktail at the residence of the Croatian Ambassador to Serbia, H.E. Mr. Goran Bakota.
OPENING OF CCE OFFICE
By official unveiling of the plaque on the building in Topličin Venac, the Belgrade office of the Croatian Chamber of
Economy officially re-opened on April 18th, after a five-year-recess. In their statement apropos the opening, the presidents of the Serbian and Croatian chambers of economy, Marko Čadež and Luka Burilović respectively, underlined the importance of further developing the economic relations between the two countries. President Burilović also said that Serbia was Croatia’s sixth biggest trading partner, adding that he hoped that both countries would improve their respective economic potential through the cooperation between the two chambers and business communities.