Ambasada u Londonu

7/28/2019 Ambasada u Londonu

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Investitori u Velikoj Britaniji pokazuju vee interesovanje za

ulaganje u Srbiju.

Dr Dejan Popovi, ambasador Republike Srbije u Velikoj

Britaniji, objanjava kakve su mogunosti unapreenja

privrednih odnosa Srbije i Velike Britanije i izgledi za

poveanje britanskih investicija u Srbiju.

Da li strani investitori preko ambasada Republike Srbije

u Londonu pokazuju interesovanje za ulaganje u Srbiju?

- U uslovima globalne ekonomske krize, koja je posebno

otro pogodila Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo, ne moe se rei da

postoji naroit interes za investicije uopte, a posebno ne u

privredu zemlje poput Srbije, koja ni ranije nije bila u okusu

interesovanja britanskih poslovnih krugova. Britanske di-

rektne investicije u Srbiji u periodu 2001-2008. godine bile

su oko 300 miliona USD, to Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo stavlja na

Zainteresovanost engleskihinvestitora za Srbiju

Engleski investitori planiraju ulaganja u Srbiju. - British American Tobacco do sada najvie investirao u Srbiju.

Danubius Group eli da kupi neke srpske banje.

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Investors in Great Britain expressing more interest in in-

vestments in Serbia

Dr. Dejan Popovi, Ambassador o the Republic o Serbia

in UK explains the possibilities to promote economic rela-

tions between Serbia and United Kingdom and prospects to

increase British investments in Serbia.

Are oreign investors expressing their interest to invest

in Serbia through the Embassy o the Republic o Serbia

in London?

- In the conditions o global crisis, which especially strongly

aected the United Kingdom, it could not be said that there

has been particular interest in investments in generally, and

especially not in investments in a country such as Serbia that

has not been in the ocus o interests o British business cir-cles. British direct investments in Serbia in the period 2001-

2008 amounted to about 300 million dollars, thus ranking

the United Kingdom at seventh place when reerring to the

stricture o investments by country origin. In that period to-

tal oreign investments in Serbia amounted about 12 billion

dollars.

However, being in the capacity o Ambassador o Serbia to

St. James Court, I may say that in spite o the current circum-

stances there are some interests expressed or investments

and that there is certain number o serious investors plan-

ning to invest in Serbia.

Are interests or greenfelds investments bigger

rom those or acquisition o enterprises throughprivatization?

- Historically, the biggest British investment made in Serbia

so ar has been the acquisition o Vranje Tobacco Industry by

British American Tobacco in 2003 (87 million euros). Mean-

while, there were several greenfeld investments Agena

Technology has build a actory in Peinci or production o

customer-tailed machinery and employed 180 workers; Al-

bon Engineering is building the car spare parts actory also

in the town o Peinci (investment project value 8 million

euros); Greenhouse Investments have realized with Tigar

company rom Pirot a joint venture amounting to 40 million

euros or the production o rubber products, etc.

However, in my opinion there is much more interest in en-

terprises acquisition through privatization. Thus, Danubius

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Intervju: dr Dejan Popovi, ambasador u Londonu

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sedmo mesto na rang-listi drava prema poreklu investicija.

Ukupne direktne strane investicije u Srbiju u tom perioduiznosile su oko 12 milijardi USD.

Meutim, sa poloaja ambasadora Srbije na Dvoru Sent

Dejmsa mogu primetiti da odreena zainteresovanost za

ulaganja postoji i da, ak i u datim okolnostima, jedan broj

ozbiljnih investitora planira da ulae u srpsku privredu.

Da li je vee interesovanje za grinld investicije ili za

kupovinu preduzea u privatizaciji?

- Istorijski posmatrano, do sada najveu britansku inves-

ticiju u Srbiji predstavljala je kupovina Duvanske industrije

Vranje od strane British American Tobacco-a 2003. godine

(87 miliona evra). U meuvremenu je bilo nekoliko grinld

investicija Agena Technology je u Peincima izgradila ab-riku maina po porudbini, zaposlivi 180 radnika; Albon En-

gineering gradi abriku auto-delova, takoe u Peincima (uz

vrednost investicije od 8 miliona evra); Greenhouse Invest-

ments je ostvario zajedniko ulaganje sa pirotskim Tigrom u

proizvodnju gumenih proizvoda u vrednosti od 40 miliona

evra i dr.

Meutim, procenjujem da je ipak vee interesovanje za ku-

povinu preduzea u privatizaciji. Tako, Danubius Group eli

da kupi nekoliko srpskih banja Banju Koviljau, Vrnjaku

banju i Ribarsku banju.

O tim namerama Ambasada Srbije u Londonu je od poetka

obavetavana, aktivno podravajui kontakte potencijalnog

investitora sa nadlenim ministarstvima i organima lokalne

samouprave.

Napominjem da su pojedini investicioni ondovi sa

seditem u Ujedinjenom Kraljevstvu (npr. Ashmore) ve ku-

pili neka srpska preduzea (npr. Karneks iz Vrbasa), dok je

Merrilll Lynch kupio 25 % udela u MPC-u.

Za koje sektore se najvie interesuju strani investitori i

da li je dolo do nekih konkretnih aranmana?

- Pored navedene zainteresovanosti za ulaganja u ban-

jski turizam, postoje izgledi da investicioni ond EMAC i BP

Chemicals preuzmu SK Kikinda (investicija vredna oko 100

miliona dolara). Privredna delegacija Jorkira poetkom maja

boravi u Beogradu, sa eljom da ispita mogunosti za ulag-

anja u srpsku privredu.

Group wants to buy several Serbian spas Koviljaa spa,

Vrnjaka spa and Ribarska spa. Serbian Embassy in Londonhas provided inormation on these plans rom the beginning

and supported actively the contacts between the potential

investors and relevant ministries and local sel-manage-

ment bodies. I would like to stress that some investment

unds based in United Kingdom (e.g. Ashmore) have already

bought some Serbian enterprises (e.g. Carneks rom Vrbas),

and Merrill Lynch has acquired 25% share in MPC.

For which sectors are oreign investors mostly

interested and were there some concrete

arrangements?

- In addition to the mentioned interest in investing in spas

tourism, it seems that the investment und EMAC and PB

Chemicals will acquire MSK Kikinda (value o investment

about 100 million dollars). Early in May, business mission

rom Yorkshire will visit Belgrade in order to study the pos-

sibilities to invest in Serbia.

In which way is the Embassy in London disseminating

inormation on possibilities to invest in Serbia?

- The Embassy has participating actively in the preparation

o the visit o Business mission rom Yorkshire. In January

2009, in cooperation with Yorkshire Society and with sup-

port o Serbian Diaspora, Serbian Chamber o Commerce

and SIEPA, it has organized the presentation o Serbian pos-

sibilities in Leeds. The same presentation we had in Birming-

ham where I had contacts with the Chamber o Commerce othe Black Country. I am in contacts with the EBRD all the time,

and we are preparing very good presentation o Serbia to be

held in autumn with the participation o high ofcials both

rom Serbia and EBRD.

Have the eforts on promoting the image o Serbian

business given some results?

- Presidential and parliamentary elections held last year in

Serbia have brought up some changes in British perception o

Serbia in general, and in particularly o the image o business

climate. I have the impression that ater some stoppage dur-

ing the last ew years, the UK public has started again to take

Serbia more seriously as prospective candidate or the EU

membership and as a result it seems that these rather mod-

est economic cooperation achieved so ar could be enlarged

British Businessmen Interested orInvestments in Serbia

British investors planning to invest in Serbia - British American Tobacco biggest investor in Serbia so far

Danubius Group wants to buy some of Serbian spas

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Interview: Dr. Dejan Popovi, Ambassador in London

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Na koji nain ambasada u Londonu prua informacije o

mogunostima investiranja u Srbiju?

- Ambasada je aktivno uestvovala u pripremi posete

privredne delegacije Jorkira, utoliko to je u januaru 2009.

godine, sa Yorkshire Society i uz podrku srpske dijaspore,

Privredne komore Srbije i SIEPA, organizovala predstavljanje

Srbije u Lidsu. Na slian nain nastupili smo i u Birmingemu,

gde sam razgovarao sa Privrednom komorom oblasti Black

Country. Neprestano sam u kontaktu sa EBRD-om, gde za

jesen pripremamo ozbiljnu prezentaciju Srbije uz uee

visokih zvaninika, kako iz Srbije, tako i iz EBRD-a.

Da li se u poslednje vreme vide rezultati poboljanjaposlovnog imida Srbije?

- Prologodinji predsedniki i parlamentarni izbori u Srbiji

doveli su do odreene promene u britanskoj percepciji Srbije

uopte, i njenog poslovnog imida posebno.

Stiem utisak da je, posle odreenog zastoja tokom

poslednjih nekoliko godina, javnost u Ujedinjenom

Kraljevstvu ponovo poela da ozbiljno uzima Srbiju kao

budueg kandidata za lanstvo u Evropskoj uniji, te skromni

okviri dosadanje ekonomske saradnje mogu u narednim

godinama, uprkos globalnoj krizi, biti ozbiljnije proireni.

Tu naroito imam u vidu spoljnotrgovinsku razmenu, koja

je na godinjem nivou od oko 200 miliona dolara uvoza izUjedinjenog Kraljevstva i oko 150 miliona dolara naega

izvoza u tu zemlju.

Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo je na 15. mestu po vrednosti naeg

izvoza, a tek na 25. mestu po vrednosti naeg uvoza.

Britansko trite, iako probirljivo, otvoreno je za nae

izvoznike koji do sada nisu umeli da iskoriste sve mogunosti

koje se pruaju.

Tu, pre svega, imam u vidu lance robnih kua (Waitrose,

Tesco), u kojima se srpski poljoprivredni proizvodi mogu nai

u mnogo veim koliinama nego to je do sada bio sluaj.

Britansko trite prua ozbiljne potencijale za rast i u prodaji

turistikih usluga naroito u vezi sa, u Velikoj Britaniji veomapopularnim, novosadskim EXIT-om, te atrakcijama kao to su

Putevi rimskih imperatora ili krstarenja rekom Dunav.

Da li Velika Britanija ekonomski podrava Srbiju i na

koji nain?

- Sveobuhvatno istraivanje naina donoenja odluka o

investicijama u zemlje jugoistone Evrope, obavljeno pod

okriljem OECD i Pakta za stabilnost, pokazalo je da strateki

investitori najvei znaaj pridaju politikoj stabilnosti,

vladavini prava (ukljuujui nivo korupcije) i teini tereta

administracije kada se opredeljuju da li e ulagati u Srbiju,

BiH, Makedoniju ili neku etvrtu dravu. Ambasada Srbije

u Ujedinjenom Kraljevstvu zato ulae napore da inormie

britansku poslovnu i najiru javnost o napretku koji je u Srbiji

ostvaren u tim oblastima.

in the coming years in spite o the global crisis. Here I am

particularly reerring too oreign trade with Serbian imports

rom UK amounting to about 200 million dollars per year and

exports to UK about 150 million dollars. United Kingdom is

ranking at 15th place by the value o our exports, and 25th by

the value o our exports. In spite o being demanding, Brit-

ish market is opened or our exporters which have not used

all oered possibilities so ar. Here, I primarily have in mind

retail sail chains (Waitrose, Tesco) in which there should be

much more Serbian agricultural products than it has been

the case until today. British market oers great potentials or

growth and sale in tourism especially related to Novi Sad

EXIT event which is very popular in Great Britain, and also toattractive products such as Following the Roman Emperors

Routes, or cruises on the Danube.

s the United Kingdom supporting Serbian economy and

in what way?

- A comprehensive study supported by the OECD and Sta-

bility Pact related to the decision bringing on investments

in countries o South East Europe showed that strategic in-

vestors attach special importance to political stability, rule

o law (including corruption level) and administrative bur-

den when they are deciding to invest in Serbia, Macedonia,

Bosnia and Herzegovina or some other country. This is why

Serbian Embassy to the United Kingdom is making eortsto inorm the British business circles and public on progress

that has been made by Serbia in these felds.

What are the bilateral economic relations between

Serbia and United Kingdom like?

- In principle, United Kingdom is supporting the idea on the

EU enlargement to Western Balkans and due to this reason

Serbia enjoys support rom London or its European ambi-

tions.

- British Government is ready to support, in principle, the

application o Interim Trade Agreement between EU and

Serbia; although in its view Serbia has to prove ull coopera-

tion with the ICT Y. Consequently, in case that the procedureor ratifcation o the Stabilization and Association Agree-

ment is unrozen and Serbia submits its candidacy or the EU

membership, United Kingdom will be among the countries

that will support urther proceedings, simultaneously insist-

ing on the ulfllment o all conditions posed to candidate

countries.

At what level are economic relations between the

Republic of Serbia and United Kingdom and are they

progressing?

- United Kingdom has signifcant inuence in decision

bringing in international fnancial organizations (MMF, World

Bank, etc.) and thus, through the support provided by them

to Serbia, it supports indirectly fnancing o institutional re-

orms and inrastructural projects.

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Some inormation indicates that Export Credit Guarantee

Department is interested to provide support to British ex-

porters and investments in Serbia in the value o GBP 100

million.

What are the prospects for economic relations betweenSerbia and Great Britain?

- Bearing in mind rather modest volume o oreign trade

and British investments in Serbia, I think that prospect or the

coming years are quite promising.

With Serbia progressing to become EU member, the darkshadow rom the 90s will become aded, and readiness o

British business circles to penetrate Serbian market will be-come more outstanding.

Kakvi su bilateralnu ekonomski odnosi Srbije i Velike

Britanije?

- Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo je principijelan zagovornik

proirenja Evropske unije na Zapadni Balkan i zato Srbija

uiva u Londonu podrku za svoje evropske ambicije.

Britanska vlada je, u naelu, spremna da podri primenu

Privremenog trgovinskog sporazuma izmeu EU i Srbije,

mada smatra da Srbija mora da ostvari punu saradnju sa

Hakim tribunalom. Dakle, ukoliko postupak ratifkacije

Sporazuma o stabilizaciji i pridruivanju bude odmrznut iSrbija podnese svoju kandidaturu za lanstvo u EU, Ujedin-

jeno Kraljevstvo e biti meu onim evropskim dravamakoje e podravati dalji postupak, insistirajui, pri tom, na

doslednom ispunjenju uslova koji se postavljaju zemljama

kandidatima.

Na kom nivou su ekonomski odnosi Republike Srbije iVelike Britanije i da li dolazi do unapredjenja?

- Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo ima znaajan uticaj u donoenju

odluka u meunarodnim fnansijskim organizacijama (MMF,

Svetska banka i dr.), te kroz podrku koju one pruaju Srbiji

indirektno pomae fnansiranje institucionalnih reormi iinrastrukturnih projekata. Postoje inormacije da je Export

Credit Guarantee Department zainteresovan da sa 100 mil-

iona unti prui podrku britanskim izvoznicima i investito-

rima u Srbiju.

Kave su perspektive ekonomskih odnosa Srbije i VelikeBritanije?

- Imajui u vidu dosadanji skroman obim spoljnotrgov-

inske saradnje i britanskih direktnih investicija u Srbiju,

miljenja sam da su perspektive za napredak u godinama

koje su pred nama sasvim dobre.

Kako se Srbija bude pribliavala lanstvu u Evropskoj uniji,

tako e tamna senka devedesetih godina sve vie bledeti, a

spremnost britanskih poslovnih krugova da uu na srpsko

trite postajae sve izraenija.

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EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

28 Belgrave Square

LONDON SW1X 8QB

GREAT BRITAIN

TEL 44 207 235 9049

FAX 44 207 235 7092

E-mail: [email protected]

Government o the Republic o Serbia

www.serbianembassy.org.uk

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