Reception on the occasion of the signing of the Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the United Kingdom

24. Jun 2021.
On the occasion of the signing and entry into force of the Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the United Kingdom, the Embassies of the Republic of Serbia in London and the United Kingdom in Belgrade organized a joint cocktail via video link for officials, representatives of chambers of commerce and business communities of both countries.

In addition to Ambassadors Sian Macleod and Aleksandra Joksimović, the Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications in the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Tatjana Matić, and the Minister for Exports in the UK Government, Graham Stuart, addressed the audience.

In her address, Minister Matić underlined the importance of the Agreement signed between the Republic of Serbia and the United Kingdom, assessing that its conclusion marks a new era in our trade relations, stressed the importance of more intensive exchange of bilateral contacts and invited British officials to visit Serbia.

As Minister Graham Stuart pointed out, the signed agreement is a reflection of the common ambition aimed at further improving the trade, which amounted to 682 million GBP last year and which has doubled in the past ten years.

He also reminded of the recent meetings with officials of the Republic of Serbia, expressed a joint commitment to strengthening bilateral economic relations and emphasized the British interest in participating in infrastructure development projects in Serbia, emphasizing the importance of the role of the British Department for International Trade in that sense.

Addressing the audience, Ambassador Joksimović pointed out the importance of further strengthening mutual trade exchange, both for bilateral relations and for the overall post-pandemic recovery of our economies.

"The signing of the agreement is another confirmation of good bilateral relations and the foundation for the development of future cooperation in the post-Brexit period", Joksimović pointed out.

At the end of her address, the ambassador stated the excellent results of our economy, despite the pandemic, and conveyed that international institutions expect an even more dynamic growth of Serbia in the current year.

The cocktail was attended by Martin Vickers – Member of the House of Commons and the UK Prime Minister's Special Trade Envoy for Strengthening Trade Relations with the WB, Louis Taylor – Director General at the Department for International Trade, Andrew Page – Western Balkans Director, Remigi Winzap – Member of the EBRD Board of Directors, representatives of the diplomatic corps, prominent members of the British-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, as well as representatives of the British companies Bechtel, Mineco and Apeiron.