The delegation of Kherson CCI led by KCCI President Ms. Viktoriya Ostroumova participated in the Ukrainian-Serbian business forum held on June, 7 in Belgrade. The Forum was attended by the President of Ukraine Mr. Viktor Yanukovych.

The business forum started with speeches of the President of Ukraine Mr. Viktor Yanukovych and the Prime Minister of Serbia Mr. Ivica Da?i?. They gave a brief analysis of trade and economic Ukrainian-Serbian relations. The trade turnover between Ukraine and Serbia in 2012 amounted to 240 million USD. Ukraine exports to Serbia ore, ferrous metals and ferrous metal production, and imports plastics and polymer materials, wood and forest products, electrical machinery and equipment.

The volume of Serbian direct investments to Ukraine's economy amounts to 42 million USD. The major Serbian enterprises operating in Ukraine are: “Agro Invest Ukraine” (set up an elevator complex in Kiev region in 2011), “Sintelon-Tarkett” (produces flooring in Kalush) and “ITM” (set up the “Euroterminal” logistics complex near Odessa).

Mr. Viktor Yanukovych stressed that Serbia remains a key Balkan country to Ukraine and emphasized the necessity of inter-regional cooperation between Ukraine and Serbia, which "might become an effective tool for mutual investment."

Presidents of Chambers of Commerce in Ukraine and Serbia Mr. Gennady Chizhikov and Mr. ?eljko Serti?, who had signed a Cooperation Agreement just before the Forum, spoke about  strengthening and development of inter-regional relations too.

During the visit of the President of Ukraine to Serbia a number of agreements had also been signed, including the Cooperation Agreement in the field of education, the Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of Serbia on cooperation in the field of railway transport, Inter-governmental Agreement on cooperation in the field of plant quarantine and protection.

There was also been signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the field of tourism. This document contains a list of joint measures aimed at tourism related paperwork simplifying as well as of tourists' safety ensuring. Currently the Ukrainians may enter Serbia without visas. Although the exchange of tourist flows between these two countries remains on a limited scale, there is potential for expansion of cooperation in this field. And that is particularly true of religious tourism as far as Serbia is a country with a long-standing orthodox tradition and a lot of important orthodox objects.

Kherson Chamber of Commerce and Industry carries on negotiations with the Regional Chamber of Commerce Novi Sad on the Agreement signing in order to deepen bilateral cooperation at the interregional level.