Looking after Italian interests
Industry association brings logistics professionals together in Belgrade. More than 200 participants from Italy, Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia came together on 26 October for a conference on ‘Transport and logistics – at the heart of the economy’. It was hosted by Confindustria Serbia, an umbrella organisation of Italian firms in Serbia.
The infrastructure and efficiency of logistics and transport are central elements of every national economy’s ability to compete. The Serbian economy is thus very interested in good logistics connections, especially to the EU, with the Italy–Slovenia–Croatia route representing the fastest link for the landlocked country to move closer to the EU.
This was emphasised at a conference organised by Confindustria Serbia, in collaboration with Serbia’s Chamber of Commerce, the Slovenian Business Club and the Croatian Chamber of Commerce’s representative office in Serbia, based in Belgrade.
Patrizio Dei Tos, president of Confindustria Serbia and the head of a company from northeastern Italy that specialises in producing wooden furniture and furnishings, reminded his audience that logistics and transport account for 10 – 15% of the sales price of a product.
“If we succeed in expanding digitalisation, logistics services, customs cooperation and the green transformation, then we’ll be in a position to compete in markets worldwide,” Dei Tos told his audience. For him, the fact that so many people from Italy, Croatia and Slovenia came to Serbia for the event showed “the great enthusiasm and desire to further develop the economy in this part of Europe.”
Mihailo Vesovic, the head of strategic analysis, services and internationalisation at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, said that it’s important to discuss new technologies, intermodal terminals and opportunities that can “dramatically increase companies ability to compete, and reduce transport and logistics costs.” According to Vesovic his country is strongly export-oriented – as is well-known and appreciated in Italy.