Serbia as a bridgehead
The logistics service provider Militzer & Münch is expanding in the western Balkans. It has joined forces with the local family-owned company Invictus System Transport & Logistics to establish a new joint venture. The key geostrategic location and the presence of numerous German companies in the region were amongst the decisive factors in this decision to move into Serbia.
Up until now the Militzer & Münch Group, based in St Gallen, primarily operated its services between Central Europe and North Africa. Now the company is further pushing its business in the Balkan region.
To this end Militzer & Münch has founded a joint venture with the Serbian logistics company Invictus System Transport & Logistics. The aim of the partnership is to develop the joint venture into a leading freight forwarding company in Serbia in the course of the next two years.
The Silk Road on their minds
Filip Simovic is the managing director of the joint venture. Previously he managed the transport business run by Invictus, together with Dragan Simovic. Militzer & Münch executive Sacho Toderov, the corporation’s regional managing director for southeastern Europe, will oversee the joint venture from Militzer & Münch’s side.
Toderov told the media that “this partnership sees us adding a country to our network that perfectly complements our locations in the region.” Militzer & Münch already has offices in Romania, Bulgaria and Greece.
“Serbia is something of a bridge to Europe, and simultaneously very important with regard to the new Silk Road. Since many German companies already produce their goods in Serbia, the joint venture is particularly interesting for our national branch in Germany,” Toderov adds.
The entity’s focus in Serbia will initially be on overland transport services. “Our options will include export, import as well as customs clearance solutions,” Filip Simovic pointed out.
In the medium term, however, the range of services provided from the Belgrade suburb of Dobanovci is expected to grow. Air and sea freight options, storage solutions, intermodal transport and project logistics are all planned. The partners intend to make further investments in the joint venture to develop these schemes.
