MILAN (ITALPRESS) – “The economic situation in Serbia is very favorable. This is news that gives us optimism. Serbia got an investment rating for the first time, and it is the only country among the candidates for the EU to have received it. This confirms macroeconomic stability but also a policy that is very advanced and dedicated to managing public debt in order to be attractive for investment. In fact, our debt is now less than 60 percent.” Thus Jovan Palavic, Member of the Serbian Parliament and President of the Friendship Group with Italy and the Holy See interviewed by Italpress. Speaking of relations with Italy, Palalic recalled that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was in Serbia a year ago, but that President Vucic announced a new visit in the coming months. “Definitely there will be new momentum in terms of our economic relations,” he commented. “We are very satisfied with how all the projects that were established during the first meeting between President Meloni and President Vucic are being implemented. Absolutely one can feel a broadening in all spaces of our economic, cultural and even political relations. And I can say, as someone who has been involved in relations between Serbia and Italy for more than a decade, that we are living in one of the best times in the last century. I see so many opportunities for the strengthening of our relations in the future. “We can highlight a change as far as sectors where our relations are realized. Certainly we have moved from production only in the textile sector, to new, more advanced sectors such as green technology. For example, today in Belgrade there will be an event where Mind (Expo) signs an agreement with our Ministry of Science and Technology. Yesterday I met with Attilio Fontana, president of the Lombardy Region, and we reiterated our willingness to advance and move forward in terms of relations between Serbia and Lombardy. Especially because Fontana was also in Belgrade at an Italian-Serbian business forum dedicated to innovation. And we also talked about it yesterday about holding the same event in Milan at Palazzo Lombardia.” One event that will be a kind of crossroads for Serbia’s future is Expo 2027, which will take place in Belgrade. “We are preparing to make it a major world event. We can provide a momentum for economic development everywhere in the country. Our government is working daily to build faster all the necessary pavilions and cover all the space regarding infrastructure, apartments, which can play a role for after Expo. A bit like what happened in Milan with Mind, to become the most advanced neighborhood in Belgrade.” “Vucic wants Belgrade to become a capital for the whole Balkan region, which can attract investments everywhere. Just now Serbia signed a free trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates, which will open new possibilities for us with foreign countries. We have similar agreements with China, Turkey, with the Euro-Asian market, and investments come to Serbia from every country in the world. We are optimistic that after the Expo we will be able to expand and further develop our economy. Italy has a leading position for us, we are very grateful for the support to our ambition to be new member and may I say first member of the European Union,” the Serbian parliamentarian says again. Finally, regarding Pope Francis’ appointment of the first Serbian cardinal, Làszlò Nèmet, Archbishop of Belgrade, Palalic commented, “The appointment testifies to an openness of both sides, the Catholic and the Orthodox, it represents the opening of a dialogue and an understanding of our positions. For example, 3 weeks ago in Belgrade there was secretary of state of the Holy See, Pietro Parolin. A very important message for Serbia and for our people. Definitely the Holy See wants to establish good relations with the Orthodox world and our Serbian church. The Holy See can be a platform for enlargement with other Orthodox churches. Now it is very complicated with the war in Ukraine, and it is even more important that all Christian churches can dialogue and find common ground.”(ITALPRESS).
Photo: Italpress
