- Today we had a meeting with the representatives of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, and after the constructive talks, we went to see on the spot how different economic sectors and enterprises in the City function. During the meeting the representatives of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce presented the members of the Economic Council of the City of Novi Sad its work plan to be implemented in the future, with an emphasis on objective circumstances that businessmen are facing and which could possibly be influenced – Mayor Vučević said and emphasized that the City administration's role should primarily be to enable a direct dialogue and direct discussions between the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and companies included in the Economic Council of the City, as well as other economic entities.

President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce Željko Sertić said that synchronized activity of local governments and the institutions is needed, with more education, systematic work on solving problems and joint activities towards the highest state authorities.

- It is important to have this conversation at the same time, on the one hand, with the highest representatives of the City, and on the other hand, the members of the Economic Council, since only unified action in overcoming common problems is a real way that ensures economic prosperity-  Mr. Sertić said and added - Through the actions of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce the specific interests of the economy are articulated to the national authorities and it is through coherent work and joint actions that we strive to support all the cities that have a high degree of openness to the development of the economy and which are aware of the importance of the economy for the daily city operations.

After the meeting at the City Hall, the City Mayor, together with a delegation of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, visited the Business Incubator, which represents a unique concept of business infrastructure and a space for the development of entrepreneurial ventures mainly in information and communication technologies and which functions as a result of cooperation between the public and private sectors.

Afterwards, they went to visit the United Serbian Breweries, member of the Heineken Group, and got acquainted with the concept of the factory’s operations, which is one of the most modern breweries in the region with annual beer production of 500.000 hectoliters and the highest work standards.

After getting acquainted with the development plans and innovative ideas that the business entities are planning to implement in Novi Sad in the future, delegation of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and the Mayor also visited the suburb of Kisač, which hosted the meeting in the Kisač Farmers Club, with entrepreneurs from Kisač, as well as those from Rumenka and Stepanovićevo. The Mayor greeted the small-scale private business owners at the meeting and pointed out that the City will always be their support and reliable partner and that this type of communication and exchange of experience is one method of fight against inefficient bureaucracy. The Mayor also mentioned the results achieved after his visit to the entrepreneurs of Čenej, Pejićevi salaši and Petrovaradin, who have already received support in solving problems through concrete solutions.

-Actual support to legal entities, taxpayers doing business on the city territory, exists from local to republic level. We are striving to solve all the problems within the scope of the City’s competences as soon as possible and these more than useful open discussions and dialogues are greatly beneficial for that – said the Mayor, announcing that the amendment to the budget midway through the year will most probably feature the new Decision about the City Administration in order to create legal conditions for the slow administration to start functioning differently and become of essential service to the citizens.

President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Željko Sertić, said that efficient application of support mechanisms for national economy and entrepreneurs through the instuition’s activities is of great importance.

-Today we heard the entrepreneurs and in direct contact we learned about the problems in their business operations. I hope we managed to spread the message that the Chamber of Commerce is essentially a service for entrepreneurs, small companies and microenterprises. Entrepreneurs should voice their requests jointly, with defined goals, the state has to create the environment and conditions for the improvement of contemporary production, while the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and local self-government are mediators and the voice of the economy in that process – Mr. Sertić concluded.

Novi Sad, March 10^th, 2014