Nikolic: Serbia favorable for investment

BELGRADE - Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic has expressed his satisfaction during a meeting he had with Debora Serracchiani, president of Italy's most northeastern region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, about relations between Serbia and Italy being at a very high level.

During the meeting, held in Belgrade on Tuesday, Nikolic pointed out that the task was to further strengthen bilateral relations, especially economic cooperation.
“The reforms we have started are to show that Serbia is favorable for investment and a reliable partner for supply of products to third markets,” Nikolic said.

Serracchiani agreed with Nikolic about numerous opportunities existing to improve cooperation between Italy and Serbia, stressing that her region was particularly interested in expanding cooperation in the areas of transportation and energy and between scientific research centers.

The Serbian president’s press office cited Serracchiani as expressing her satisfaction about the level of cooperation between the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia and pointing out that the intention was to promote the cooperation further to include the whole of Serbia.

Serracchiani, who is also regional leader and deputy secretary of the ruling Democratic Party (PD), said that ties with Serbia were very important to Italy, which would make efforts to improve relations between the EU and Serbia during its current EU presidency.

Nikolic thanked Italy for supporting Serbia on its European integration path.