Serbia-Egypt Business Forum: Establishing Free Trade as Pre-Condition for Customs-Free Lemons and Raspberries

The president of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, stated today that the signing of the agreement on free trade and avoiding double taxation between Serbia and Egypt would enable a quicker development of the economies of both countries and emphasized that Serbian business people were welcome in Egypt.

At the opening of the Serbia-Egypt Business Forum, organized by the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia within his official visit to Serbia, he pointed out that, in Egypt, companies from Serbia could take part in projects such as the construction of airports and roads.

– I was telling the president of Serbia that we want to make around 4,000 kilometers of fast railways and that, in two years, the first phase of that project will open – he said and added that Serbia and Egypt had great potential for the development of agriculture.

He pointed out that, in 2016, Egypt had started upgrading business operations, especially in the sphere of economy through national projects.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, Egypt’s economic growth, he said, was between 5.6% and 6.1%, and there was no drop despite the pandemic.

The president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, said that he saw the business meeting of Serbia and Egyptian business people as an excellent opportunity for the development of even better economic relations between the two countries.

He emphasized that it was of great importance for the free trade agreement between Serbia and Egypt to be established by the end of the year and explained that it meant that Serbia could, for example, import lemons without paying the customs free, whereas Egypt could import the best quality apples or raspberries without customs charges, the Government of Serbia announced.

Also, as he added, Serbia will sell wheat to Egypt, for which it recently got a certificate, and Serbia is also expected to get certificates for apples and beef soon.

According to him, cooperation of Serbia and Egypt, is possible in the arms industry, healthcare and culture.

Serbia and Egypt are entering a new era of economic relations, said Marko Cadez, the president of the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia and emphasized that numerous business negotiations between Serbian and Egyptian companies in the next period would contribute to significant investments in both states.

A total of 30 companies from Egypt and 250 companies from Serbia are taking part in the business forum.

Vlada Republike Srbije

Privredna komora Srbije

Government of Serbia

CCIS

president of Egypt

Abdel Fattah el Sisi

Aleksandar Vucic

Marko Cadez

Serbia Egypt Business Forum

free trade

cooperation of Serbia and Egypt

import of lemons

apples

raspberries

certificate for wheat

certificate for apples

beef

construction of highways

healthcare

culture

doing business with Egypt

external trade

goods exchange

business meetings

Serbian and Egyptian business people

free trade agreement

national projects

fast railways

Belgrade Cairo air line

double taxation