The Chairperson of the Committee on the Economy, Regional Development, Trade, Tourism and Energy, Dr Aleksandra Tomic welcomed the Canadian parliamentary delegation, stressing that the diaspora in Canada is an important issue for Serbia. She added that the parliamentary friendship groups and MPs want to cooperate with Canadian parliamentarians. Dr Tomic opined that trade is one of the most important fields that should be discussed, adding that the Strategic Economic Cooperation Treaty is ready to be debated at one of the upcoming National Assembly sessions.
Senate Speaker Noel Kinsella opined that the parliament plays an important role in economic development as it passes laws which facilitate the flow of merchandise, goods and services. Kinsella added that Canada is preparing an agreement with the European Union which could, through free trade, also facilitate trade with Serbia.
Senator Percy Downe said that trade between Serbia and Canada is low, but that there is potential for improvements not only in trade, but in tourism and energy cooperation as well. He commended the signing of the Strategic Economic Cooperation Treaty, as well as the election of Sasa Radulovic for new Minister of Economy. The senator also highlighted the significance of projects Bistrica and Brodarevo I and II for the cooperation between Serbia and Canada.
Senator Salma Ataullahjan emphasised the importance of energy cooperation, adding that there is potential for cooperation in other spheres as well. She said that one of these spheres is the export of Serbian clothing industry products, which could be placed on the Canadian market.
Speaking with the Canadian parliamentary delegation, the members of the Committee on the Economy, Regional Development, Trade, Tourism and Energy said they were ready to promote the two countries’ cooperation, as well as boost and speed up Canadian investment into Serbia. They stressed that the existing projects and Canadian companies already in Serbia should be used to this end, as they would be Serbia’s best ambassadors to the world.
Besides the Committee Chairperson, the meeting was also attended by Committee members Dragomir Karic, Bosko Ristic, Vladimir Ilic, Ivan Jovanovic, Velimir Stanojevic, Ivana Dinic, Zoran Andjelkovic and Ranka Savic.