At the beginning of the meeting, the PFG Head welcomed the Australian Ambassador, briefing her on the Group’s composition and planned activities. He opined that the two countries’ relations are at an enviable level pledging to further and develop them with a special focus on economic relations. He said he was pleased by the interest shown by Australian companies to invest into Serbia. In that context, he underlined the possible privatisation of RTB Bor by the Australian company Rio Tinto which already has a presence in Serbia. Bauer said that the PFG would support the state’s efforts to increase the volume of foreign trade exchange and soon sign the arranged inter-state treaties whose application would facilitate Australian investment into Serbia.
In the course of the meeting, Bauer said that the National Assembly had passed a series of economic laws which should improve the business environment in Serbia and with it boost foreign investment, adding that Serbia’s key foreign policy priority is EU membership. He reminded that Serbia had unilaterally abolished visas for Australian citizens and pled for visa alleviation for Serbian citizens.
Ambassador Julia Patricia Feeney agreed with the PFG Head’s opinion as regards the good relations between the two countries and the need to further and develop them, stressing the importance of continued economic reform in Serbia for attracting foreign investments.
At the end of the meeting the officials agreed to intensify cooperation between the two countries so as to continue working on the development of parliamentary and overall bilateral relations.