More than 100 representatives of Southeast European chambers of commerce gathered in the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) on Thursday, together with state officials and diplomats, for the second conference, after KIF was set up in Vienna last summer, on the margins of the conference on Western Balkans as a response to the Berlin process, launched by Germany, Austria and France, and with the support of the EU.
KIF was supported by Eurochambers, the Austrian Chamber of Commerce and the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce with the aim to transform the EU neighbourhood into a zone of stability, security and economic prosperity so that the countries would have a European future.
"The Croatian Chamber of Commerce, as a major economic institution in Croatia, sees the participation in the forum as a great opportunity for the inclusion of member states in the implementation of the project aimed at boosting export growth and attracting investments. The present situation requires stronger cooperation, particularly considering the challenges such as strong side effects of the crisis, unemployment, unfavourable sources of financing, the migration wave which affects and hampers free flow of people, commodities and services," HGK president Luka Burilovic said.
The head of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Marko Cadez, underscored the importance of small and medium-size companies in the development of regional cooperation.
European Commission representatives Michel Catinat and Bernard Brunet also stressed the significance of regional cooperation, while Anthony Gribben of the Enterprise&Entrepreneurship foundation said the most important thing was to educate the youth and to include them in the SMEs sector.
Senator Alain Richard, special envoy of the French Foreign Ministry for economic diplomacy in the Balkans, announced a meeting of Southeast European countries and the EU would be held in July so as to establish better coordination in the region.