International Affairs
On September 9th, the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce and the House of Startups organised a seminar on the occasion of the visit to Luxembourg of H.E. Ms Ana Brnabic, Prime Minister of Serbia. The Prime Minister was accompanied by a high-ranking delegation of government officials. Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel was also in attendance.
Luc Frieden, President of the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, welcomed Prime Minister Brnabic and her delegation by highlighting the importance of cross-border relationships that the Chamber of Commerce so firmly believes in. He further specified that there are a number of sectors that both Luxembourg and Serbia are pursuing: ICT, construction, and the environment, and said that the current level of trade does not reflect the true potential of both economies.
In her opening speech, Prime Minister Brnabic explained that her government is focusing on two priorities: digitalisation and education. She emphasized that high quality education is paramount if a country wants to be competitive in the long term. Serbian children are therefore now learning computer coding in Primary School and digital textbooks are being introduced. New technology parks will also be opening soon.
Prime Minister Xavier Bettel also confirmed in his opening speech that a smart nation must invest in brains. He pointed out that this is the reason why Luxembourg needed a House of Startups, to bring together change makers: innovation hubs, accelerators, and experts that value creativity and innovation.
Following the opening speeches, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Chamber of Commerce of Luxembourg and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia was signed to foster cooperation and encourage exchanges.
Presentations about investment potential in Serbia and the digital future of Serbia concluded the seminar, notably with Marko Cadež, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia, elaborating on the former. Promoting enhanced collaboration between Digital Serbia and Digital Luxembourg could be a next step for the two countries.
