By Ljubica Gojgić
INTERVIEW
REASON FOR
OPTIMISM EXISTS Despite adverse global trends and forecasts, the dynamics of Swiss-Serbian economic relations remain intact and continue strengthening. In 2021, Switzerland figured as the second largest foreign direct investor in Serbia. Conversely, Switzerland has emerged as a top investment location for Serbian companies, mostly in the ICT sector. Despite the pandemic, bilateral trade has grown by 16% in the last year ~ Urs Schmid H.E. URS SCHMID
T
he Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine will impact negatively on the global economy, while the energy crisis is also being felt in Switzerland, which has been importing electricity during the winter period for years. Nevertheless, causes for optimism exist and the Swiss-Serbian relations remain strong. It is against this background that CorD had the opportunity to meet Swiss Ambassador, Urs Schmid, to discuss the current development of bilateral relations, the launch of
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BUSINESS PARTNER | SWITZERLAND 2022
SWISS AMBASSADOR TO SERBIA
the Swiss Cooperation Programme for Serbia 2022-2025, his expectation regarding the economic outlook, as well as the Swiss concept of neutrality in the context of Russia's military attack on Ukraine. ■ Your Excellency, it was announced recently that cooperation with Serbia remains part of Switzerland’s New Strategy for International Cooperation until 2024. Can you tell us about
the priorities of the new programme, which is worth approximately 90 million euros? - What began as Swiss humanitarian aid to Serbia during very difficult times, in 1991, has developed over the last 30 years into a comprehensive cooperation programme. Switzerland is ranked among Serbia’s most important bilateral donors, with over 400 million euros of official development assistance committed and spent to date. Such an
