Pictured above: Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council during
his visit to the West Midlands is Dr Dejan Popovic, Serbia's
Ambassador to the UK, with UKTI international trade adviser Maggie
Neale and Peter Mathews of Black Country Metals
The West Midlands environmental technology industry has built
strong links to boost business with Serbia, thanks to a top level
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) visit to the market.
Fourteen representatives from companies and organisations - the
largest UK trade delegation ever to visit Serbia - have just
returned from Belgrade with vital contacts and insight for
developing new business.
The delegates represented the following sectors: waste
management and recycling, renewable energy, sustainable building,
air pollution control and consultancy.
The event followed a recent Serbian environmental technology
inward visit to the West Midlands and a separate visit by the
Serbian Ambassador, Dr Dejan Popovic, to the region - both aimed at
increasing trade with this rapidly growing market.
Serbia is the largest market in the Western Balkans, with a
population of 7.4 million. Its economy has grown by about six per
cent each year over the last decade and has been transformed into a
modern, market-based economy.
Peter Mathews CMG, chairman and managing director of Black
Country Metals, of Lye, Stourbridge, who led the mission, said:
"The visit proved that there are substantial opportunities for West
Midlands companies to do business in Serbia.
"We were delighted with the friendly welcome we received and the
openness with which Serbian companies and organisations shared
their plans with us. Serbia is definitely a country that should be
on the radar of West Midlands SMEs."
UKTI international trade adviser Graham Ashmore OBE, who is the
international lead for the West Midlands Environmental Technologies
Cluster, organised the delegation.
He said: "Serbia has an ambitious programme to bring its
environmental standards up to EU levels and West Midlands companies
have the expertise to enable the country to achieve this.
"When the Serbian delegation visited us in March, they were very
impressed by the technologies we showed them and this outward visit
to Serbia, combined with the Serbian Ambassador's visit to our
region, has definitely cemented the relationships we have built
up.
"The market visit helped our group to develop scores of
contacts, which they would not have been able to do on their own,
and I am confident this will lead to new business for them."