Recent Bilateral Exchange of Visits

Shri Nanda Kumar, Secretary(Agriculture) visited Serbia on March 1-5, 2009 to sign the Agreement on Cooperation in Agriculture and Allied Sectors and to explore and identify specific areas of immediate interest.  Representatives of DARE and DAHDF formed part of the official delegation.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic paid a visit to India on 18-19 Sept., 2008 to seek India’s support for Serbia’s resolution in UNGA seeking ICJ’s opinion on the legality of Kosovo’s UDI.  During his meeting with EAM, both sides reiterated friendship and solidarity between the two nations and on the need to strengthen bilateral relations further

The First Meeting of the Joint Economic Committee established under an Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation, was held in New Delhi on April 2, 2008 at the official level of deputy co-Chairs. The JEC was chaired by Dr. Rahul Khul lar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce , from our side and Ms. Jasna Matic, former State Secretary, Ministry of Economy and Regional Development from the Serbian side. Discussions between the two sides were fruitful covering a wide range of issues, including a framework for the economic relationship to grow upon.  Several sectors of interests to both sides were identified. These include Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals, traditional medicines, infrastructure and construction, science and technology, information technology, Agriculture and food processing, biotechnology, tourism and investment

Serbian Minister of Science Dr. Ana Pešikan led a delegation to India on February 17 – 23, 2008. She said that Indian scientists have shown  considerable interest to apply for FP7 projects (funded by the EU) with colleagues from Serbia and Serbian scientists will soon have the opportunity to be part of a state funded advanced training programme in India’s Silicon Valley.   She met Shri Kapil Sibal, Minister for Science & Technology & Earth Sciences and the Governor of Karnataka apart from her visits to the Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi, International Centre for Genetic Engg. & Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore and other S&T institutes.   A Cooperation programme in S&T for 2008-2010 was finalized during the visit.

A Serbian delegation comprising of  Dr. Nevena Karnovic, State Secretary in the  Ministry of Health, Dr. Milan Petrovic, State Secretay, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Predrag Kon, Head of the Working Group in the Ministry of Health for implementation of the Action Plan before and during the Avian Flu Pandemic and Mr. Miroslav Marinkovic, Director for Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture attended the International Conference on Avian & Pandemic influenza held in New Delhi from 3-6 December 2007

Visit of Shri Anand Sharma, Minister of State for External Affairs to Serbia, 16-18 September 2007: During his visit to Serbia from 16-18 September, MOS Shri Anand Sharma met with Serbian President Mr Boris Tadic, Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, Parliament Speaker O. Dulic, Deputy Prime Minister Mr Bozidar Djelic, and other senior dignitaries.

Agreements on visa exemption for Diplomatic and Official passport and MOU for cooperation between the Foreign Service Institute of India and its counterpart in Serbia were signed.

Shri Sharma met with the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and industry and encouraged them to have a reinvigorating business to business contact with Indian companies, particularly in IT, pharmaceuticals, Biotech, infrastructure, food processing etc. He also asked them to energize the Joint Business Council with FICCI.

During the visit, Shri Sharma unveiled the bust of Mahatma Gandhi at Gandijeva Street, a prime location on the banks of river Sava, along with the Deputy Mayor of Belgrade. He also inaugurated the first centre of NIIT in Serbia , which would build the IT capacities of people of Serbia.

Visit of Business Delegation to India: A 20-member delegation of officials and businessmen led by Dr. Predrag Ivanovic, Minister for International Economic Relations of Serbia and Montenegro (SCG) and including among others Milan Parivodic Minister for International Economic Relations, Republic of Serbia, Ms Ana Begovic SCG Assistant Minister for International Economic Relations and Stanislav Stakic, Director in the SCG Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visited India from 7-11 February 2006. During the visit, agreements on Trade and Economic Cooperation and Avoidance of Double Taxation were signed between India and Serbia and Montenegro. An MoU between the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and the Serbian Chamber of Commerce was also signed. The MoU will provide a platform for industries of both countries to explore business opportunities in the areas of IT, pharma, engineering, textiles and plastic products. An agreement was also signed between the Punjab, Haryana and Delhi Chambers of Commerce and the Subotica Chamber of Commerce for promoting cooperation between the two regional Chambers of Commerce.

Serbian Minister for Economy and Privatization’s Visit: H.E. Mr. Predrag Bubalo, Serbian Minister of Economy and Privatization visited India from 31 January to 3rd February 2005 at the invitation of Indian Minister of State for Commerce and Industry. Representatives of Indian companies evinced their interest in participating in the privatization process in Serbia and Montenegro.

Visit of SCG Assistant Defence Minister to India: Lieutenant General Ivan Djokic, Assistant Defence Minister (Material Resources) of Serbia and Montenegro (SCG) visited India to attend the “Air Show 2005” at Yelahanka in February 2005, at the invitation of the Defence Minister of India. He was accompanied by Colonel Rade Djuric and Vesna Stupar, a representative from Yugoimport, a government of SCG undertaking dealing in export of defence equipment.

Visit of Minister of State for Tourism: Minister of State for Tourism, Hon’ble Smt. Renuka Chowdhury visited Belgrade from 1-4 November 2004 to inaugurate an Exhibition of Indian handlooms and handicrafts organized by the Handlooms and Handicrafts Export Corporation of India (HHEC) and an Indian Food Festival sponsored by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. MOS (RC) met with the SCG Minister for International Economic Relations, Dr. Predrag Ivanovic, SCG Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E.Mr. Vuk Draskovic, Serbian Minister of Culture, Dragan Kojadinovic, and Serbian Minister of Trade, Tourism and Services, Dr. Bojan Dimitrijevic and the Mayor of Belgrade Mr.  Nenad Bogdanovic. MOS (RC) also visited some monasteries and important cultural sites.

Visit of Montenegrin Delegation to India: An eight-member delegation comprising officials from the Montenegrin Government and the Municipality of Bar led by the Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro, Branimir Gvozdenovic visited India from 25-29 April 2005 at the invitation of the Minister for Shipping, Hon’ble Shri T.R. Baalu. The Deputy Prime Minister expressed himself very happy at the outcome of the talks he had with various senior representatives of the Government of India, including senior Shipping Ministry officials, the Minister for Information Technology, the Minister for Information and Broadcasting, the Minister of State for Tourism as well as FICCI, NASSCOM, and planned to undertake an ambitious follow-up on the visit.

Exim Bank of India Officials Attend EBRD Conference in Belgrade: The Chairman of the Exim Bank of India Shri T.C. Venkat Subramanian accompanied by Shri John Mathew, General Manager, Exim Bank of India Mumbai and Regional Representative of Exim Bank in Budapest, Shri Nirmit Ved attended the annual EBRD meeting held in Belgrade from 21-23 May 2005.

Visit of Minister of State for External Affairs: Hon’ble Rao Inderjit Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs visited Serbia from 6-10 July, 2005 as a special envoy in connection with talks on UN reform. During his visit, Hon’ble Minister met with Foreign Minister H.E.Mr Vuk Draskovic, Deputy Foreign Minister H.E. Mr Predrag Boskovic and Serbian Prime Minister H.E.Mr Vojislav Kostunica.

Visit of Minister of State for Science and Technology: Minister of State for Science and Technology and Ocean Development, Hon’ble Shri Kapil Sibal visited Belgrade from 27-29 October 2004. MOS (KS) met with the SCG Minister for International Economic Relations, Dr. Predrag Ivanovic, SCG Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E.Mr.Vuk Draskovic and Serbian Minister for Science and Environmental Protection, H.E. Mr Aleksandar Popovic during his visit. The Minister also paid visit to two scientific institutions and the University of Belgrade.

Second India-Serbia and Montenegro Dialogue: The Conference ‘India- Serbia and Montenegro – Second Dialogue’ was held in Belgrade on 9-10 June 2004. It was a joint effort by the International Institute of Politics and Economics (IIPE) and the Centre of Policy Research (CPR), New Delhi and had the Comparative Analysis of Global and Regional Processes in South-eastern Europe and Southern Asia as its theme. From India, Prof. Charan Wadhwa, President of Centre for Policy Research. Prof. K.R.G. Nair, Honorary Research Professor from Centre for Policy Research, Dr. Gulshan Sachdeva, Jawahar Lal Nehru University and Prof. Satish Deshpande from Institute of Economic Growth, New Delhi took part in the deliberations. The first dialogue was held in New Delhi in December 2003.

Automobile Delegation: A seven-member automobile delegation led by Serbian Assistant Minister for International Economic Relations visited India from 3-8 June 2004. The delegation had representatives of Zastava and FAP Corporation, two major vehicle manufacturing companies in Serbian it. It held talks with Tata Motors, Mahindra and Mahindra and Ashok Leyland for establishing business cooperation. The delegation also met the Foreign Secretary, Secretary of Industrial Policy and representatives of ACMA, CII, and EXIM bank