The town became a symbol of suffering during the Homeland War, but it is now ready for investors from Serbia.
A quarter of a century since the war and the destruction of the town, the first Serbian companies interested in investing in Vukovar and Eastern Croatia have begun to appear, reports Večernji List on January 30, 2018.
While such a thing was unthinkable only a few years ago, at the end of last year and beginning of this year, the first contacts were established, so it wouldn't be a surprise if the first significant investments from Serbian companies in Vukovar take place as early as this year. A few days ago, Vukovar was visited by a delegation of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, together with representatives of several companies interested in investing in Vukovar and Eastern Croatia. Some of them have already visited potential locations which they would like to buy or rent.
“It's still early to talk about specific figures and expectations, but if everything turns out well, I believe that some of these investments can be realised in a relatively short time. Companies from Serbia, as well as all Croatian companies and potential investors from the EU, will receive all the benefits offered by the town of Vukovar,” said Mayor of Vukovar Ivan Penava. He pointed out that Vukovar offered to potential investors perhaps the best conditions in the whole of Croatia, which should soon become even better, considering that the proposal of the Law on Investment Promotion in the Vukovar Area should soon be adopted. But, even the current law offers a series of incentives.
Substantial interest in investing in Vukovar and Eastern Croatia has so far been shown by the Mljekara Mihajlović company from Paraćin, as well as by a Serbian-Iranian company engaged in the dental hygiene sector. There is also an energy company which deals with efficient energy management and green technologies, as well as a software company.
“So far, we have cooperated with a Serbian company on the extraction of sand from the Danube River. We have also had a few inquiries about potential investments, but the plans have not proceeded. The latest negotiations have been the most serious when it comes to the interest of Serbian businesspeople in investing in Vukovar,” said Penava.
He also added that Serbian businesspeople were interested in doing business in the European Union, as they find it easier to enter the markets with their products as well as to receive all the necessary certificates. In addition, important factors are the proximity of the Serbian border, a similar language, traffic connections, the Danube... Penava considers the interest of potential investors from Serbia as a very positive development, pointing out that the war will never be forgotten, but also that people live in the present and work for the future.
“Vukovar is open to potential investors from Serbia, but we still have a lot of work to do to make Serbian companies recognise Vukovar as an area where they can implement their business ideas. I say this because the image of Vukovar is still terrible in Serbia. When a delegation from Inđia was supposed to come here, one of their questions was whether they should come at all. We will all have to work together to achieve communication in the mutual interest,” said Penava.
Translated from Večernji List.
