Slovene businesses will not flee Serbia
LJUBLJANA – The Slovene business community is in a state of shock after Wednesday’s assassination of PM Djindjic, but is determined to continue investing in the country, announcing that: “despite Serbia having difficulties, we won’t give up.”
Dmitar Polovina, Belgrade representative of the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce, assured B92 that “Slovenian businessmen won’t get scared and back away, because they know that Serbia is a great business chance; and the situation has already normalized.”
Similar messages of determination and support have come from across the Slovene business community.
Marjan Kramar, of the Slovenian Association of Exporters, also promised that: “Slovenians won’t run away”. He believes that current short-term businesses should be rationally resumed, although he feels it would be good to pause and think a little when considering larger investments in Serbia.
Zoran Jankovic, President of the Merkator mega-store chain, indicated that the assassination would influence them only to the extent that they will not be implementing any new decisions, although they won’t change the current goals either. Merkator plans new investment in the Serbian market, totaling 200 million euros and work will resume this month.
Ljubljana oil company Petrol says it would be pointless postponing the purchase of Serbian companies. Alojz Kovse, of Petrol-Belgrade, believes companies that arrive on the Serbian market at this point will have a chance because the market would appreciate their courage.
Kolinska, owner of the Serbian mineral water and soft drink company Palanacki Kiseljak, yesterday decided to invest 1.4 million euros in Serbia, announcing further investments by the end of the year.
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