Mali meets with representatives of top US companies

BELGRADE - Serbian Finance Minister Sinisa Mali and his aides met on Thursday with representatives of the 16 largest US companies, who are on a visit to Serbia organised by the American-Central European Business Association (ACEBA).

An ACEBA delegation met with PM Ana Brnabic, FM Ivica Dacic, Minister of Trade Tomislav Momirovic and Minister of Economy Rade Basta on Wednesday.

In a statement to Tanjug, the deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in Belgrade John Ginkel said the companies were interested in investing in Serbia and in cooperating with Serbian firms.

Ginkel noted that a strengthening of economic ties was contributing to a steady improvement of Serbia-US ties.

He said the US and Serbia shared strategic priorities and that the US was there to help Serbia transform and get closer to the EU.

He said US companies already operating in Serbia were satisfied with their investments in the country.

Since 2001, US companies have invested over 4 bln dollars in Serbia and are currently employing over 30,000 people, he said.

The US companies whose representatives are visiting Serbia are Archer Daniels Midland, Bechtel, Bell, Citi, Merck, Motorola Solutions, Northop Grumman, Organon, Oskkosh Defense, Palo Alto Networks, Pfizer, Rio Tinto, S2 Global, Smartmatic, UGT Renewables and Visa.