Brnabic: Serbia-Israel cooperation stepped up, there is much potential to enhance it

JERUSALEM - Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic said on Tuesday in Jerusalem Serbia-Israel cooperation had been stepped up in all areas in recent years but that there was still much potential to enhance the political and economic cooperation.

Brnabic, who is on an official visit to Israel, noted that, economically, 2024 had been a record year in terms of the volume of bilateral goods trade, which was approximately worth a still modest 200 mln dollars.

"With the services exchange, that is 350-360 mln dollars in total, but it was definitely a record year, largely thanks to the opening of a Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia office in Jerusalem in November 2021," she told reporters.

He said figures from the first four months of this year were even better, indicating growth in bilateral goods and services trade relative to the same period of 2024.

"So, things are going better and better, but there is still much potential to enhance political and economic cooperation," she said.

She noted that she had had very good meetings with Israeli officials earlier in the day, including with President Isaac Herzog, who asked her to convey to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic his regards and his gratitude for everything Serbia had done for Israel, especially since October 7, 2023.

"For all the support and hospitality, starting from sports clubs, which were unable to play anywhere else except in Serbia, where they felt at home," Brnabic added, noting that she had also had very good meetings with FM Gideon Sa'ar and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohan, who also expressed enormous gratitude to Serbia for all the support.

She said the two countries focused on plans for cooperation, above all, on a FTA agreed at a meeting between Vucic and Herzog during the Israeli president's visit to Serbia last September.