Vucic: Serbian companies have a chance in India, I expect Modi to visit Serbia

NEW DELHI - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday in New Delhi opportunities were emerging for Serbian companies to come to India, as well as for Indian companies to invest in Serbia, and added that he hoped Indian PM Narendra Modi would visit Serbia soon.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Modi, Vucic said India's Embassy Group had already invested 25 mln euros in a plant in Indjija, northwestern Serbia, and added that he believed various other Indian startups would invest in Serbia, especially in the wake of the conclusion of a FTA between India and the EU, which he noted would fully take effect in five to seven years.

"For them (India), Serbia is a good place in terms of preparations, as well as because of the FTA we have with the EU," Vucic said. He added that a way must be found to facilitate the entry of Indian nationals to Serbia after a visa-free regime with India had been abolished at the EU's request.

Vucic also said Serbian companies had a chance in India and that the defence industry company Jugoimport SDPR could transfer some technologies to India and even open factories in the country.

He said major opportunities were emerging for Serbian companies to come to India, as well as for talented young Indians to go to Serbia to help in the development of a sovereign artificial intelligence model, an artificial intelligence structure as well as data gathering and everything artificial intelligence could bring to the health care system, the pharmaceuticals industry and other sectors.

Asked about Serbia becoming a bridge between India and Europe in the future, Vucic responded that he believed India would become more open to Serbia, and added that he had invited Modi to visit Serbia.

He noted that Indian President Droupadi Murmu had visited Belgrade in 2023 and that her visit had been the first trip to Serbia by an Indian president since 1972.

Vucic: India has confirmed its participation in EXPO 2027

NEW DELHI - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday he had had a very friendly and substantial discussion with Indian PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi and noted that India had confirmed its participation in EXPO 2027.

"The meeting with Modi was remarkably friendly and substantial and I have big news for Serbian citizens - until now, India was the only superpower, I would say, that had not confirmed its participation in EXPO 2027, but, today, PM Modi said clearly and unequivocally that India wants a major presence at the EXPO and that India is coming to the Serbian and Belgrade EXPO. That is the first big and important news," Vucic told reporters after the meeting with Modi.

He said they had also discussed ways to advance bilateral relations and cooperation.

"Since 2017, we have not had a session of the inter-governmental committee on cooperation, and I have decided and asked PM Djuro Macut and Deputy PM Sinisa Mali to agree to Macut being the co-chair on behalf of the Republic of Serbia so that we demonstrate how much importance we attach to cooperation with India," Vucic said.

Vucic: India to continue policy of not recognising so-called Kosovo

NEW DELHI - Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Indian PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday India would continue its policy of not recognising the so-called Kosovo.

Asked if the discussion with Modi had touched upon the Kosovo-Metohija issue and what Modi had said about it, Vucic said: "PM Modi said it was a matter of our mutual respect, understanding and sensitivity to each other, which is all absolutely true, and that policy will be continued."