Within his two-day visit to Armenia, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivan Mrkic took part today in the first Serbian-Armenian Business Forum in Yerevan, aimed at initiating trade cooperation and strengthening bilateral relations existing between the two countries.

Minister Mrkic pointed to the fact that Serbia was interested in enhancing trade in goods with Armenia: "It is our aim to enhance trade cooperation through joint ventures and joint participation on third markets", Mrkic stressed.

The Serbian Foreign Minister assessed that agriculture, water management, chemical, petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries, as well as tourism, were the sectors that offered best prospects for cooperation.

Introduction of direct flights between Belgrade and Yerevan would contribute to the enhancement of economic cooperation, Minister Mrkic added.

The Forum was jointly organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, the Armenian Development Agency, and the Honorary Consul to Armenia. Armenian Minister of Economy Vahram Avanesyan addressed the participants of the Forum as well.

On the first day of the visit, Minister Mrkic talked with President Serzh Sargsyan, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, President of the National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan, and Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian. The Minister also had an audience with Karekin II, Head of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

The Serbian delegation ended the visit by a tour of the Memorial to Yugoslav pilots who got killed in a plane crash over Armenia while delivering humanitarian aid to the country following the 1988 devastating earthquake.

Serbian-Armenian business forum in Yerevan

Mrkic visits the monument dedicated to the Yugoslav pilots who got killed in a plane crash over Armenia