Address by Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic at the June Meeting of Managers, at the Deputy Club:


"Esteemed Members of the Serbian Manager Association,
Distinguished guests,
Dear Stanka and Jelena,

Thank you for inviting me to be your guest at the traditional Meeting of managers, in June. I am very pleased to join you, here.

Serbia needs strong business associations like your own, so as to be able to rapidly and efficiently address, through a continued dialogue with businessmen, all problems standing in the way of the further enhancement of our economy.

Despite the fact that many laws have been adopted, the Serbian Government is still facing serious challenges. The Government is resolved to improve the business environment, and I believe that the initiated reforms will have an impact on our economic performance this year, and in the years to come.

As First Deputy Prime Minister, I believe that the power of a country is vested in its people, particularly young people, the new generations, as well as in successful business people - businessmen and entrepreneurs, as the real generators of economic development. I am pleased that the Serbian Manager Association has taken the responsibility to continue its work on the professional development of managers, who hold leadership positions in companies in Serbia, as this can and should be Serbia's comparative advantage in the region and in Europe, as well.

Serbia needs quality and capable managers, ready to assume responsibility and join the Serbian Government institutions in the promotion of Serbia's competitiveness, for only if competitive on regional and world markets, Serbia can be a rich and successful country for its people.

For this reason, I support your regional initiative SUMMIT 100, which I recently said in the talks at Brdo near Kranj, for I believe it may play an important role as a business forum dealing with the competitiveness of our region, and held in parallel with the "Brdo-Brioni" Process Leaders Meeting. I am very pleased that SUMMIT 100 will take place in Serbia, next year, and that by joining efforts, we will have an opportunity to play host, in our country, to business leaders of the region.

I wish you success in your further work on upgrading of your members, for our country can prosper only with strong managers and successful companies.

Thank you."