SIPPO Serbia

Wrapping up a remarkable 2024 🎁 What better way to close out this year than with an article in the latest edition of Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO) Newsletter, showcasing all our achievements! We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to making this story a reality — #SIPPO, #Swisscontact, SECO, and all our amazing consultants. Your commitment is what brings our stories to life and transforms plans into achievements! 💪✨ 🌟 A special shout-out to the extraordinary #PKS team for leading the way and driving our joint activities and accomplishments forward. None of this would have been possible without your enthusiasm, motivation, hard work, and dedication. Read more ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ Thank you all for an amazing year — here’s to even greater success in 2025! Wishing you all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year! 🎉✨🎁

WORKSHOP| Empowering Serbian SMEs to Enter the European Natural Cosmetics Market 🧴🧼 Building on the success of the study tour to the Vivaness trade fair earlier this year, where exciting opportunities for Serbia’s natural cosmetics sector were identified, Privredna komora Srbije | Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia—with the invaluable support of Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO)—continues to guide fast-growing SMEs toward the European market. 📈 🇪🇺 This journey was enriched by an💡 insightful and interactive 2-day workshop led by SIPPO Consultant Gustavo Ferro, a highly experienced, dedicated, and top-notch professional in natural cosmetics sector. The training provided a condensed yet comprehensive overview of how to access the EU natural cosmetics market🧴💄, covering essential topics such as: - European natural cosmetics market analysis and trends - Sustainability requirements - Packaging, labeling, and quality standards - Distribution channels - B2B and B2C Digital Platforms for natural cosmetics and more. 📝 Following the workshop, participants engaged in personalized 1:1 mentoring sessions to develop tailored Export Marketing Plans (EMPs). This combination of strategic training and personalized guidance empowered these export-ready SMEs to: map out the best routes to the European market, strengthen their brand identity and positioning in the market, define best communication strategies with the final consumers, define route to market gaps or opportunities, and prepare for international competition. 🍃🧼 It has been truly inspiring to witness the passion, growth, and innovation thriving within Serbia's natural cosmetics sector. We are honored to support #PKS in developing a new export promotion service for this dynamic industry. By equipping SMEs with the right tools and insights, we are helping them connect more effectively with international buyers, importers, and distributors. 🔜 We’re excited for what lies ahead in 2025! A heartfelt thank you to Ivana Slijepčević for her invaluable support in helping create agile and resilient business support ecosystem in domestic natural cosmetics sector. Her dedication is paving the way for the future expansion of Serbian export-ready SMEs into European markets. ✨ #Swisscontact #SIPPO #Workshop #SMEs #NaturalCosmetics #Sustainability #Export #ExportMarketingPlan #EuropeanMarket #BusinessGrowth #Serbia

WORKSHOP | Strengthening Western Balkans BSOs Cooperation in the Value-Added Textile Industry 🌍🧵 👕 👚 On December 4-5 in Sarajevo, the 2nd SIPPO Balkan BSOs Regional Event in the Value-Added Textile Sector took place, bringing together representatives from five leading Business Support Organizations (BSOs) in Value-Added Textile Industry in the Western Balkans. 🇷🇸 🇲🇰 🇦🇱 🇧🇦 This two-day workshop, supported by the Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO), focused on building stronger regional BSO networks and exploring future collaboration opportunities.The goal: enhancing competitiveness and promoting the value-added textile industry in European markets 🇪🇺. The event fostered meaningful discussions and connections among 15+ dedicated participants committed to advancing the textile sector. 👕👔 👏 We’re proud to announce that leading BSOs from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Serbia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the event — a significant milestone for regional cooperation! 💫 A sincere thank you to all the BSOs for their invaluable contributions, fresh ideas, and practical solutions to strengthen the regional textile industry: Privredna komora Srbije | Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia | AIDA - Albanian Investment Development Agency | Vanjskotrgovinska - Spoljnotrgovinska komora BiH | Privredna komora Republike Srpske | Invest North Macedonia | Textile Trade Association - Textile cluster. ✨ Special thanks to SIPPO Balkan representatives for your ongoing support in improving regional initiatives, building stronger BSOs networks, and highlighting the competitiveness potential of the region: Elena Miloshevska | Natalija Puntevska | Milica Zatezalo| Boris Tadic | Vasil Kolezi. We look forward to many more successful flagship events and activities that contribute to a stronger, more competitive textile industry in the Western Balkans in the years to come! 🧶 #Swisscontact #SIPPO #PKS #TextileIndustry #WesternBalkans #RegionalCooperation #MoU #BSO #Networking #Competitiveness #EuropeanMarket

TOOL | Digital Product Passport (DPP) Assessment Tool for Textile Companies We’ve reached another significant milestone in advancing sustainability and digitalization in the Serbian textile industry! 🎉 Following the successful webinar organized by Privredna komora Srbije | Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, and supported by Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO), on the "Digital Product Passport (DPP) for Textile Companies", we are excited to share that we’ve now piloted the newly developed DPP Assessment Tool! 👕 👚 Over the course of two days, we supported #PKS in piloting the tool with export-ready textile companies, guided by José Koopman, #SIPPO consultant in sustainable textiles. The invaluable feedback gathered will be crucial in refining the tool to ensure it better meets the needs of textile companies and, hence, secure smooth implementation. 💻 During this pilot, companies also had the unique opportunity to test one of the currently available DPP technology solutions and create their very first Digital Product Passport! 🔜 The DPP Assessment Tool is designed to help CCIS member companies assess and implement Digital Product Passports (DPPs) for their products, driving transparency, traceability, and sustainability. Once finalized, it will be offered as part of the CCIS export promotion services, empowering export-ready textile companies to improve transparency, traceability, and sustainability, while boosting their competitiveness in European markets. ✨ A heartfelt thank you to an amazing #PKS team Nemanja Jovanovic, Katarina Momcilovic Matic, and Marija Zlatkovic, and all textile companies and their representatives, who made this milestone possible. Looking forward to what is next in shaping more sustainable future for the textile sector in Serbia! Need more information about DPP! The recording of the CCIS Sustainable Export Webinar on #DigitalProductPassport is now available at https://lnkd.in/dnsSD7s3 #Swisscontact #Textile #Sustainability #Digitalization #SustainableExport #EU #ExportReady #DPPAssessmentTool #SME #internationalTrade

TRADE FAIR | Food Ingredients 2024, Frankfurt   🍒 If you're at the fair, don't miss the chance to connect with prime Serbian suppliers of high-quality fruits like IQF frozen, dried, and hot-processed berries and sour cherries. Visit us at Hall 4.2 Stand C19!   With the dedicated support of Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO) consultants, seven Privredna komora Srbije | Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia member companies are now fully prepared to exhibit at 📍 Food Ingredients Europe in Frankfurt (November 19–21)! Through tailored mentoring in B2B sales 📈 , insights into German fruit market trends and guidance on meeting sustainability standards 🌱 , these SMEs are ready to showcase their strengths, demonstrate their competitiveness, and seize exciting new export opportunities with European buyers and value chains. Wishing them continued success for the remainder of the exhibition! ✨ A heartfelt thank you to International Trade Centre for the incredible opportunity to collaborate on capacity building and advancing the Serbian natural ingredients sector. At #SIPPO, we deeply appreciate your unwavering support in organizing and designing the stunning Serbian stand—a remarkable showcase of nation’s 🇷🇸 potential in fruit production. We’re proud to have worked together on this milestone. Thank you for being such an inspiring partner! 📸 In action: Following an engaging webinar and insightful online mentoring sessions, our consultant, Nicole Guenther, is now collaborating directly with exhibiting SMEs to sharpen their exhibition strategies, communications, and negotiation skills. Today, she’s on-site, providing real-time guidance to help them leave a lasting impression and foster meaningful business relationships with German buyers. Frédérine Derlot | Predrag Markovic | Aleksandar Bogunovic | Milica Zatezalo   #Swisscontact #SIPPO #ITC #PKS #Fieurope #TradeFair #NaturalIngredients #FoodIngredients #Fruits #Organic #Sustainability #B2Bsales #Export #EU #SMEs

WEBINAR | Digital Product Passport for Textile Companies: How to Prepare? 💻 👔 Last Friday, on November 15, Privredna komora Srbije | Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS), with support from Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO), hosted on Zoom an insightful webinar as part of the "CCIS Sustainable Export Webinar Series". The topic “Digital Product Passport (DPP) for Textile Companies: How to Prepare?” was specially designed to empower Serbian textile exporters in seizing opportunities in the European market and value chains. During the session, José Koopman, #SIPPO Consultant and expert in sustainable textiles 🌱 👕 👖 👚 , provided valuable insights into new EU regulations 🇪🇺 and sustainability requirements ♻️, including the #digitalproductpassport. She also introduced the newly developed Digital Product Passport Readiness Assessment Tool, tailored to the needs of Serbian textile companies. This tool will soon be available as a key export promotion service to #PKS members. Participants had an exclusive opportunity to receive practical information and guidance on how to test and create a DPP for their textile products using the software solution, presented by Jasper Martin from the Dutch technology company Cirmar. The webinar continued with a lively panel discussion where José, Jasper, and Nemanja Jovanovic, #PKS discussed key competitiveness challenges and explored how the DPP can bring additional value to Serbian textile products in the EU market. 🔍 Key Takeaways: - The European #textile market is shifting toward sustainability, with growing demands for compliance; - Agile export-ready textile companies who embrace #digital solutions will be better positioned in the European value chains; - #DPP will be mandatory for all exporters to the EU starting from 2027, but companies should now begin preparing by gathering necessary data; - The DPP will help non-EU exporters add-value to their textile products; - #PKS will soon offer a new Digital Product Passport Readiness Assessment Tool to assist member companies in enhancing their export capabilities to the European market. ✨ A special thank you to introductory speakers Marija Zlatkovic, #PKS and Shira Damia P., #SIPPO for sharing valuable insights into Serbian textile export potential and importance of EU compliance. Additionally, a heartfelt recognition to Dusanka Kalezic, #PKS for her excellent moderation of the webinar and the panel discussion! ✨ 🔜 Missed the event? No worries! The recording is now available at link https://lnkd.in/dnsSD7s3 #Swisscontact #CCISSustainableExportWebinarSeries #Textile #Garments #Industry #Sustainability #Digitalization #SustainableExport #EU #ExportReady #Webinar #SME #internationalTrade

Launching the "CCIS Sustainable Export Webinar Series" with German Fruit Market 🍒 🍓 Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS), supported by Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO), organized the first webinar in the "CCIS Sustainable Export Webinar Series" 🌱 , this time focused on exploring the sustainable export opportunities for Serbia's frozen, dried and hot-processed fruits - both organic & conventional - for the German market. 📈 With Germany, representing a dynamic EU fruit market valued at €20 billion in 2024, demand for sustainably sourced fruits is on the rise, providing a significant opportunity for Serbian exporters. The introductory session featured insights from Shira Damia P., #SIPPO, Frédérine Derlot, #ITC, Aleksandar Bogunovic, #PKS and Biljana Glisic ex Petrovic, #EEN. They shared advisory modalities to support export-ready SMEs in this sector, highlighting the guidance and resources available by their organizations. 🔍 Nicole Guenther, Green Seed Germany presented comprehensive insights and guidance on exports to the German fruit market, including: market size and growth forecast, market trends, organic fruit market, sustainability requirements, distribution channels, tips on the best way to connect and negotiation with German buyers, providing attendees with the opportunity to get useful market updates and insights. 🌟 A special thanks to Dusanka Kalezic, Privredna komora Srbije | Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia for her excellent moderation! The webinar recording is now available for free on CCIS YouTube! Watch it here https://lnkd.in/d4qDYZ9U #Swisscontact #CCISSustainableExportWebinarSeries #Sustainability #Export #SMEs #EU #Organic #Dried #HotProcessed #Fruit #Webinar #GermanyMarket

⏱ The webinar starts in less than 48 hours! 📝 Register now for "How to Meet German Fruit Buyers Requirements and Market Trends?" at link https://lnkd.in/dGRPn6fU 📆 Date: 6th November, 2024 ⏰ Time: 12:30 – 14:00 CET 💻 Zoom platform 🍒 🍓 If you are fruit manufacturer or exporter, in just one hour, you’ll discover the latest trends in the German fruit market, proven tips for connecting with German buyers, growing importance of sustainable and organic fruit products 🌱 , and practical advice to align your business with sustainability standards for a competitive edge at this dynamic European market. We’ve secured an amazing lineup of speakers, featuring remarkable women experts in sustainability and the German fruit market. Nicole Guenther | Dusanka Kalezic | Shira Damia P. |Simon Waring |Aleksandar Bogunovic | Biljana Glisic ex Petrovic | Predrag Markovic Don’t miss this unique opportunity to gain insights directly from professionals in the EU food markets and sustainability. Register now! More information at https://lnkd.in/d--X6J_Z #Swisscontact #SIPPO #ITC #EEN #CCISSustainableExportWebinarSeries #frozenfruit #driedfruit #hotprocessedfruit #producers #export #webinar #GermanMarket #organic #internationaltrade #SMEs #foodindustry #foodsustainability

MARKET INTELLIGENCE | Driving Export Growth for Serbian Technical Wood Sector in the European Market 🌳 Yesterday, representatives from Privredna komora Srbije | Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia member companies, industry experts, and academia convened for an exclusive session to gain in-depth, high-level market intelligence on European and non-EU (Switzerland, Norway, UK) technical wood markets 📊. Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO) local consultants in Serbia Valentina Čolić Mihajlović and Pavle Medić presented key insights from the newly developed "Analysis of the Serbian Technical Wood Sector and its Competitiveness in the European Market", pinpointing main trends, sustainability requirements, and actionable opportunities to bolster the country's position in the EU market. Covering 50 selected technical wood products, this analysis provides #PKS with a solid foundation to understand market dynamics, accurately identify competitive supply chains, and focus on high-growth potential products—especially those ready for export. With these insights, #PKS is now empowered to efficiently create export promotion services tailored to the EU market trends and demands. The objective? 🎯 To pinpoint technical wood products with the greatest export potential, identify high-opportunity European markets, and tackle key challenges and opportunities for growth. By blending quantitative and qualitative insights, #SIPPO succeded to provide technical support to #PKS, by equipping #BSO with the knowledge to make strategic decisions and unlock new opportunities in the European TW market. Key Takeaways: - Demand for #eco technical wood products is on the rise, signaling future sector growth. - Flexibility in meeting sustainability standards ♻ will shape companies' roles in European value chains. - The EU 🇪🇺 accounts for 50% of global technical wood imports—an immense opportunity! - High-potential markets for Serbian SMEs include Italy, Belgium, Romania, and Sweden. - Pallets and pallet supports, Serbia's top technical wood exports, show robust growth potential. The presentation concluded with an interactive discussion among sector representatives, allowing for a qualitative examination of the findings. Equipped with these data-driven and qualitative insights, #PKS is now well-positioned to enhance current export promotion services or develop new initiatives, fostering a more resilient and responsive sector aligned with evolving EU market demands. Many thanks to an amazing #PKS Team headed by Natasa Govedarica, Sector Lead. This could not be possible without all your support! #Swisscontact #SIPPO #TechnicalWood #MarketIntelligence #export #EU #SME #exportpromotionservices #sustainability #exportpromotion

WEBINAR | How to Meet German Fruit Buyers Requirements and Market Trends? Are you a fruit exporter from Serbia or another non-EU country aiming to enter the dynamic German market?🍓📈 Join us for the first session of the "CCIS Sustainable Export Webinar Series" 🌱, supported by #SIPPO and designed specifically for export-ready SMEs. Topic "How to Meet German Fruit Buyers Requirements and Market Trends?" 📆 Date: 6th November, 2024 ⏰ Time: 12:30 – 14:00 CET 💻 Zoom platform 🍒 🍓 This is a must-attend event for producers and exporters of frozen, dried, or hot-processed fruits—whether conventional or organic—who want to gain critical insights into German market trends and understand the sustainability requirements that define German buyer expectations today. In this webinar, you`ll discover: - Insightful Market Analysis: Discover the latest trends in the German fruit market; - Sustainability & Organic Demand: Understand the growing emphasis on sustainable and organic products; - Market Entry Strategies: Learn proven routes to market and tips on building relationships with German buyers; - Sustainability-Readiness: Get actionable advice on aligning with sustainability requirements to enhance your competitiveness. ✨ We’re excited to introduce an outstanding lineup of key speakers who bring valuable expertise and insights on sustainable export. Their knowledge will provide you with actionable strategies and a deeper understanding of what it takes to succeed in the 🇩🇪 fruit market. Nicole Guenther | Simon Waring | Dusanka Kalezic | Shira Damia P. | Aleksandar Bogunovic | Biljana Glisic ex Petrovic Privredna komora Srbije | Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, has collaborated with Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO), International Trade Centre project in Serbia "Trade Promotion East" and EEN Serbia - Enterprise Europe Network Serbia to bring first-hand insights on sustainable export practices—an essential prerequisite for the future internationalization of non-European SMEs. Together, we’re equipping SMEs with the knowledge they need to thrive in the European marketplace. 🇪🇺 🔗 Register today at https://lnkd.in/dGRPn6fU and don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into buyers expectations and fruit market trends in Germany! Thank you Predrag Markovic #Swisscontact #SIPPO #ITC #EEN #CCISSustainableExportWebinarSeries #frozenfruit #driedfruit #hotprocessedfruit #producers #exporters #GermanMarket #organic #internationaltrade #SMEs