By the end of this year, Srbac businessmen will be able to access significantly the Austrian market, expand or start cooperation with the existing or potential partners in Austria.

This was announced by Mladen Filipović, Head of the Republic of Srpska Representative Office in Austria, who held a presentation today in the assembly hall in Srbac about the possibilities of providing support to domestic export-oriented firms in connecting with key sectors and companies in Austria.

The presentation was attended by representatives of the local government led by the mayor Mlađan Dragosavlјević and the president of the municipal assembly Miloš Budić, and about twenty Srbac businessmen who had expressed interest in the services of the Representation.

Filipović said that the support to business sector included three phases of the project: Biz Register, Outreach Program and Showroom, and expressed satisfaction that a large number of firms from Srbac had demonstrated readiness and ability to take part.

The Biz Register offers possibility for all firms to register in a single database available in German, where Austrian firms can obtain all the information about our companies directly from the Republic of Srpska Representation, without the need for independent market research.

“Our focus is currently on the Outreach Program, where we offer the possibility of sending information about domestic firms directly to Austrian companies. In agreement with our businessmen and according to their needs, we target about ten Austrian firms, contact their management and connect them with our companies. In addition, we organize trainings, meetings, preparation of the offer and support in further steps on the Austrian market,” said Filipović.

He adds that the third phase, the Showroom, offers the opportunity to present a domestic product in the exhibition area in Linz, which was opened with the support of the Government of the Republic of Srpska. The products of over 30 companies from the Republic of Srpska are currently presented here, including the Srbac companies Fora and Drvoprodeks, and the goal is to have over 100 companies from Srpska there by the middle of this year.

“We intend to organize gatherings in Linz once a month, each time on different topics, which will be equally interesting for the construction, metal and other sectors. This area is also available for various gatherings and forums, and it may be used by municipal administrations to present themselves to potential investors,” Filipović emphasized.

He signaled to Srbac businessmen to fulfill several important steps in order to start the export support program already this week or next.

“First of all, an analysis of own company and export capacities should be prepared, as well as a market analysis. We need information about the profiles of Austrian firms that are of interest for cooperation with our businessmen. We also plan to organize individual trainings, as well as preparations for a visit of our businessmen to Austria during autumn, when the epidemiological situation should normalize. Then, individual arranged appointments with Austrian firms will be organized. Participation of our businessmen in fairs and forums is also planned,” Filipović noted. He expressed satisfaction that a plant of the Austrian company Pewag, which already has a developed production of tire protection chains in Laktaši, would soon open in Srbac and employ about a hundred workers.

“Srbac is the next location of this company in the Republic of Srpska, which was realized with the mediation of our Representative Office. Implementation of this investment should start soon, and it depends also on the epidemiological situation,” said Filipović.

The mayor of the municipality, Mlađan Dragosavlјević, said that he expected concrete results from the cooperation with our Representation in Austria.

“We have had contacts for some time and as a result we are expecting the arrival of a new investor soon and the opportunity has been realized for our firms to find new partners in Austria, which will greatly affect the development of the economy in Srbac,” said Dragosavlјević.

The Head of the Department for Economy, Agriculture and Social Affairs, Marko Miholjčić, said that the coronavirus pandemic had slowed down cooperation with the Republic of Srpska Representation in Austria, and expressed his belief that this was the beginning of more intensive cooperation.

“I believe that our businessmen will benefit greatly and find a new market,” Miholjčić said.

Source and photo: www.srbac-rs.com