The Association of Serbian Businessmen in Austria presented its goals announcing that businessmen of our origin are stronger if they are networked and when they collaborate.

The Association, which was founded some ten years ago on the initiative of businessmen and the Association of Serbian Clubs in Vienna, is led by successful businessman Ostoja Matić, owner of the Lucky Car concern.

The presidency includes other successful businessmen – vice president Milan Gajić, secretary Milan Glišić, deputy secretary Borislav Kapetanović, treasurer Saša Kos, deputy treasurer Zoran Bondović, and board member Goran Stojiljković.

In his speech, Matić said that it was estimated that around 20,000 people of Serbian origin had small or large companies in Austria.

– It is a great potential that is underused, although everyone makes a great contribution to the development of Austrian economy. Those businessmen should be an important factor in connecting companies from Austria with the countries of the Western Balkans – he explained.

Kapetanović recalled that the initiative to establish the Serbian Businessmen Association was launched 10 years before by the Association of Serbian Clubs in Vienna.

– Then, in cooperation with the Viennese Chamber of Commerce, we arrived at the figure of about 8,000 of our small and medium-sized businessmen in Vienna alone. We conducted a survey and analyzed the difficulties they were facing. Based on that, we found that the biggest demand was for networking and mutual collaboration. We then launched the initiative to found the Association that aims to network and connect our businessmen in Austria – he explained.

Gajić said that the biggest obstacle to using all the potential of Serbian businessmen was the absence of their connectedness.

– The potential for collaboration between us and Austrian businessmen is great. Our association wants to provide support, promote our members, improve the positive contribution to the economy. The goal is to strengthen collaboration between Serbian businessmen, to provide support to Serbian businessmen in achieving their business goals. We want to increase the visibility and influence of Serbian businessmen in Austria – he underlined.

Lobbying

Milan Gajić said that Serbian businessmen were numerous and very good. He indicated that the Association of Serbian Businessmen would also engage in lobbying for the interests of Serbian businessmen.

Better operation

Matić said that he knew that the Association had been founded some ten years ago, but due to its frivolous work, had never become truly operational.

– We will not deal with political issues, but only with how we can do business together better – he emphasized.

Source: VESTI online

Photo: Z. Mirković