German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce (AHK Serbien)

🏆 Energy Scouts Awards within the Young Energy Europe program! It is our great pleasure that we certified 43 #EnergyScouts at the closing ceremony of the event! In total, they presented 17 projects! The jury made of lecturers: Ljiljana Kostic Despotovic from JUGO-IMPEX DOO NIS, Marina Mijic from ProCredit Bank a.d Belgrade, Zoran Jovanović from Siemens and Filip Mitrović from 360°Mobility announced the best three projects: 1st place – Vorwerk Autotec Serbia d.o.o. represented by: Darko Đurović with the project: The use of an absorption chiller in heat recovery from a compressor 2nd place – Smurfit Westrock Belgrade and the team: Danka Rnjaković, Marko Anđelković and Filip Manojlovic with the project: Optimization of paper grammage change and its impact on CO2 emissions 3rd place – BUCK Lighting d.o.o. and the team: Marija Stoimirović and Tatjana Rajak with the project: Energy management through the improvement of internal transport Congrats to all #EnegryScouts We are looking forward to seeing the implementation progress and energy saving you will achieve! Young Energy Europe is funded by the European Climate Initiative (EUKI). A funding instrument by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). #PartnerInSerbia #YoungEnergyEurope #EnergySavings #CO2Emissions

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 “𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐆𝐨 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧: 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬” brought together representatives of chambers of commerce, international organizations, businessmen and experts in the field of sustainable development. The key topic was the region's green transition and opportunities for economic development and deepening cooperation through energy-efficient and environmentally responsible initiatives. Alexander Markus, Executive Member of the Board at the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce (AHK Serbien), in his opening address emphasized the importance of initiatives that encourage decarbonization and improve the region's energy resilience. Through projects like Young Energy Europe, we support companies in implementing sustainable practices and integrating them into global supply chains. This year, in cooperation with the Privredna komora Crne Gore / Chamber of Economy of Montenegro, we launched trainings in Montenegro, helping companies to improve energy efficiency and reduce CO₂ emissions - which are key steps towards achieving the goals of the Green Agenda, Markus pointed out, saying that the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce will continue to be a reliable partner to business community in Montenegro and the region, providing support in achieving the goals of sustainable development and green transition. The Ambassador of Germany in Montenegro, Peter Felten, referred to the ambitious plans of the Montenegrin government: One of the main goals of the Montenegrin government, which has been in power for a year, is for Montenegro to become a member of the EU by 2028, as the first of the six countries of the Western Balkans. It is an ambitious goal, and according to our assessment, as well as the assessment of the European Commission, quite achievable. The President of the German-Montenegrin Business Club - Montenegro Business, Martin Leberle, emphasized the strategic position of Montenegro: Montenegro, and especially its capital Podgorica, is a central and easily accessible part of Europe, which makes it an attractive region for investments and cooperation. The event presented the program of the AHK Green Academy Serbia, which provides practical knowledge on decarbonization and energy efficiency, as well as initiatives such as the Western Balkan Supplier Initiative and the Montenegro Efficiency Project (MEEP), which are designed to promote renewable energy sources, such as hydropower and photovoltaic technologies. Božidar Pavlović, director of the Directorate for Energy Efficiency in the Ministry of Energy and Mining of Montenegro, held a presentation on opportunities for the business sector for further development of energy efficiency in Montenegro, highlighting key initiatives and strategies that can contribute to reducing energy consumption and improving the competitiveness of companies.

Werner von Siemens' statement "I will not sell the future for short-term profit" is perhaps even more relevant today than it was back in 1884: as climate challenges turn us to green solutions for industry, infrastructure, mobility, and healthcare, the future is not only in the hands of the most technologically advanced companies but also those that put sustainable development at the top of their priorities. Siemens Serbia aims to support the digital transformation and sustainability of local companies through the reliability and quality of its technologies, changing the everyday lives of all of us for the better. We are extremely pleased that in the Member of the Month section of our website you can read about the implemented projects of the Siemens company in Serbia, but also about their plans and priorities for the next period. The text is available at the link: https://lnkd.in/dWf3mtpD #PartnerInSerbia #MemberOfTheMonths #SiemensSerbia

#PeopleOfTheAHKSerbia Meet Jelena Tisevski, Certified Accountant! “Bachelor of Economics in Finance, Accounting, and Auditing, employed at AHK Service doo as a certified accountant since June 1, 2024.” Her interview is also available in: ➡️ Serbian - https://lnkd.in/dcBjfnpy, and ➡️ German - https://lnkd.in/d6MDF4S2 #PartnerInSerbia 

𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲! We welcomed our participants – at the location and online for our training “CBAM & Beyond: Theory, Practice and Compliance” where they learned about: ✔️ CBAM ✔️ German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) and ✔️ EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) ✍🏻 The training course also included practical work on how to fill in the CBAM report and what the reporting methodology is. ⏭️ Next step is individual practical work on filling out the CBAM report based on the obtained parameters after the training. The deadline for submitting practical work is January 2024 We extend our gratitude to lecturers Dr. Hartmut Henninger, Lawyer Partner, GvW Graf von Westphalen and Lazar Kaluđerović, PhD GHG emissions consultant, as well as to our colleague Jasmina Trbović for sharing valuable information and insights on these topics! #PartnerInSerbia #AHKGreenAcademySerbia #PartnerForLifelongLearning #CBAM #DueDiligence #CSDDD #SupplyChains

𝐀𝐇𝐊 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐚 𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐋𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐊𝐒: 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 In front of representatives of state institutions, leaders in industry sectors and scholars Tatijana Oroz, Project Manager at the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce introduces learning programs that combine local and German expertise, along with best practice examples. Under the name “Pioneering Green Education”, AHK Green Academy Serbia is a platform dedicated to the education and training of employees on topics such as green economy, sustainable development, and circular economy. The goal of this initiative is to empower companies in Serbia to achieve sustainable development goals and respond to the challenges of doing business with partners from the European Union through online on-demand and live hybrid courses. Training programs are developed in cooperation with local and international partners and experts. These programs align closely with nearly all 17 Sustainable Development Goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda. More information about available courses at: https://lnkd.in/d-FYshCk #PartnerInSerbia #AHKGreenAcademySerbia #PartnerForLifelongLearinig #climatetalks #greentransformation #decarbonization #CBAM

The host of the last #AHKNetworking for this year was Metropol Palace Hotel Belgrade, The Twenty Two Restaurant. Create your next business event in luxurious Metropol Palace Hotel and enjoy exceptional guest service and care. With 9 meeting rooms in the offer, they can host any type of events – from small business meetings and business lunches to elegant weddings and corporate events for up to 800 people! Welcome to Metropol Palace – place where luxury meets tradition. #PartnerInSerbia

During the panel discussion CBAM and taxonomy: How EU regulation drives transformation, experts from Serbia and the EU looked at the current challenges and potentials and emphasized that adapting to CBAM is key to preserving the competitiveness of Serbian products in the demanding EU market. Ivan Smiljkovic, a Member of the Executive Board of ProCredit Bank a.d Belgrade and Member of the Board of the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce (AHK Serbien), said that the acceleration of the green transition and industrial decarbonization is crucial for a sustainable future, while the Head of the Sector for European integration and economic affairs in the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia Andrea Hochhuber said that CBAM is one of the key tools of the European Green Agenda. It is necessary for all actors, including governments and industry, to be informed about their obligations and the impact of CBAM, to adapt and ensure a sustainable future, concluded Hochhuber. Mirjana Jovanović, Program Manager at the Beogradska otvorena škola / Belgrade Open School, pointed out that climate policies have long dictated the development of the European Union market, as well as that indecision and delay in solving climate issues are already costing Serbia a lot. To remain competitive in the EU market in the future, we need to put climate change at the center of development strategies and planned public investments, Jovanović concluded. Elixir Group's Strategic Planning Manager Strahinja Lazarević announced that Elixir Group is proactively implementing a comprehensive strategy of decarbonization of production processes, which, he said, will enable a gradual reduction of the carbon footprint and the achievement of carbon neutrality, in accordance with the dynamics of the gradual abolition of permitted emissions which is determined by the European Commission. In addition to discussions, special emphasis was placed on raising awareness of individual contributions to climate change. While, Mihailo Vesovic, Director of the Sector for Strategic Analysis, Services, and Internationalization, Privredna komora Srbije | Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia noted that their goal is to work together to strengthen the competitiveness of companies, while ensuring alignment with European standards and sustainable development practices. As our contribution to the sustainable future, throughout the organization and realization of the event CO2 emissions of the entire event will be measured, including direct (Scope 1), indirect (Scope 2), and value chain (Scope 3) emissions. Report regarding the event’s carbon footprint will be published later. Climate Talks is organized by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Serbia, Belgrade, and the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce. 📷 Željko Jovanović #PartnerInSerbia #climatetalsk #greentransformation #decarbonization #CBAM

#PeopleOfTheAHKSerbia Meet Katarina Anočić, Office Manager and Management Assistant! “At AHK Serbia I´m the office manager and management assistant, always ready to help with organizing tasks, managing schedules, and ensuring everything runs smoothly. In my free time, I am an adventurer who loves hiking and outdoor activities. As a nature lover, I find peace in its beauty. Besides that, I enjoy music and dance, expressing my emotions through movement. As an art enthusiast, I find inspiration in various forms of artistic expression, especially in painting, and sometimes I even dare to create some artwork myself.” Her interview is also available in: ➡️ Serbian - https://lnkd.in/dxRmeJfx, and ➡️ German - https://lnkd.in/dTGiNgQr   #PartnerInSerbia 

LIVE – CLIMATE TALKS: Green Transformation and Decarbonization of Industry H.E Anke Konrad, Federal Republic of Germany Ambassador to Serbia during the conference opening pointed out that the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is a key tool of the European Union in ensuring the competitiveness of climate-friendly products: “We will achieve climate neutrality only if climate-friendly products are competitive. CBAM ensures a level playing field for producers inside and outside the EU, providing incentives for decarbonization. Germany will continue to support Serbia on this path through projects such as GIZ's Green Economy and the activities of the Development Bank KfW.” Following the opening remarks, Mr Milan Grujic, President of the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce (AHK Serbien) emphasized that "Sustainability is the foundation of future competitiveness. The German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to empowering Serbian companies to lead in the green transition through initiatives like AHK Green Academy Serbia, Young Energy Europe, and EUREM. By turning decarbonization challenges into opportunities, we aim to position Serbia as a regional leader in sustainable business." Referring to CBAM and all regulations that companies need to meet, Mr Radman Šelmić, PhD, Advisor to the President of Privredna komora Srbije | Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia added “the carbon tax (CBAM), which was introduced by the EU in 2023 and will begin to be paid at the beginning of 2026, represents a fundamental challenge for the Serbian economy in maintaining its competitiveness on the EU market. Namely, the so-called embedded emissions in the products will be monetized, and it seems to us that the awareness of all the consequences of this radical change is not yet sufficiently developed, just as the strategic response to the challenge of CBAM through the decarbonization of the Serbian economy, which is complex and it requires knowledge transfer, adaptation or change of business processes, improvement of energy and resource efficiency, significant forms of green investments and a coordinated effort to maintain the competitiveness of the economy on our most important export market.” As our contribution to the sustainable future, throughout the organization and realization of the event CO2 emissions of the entire event will be measured, including direct (Scope 1), indirect (Scope 2), and value chain (Scope 3) emissions. Report regarding the event’s carbon footprint will be published later. Climate Talks is a high-level conference focused on promoting exchange on the green transition, particularly on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). It is organized by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Serbia, Belgrade, and the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce. 📷 Stefan Simonovic #PartnerInSerbia #climatetalks #greentransformation #decarbonization #CBAM