French investments in Serbia have reached several billion euros, while trade in goods and services has exceeded €2bn, Marko Cadez, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia (PKS), said on August 27.

The announcement comes ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Serbia on August 29 and 30. During the visit, several bilateral agreements are expected to be signed, including a major deal for the purchase of Rafale fighter jets.

French companies have made significant investments across various sectors of Serbia’s economy. Among the most prominent investors are Michelin, one of the world’s leading tyre manufacturers, and Vinci, which is involved in the ongoing development of Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Airport.

Trade between Serbia and France has seen substantial growth in recent years, with the exchange of goods and services three times higher today than it was six or seven years ago. A notable change has occurred in Serbia’s export profile, with software exports to France now surpassing traditional agricultural products like raspberries, which had been Serbia’s top export commodity until 2020.

Energy collaboration is also a focal point in Serbia-France relations. In June, Serbia's Minister of Energy, Dubravka Dedovic Handanovic, announced the country’s plans to collaborate with France’s EDF on implementing a nuclear energy programme. Cadez highlighted that “France, through smart nuclear technology, can really be the solution for the entire European continent and industry”.

Looking ahead, a major business forum involving French companies is scheduled for October in Belgrade. This initiative aims to build on the success of a recent event held at the Serbian House in Paris during the Olympic Games, which featured participation from 80 companies, including 30 from Serbia, and resulted in pre-contracts worth €4.5mn being signed in just one day.