Srbija Danas, 06. 10. 2017.
Serbian Export Credit and Insurance Agency (AOFI) is hosting this year in Belgrade approximately 80 biggest state and private insurers of export receivables and foreign investments in the world, gathered within the Berne Union, at the occasion of the Berne Union Annual General Meeting.
Export credit agencies, members of the Berne Union, jointly insure 13% of the total world trade and the Minister of Economy, Mr. Goran Knežević, told the guests that such agencies are a lever which supports the growth of national economies as well.
– It is impossible today to enter bigger business deals in broader aspects without the support of agencies such as the AOFI and our guests from the Berne Union. For this reason the relevant ministry closely monitors all activities of your annual meeting – said the Minister.
Mr. Mandisi Nkuhlu, Berne Union Vice President, expressed his pleasure for the fact that the 2017 Annual Meeting is taking place in Belgrade, highlighting the presence of insurers from all over the world – China, the USA, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, etc.
– This is a global association and it is important to all of us to see how our colleagues from other parts of the world do their job – he said.
Mr. Vinco David, Secretary General of the Berne Union, stressed that the volume of world trade would undoubtedly be smaller without the support of the insurers of the Berene Union.
We insure the trade in agricultural products and machinery, but also automobiles export, for example. Some of our members insure practically anything, from strawberries to huge power plants, Serbian AOFI is a part of our union and thus it supports Serbian export. And they do their job excellently – said David.
The AOFI’s Director, Mr. Dejan Vukotić, said that from its founding 11 years ago the AOFI has insured 1.6 billion Euros of receivables of Serbian exporters, adding that the insurance capacity is much bigger.
In cooperation with the Ministry of Economy, amendments to the law regulating the AOFI are underway, whose purpose is to raise the Agency to a higher level and approximate it to the operating practices of the EU export credit agencies – Vukotić said.
– By means of these amendments, the law will open a broader range of products to offer to our exporting companies, thus increasing Serbian export and economic growth – said Vukotić.
Currently the AOFI supports Serbian export through direct lending, financing of export contracts, factoring and insurance of receivables.
– The most appealing product for our clients is insurance of receivables, which we will be focusing on in the period to come. It is our goal to assist Serbian businessmen to conquer new markets more easily by enabling them to have continual liquidity – Vukotić said.
– By means of these amendments, the law will open a broader range of products to offer to our exporting companies, thus increasing Serbian export and economic growth – said Vukotić.
Currently the AOFI supports Serbian export through direct lending, financing of export contracts, factoring and insurance of receivables.
– The most appealing product for our clients is insurance of receivables, which we will be focusing on in the period to come. It is our goal to assist Serbian businessmen to conquer new markets more easily by enabling them to have continual liquidity – Vukotić said.