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Skopje, 16-17 June 2010

Representatives of investment promotion agencies from the Western Balkans, representatives of automotive companies, cluster managers, local suppliers as well as the OECD and other international organisations met in Skopje on 16-17 June 2010 under the OECD Sector Competitiveness Project, co-financed by the European Union. The objective of the conference was two-fold:

• Discuss strategies and tools to further develop the local supplier base and better promote investment in the automotive industry in the Western Balkans
• Increase the awareness of existing strengths and capabilities of the regional automotive industry

The automotive sector in the Western Balkans can be attractive for foreign investors and customers alike. This is confirmed by the findings of the report Recommendation for a Regional Investment Strategy, which was the main outcome of the analysis phase of the project. The main strengths of the region are: Cost competitiveness, geographical proximity to markets, a strong historical legacy and availability of a skilled workforce. At the same time, the OECD found that there is an information gap between what part suppliers in the Western Balkans offer and what the OEMs and first tier suppliers are looking for. The most notable shortcomings identified in the area of quality, with most manufacturers lacking industry specific quality certification such as ISO/TS 16949.

The conclusions of the Investment Promotion Automotive Working Group that took place on 19 June 2009 in Belgrade highlighted that the current crisis represents an opportunity for the countries of the Western Balkans if they combine short-term actions with strategic measures.

• Agenda
• Participants list 16th June
• Participants list 17th June

 Presentations

• Facilitating the Integration of Automotive Component Manufacturers into Global Supply Chains, Ms. Natascha Weisert and Mr. Adnan Seric, UNIDO
• Developing and Promoting Automotive Industry in Croatia, Mr. Branko Mihalic, Automotive Cluster Croatia
• Presentation of Automotive Cluster of Macedonia, Mr. Vladimir Tevdov, Automotive Cluster Macedonia
• Presentation of Automotive Cluster Serbia, Mr. Igor Vijatov, Automotive Cluster Serbia
• Promoting investment in the automotive component sector, Andrea Beltramello, OECD Investment Compact for South East Europe 
• The automotive industry in the Western Balkans: Sector economics and investment opportunities, Mr. Viktor Mizo, Invest Macedonia on behalf of the Regional Network of Investment Promotion Agencies in South East Europe
• Presentation of Prevent Group and Companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Adnan Smailbegovic, Asa Prevent
• Johnson Matthey Central Europe Project: Why Macedonia/Balkans, Mr. Colin Jaffray, Johnson Matthey
• AVL-AST d.o.o., Example of Foreign Investment in Croatia, Mr. Branko Mihalic, Automotive Cluster Croatia
• Fiat Automotive Serbia, Reviving Automotive Industry, Mr. Vladimir Tomic, SIEPA
• Presentation of FIEV and Treves International Development - Strategy and Experience, Mr. Bernard Babo, French Industrial Vehicule Equipment Association (FIEV) and Treves Group
• Opportunities for collaboration with the Italian Automotive Industry, Mr. Gianmarco Giorda, Italian Association of the Automotive Industry (ANFIA)

Further reading

• Sector Competitiveness Project in the Western Balkans
• Sector Specific Sources of Competitiveness in the Western Balkans: Key Conclusions and Next Steps