A business delegation from northern Greece is holding a series of meetings in Belgrade, bringing together 123 companies from Greece and Serbia, as well as representatives of major industry, institutional, and academic bodies from both countries.
The opening session was led by Greece's ambassador to Serbia, Maria Levanti, who welcomed participants from both sides. Serbian officials also addressed the event, including representatives from the ministries of education and public administration, as well as the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Their statements suggested a need to strengthen cooperation between the two nations across higher education, energy, and bilateral trade. Speaking on behalf of the Greek side, Deputy Interior Minister for Macedonia and Thrace Konstantinos Gkioulekas stated that the government is pursuing "the continuous upgrading of Greece's relations with all countries and, of course, with neighbouring Balkan states."
Despite record bilateral trade of approximately €830 million in 2025, Gkioulekas noted that the figure remains below the potential indicated by the two countries' business communities and their close ties. Similar points were made by Kostas Georgakos, president of the Greek-Serbian Chamber, who emphasised the importance of transforming these links into stronger economic partnerships.
The programme included three themed roundtables covering logistics and tourism, regional governance, and academic collaboration. It also featured dedicated B2B meetings between 61 Greek and 62 Serbian companies to facilitate direct commercial partnerships.
Alongside the business meetings in Belgrade, Greece's Deputy Interior Minister for Macedonia and Thrace met with the Patriarch of Serbia, Porfirije. The Patriarch extended a warm welcome, discussed Greece-Serbia relations with the delegation, and offered his blessing to the minister and the Greek people, expressing wishes for peace and love.
Members of the Greek delegation paid tribute to Rigas Feraios, a key figure in the early Greek independence movement, by visiting Nebojša Tower in Belgrade, where he was imprisoned and executed in 1798, and laying a wreath in his memory.
The Belgrade visit is the second stop in a broader Balkan outreach initiative, following a previous mission to Sofia in February, which, according to organisers, brought together more than 220 Greek and Bulgarian businesses and institutional representatives.
