InterConnect Executive Summit successfully held

The past few days Belgrade was the center of world business where representatives of large business systems of the Western Balkans and top managers of the world’s most famous companies gathered.
Western Balkans 6 Chamber Investment Forum and Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia organized the InterConnect Executive Summit, the top business network event in the Western Balkans region that was held from September 28th to 29th, 2022 in Hilton Hotel, Belgrade, Serbia.
The event in Belgrade brought together representatives of multinational companies whose total annual turnover exceeds 50 billion euros and almost 200 companies from the Western Balkans that export to 124 markets around the world. During the two days of the Summit, they discussed global business challenges, digitalization and the inclusion of companies of the Western Balkans in global supply chains.
“We are here to look together for innovative and creative solutions for a future that is very uncertain and unpredictable. This event is not only an event about buying and selling, but also how to be creative in finding solutions to global challenges, connect companies and learn something new. You who are here create innovations and write the future in various industries. The goal is to listen to great people and to find solutions to the challenges that lie ahead of us together.”, pointed out Mr. Marko Čadež , Western Balkan 6 Chamber Investment Forum (WB6CIF) President and President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS).
Among the participants of the Summit were managers from Thyssenkrupp Automotive, INEOS, L’Oréal, Zentis, OSCE, Celonis and many others.
On the second day of the Summit, Western Balkan 6 Chamber Investment Forum (WB6CIF) hosted a panel „Western Balkans as the new nearshoring destination that can strengthen EU supply chain resilience“.
At the opening remarks Ms. Tatjana Šterjova Duškovska, WB6 CIF Secretary General pointed out that the Interconnect Executive Summit provided for the companies from the region a unique opportunity to hear from the leading C-level executives genuine positions on two important themes- digitalization, which has become a must for prospering companies, and the supply chain management. Moreover, the participants had the opportunity to schedule meetings with the leading C-level executives and present the capacities of their companies, likewise to discuss on potential cooperation. Companies from the region were provided a unique opportunity to become part of the supply chains of some of the leading European companies, and even initiate joint investments. While representing, promoting and supporting the WB6 private sector, the Association supports the companies from the region to better reposition the WB in the ongoing global disruption, which is forcing a dramatic shift in supply chain management, and tap the full potential of investment possibilities. This event significantly contributed to these efforts.
Important representatives of business companies and other important institutions took part in the panel hosted by WB6CIF:
• Aleksandar Međedović, Senior Expert, International Finance Corporation IFC, a Member of the World Bank Group
• Dr. Oliver Frille by, CPO & Managing Director, INEOS Automotive
• Dragoljub Kelečević, CPO, OSCE/ODIHR
• Lukas Leutgöb, Group Vice President Research and Development and B2B Marketing, Zentis Group
• Ferdinand Wieland, CPO & SVP Procurement and Supply Chain, Thyssenkrupp Automotive
• Hans-Jörg Leuze by, Managing Director, König Metall
• Muamer Babajić, Founder of DKR – German Center for Robotics & Founder and Managing Director (CEO), MASTERWERK®
• Magdalena Šoljakova by, Senior Country Officer for Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and North Macedonia, International Finance Corporation IFC, a member of the World Bank Group
• Viktor Mizo, Managing Director, Kostal Macedonia
• Bogoljub Marković, Managing Director, Amadeus Consulting
The panelists consider that the Western Balkans region is an excellent place for investments.
Mr. Ferdinand Wieland, CPO & SVP Procurement and Supply Chain at Thyssenkrupp Automotive, pointed out that the Western Balkans is a region with great opportunities for companies from the automotive industry that can transfer part of their production here from distant destinations. “In Interconnect, we see a great opportunity to connect with companies from this region,” says Wieland.
The second part of the event, EXCLUSIVE NETWORKING SESSIONS, were  dedicated to exclusive B2B meetings, where open networking business meetings between attendees, speakers, panelists and guests were held. Representatives from leading global companies and representatives of the WB6 business community exchanged experiences in doing business in the WB region, challenges they face with and what can be improved in order to encourage investments in the region.