Ministerial team for solving Agrokor problems formed

Due to the current situation in Agrokor, a ministerial teams has been formed for the purpose of constant communication to the end of sharing information and carrying out joint activities in order to maintain the jobs, the suppliers` interest and stable operations of the Agrokor companies in each individual country.

That was the main decision made at the meeting in the Government of Serbia of April 19, attended by representatives of four states – Serbia, B&H, Montenegro and Slovenia.

As said, each of the countries will be carrying out control of financial flows and flows of goods in companies connected to Agrokor, in line with the laws in the four states.

– Serbia is in a better position than the other countries of the region, thanks to the special legal status of Mercator S in relation to Agrokor. We have similar problems and we are looking for mutual solutions – said Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications Rasim Ljajic.

As he emphasized, the meeting is not directed against anyone, and the joint activities are meant to stabilize the situation in the whole region.

The new manager of Agrokor is expected to appoint independent experts in order to successfully carry out the restructuring of the companies within the concern.

Ljajic said that the new management of Agrokor was expected to treat all the suppliers equally, both those in Croatia and those outside it.

– We are following what`s going on in Croatia and we are ready to talk to representatives of the Croatian government. We expect the crisis to be solved without any damage done to the subsidiaries – the Serbian minister said.

Ljajic added that there was no need for adopting a lex specialis at the moment, as the existing law is clear enough.

– We have a clear enough law preventing the draining of funds from Serbia – the minister said.

Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said at the beginning of the meeting that Serbia would not let local companies suffer the consequences over Agrokor.

Talking about potential solutions for protecting local companies, he said that the government might opt for certain temporary measures through the Commercial Court.

The prime minister and ministers of trade and agriculture, Rasim Ljajic and Branislav Nedimovic, met on April 19 at the Government of Serbia with ministers of trade and economy of Slovenia, Montenegro and B&H. The meeting was attended by Minister of Economic Development and Technology of Slovenia Zdravko Pocivalsek, Minister of Economy of Montenegro Dragica Sekulic and Vice Chairman of the Council of Ministers of B&H and Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Mirko Sarovic.

Vlada Republike Srbije

Fortenova grupa d.d.

Mercator-S d.o.o Beograd

Ministarstvo turizma i omladine Republike Srbije

Ministarstvo poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede Republike Srbije

Ministarstvo ekonomskog razvoja Crne Gore

Vijeće ministara BiH

Ministarstvo vanjske trgovine i ekonomskih odnosa BiH

Aleksandar Vucic

Mercator S

Mercator

Rasim Ljajic

Branislav Nedimovic

Ministry of Economic Development and technology of Slovenia

Zdravko Pocivalsek

Ministry of Economy of Montenegro

Dragica Sekulic

Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of B&H

Mirko Sarovic

Agrokor ministerial team