Belgrade – Jagodina, September 8-9 , 2026. The AKTAWA Group opens Southern Europe: a representative office of the company has started operating in Serbia, and the first step was the business mission of the Russian Export Center "Made in Russia". The delegation was led by Maxim Konoplyanikov, the founder and CEO of the group. Two days, dozens of meetings, and one main conclusion: the interest between Russian and Serbian businesses is mutual, and it is growing.

Localization in Serbia: why this particular country

Serbia was not chosen by chance. This is a market that requires attention and understanding of local specifics, but it is precisely such markets that produce long-term results. Opening a representative office is not just a formality. This is localization: physical presence, knowledge of local legislation, certification, logistics and payment mechanisms. Without this , expansion into Southern Europe remains a theory.

Representative Office AKTAWA in Serbia is the entry point to the region. Through him, the group will be able to accompany Russian companies at all stages: from finding a partner to settlements and deliveries. And Serbian companies will receive a direct channel to enter the markets of the EAEU and Asia.

First day: from welcome coffee to substantive negotiations

The first day of the business mission began with a welcome coffee and informal communication. Dating, business card exchange, first questions: who does what, why they came, and what expectations they have.

The official part opened with speeches by representatives of both sides. It was said that Russian-Serbian relations have a long history, but economic cooperation is still far from being used to its full potential. The main thing was said: the interest is mutual, and it is growing.

The most intense part of the day was the bilateral meetings with Serbian companies. There were no slides or official presentations, just live talks. Some were looking for equipment suppliers, others for partners for joint projects, and others for payment solutions.

Negotiations with Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia

In the late afternoon, a meeting took place that many had been waiting for, negotiations with representatives of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The colleagues came directly to the hotel so as not to waste the delegation 's time on the road.

Given the busy schedule, it was decided to hold meetings in an individual format — 30 minutes for each company. This turned out to be the right decision: instead of general presentations, it turned out to be a substantive conversation about what exactly is needed, what can be done and how to do it faster.

What AKTAWA introduced in Serbia: platform and products

As part of its business mission, the AKTAWA Group presented to its Serbian partners the capabilities of its B2B platform, a single ecosystem for international trade that closes the full transaction cycle: from counterparty search to logistics, certification and settlements.

The platform is aimed at manufacturing companies, exporters and importers, distributors and trading houses interested in finding reliable suppliers and buyers in international markets, as well as in financial and logistical support of transactions.

The products presented to Serbian partners cover five key areas:

• Mechanical engineering and industrial equipment — fans, industrial and laboratory machines for heat treatment of materials.
• Construction and climate technology — space and ground heaters, pipe fittings, pressure reducing and temperature control valves.
• Agro-industrial complex and refrigeration equipment — refrigerating and freezing units for the food industry and logistics.
• Information technology and innovation — programmable controllers and automation systems.
• Petrochemical and energy engineering — shut-off and control valves, valves, valves, drives, reagent dosing systems, and explosion-proof components.

The Serbian side showed particular interest in pipeline fittings and automation systems , areas in demand in the energy sector, petrochemical and industrial construction.

The official part: what was discussed at the opening

During her speech at the opening ceremony of the business mission in Belgrade, Russia's Trade Representative in Serbia, Irina Negrebetskaya, emphasized the advantages of the direct business meetings format. According to her , this format allows companies to get acquainted with new customers and suppliers, as well as receive the necessary information about certification, logistics, settlement and legal conditions of work in the Serbian market.

Businessmen from Russia held intensive negotiations with Serbian partners, discussing the prospects for the supply of industrial equipment, the introduction of digital and energy-efficient solutions, the implementation of projects in the field of environmental monitoring, industrial automation and smart city technologies.

Yagodina: how Russian business was invited to "little Switzerland"

On September 9, a delegation of ten Russian companies, together with employees of the Embassy, the Trade Mission and The Russian Export Center — arrived in Yagodina. This is not just a courtesy call: the city authorities openly invited Russian companies to enter one of the three industrial zones of Yagodina, build factories and create jobs.

The delegation was accepted:

• Dalibor Markovich Palm — Vice-Chairman of the United Serbia Party, member of the Jagodina City Council on issues of economy, budget and investments;
• Dr. Miodrag Yarkin — Chairman of the Assembly cities of Jagodina;
• Goran Milosavljevic — the boss Pomoravsky administrative district;
• Snezhana Boskovich — Deputy Mayor;
• Maria Yovanovitch is the mayor's assistant.

"Yagodina is a small Switzerland"

" An economic delegation from Russia has arrived in our city today. Ten companies came to Yagodina. We talked about these companies operating in Russia coming to our industrial zone, one of the three that Yagodina has, and possibly building their own factories so that we could employ the residents of Yagodina. Because we are known here both as good hosts and as good employees. Yagodina has the best people, the most hardworking people. I suggested to the guests that this first meeting should be for the benefit of both sides: to exchange views on what we can export from Yagodina to Russia, what they can offer us from Russia here, and to see how many companies will come to Yagodina to build their factories. And so that the cooperation that has been going on for a long time between the Russian and Serbian people can continue," Dalibor Markovic Palma said.

He added that the first delegation — There are 10 companies from Russia, and he announced that new ones will arrive soon, and an agreement will be signed to include them in the construction of factories and workshops.

"I thank my guests for choosing Yagodina to come and invest here. They know that Dragan Markovich Palma turned Jagodina into a little Switzerland. Yagodina is called little Switzerland. We drove through the city, the guests saw what Yagodina offers: water park, Wax Museum, zoo. Their impressions are such that they said: they don't even have this in Russia. Thank you again that you are with us today and that in the near future we will all work together so that both you from Russia and we from Serbia benefit," concluded Markovic Palma.

"We need new jobs for the young"

"Today's visit of the Russian economic delegation is one of many visits by entrepreneurs from Europe, Russia, Asia, which our city wants to improve the economy and agriculture, employ as many people as possible. If you remember 15-20 years ago, there were 30 thousand unemployed people in Yagodino. And we are not satisfied with the fact that enough people are employed. Younger, more educated generations are coming — they also need to be given the opportunity to work. These companies from Russia are engaged in different types of activities, modern technologies, as well as other companies that came from Europe and other countries," emphasized Dr. Miodrag Yarkin.

"Cooperation has intensified over the past two years"

"Cooperation with the Russian The Federation was started by Dragan Markovich Palma. It has been significantly intensified over the past two years. The credit for this belongs to Dalibor Markovich Palme, who was the head of many delegations to the Russian Federation, where our delegation from Jagodina was received at the highest level. And it is the visit of these Russian entrepreneurs that is the result of such activity and such an economic policy that cares about citizens and makes the opening of new jobs a priority," Goran Milosavljevic said.

The word of the Russian side

Representatives of Russian companies , led by a representative of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Serbia , expressed hope that today's visit would help establish cooperation between Russian and Serbian companies.

"I always say that you don't need to live and work in a city — you need to feel this city with your heart and soul. And I see that both the father and the son have fulfilled this," Dmitry Panferov appreciated.

"When our trade representative office received a request for a meeting with the Serbian city, we did not doubt for a minute that we should definitely visit Jagodina. We are happy that we were able to hold this meeting in Yagodina, because we see how Yagodina wants to work with Russian companies — and Russian companies want to work here," he said. Eduard V. Shenyavsky on behalf of the Trade Mission of the Russian Federation Federation in the Republic of Serbia.

After the official part, the Russian delegation, together with the city's leadership, visited the tourist attractions of Yagodina: the Wax Museum, the aquapark and the Tigar Zoo.

What's next

The first day is over, but the work is just beginning. Ahead is the second day of the mission, new meetings and, most importantly, the continuation of dialogue with those with whom we managed to get to know.

Serbia is a market that requires attention and understanding of local specifics, but it is precisely such markets that produce long—term results. AKTAWA continues to move forward, now with a representative office in Southern Europe.