On 24 August 2026, Marko Čadež, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, visited the CEI - Executive Secretariat where he met Secretary General Franco Dal Mas.
The gathering was also attended by David Piegazki, Secretary General of the Western Balkans 6 Chamber Investment Forum (WB6 CIF), the Trieste-based organisation bringing together the six Chambers of Commerce of the Western Balkans.
The meeting focused on regional economic cooperation and on strengthening synergies between the CEI and the WB6 CIF. Dal Mas highlighted the importance of connectivity – in transport, energy and the digital sphere, as well as at institutional and people-to-people level – as a driver of regional economic integration and a future priority of the new CEI Plan of Action.
The discussions built on an already established cooperation, which has seen the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and the WB6 CIF participate in CEI events, initiatives and projects. The meeting also identified concrete opportunities for future joint activities.
“Trieste has a natural vocation to serve as a bridge between Central Europe and the Western Balkans. The presence of both the CEI and the WB6 CIF in the city provides a concrete opportunity to strengthen synergies between institutions and the business community and to support the region’s European path more effectively,” Dal Mas said.
The two guests reiterated the importance of greater economic integration of the Western Balkans, both within the region and with the European market, in strengthening business competitiveness. They also highlighted Trieste’s role in fostering new connections and cooperation, as well as the contribution of the private sector to this process.
For more info: arsova@cei.int
