Dominica and Serbia Strengthen Ties Through Comprehensive Cooperation Agreement

Government of Dominica 26th August, 2024

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Dominica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business, Trade, and Energy, Dr. Vince Henderson, and Serbia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marko Djuric

The Commonwealth of Dominica and Serbia have taken a significant step to strengthen their longstanding partnership, focusing on mutual interests, prosperity, and global rule of law. This was formalized by signing a Protocol of Cooperation by Dominica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business, Trade, and Energy, Dr. Vince Henderson, and Serbia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marko Djuric.

Under this comprehensive Protocol, Dominica will benefit from Serbia’s technical and material support in key sectors such as education, health, agriculture, and digitalization. Specifically, the agreement will allow more Dominican students, at Serbian medical schools, which offer advanced programs in English.

This initiative builds upon the existing “World in Serbia” programme, which allows Dominican students to study at Serbian educational institutions at any level. The cooperation with Serbia’s Ministry of Health will enhance Dominica’s access to medical supplies, including essential drugs, and provide technical assistance from medical specialists, particularly in radiology and radiography.

Additionally, Serbia’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management, Aleksandar Martinović has pledged to support Dominica in improving its meat processing capabilities at the National Abattoir, accessing climate and herbicide-resistant crop varieties, procuring fertiliser for enhanced crop production, advancing research at Dominica’s seed bank and tissue culture laboratory, and integrating modern technology into agricultural practices. Serbia will also support Dominica’s construction of an animal feed factory.

Recognizing the importance of digital technology in achieving success in health, education, and agriculture, Minister Henderson and Serbia’s Minister of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation, Jelena Begović, have agreed to further discussions aimed at developing the digital infrastructure necessary to drive Dominica’s digital economy.

Overall, these agreements are expected to lead to improved health services, increased educational opportunities, enhanced food production, a reduction in Dominica’s food import bill, and job creation.

Following a series of intensive meetings with Serbian industry representatives and government officials, Ministers Henderson and Djuric also agreed to ongoing dialogues between relevant ministries from both nations to develop a detailed action plan for implementing the Protocol of Cooperation. This plan will include support for Serbia’s preparations for its Tourism Fair in Belgrade in February 2025, and positioning Dominica to assist Air Serbia in expanding its international routes, including a new direct flight to Florida. Furthermore, Dominica will finalize visa-free access for Serbian citizens and participate in Expo 2027 in Belgrade, aligning with Serbia’s broader development strategy.