Tatyana Gracheva

A total trade exchange of €9.41 billion made Germany Serbia’s most important trading partner last year. Serbia imported goods worth €5.14 billion from Germany, while exports to Germany achieved €4.27 billion in 2024.
Simultaneously, total trade with Italy, for example, attained €4.49 billion, while Serbia imported from China goods worth €5.11 billion.
Alexander Markus, Executive Board Member of the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, said that Serbia and Germany have doubled trade between each other from 2018 to 2024 (from €4.67 billion to €9.411 billion).
Finished or semi-finished components for further processing in the mobility sector (25%), machines and equipment, mechanical tools, electronic devices (25%), and chemical products (11%) are Serbia’s main imported products from Germany.
Goods from the mobility sector (51%), followed by iron ore and wood products, as well as food (each 11%) and chemical products (7%) primarily make up exports from Serbia to Germany. German investors make more than €2 billion of these exports, including wire harnesses, electronics, cars, and trams.
Stada-Hemofarm (€900 million), ZF Serbia (€580 million), Lidl (€460 million), Continental (€183 million), Brose (€180 million), Metro Cash & Carry (€142 million), and Messer Tehnogas AD (€119 million) are the largest German investors in Serbia. Alexander Markus said that total foreign direct investments from Germany in Serbia have reached around €6 billion since the year 2000. 900 companies create 80,000 jobs and pay 31% higher wages than the overall business sector average. They also generate 16% of Serbian exports and have 7% higher gross added value than the national average.
In spite of an improvement of the business climate in Germany at the end of January, expectations then declined again, and companies remain pessimistic.
Migration also has a significant impact on the German labour market (about 27% of the workforce in Germany are immigrants).
Workers from the six countries of Southeastern Europe have a simplified access to the German labour market due to a prior approval from the Federal Employment Agency. Totally, a fixed quota of up to 50,000 residence permits annually (for all six countries) was set before negotiations on the new coalition government. On the one hand, it contributes to the “brain drain” from Serbia. On the other hand, Serbian skilled and reliable workforce attracts German investments.
There are plans to further reduce the number of workers coming to Germany to 25,000 per year.
A signed employment contract is necessary for anyone coming from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, or Serbia who wishes to move to Germany under the Western Balkans rule.
NH Logistics SER has been offering IOR Importer of Record and EOR Exporter of Record services since 2001 and is a market leader in Serbia and Eurasia, supporting many clients with their import/export shipments.

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Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili chose Baku as the destination of his first foreign trip since taking office. It shows the importance of the alliance and strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Georgia, as well as continuity, trust, and a shared commitment to regional ownership of development and security agendas.
During the official visit, the both Presidents emphasized friendship, brotherhood, historical bonds, strategic alignment between the two nations, mutual respect and consideration of each other’s national interests.
For a long time, Azerbaijan and Georgia have been leading joint projects such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline, and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway. They want to change the energy and transit map of Eurasia and to turn the South Caucasus into a globally significant transport and energy hub.
Notably, Georgian seaports and transport corridors like the Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian International Transport Route) give Azerbaijan access to Europe. This position makes the two countries pivotal players in East–West connectivity. This role can be expanded even more due to the development of Alat Port and modernization of Georgian port infrastructure.
Also, a common stance on protecting sovereignty and national interests amid increasing foreign interference and double standards was emphasized by both presidents. Georgia and Azerbaijan promote a regional model of development based on mutual respect and strategic autonomy to resist the pressures that disrupt traditional values or destabilize domestic politics.
Nevertheless, the both leaders worry about the changing security dynamics in the South Caucasus. Luckily, the progress in the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace negotiations provide an opportunity for lasting stability and integration in the region.
Moreover, Azerbaijan’s assertive regional diplomacy and Georgia’s declared policy of neutrality and its offer to facilitate peace processes complement each other.
Generally speaking, Azerbaijan and Georgia have laid the foundation for a partnership that not only serves their national interests but also offers a framework for regional cooperation and independence by aligning on infrastructure, trade, energy, and values. These two countries are co-architects of a new South Caucasus, able to unite their voices on critical issues—from territorial integrity to economic resilience. They prove that strong, principled partnerships can define the future of entire regions.
NH Logistics GEO has been offering IOR Importer of Record and EOR Exporter of Record services since 2001 and is a market leader in Georgia and Eurasia, supporting many clients with their import/export shipments.

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