GEFCO Serbia has started operating in Serbia, bringing its recognized know-how in global logistics solutions designed for manufacturers’ competiveness. “As a company with a unique expertise in the management and optimization of complex supply chains, we are happy to support Serbia’s projects for industrialization and foreign trade development. Efficient logistics is a key contributor to the growth of gross domestic product in a country like Serbia ” Luc Nadal, Chairman of the Management Board of GEFCO Group, says.
Taping into the potential of Serbia and the region
By setting up a subsidiary in Serbia, one of the most dynamic economies of the region, GEFCO is strengthening its footprint in Central Europe, a region where the Group has been historically present. Serbia is the 3rd biggest market in the area after Romania and Greece and offers an ideal location between Eastern Europe and the Balkans. “The geographical position of Serbia makes it a strategic country for GEFCO; we are already partnering with local operators as part of our international flows. We want to further tap into the potential of the country and the area being closer to stakeholders with activities here”, Lachezar Roubchev, GEFCO Serbia’s General Manager, highlights.
Serbia is strategically located in major pan-European corridors that cross the Balkans (see map below).
Additionally, the country is proceeding with reconstruction and modernization plans that include railway and road projects. With a 3,809 km-long railway network, Serbia offers a railways infrastructure with the highest density among enlargement countries (49.3 M/km² versus EU-28 average 48.3 M/km²).
In the past years, the country has attracted investments in the production of steel, manufactured goods, chemicals, automotive and has signed free trade agreements with the European Union, Russia, Turkey and Central European countries to foster its economic attractiveness.
“The main objective of our economic policy is to attract new investments and further strengthen Serbia’s business sector and economy. The arrival of GEFCO confirms that we are on the right track of strengthening competitiveness and promoting Serbia’s business capacities. We expect GEFCO to transfer its experience gained over decades and prestigious expertise to our local companies, thus contributing to the growth and development of the service sector, where Serbia needs to achieve additional progress, bearing in mind that the 21st century is dominated by consumers” said Veljko Jovanovic, Advisor to the President of Chamber of Commerce, at the official inauguration of GEFCO Serbia.
Leveraging GEFCO’s expertise and proven track record to enhance customers’ performance
With a 65-year long experience in the automotive sector, one of the most demanding sectors in terms of logistics, GEFCO meets the needs of international manufacturers facing complex international challenges in an increasingly globalised economy. The GEFCO Group’s expertise ranges from core freight services – road, rail, air, ocean and multimodal operations – to supply chain management optimization, including customs and tax clearance services. This cumulative expertise of GEFCO’s teams allows the Group to organize seamless intercontinental door-to-door flows for its customers.
GEFCO Serbia will offer the whole range of the GEFCO Group services. The subsidiary is already rolling out-of-the box solutions specifically adapted to the Serbian market, such as transportations to/from European Union, Russia, Turkey, time critical solutions and rail solution from China to Germany with a 20-day transit time.
“Our objective is to assist our clients in increasing efficiency and reducing business costs by applying our high-quality standards and integrated transport and logistics solutions. In Serbia we also aim at transferring our expertise to local companies we engage in our business system” L. Roubchev says.
