Beograd | April 24^th, 2023

The Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry together with the German Organization for International Cooperation - GIZ hosted the opening of the first service center in Serbia - Responsible Business Hub Serbia. The new service center within the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia was formed to support all companies that are part of German and global supplier chains, as well as those that want to become one, all in order to fulfill the requirements brought to them by the new German Law on Due Diligence.

The new German Law on Due Diligence in Supply Chains came into force on January 1^st, 2023, and all companies that are part of the supply chain are obliged to fulfill requirements in the field of protection of human rights, workers' rights, and ecology. According to estimates, the new Law affects about 3,000 companies in Serbia, therefore the support to companies provided by the new service center within the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is of great importance for the competitiveness of our companies and stable and sustainable business.

Mr. Peer Krumrey, head of the Department for Labor and Social Affairs of the Embassy of  Germany in the Republic of Serbia, addressed the attendees, where he shared his experiences in the preparation, monitoring, and implementation of the Law on Due Diligence, pointing out the importance of dialogue for successful implementation. Mrs. Françoise Jacob, the permanent coordinator of the UN in Serbia, emphasized the importance of a quality legal framework and its effective application in terms of human rights, workers' rights, and the green transition.

The activities of the Responsible Business Hub Serbia include creating a network of strategic partners and consultants, organizing education trainings and providing consultations aimed to raise awareness on these topics, and encouraging dialogue between interested parties about the German Supply Chain Law and EU regulations. This Law is an introduction to the European Directive, which is expected to be introduced soon, and which is stricter and will include more regulations and requirements than the German Law on Due Diligence.