Memorandum o razumevanju između Vlade Republike Srbije i Vlade Kraljevine Esvatini o trgovinskoj i investicionoj saradnji

MEMORANDUM

of Understanding Between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini on Trade and Investment Cooperation

PREAMBLE

WHEREAS the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini (hereinafter jointly referred to as ”the Parties” and in the singular as ”the Party”);

DESIRING to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the Parties;

RECOGNISING the important contribution that trade, investment, and private sector development can make to the sustainable development of the Parties, including the reduction of poverty, the increase of productive capacity, economic growth, the transfer of technology, and the furtherance of human rights and human development;

DETERMINED to find new approaches and strategies of consolidating, expanding and deepening areas of trade, industry, investment and private sector development;

WISHING to vigorously promote trade, investment, industry and private sector development cooperation between the Parties on equitable terms by setting tasks to be performed and obligations to be met by either Party in order to facilitate an increased flow of investments and the enhancement of trade, as well as industry and institutional cooperation as generally and specifically set out hereinafter;

CONSIDERING Enterprise development, cross-border trade and investment are major areas of cooperation between the Parties;

NOTING that the Republic of Serbia is the candidate for membership and the Kingdom of Eswatini is a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO):

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties do hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

COMPETENT AUTHORITIES

The Competent Authorities responsible for the implementation of this MOU shall be:

a. in the case of the Republic of Serbia, the Ministry of Internal and Foreign Trade (hereinafter referred to as the ”MIFT”); and

b. in the case of the Kingdom of Eswatini, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade (hereinafter referred to as the ”MCIT”).

ARTICLE 2

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this MOU is to promote cross-border trade, investment, industry and private sector development, between the Parties on equitable terms by setting tasks to be performed and obligations to be met by either Party in order to facilitate an increased flow of Foreign Direct Investment and the enhancement of trade, as well as industry and institutional cooperation as generally and specifically set out hereinafter.

ARTICLE 3

SCOPE OF COOPERATION

3.1 The scope of cooperation between the Parties with respect to the defined projects within the Republic of Serbia or Kingdom of Eswatini shall include identifying technically competent organisations which are capable of driving development-oriented industrial projects and sensitising organisations in the Republic of Serbia or the Kingdom of Eswatini that have the financial and technical capacity to implement those projects in partnership with their Serbian or Swati counterparts.

3.2 The Parties shall encourage Private Sector Institutions to explore investment opportunities in their countries;

3.3 The Competent Authorities shall continue to identify other emerging industrial enterprises, projects and project ideas that may be of interest to investors in either Party, respectively, and shall make available to either Party all relevant general and detailed information for use in promoting those enterprises, projects and project ideas in their respective countries.

3.4 With a view generally to promote industrial cooperation, the Parties agree that the

Competent Authorities shall sensitise potential investors who are residents of the Parties, and who are willing and capable of establishing, completing and rehabilitating projects in the mutually agreed sectors.

ARTICLE 4

AREAS OF CO-OPERATION

4.1 The parties shall under this MOU cooperate on Trade, Industry and Investment.

4.2 Cooperation between the Parties shall also be aimed at encouraging joint ventures by institutions Enterprises and citizens of the Parties in a manner that enhances sustainable growth, industrial development and employment creation.

ARTICLE 5

TRADE COOPERATION

5.1 The Parties shall intensify efforts to promote trade between themselves, with a view to expanding the volume of trade.

5.2 In order to take advantage of the existing vast trade opportunities in both countries, the following specific actions shall be carried out:

a. the Parties shall sensitise, encourage and assist trade operators to undertake joint promotional activities including, but not confined to, participation in the national trade fairs organised in both countries, mounting of solo exhibitions and closer cooperation between Industry Associations and Chambers of Commerce of the two countries; and

b. the Parties shall, in line with the provisions of the WTO, endeavour to eliminate non-tariff barriers to trade and the removal of possible technical barriers which preclude trade.

ARTICLE 6

COOPERATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PHYSICAL AND ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE

The Parties shall endeavour to identify strategic infrastructure development projects which shall be jointly or as individual parties, undertaken, in order to enhance the competitiveness of the economies of the Parties.

ARTICLE 7

COLLABORATION IN PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS

With a view to strengthening collaboration in Public Private Partnerships (hereinafter referred to as ”PPPs”) investment, the Parties shall cooperate in building PPPs capacity in their respective countries, through instituting the respective PPP Regulatory Frameworks. The promotion of capacity building programmes shall be fostered to enable a better sharing of PPPs information and effective networking.

ARTICLE 8

TECHNICAL COOPERATION

The Patties shalt endeavour to mutually/jointly develop industrial and technical cooperation including, but not confined to the following fields:

i. science and research;

ii. enterprise development;

iii. technology transfer and mentoring support to entrepreneurs;

iv. development of micro credit; and

v. skills development in, inter alia, the areas of-industrial inspections and certification of products;

a. economic policy formulation and implementation;

b. trade and investment promotion;

c. incentives design for business and investment purposes; and

d. promoting linkages between relevant institutions in particular through exchange programmes.

ARTICLE 9

IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING MECHANISM

9.1 There shall be a Joint Ministerial Trade and Investment Committee (JMTIC), composed of Senior Government Officials of the Competent Authorities and stakeholders who shall meet at least once a year alternately in the Republic of Serbia or in the Kingdom of Eswatini and to monitor implementation of this MoU and to identify further areas of cooperation.

9.2 The JMTIC shall;

i. review the implementation of the provision of this MoU;

ii. propose solutions for problems which arise or may arise in the implementation of this MOU and in the scope of development of trade and investment between the Parties; and

iii. Consider proposals made by either Party within the framework of this MOU aimed at further expansion and diversification of trade and investment between the Parties.

ARTICLE 10

COMPLIANCE TO LAWS AND REGULATIONS

The implementation of this MOU shall be done with respect to laws in force in either parties’ jurisdiction and without compromising the Parties’ obligations deriving from the international treaties and conventions to which both Parties subscribe.

ARTICLE 11

FAIRNESS

In entering into this MoU, the Parties agree and hereby declare their intention that this MOU shall operate between them with fairness and without detriment of any prejudice to the interest of any of the Parties and all the provisions herein contained shall be applied in good faith.

ARTICLE 12

CONFIDENTIALITY

The Parties shall not, without the prior written consent of the other Party hereto, divulge to any third party any confidential documents, data, information furnished directly or indirectly by the other Party hereto in connection with the MOU, whether such confidential information has been furnished prior to, during or following completion or termination of this MOU save that it is in the public domain or in fulfilment of a legal obligation.

ARTICLE 13

GENERAL PROVISIONS

13.1 This MOU provides a broad basis for cooperation between the Parties, which is intended to stimulate private sector interests and involvement from the Parties. The respective private sector players shall negotiate and conclude detailed operational agreements for the implementation of the identified projects.

13.2 This MOU does not imply that investors of either Party have any exclusive rights to the identified projects.

ARTICLE 14

AMENDMENT(S)

14.1 This MOU may be amended by mutual consent of the Parties through an exchange of notes between the Parties through diplomatic channels.

14.2 In the event that a dispute may not be amicably settled, either Party may terminate this MoU by giving six (6) months written notice of its intention to terminate this MoU.

ARTICLE 15

ENTRY INTO FORCE, DURATION AND TERMINATION

15.1 This. MoU shall enter into force on the date of signature thereof by the Parties.

15.2 This MOU shall remain in force for a period of five (5) years and renewable for another five (5) years subject to mutual agreement by the Parties, unless earlier terminated by either Party by giving six (6) months’ written notice in advance, through diplomatic channels, of its intention to terminate.

15.3 The termination of this MOU shall not affect the completion of any project undertaken by the Parties prior to the termination thereof, or the full execution of any cooperative activity that has not been fully executed at the time of termination, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing by the Parties.

ARTICLE 16

DOMICILIUM CITANDI ET EXECUTANDI

All correspondence and notices pursuant to this MOU shall be deemed to have been properly given if delivered in writing to the Offices or addresses hereunder:

16.1 For the Republic of Serbia:

Department for Bilateral Economic Cooperation

Ministry of Internal and Foreign Trade

22-26 Nemanjina St, 11000 Belgrade

REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

16.2 For the Kingdom of Eswatini:

The Principal Secretary

Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade

G94J+R6M, Mbabane,

KINGDOM OF ESWATINI

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the duly nominated and authorized representatives of the Parties hereto have agreed to and signed this MOU.

THUS DONE AND SIGNED at Belgrade on this 19th day of Oktober 2024.

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

MINISTER OF INTERNAL AND FOREIGN TRADE

_________________________

TOMISLAV MOMIROVIĆ

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF ESWATINI

MINISTER OF COMMERCE, INDUSTRY AND TRADE

___________________________

MANQOBA KHUMALO

MEMORANDUM

o razumevanju između Vlade Republike Srbije i Vlade Kraljevine Esvatini o trgovinskoj i investicionoj saradnji

"Službeni glasnik RS - Međunarodni ugovori", broj 9 od 3. decembra 2024.

PREAMBULA

BUDUĆI da Vlada Republike Srbije i Vlada Kraljevine Esvatini, (u daljem tekstu zajedno nazvane „Strane” i u jednini „Strana”);

U ŽELJI da ojačaju veze prijateljstva i saradnje između Strana;

PREPOZNAJUĆI važan doprinos koji trgovina, investicije i razvoj privatnog sektora mogu dati održivom razvoju Strana, uključujući smanjenje siromaštva, povećanje proizvodnih kapaciteta, ekonomski rast, transfer tehnologije i unapređenje ljudskih prava i ljudski razvoj;

ODLUČNE da pronađu nove pristupe i strategije konsolidacije, proširenja i produbljivanja oblasti trgovine, industrije, investicija i razvoja privatnog sektora;

ŽELEĆI da energično promovišu saradnju u oblasti trgovine, investicija, industrije i razvoja privatnog sektora između Strana na pravednim osnovama postavljajući zadatke koje treba izvršiti i obaveze koje treba ispuniti od strane bilo koje Strane radi olakšavanja povećanja protoka investicija i unapređenja trgovine, kao i saradnje u industriji i institucijama, kako je generalno i posebno izloženo u nastavku;

UZIMAJUĆI U OBZIR razvoj preduzeća, prekograničnu trgovinu i investicije kao glavne oblasti saradnje između Strana;

KONSTATUJUĆI da je Republika Srbija kandidat za članstvo, a Kraljevina Esvatini članica Svetske trgovinske organizacije (STO);

IMAJUĆI U VIDU NAVEDENO, Strane su saglasne kako sledi:

ČLAN 1.

NADLEŽNI ORGANI

Nadležni organi odgovorni za sprovođenje ovog MoR biće:

a. u slučaju Republike Srbije, Ministarstvo unutrašnje i spoljne trgovine (u daljem tekstu „MUST”) i

b. u slučaju Kraljevine Esvatini, Ministarstvo privrede, industrije i trgovine (u daljem tekstu „MPIT”).

ČLAN 2.

CILj

Cilj ovog MoR je da promoviše prekograničnu trgovinu, investicije, razvoj industrije i privatnog sektora, između Strana pod pravičnim uslovima postavljanjem zadataka koje treba da izvrši i obaveza koje treba da ispuni bilo koja Strana kako bi se olakšao povećan priliv stranih direktnih investicija i unapredila trgovina, kao i industrijska i institucionalna saradnja kao što je uopšteno i posebno navedeno u daljem tekstu.

ČLAN 3.

OBIM SARADNJE

3.1. Obim saradnje između Strana u vezi sa definisanim projektima unutar Republike Srbije ili Kraljevine Esvatini će uključivati identifikaciju tehnički kompetentnih organizacija koje su sposobne da vode razvojno orijentisane industrijske projekte i stimulišu organizacije u Republici Srbiji ili Kraljevini Esvatini, koje imaju finansijske i tehničke kapacitete da realizuju te projekte u saradnji sa odgovarajućim srpskim ili esvatinskim partnerima.

3.2. Strane će podsticati privatni sektor da istraži mogućnosti za ulaganja u svojim zemljama;

3.3. Nadležni organi će nastaviti da identifikuju druga industrijska preduzeća, projekte i projektne ideje koji mogu da budu od interesa za investitore bilo koje Strane, odnosno, učiniće dostupnim bilo kojoj Strani sve relevantne opšte i detaljne informacije za potrebe promoccije tih preduzeća, projekata i projektnih ideja u svojim zemljama.

3.4. U cilju promocije industrijske saradnje, Strane se slažu da će nadležni organi podsticati potencijalne investitore koji su rezidenti u državama Strana, a koji su spremni i sposobni da uspostave, završe i rehabilituju projekte u sektorima koje su zajednički dogovorili.

ČLAN 4.

OBLASTI SARADNJE

4.1. Strane će, u skladu sa ovim MoR, sarađivati u oblasti trgovine, industrije i investicija.

4.2. Saradnja između Strana će, takođe, biti usmerena na podsticanje zajedničkih ulaganja između preduzeća i građana država Strana na način koji poboljšava održivi rast, industrijski razvoj i stvaranje radnih mesta.

ČLAN 5.

SARADNJA U TRGOVINI

5.1. Strane će intenzivirati napore da promovišu međusobnu trgovinu, u cilju proširenja njenog obima.

5.2. U cilju boljeg korišćenja značajnih postojećih trgovinskih mogućnosti u obe zemlje, biće realizovane sledeće konkretne aktivnosti:

a. Strane će stimulisati, podsticati i pomagati trgovinskim operatorima da preduzmu zajedničke promotivne aktivnosti, uključujući, ali se ne ograničavajući na učešće na nacionalnim trgovinskim sajmovima koji se organizuju u obe zemlje, postavljanje samostalnih izložbi i bližu saradnju između industrijskih udruženja i privrednih komora dve zemalje; i

b. Strane će, u skladu sa odredbama STO, nastojati da uklone necarinske barijere u trgovini, kao i moguće tehničke barijere koje sprečavaju trgovinu.

ČLAN 6.

SARADNJA U RAZVOJU FIZIČKE I EKONOMSKE INFRASTRUKTURE

Strane će nastojati da identifikuju strateške razvojne infrastrukturne projekte koji će biti realizovani zajednički ili pojedinačno, u cilju poboljšanja konkurentnosti privreda Strana.

ČLAN 7.

SARADNJA U JAVNO-PRIVATNIM PARTNERSTVIMA

U cilju jačanja saradnje u oblasti javno privatnog partnerstva (u daljem tekstu „JPP”), Strane će sarađivati na izgradnji kapaciteta JPP u svojim zemljama, kroz uspostavljanje odgovarajućih regulatornih okvira za JPP. Podsticaće se promocija programa za izgradnju kapaciteta, kako bi se omogućila bolja razmena informacija o JPP, kao i efikasno umrežavanje.

ČLAN 8.

TEHNIČKA SARADNJA

Strane će nastojati da zajedno razvijaju industrijsku i tehničku saradnju, uključujući, ali ne ograničavajući se na sledeća polja:

i. nauka i istraživanje;

ii. razvoj preduzeća;

iii. prenos tehnologije i mentorska podrška preduzetnicima;

iv. razvoj mikro kredita; i

v. razvoj veština, između ostalog, u oblastima:

a. formulisanje i implementacija ekonomske politike;

b. promocija trgovine i investicija;

v. dizajn podsticaja za poslovne i investicione svrhe; i

g. promovisanje povezanosti između relevantnih institucija, posebno kroz programe razmene.

ČLAN 9.

MEHANIZAM IMPLEMENTACIJE I NADZORA

9.1. Osnovaće se Mešoviti komitet za trgovinu i investicije (MKTI), koji će činiti viši vladini službenici iz nadležnih organa i zainteresovanih strana, a koji će se sastajati najmanje jednom godišnje, naizmenično, u Republici Srbiji ili Kraljevini Esvatini, radi praćenja primene ovog MoR i identifikovanja budućih oblasti saradnje.

9.2. MKTI će:

i. pratiti sprovođenje odredbi ovog MoR;

ii. predlagati rešenja za probleme koji se javljaju ili se mogu javiti u implementaciji ovog MoR i u oblasti razvoja trgovine i investicija između Strana; i

iii. razmatrati predloge bilo koje Strane u okviru ovog MoR, a koji su usmereni na dalje unapređenje i diversifikaciju trgovine i investicija između Strana.

ČLAN 10.

POŠTOVANJE ZAKONA I PRAVILA

Implementacija ovog MoR će se sprovoditi u skladu sa važećim zakonima u bilo kojoj od Strana i bez ugrožavanja obaveza Strana koje proizilaze iz međunarodnih ugovora i konvencija, a čije su Strane potpisnice.

ČLAN 11.

PRAVEDNOST

Primenom ovog MoR, Strane su saglasne i ovim izjavljuju svoju nameru da će MoR funkcionisati između njih pošteno i bez štete po interese bilo koje od Strana i da će se sve odredbe sadržane u njemu primenjivati u dobroj veri.

ČLAN 12.

TAJNOST

Strane neće, bez prethodne pismene saglasnosti druge Strane, otkriti bilo kojoj trećoj strani poverljive dokumente, podatke ili informacije u vezi sa ovim MoR, dostavljene direktno ili indirektno, bez obzira na to da li su te poverljive informacije dostavljene pre, tokom ili nakon prestanka važenja ili raskida ovog MoR, osim ako nisu od javnog značaja ili u skladu sa ispunjenjem zakonskih obaveza.

ČLAN 13.

OPŠTE ODREDBE

13.1. Ovaj MoR pruža široki okvir za saradnju između Strana, koji ima za cilj da podstiče interes i uključuje privatni sektora iz obe države Strana. Odgovarajući predstavnici privatnog sektora će pregovarati i zaključiti konkretne operativne ugovore o implementaciji identifikovanih projekata.

13.2. Ovaj MoR ne podrazumeva da investitori iz bilo koje od država Strana imaju isključiva prava na identifikovane projekte.

ČLAN 14.

IZMENE

14.1. Ovaj MoR može biti izmenjen uz obostranu pisanu saglasnost Strana, razmenom nota diplomatskim putem.

14.2. U slučaju da se ne nađe mirno rešenje spora, bilo koja Strana može da raskine ovaj MoR putem pismenog obaveštenja o svojoj nameri da raskine ovaj MoR, najmanje šest (6) meseci unapred.

ČLAN 15.

STUPANJE NA SNAGU, TRAJANJE I RASKID

15.1. Ovaj MoR stupa na snagu danom potpisivanja.

15.2. Ovaj MoR ostaje na snazi pet (5) godina i može da se obnovi za još pet (5) godina uz obostranu saglasnost Strana, osim u slučaju da ga bilo koja od Strana prethodno raskine pismenim obaveštenjem o toj nameri, najmanje šest (6) meseci unapred, diplomatskim putem.

15.3. Raskid ovog MoR neće uticati na završetak bilo kog projekta koji su Strane započele pre raskida, niti na potpunu realizaciju bilo koje zajedničke aktivnosti koja nije do kraja realizovana u trenutku raskida, osim u slučaju ranijeg dogovora pismenim putem.

ČLAN 16.

DOMICILIUM CITANDI ET EXECUTANDI

Sva prepiska i obaveštenja u vezi sa ovim MoR smatraće se pravilno dostavljenim ukoliko su dostavljena u pisanoj formi na sledeće adrese:

16.1. Za Republiku Srbiju:

Sektor za bilateralnu ekonomsku saradnju

Ministarstvo unutrašnje i spoljne trgovine

Nemanjina 22–26, 11000 Beograd

REPUBLIKA SRBIJA

16.2. Za Kraljevinu Esvatini:

Generalni sekretarijat

Ministarstvo privrede, industrije i trgovine

G94J+R6M, Mbabane

KRALJEVINA ESVATINI

U POTVRDU ČEGA su se dole navedeni potpisnici, kao zakonski imenovani i ovlašćeni predstavnici Strana, saglasili i potpisali ovaj MoR.

SAČINJENO I POTPISANO u Beogradu, 19. oktobra 2024. godine.

ZA VLADU

REPUBLIKE SRBIJE

MINISTAR UNUTRAŠNJE I SPOLJNE TRGOVINE

__________________________

TOMISLAV

MOMIROVIĆ, s.r.

ZA VLADU

KRALJEVINE ESVATINI

MINISTAR PRIVREDE, INDUSTRIJE I TRGOVINE

_________________________

MANOBA KUMALO, s.r.