India & Serbia
India and Serbia (former Yugoslavia) traditionally enjoyed deep friendship as co-founders of the Non-Aligned Movement. The deep bond of friendship continued in subsequent decades resulting in close and friendly ties between India and Serbia. In 2023, the two countries celebrated the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Serbia has been supportive of the election of Indian candidates in international fora. India and Serbia also share common views on many major global issues.
India-Serbia bilateral trade during January-December 2023 amounted to ~USD 350 million, out of which India’s exports to Serbia stand at ~USD 320 million.
Yoga, Ayurveda and Homeopathy are recognized in Serbian law. International Day of Yoga (IDY) is celebrated every year in the major cities of Serbia.
Indian film shootings have commenced in Serbia. The First India-Serbia joint production ‘Dev Bhoomi’ by renowned Serbian Director Goran Paskaljevic was shot in Uttarakhand with the Indian star cast.
History
India has a long and complex history, with ancient civilizations dating back thousands of years. It has been ruled by various dynasties, empires and colonial powers, including the Maurya empire, the Gupta empire, the Mughal empire and the British Empire.
India gained independence from the British Colonial ule on August 15, 1947, and adopted a democratic system of governance.
Geography
India is bordered by Pakistan to the northwest, China and Nepal to the north, Bhutan to the northeast, and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. To the south, it is bounded by the Indian Ocean, and to the west, it has a coastline along the Arabian Sea.
India’s diverse geography includes the Himalayan Mountain range in the north, the Thar desert in the west, fertile plains in the Ganges and Brahmaputra river basins and a vast coastline.
State and Union Territories
India is divided into 28 states and 8 union territories, each with its own government or administrative structure.
Capital
The capital of India is New Delhi, which is also one of the 11 districts of the national capital Territory of Delhi.
Goverment
India is a federal parliamentary democratic republic. It has a president as the head of state and a prime minister as the head of government. The Indian parliament consists of two houses: The rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha ( House of People).
Languages
India is incredibly linguistically diverse, with hundreds of languages spoken across the country. Hindi and English are the official languages at the national level. each state in India can have its official language(s) in addition to Hindi and English.
Economy
ndia’s GDP is USD 4.11 Trillion, growing at 8.4% in the third quarter of 2024.
India has a mixed economy with Agriculture, Manufacturing and Services sector.
Key industries include Information Technology, Agriculture, Pharmaceuticals, Textile and Automotive manufacturing.
Technology And Innovation
India is known for its contribution to science and technology with a growing IT and Software service industry.
The country has a vibrant startup ecosystem and is making strides in space exploration and nuclear energy.
India’s diverse culture, rich history and rapidly growing economy make it a dynamic and influential player on the global stage. It continues to face various opportunities and challenges as it strives for economic development and social progress.
Religion
India is the birthplace of major religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. It is also home to significant populations of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and people of other faiths.
Culture
Indian culture is incredibly diverse and rich, known for its traditional spirituality, art, music, dance and cuisine. Festivals like Divali, Holi, Eid and Christmas are celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country.
India has a thriving film industry, Bollywood, which produces many movies annually.
History
For Serbian history on the website:
“Serbs settled the Balkans in the 6th and 7th centuries, with the most prominent settlement being the First Serbian Principality of the Vlastimirovići dynasty ruling over modern-day Montenegro, Bosnia, Dalmatia, and Serbia. It evolved into a Grand Principality by the 11th century, and in 1217 the Kingdom and national church (Serbian Orthodox Church) were established, under the Nemanjić dynasty. In 1345 the Serbian Empire was established, spanning most of the Balkan peninsula. In 1540 Serbia became a part of the Ottoman Empire.
Serbia achieved its current borders at the end of World War II, when it became a federal unit within the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia (proclaimed in November 1945). After the dissolution of Yugoslavia in a series of wars in the 1990s, Serbia once again became an independent state on 5 June 2006.”
Geography
Serbia is located in the Balkans and the Pannonian plain. It shares land borders with Hungary to the north, Romania to the northeast, Bulgaria to the southeast, North Macedonia to the south, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to the west, and Montenegro to the southwest. Due to its strategic position in the heart of Southeast Europe, Serbia is often referred to as a gateway to Western Europe. Serbia has about 6.6 million inhabitants and it covers a total area of 77,612 sqm.
Climate
Climate of Serbia is moderate continental with cold winters (less cold compared to Northern Europe) and hot summers. Average annual air temperature is ~11 deg. C. In major cities, there are typically 2,000 to 2,200 hours of sunshine per year.
Capital
Belgrade (also known as Beograd) is the capital and is also the largest city with ~1.6 million inhabitants.
Trade
Trade plays a major role in Serbian economic output. The main trading partners are Germany, Italy, Russia, China, and neighbouring Balkan countries. Belgrade is the economic heart of Serbia and home to most major Serbian and international companies operating in the country, as well as the National Bank of Serbia and the Belgrade Stock Exchange.
Novi Sad and Niš are the second and third largest cities respectively and the most important economic hubs after Belgrade.
Languages
Serbian is the official language of Serbia.
Economy
The economy of Serbia is a service-based upper-middle income economy in the Central Europe, with the tertiary sector accounting for two-thirds of total gross domestic product (GDP). The economy functions on the principles of the free market. Nominal GDP in 2024 is projected to reach $81.694 billion, which is $12,360 per capita, while GDP based on purchasing power parity (PPP) stood at $182.306 billion, which is $27,575 per capita.
The strongest sectors of Serbia’s economy are energy, the automotive industry, machinery, mining, and agriculture. The country’s primary industrial exports are automobiles, base metals, furniture, food processing, machinery, chemicals, sugar, tyres, clothes, and pharmaceuticals.
Events & Insights
The INDIAN-SERBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, with the support of the Embassy of India in Belgrade and in association with the…
SSS Defence not only bags contract to supply .338 Lapua Magnum calibre sniper rifle, but also deals to deliver nearly…
The INDIAN-SERBIAN CHAMBER OF BUSINESS & COMMERCE hosted the International Day of Yoga in Dunavski Park, Novi Sad on 21st…
In association with the EMBASSY of INDIA in Belgrade, the INDIAN-SERBIAN CHAMBER OF BUSINESS & COMMERCE participated in the 91st…