Dominica and Serbia forge strategic partnership through Protocol of Cooperation

The Commonwealth of Dominica and Serbia have signed a Protocol of Cooperation between the two countries as one of the most significant steps toward developing their bilateral relationship.

The said protocol, stemming from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business, Trade, and Energy of Dominica, Dr Vince Henderson, together with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Marko Djuric, has sealed the commitment between the two nations in matters of mutual interest, prosperity, and adherence to the rule of law worldwide.

The Protocol now establishes the framework for Dominica to secure technical and material support from Serbia in many critical sectors, especially education, health, agriculture, and digitalization. Not least among the provisions of this agreement is that there will be better opportunities for Dominican students, especially those in pursuit of medical studies, to secure specialized training at Serbian Medical Institutions.

It will enable the Dominican students to study with ease at Serbian medical schools, well-known for their advanced programs, while the next stage in developing the “World in Serbia” opens wide horizons for those studying in Serbia at different levels.

The collaboration in the health sector is projected to enhance better access for Dominica to basic medical supplies and similar kind of expertise. Precisely, the Ministry of Health in Serbia will be offering technical assistance, especially those dealing with radiology and radiography.

This collaboration is anticipated to boost the capacity of Dominica’s healthcare and guarantee improved delivery of service with access to important medical resources. It will also affect greatly the agriculture of both counterparts.

The Serbian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management, Aleksandar Martinovic, has assured support from his country in meat processing capabilities at the National Abattoir, accessibility to varieties of crops resistant to climatic changes and herbicides, and fertilizers to enhance crop yields.

In addition, the country will support Dominica with the development of research at the seed bank and tissue culture facility and infusing modern technologies into farming. Serbia will also participate in building of an animal feed factory, a very significant step toward the further sustainability of the livestock industry in Dominica.

It also emphasizes the role of digital technology in acting as an enabler for progress in health, education, and agriculture. Minister Henderson and Serbia’s Science, Technological Development, and Innovation Minister, Jelena Begovic, pledged ongoing dialogue to develop Dominica’s digital infrastructure. This has been in line with the efforts to drive the island’s digital economy.

These agreements are in fact anticipated to bring about significant gains such as augmented health services, additional opportunities to be better educated, improved mechanisms of food production, together with job creation for the benefit of the people of Dominica.

Additionally, future cooperation will be realized in areas like tourism, with Dominica supporting Serbia in its preparations for the 2025 Tourism Fair in Belgrade and exploring direct flying routes to Florida.

This is a broad relationship that aids a new era in the Dominica-Serbia relationship and is going to bring enduring benefits to both countries.