On December 10-11, together with our esteemed colleagues from AmCham Serbia, we welcomed representatives from the Ministries of Interior, Customs Administrations, Market Inspectorates, and other institutions from North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Montenegro to our regional conference focused on innovative approaches to tackling the grey economy, illegal trade, and intellectual property infringements. The aim of the conference was to strengthen regional collaboration among institutions and foster partnerships between public and private sectors to combat these challenges effectively.
The first day featured interactive workshops and panel discussions, offering participants an opportunity to share best practices and address pressing issues. Topics included storage and destruction of seized goods, collaboration with intellectual property rights holders, application of new technologies and innovative solutions, and inter-sectoral and international cooperation. A key panel discussion brought together representatives from the Ministries of Interior, who shared insights on trends and successes in combating illegal trade and fraud. The first day also included a presentation on modern technologies for automatic data processing to protect copyright. The final panel explored advanced technological tools to detect illegal trade, with regional customs administrations providing valuable perspectives on their implementation.
The second day opened with a presentation by Mr. Jaak Feuggelen from the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), emphasizing the benefits of international agency cooperation in addressing various types of fraud. A concluding panel discussion focused on protecting intellectual property rights, highlighting the importance of public-private partnerships in promoting and safeguarding these rights.
The two-day event facilitated meaningful dialogue and knowledge exchange among participants, paving the way for enhanced regional and international cooperation. By adopting best practices and leveraging advanced technologies, efforts to combat the grey economy, illegal trade, and fraud can be significantly strengthened.
