Leading Boston Companies to Participate in Trade Mission to Serbia

Prominent companies travel to Serbia to discuss potential investments
BELGRADE, Serbia & BOSTON--(Business Wire)--
Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications, with its client, the Serbian Investment
& Export Promotion Agency (SIEPA), is conducting a trade mission to Belgrade
from November 1-5, 2009. As the global recession recedes, Serbia has begun to
show promise as a key country for foreign investment, given its low wage base,
skilled workforce and pro-business, European-styled government. Despite the
downturn, Serbia has resisted raising taxes on businesses or individuals and the
country continues to provide generous incentives to foreign companies that set
up operations there.

The five-day mission will be attended by members of the management teams from
four U.S. companies, including three from the Boston area. The U.S. companies
will meet with key government officials in the Serbian government, will tour
potential manufacturing sites and will consult with officials at U.S. companies
that have already made the investment in Serbia.

"We are proud to organize this trade mission and are pleased by the enthusiasm
these companies have shown toward investing in Serbia," said Larry Rasky,
Chairman, Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications. "Serbia is a compelling
target in Europe for companies exploring opportunities for foreign investment,
and we`re delighted to work with SIEPA to show these companies all that Serbia
has to offer."

Among the trade mission participants are:

* Boston-Power, Inc., an award-winning provider of next-generation lithium-ion
battery technology.
* PharmaSphere, LLC, a biotechnology company that utilizes TerraSphere
technology to produce high-value, plant-based biocompounds for pharmaceutical
and nutraceutical markets.
* Metric Engineering, a leading provider of transportation engineering services.

* Milenko Beslic, a successful Boston-based entrepreneur who co-founded
CheapToday.com and CheapFlights.com, plans to open a technology development
center in Serbia, called Teknuvo.

"We are honored by the attention these businesses are showing Serbia," said
Vesna Peric, Director of SIEPA. "This is tangible evidence that our country is
an extremely competitive target for foreign investment. Serbia`s highly-educated
workforce, economic incentives and strategic location in Europe makes Serbia a
natural fit for strong U.S. companies that are looking to expand into new
markets. I would also like to encourage other U.S. companies to take advantage
of this momentum and the strategic advantages that Serbia is offering to foreign
investors, in order to make their businesses more profitable."

Serbia, like Boston, has a reputation for its expertise in the IT, biotech and
cleantech sectors. Serbia`s leadership in these fields stems from its
outstanding pool of intellectual capital, attractive labor costs, excellent
worker skills and a good communications network.

About Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications

Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications is a nationally recognized public and
government relations firm with more than a decade of experience providing
exceptional client service to organizations that operate at the intersection of
business, politics and media. With offices in Boston and Washington, D.C., the
firm offers a comprehensive range of services, including ballot initiative
management, corporate communications counsel, community relations, crisis and
reputation management, government relations, grassroots organizing, investor
relations, media and presentation training, litigation support, lobbying, and
public sector business development. For more information, please visit
www.rasky.com.

About SIEPA

Serbia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SIEPA) is a government
organization dedicated to effectively helping foreign investors and buyers,
while raising Serbia`s profile in the minds of international business
decision-makers. Created in 2001 by the Government of the Republic of Serbia,
SIEPA`s mission is to support foreign companies seeking to set up or expand in
Serbia and Serbian companies when doing business worldwide.

Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications
Marissa Goldstein, 617-443-9933 x357
Mgoldstein@rasky.com

Source:reuters.com