CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA 1952–1962: AN ATTEMPT TO CONTROL AND INTEGRATE THE SERBIAN ECONOMY IN THE POST-PLAN SYSTEM

Abstract

The Chamber of Commerce of the People’s Republic of Serbia was founded on the initiative of 27 business leaders. It implemented state decisions and worked on “polishing” the established economic system. Petar Čović was everlasting secretary of the chamber. He was a trained merchant and was appointed at the suggestion of Miloš Minić, the then secretary for trade of Serbia. Of all the functions in the Chamber, only the position of the secretary was not time-limited and thus the state ensured that the institution would be in experienced and loyal hands. The institution became more and more numerous and influential over time. However, at the very beginning, many areas in Serbia did not have their representatives in the key bodies of the Chamber of Commerce. Dissatisfied with this decision, the representatives of business from Niš, Pirot and Leskovac fiercely protested against the retention of centralization in Belgrade. However their representatives were overuled during the vote which left the Chamber of Commerce firmly in the hands of Belgrade communists and cadres in economy