A delegation representing 150 Serbian businesses starts a weeklong trade mission in Iowa today. Doug Lewis, co-founder of a Des Moines-based consulting firm, is helping coordinate the trip to link the Serbians up with potential Iowa clients, and vice versa.After more than a decade of warfare, the Serbian region is now struggling to recover and rebuild. Lewis says that presents an opportunity for Iowa companies to create agricultural and economic ties with the European nation.Five members of the “Experts Forum” will be in Des Moines today, meeting with government and business leaders, the Farm Bureau and chambers of commerce. That forum represents 150 Serbian businesses. Lewis says there will also be individual business leaders here from Serbia, representing four companies involved with things like fruit production and small hand tools.The delegation will be in Iowa through Friday. Representatives of Iowa companies who want to contact the Serbs can reach Lewis at International Training, Education and Business Services: (515) 282-8192.
