Sitemap

FIC Launches White Book 2017

CorD Recommends

Belgrade’s Hotel Jugoslavija Sold, Sparks Redevelopment Controversy

Belgrade's iconic Hotel Jugoslavija, located in Serbia's...

Gold Prices Reach Record Highs Amid Central Bank Acquisition Spree

Gold prices have soared to all-time highs,...

Successful Japanese Culinary Workshop Held in Belgrade

The Japanese Embassy, in collaboration with Go...

AstraZeneca Celebrates Inauguration of New Office in Belgrade and 25th Anniversary Milestone

AstraZeneca, a global leader in healthcare innovation,...

Scholz Champions Western Balkans’ Path to Membership

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in Slovenia, advocated for quickening the EU accession for the Western Balkans, underlining the importance...

Wiener Städtische Insurance company is the winner of Dobročinitelj (Benefactor) award

The company Wiener Städtische Insurance received the Dobročinitelj (Benefactor) award for socially responsible activities implemented during 2021, 2022 and...

CEB Grants €1.3 Billion Loans to Boost Social Sectors in 11 Countries

The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) has sanctioned loans totaling €1.3 billion for 11 member countries, including Serbia...

Serbia Advances in Renewable Energy with Pupin Wind Park Financing

In a significant stride towards renewable energy adoption, Serbia has finalized the financial arrangements for the Pupin Wind Park,...

Đedović Handanović: Nuclear Energy in Serbia by 2039 at the Earliest

Nuclear energy in Serbia could become a reality by 2039 at the earliest, should work on the project commence...

The Foreign Investors Council – FIC presented the White Book 2017 to the highest Government officials and stakeholder community. The White Book is the major product by which, for 15 years, FIC gives recommendations aimed at supporting economic growth and better living standard of Serbian citizens.

FIC members, who are the driving engine of the Serbian market, have invested their knowledge and expertise in this project in order to assist Serbia in creating a more attractive and sustainable environment and achieving swifter integration into EU economy.

The event was opened with a presentation acknowledging 15 years of FIC operations. In her introductory speech, FIC President Yana Mikhailova noted that in-between two White Books the Government achieved good macro-economic results, but it is essential to instigate the stronger economic growth. FIC expects that the joint Task Force formed with the Government becomes a vehicle for accelerating reforms with 2 goals: to speed up harmonization of laws with EU regulations and to improve law implementation.

Therefore, it is important that the Government continues accession negotiations with the EU as a means to improve doing business conditions, both the laws and their implementation”, Mikhailova added.

3 key FIC expectations from the Government are to instigate stronger growth by making fiscal consolidation sustainable, to improve the implementation of laws and to continue harmonization of laws with EU regulation. Sustainable fiscal consolidation is possible only through strong structural reforms, focused on privatization and corporatization of state-owned enterprises. For the private sector, it is essential to introduce a more consistent and efficient implementation of the regulation, especially in the tax area, which asks for modernization of the public administration, tax administration included. Focus on further harmonization with EU norms should be on 7 areas: tax, labour, inspections& food safety, real-estate, digitalization& e-commerce, bankruptcy, and foreign exchange.

The newest edition of the White Book introduces new methodology and ranking of all business climate areas presented in this edition, based on the implementation of recommendations from the previous White Book edition.

In the period between October 2016 and October 2017, most progress was marked in the 4 areas: construction land and development, protection of users of financial services, transport and tobacco. Least progress was marked in 4 areas: company law, corporate income tax, restitution and quality standards in milk production.

In the active panel discussion on ways to improve the business environment in Serbia, opinions were exchanged between: Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Zorana Mihajlović and Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs Zoran Đorđević, as well as FIC President and Regional Director of Nestlé Adriatic Yana Mikhailova, FIC Vice President and CEO of Telenor Ingeborg Øfsthus and FIC BoD member and Regional Property & Expansion Manager of IKEA Srbija Vladislav Lalić.

About FIC

This is an important year for FIC, as it marks 15 years since its establishment. From an independent business association created by 14 companies, FIC stayed faithful to their principles and grew to gather over 130 companies from all around the globe who have invested EUR 34 billion and directly employ 97,500 people in Serbia compared to EUR 150 million of investments and 3.160 employees in 2003. 

FIC main goal is to influence the improvement of the business climate in Serbia by making concrete reform proposals and building a business portal for communication with the authorities in Serbia. FIC is also focusing on promoting solid business ethics and high corporate governance principles within the organization and towards local companies, the Government, and other external stakeholders. Through support and active engagement of membership, FIC has proven to be a strict guardian of the business community interests and at the same time a reliable partner to the Government of Serbia and other relevant stakeholders.

Related Articles

Serbia Awards Distinctions to Notable Personalities on National Day

In a ceremonial tribute to Serbia's National Day, President Aleksandar Vučić presented awards to a host of esteemed individuals and entities, celebrating their significant...

Sao Tome and Principe and Serbia Eye Collaborative Growth

During a recent visit to Belgrade, Sao Tome and Principe's Prime Minister, Emeri Trovoada, emphasized the shared objectives and significant potential for collaboration between...

Construction Commences on BIO 4 Campus in Belgrade

In Belgrade, near the "Torlak" Institute for Virology, Vaccines, and Serums, the groundbreaking ceremony for the BIO 4 campus has commenced.  This unique multidisciplinary project...

The Foreign Investors Council held its Regular Annual Assembly

The Foreign Investors Council (FIC) held the regular annual session of the Assembly, adopting the Annual and Financial Reports for 2023. In his opening...

FIC Presented the White Book 2023

The Council of Foreign Investors (FIC) presented the "White Book 2023", which contains 397 recommendations for improving the business and investment climate in Serbia,...

Serbia Urged to Accelerate Reforms for EU Integration, as Praised by EU Ambassador

Emanuele Gioffre, the European Union's Ambassador to Serbia, has praised the latest European Commission report on Serbia, stating it accurately and fairly depicts Serbia's...

EU Seeks Expansion: Greenlights Talks with Ukraine, Moldova

The European Commission has adopted the 2023 Enlargement Package, providing a detailed assessment of the progress and current state of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina,...

International Conference Biotech Future Forum Held in Belgrade

The "Biotech Future Forum" international conference, hosted by the Serbian Government in partnership with the World Economic Forum, Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution,...