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Nicolas Marquier, Regional Manager for the Western Balkans at the IFC

Financing the Future

IFC, the largest global development institution, has provided almost $1 billion in financing to Serbia’s private sector over the past six years IFC, as a...

Iosif Vangelatos, General Manager, Inos Balkan

Proud of Tripling Trade Volume

Inos Balkan already possessed extensive expertise in the recycling sector, with its collection and processing centres, while it has today transformed itself successfully to...

Aris Karousos, CEO of Eko Serbia

Drivers Know Why They Choose Eko

Two decades ago, when this company launched its operations in Serbia, the desire was for the EKO brand to become synonymous with reliability, quality...

Danilo Đurović, General Manager, Autotechnica Serbia – Hertz

Introducing Flex Drive

As part of the Autohellas Group, which has been the absolute leader of Greece’s automotive sector since 1974, Hertz is more than just a...

Nikos Veropoulos, Owner, Veropoulos

Super Vero, Super Successful

For two decades already, company Veropoulos has been known on our market for its unique offer and high-quality products at promotional prices, but also...

H.E. Nikolaus LUTTEROTTI, Ambassador of Austria

Austria One Of The First European Countries With The Restrictive Measures

Austria has pursued a strategy of early and strict lockdown followed by a controlled re-opening of public life. In fact, Austria has been one for the first European countries to respond with very restrictive measures to the COVID-19 pandemic through a policy of social distancing and self-isolation as well as the gradual closure of businesses, shops, schools, universities, restaurants and bars, sports facilities and parks.

The aim was to slow down the spread of the pandemic as fast as possible, to reduce the number of new infections, to protect and safe in particular persons at risk and to ensure that the Austrian health system maintains the full capacity to deal with the pandemic.

Six weeks later it seems that our measures are paying off. Today, the situation in Austria looks promising: the epidemiological curve of new infections has flattened and since a few days the number of new infections per day has been less than 100. The number of people in hospitals is going down and the number of those who recovered is going up.

Austrian Government introduced an economic support and recovery package in the amount of 36 bn € which equals almost 10% of our GDP

As of 22 April, we have had 14.870 cumulative confirmed cases, of which 3087 are currently active. 524 persons are in regular hospital beds and 176 in intensive care units. This means that our hospitals have the availability of around 16.000 regular hospital beds and 1074 beds for intensive care patients.

These developments allowed the Austrian government to start with the next, equally challenging, phase of a controlled and gradual easing of measures. On 14 April small shops (under 400 square metres), as well as hardware stores and garden centres opened again under precautionary measures, such as the obligation to wear a protective mask.

In the next step, on 1 May, all shops will open unless decided otherwise. Restaurants and hotels will follow by mid-May at the earliest. Schools will open gradually starting as of 15 May. There will still be no events until the end of June. The government has been very clear that it reserves the right to pull the “emergency brake” at any time and reverse the openings if the numbers demand it. This is why new measures are introduced in a 14-day interval only which allows the authorities to observe carefully whether any of the new measures have a negative effect on the spreading of the virus.

Together with the easing of measures, Austria is further strengthening its containment strategy. This means to be more effective at contact tracking of newly infected people, to provide for more and quicker access to testing as well as to receive results of tests much faster. Until 22 April, Austria had conducted 201,794 tests for a population of 8 million people.

Our government also decided immediately after the introduction of lockdown measures on an economic support and recovery package in the amount of 36 bn € which equals almost 10% of our GDP: 4bn € for immediate emergency measures, 9bn € for state guarantees and liabilities, 15bn € direct support to businesses that have been hit particularly harshly and 10bn € for tax deferrals.

Overall, there has been a high degree of solidarity and understanding among institutions and above all people residing in Austria to deal with COVID-19. The government was keen to inform regularly about developments in a very transparent, calm and fact-based manner. The Austrian Parliament met throughout the crisis – under special precautionary measures – and adopted unanimously a COVID-19 law that provides the basis for restrictive measures and economic emergency measures.

It is fair to say that people residing in Austria have shown remarkable support and respect for these unusual and exceptional measures. But even with the gradual re-opening of social and economic life in Austria the restrictive and precautionary measures, in particular of social distancing, applying strict hygiene and wearing of protective masks still have to be followed.

Nikolaus LUTTEROTTI Ambassador of Austria in Serbia

Nikolaus Luteroti ambasador

EU Passes Landmark Media Freedom Law

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Sagrada Familia Completion Set for 2026

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Gold Prices Reach Record Highs Amid Central Bank Acquisition Spree

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Successful Japanese Culinary Workshop Held in Belgrade

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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...

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...

Belgrade’s Hotel Jugoslavija Sold, Sparks Redevelopment Controversy

Belgrade's iconic Hotel Jugoslavija, located in Serbia's capital, has been sold for approximately €27 million to MV Investment, affiliated...

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...

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...

Belgrade University Partners with CERN on Future Circular Collider Project

The University of Belgrade has officially become part of CERN's largest scientific endeavor, the Future Circular Collider (FCC) project,...

Kushner Eyes Balkan Luxury Developments in Serbia and Albania

Jared Kushner, closely related to former U.S. President Donald Trump as his son-in-law, is turning his attention to the...

European Parliament Passes Groundbreaking AI Law

The European Parliament has adopted the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, aiming to safeguard fundamental rights, democracy, the rule of...

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...

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...

Belgrade University Partners with CERN on Future Circular Collider Project

The University of Belgrade has officially become part of CERN's largest scientific endeavor, the Future Circular Collider (FCC) project,...

Kushner Eyes Balkan Luxury Developments in Serbia and Albania

Jared Kushner, closely related to former U.S. President Donald Trump as his son-in-law, is turning his attention to the...

European Parliament Passes Groundbreaking AI Law

The European Parliament has adopted the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, aiming to safeguard fundamental rights, democracy, the rule of...
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