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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...

Jelena Bulatović, Executive Director Of The Serbian Association Of Managers, SAM

We Must Decide What Kind Of Migration We Want

Automation will increasingly be on the rise, not only as part of progress and advancement, but rather as a result of the need to resolve the shortages in some occupations. It is thus no exaggeration to say that we will have robots in the fields in the near future.

The Serbian labour market is suffering from the consequences of global trends. The brain drain is a global phenomenon that’s being faced by most countries around the world. From this region, young people want to go to the EU; from some European countries, young people want to go to the U.S. etc. Moreover, Serbia has unfavourable demographic trends, and demography impacts on the labour market and the economy, and vice versa. We have a low birth rate, high mortality and a high level of emigration, all of which impact negatively on the labour market.

We already have occupations that are in short supply, not only when it comes to highly qualified personnel in the field of IT, such as data scientists and data analysts, but also when it comes to jobs like traders, warehousemen, forklift drivers, as well as workers for various occupations in construction and agriculture. The cost of labour for these occupations is on the rise on the market, while the economy is turning to some other solutions when it comes to staff shortages, such as automation and the importing of labour, which are already evident on the market.

Switzerland tops the list of countries when it comes to innovation and global competitiveness, representing an excellent example of actively dealing with the brain drain topic

We are witnessing, for example, that we already have foreign workers in the construction sector, while automation will also increasingly be on the rise, not only as part of progress and advancement, but rather as a result of the need to resolve the shortages in some occupations. It is not a complete hyperbole to suggest that, for instance, if we don’t have enough workers for some jobs, say in agriculture, that we will have robots working in the fields in the near future.

Serbia must choose as a society the direction it wants to go when it comes to circular migrations. And that direction will determine whether we will import cheap labour or high-quality workers and digital nomads. We already have initiatives that encourage and ease the return of our diaspora to the country, and as a country we shouldn’t prevent young people who want to go abroad to study. Instead of that, we should create such a society that compels them, after a certain period of time there, to want to return to the country.

I’ve always found the example of Switzerland interesting, where they identified the brain drain problem 20 years ago and worked intensively to reverse the trend. Their model has shown that investing in innovative professions leads to faster economic development, the growth of competitiveness and improved living standards, and this ensures that the country has become more attractive for young and old to stay in or return to the country, while attracting other, high-quality workers from other countries. Switzerland tops the list of countries when it comes to innovation and global competitiveness, and I think it represents an excellent example of actively dealing with the brain drain topic. I would like us, as a country, to head in that direction and feel the positive effects of circular migrations.

Comment

Census Results Cause Concern

The Ministry of Education claims to be exerting ongoing efforts to reform education, but census results indicate the need for more work. The “Platform...

By Iva Draškić Vićanović Ph.D., Dean of the University of Belgrade Faculty of Philology

Restore Teachers’ Dignity

The proposals presented in our Platform are viable over the short term, require no large and lasting reforms and could lead to major visible...

Comment by Prof. dr Slobodan Zečević

The Mirage of the European Oasis

Serbia officially began EU accession negotiations in January 2014. Over the subsequent decade, 22 of the 35 accession negotiation chapters have been opened and...

Plamena Halacheva, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia

Easier Access to the Western Balkans’ Single Market

The EU aims to involve Western Balkans partners with its Member States on equal terms, fostering a reform partnership that’s oriented towards the future...

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...

Bosnia and Herzegovina Kickstarts EU Membership Talks

Bosnia and Herzegovina has initiated accession negotiations with the European Union, a development hailed as a pivotal advancement for...

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...

European Parliament Members Endorse Western Balkan Reform and Growth Instrument

Members of the European Parliament's committees on foreign affairs and budget have officially adopted a stance on the Western...

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...

European Parliament Members Endorse Western Balkan Reform and Growth Instrument

Members of the European Parliament's committees on foreign affairs and budget have officially adopted a stance on the Western...
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