Many countries see their window of opportunity to bring more FDI home, as a result of the war in Ukraine and sanctions imposed against Russia, which have only further fuelled the existing trend of economic deglobalisation. The chances of Serbia becoming a hot destination for nearshoring depend on both high politics and the country’s ability to be a truly attractive spot for both foreign companies and workers fleeing conflict zones.
Following the Covid-19 pandemic, and in response to the outbreak of war in Ukraine, major companies have begun accelerating plans to shorten their global product chains and relocate production facilities closer to their home countries. Under the new circumstances of the increased regionalisation of FDI flows, will Serbia and other Western Balkan countries succeed in imposing themselves as locations that are geographically closer and that have a competitive advantage compared to traditional offshoring superpowers like China and India? Could Serbia simultaneously also benefit from the relocating of the production operations of both Russian and Ukrainian companies to the country? Our interlocutors highlight many nuances that determine the decisions of large companies that are seeking production spots that will guarantee uninterrupted production and productivity.