FIC 2018

I expect the inflow of foreign direct investments (FDI) to continue to grow this year and for it to total about 10% more than last year, which is a big and important result. We want FDI to help in accelerating balanced regional development, which has proven to be an excellent solution through several examples in the interior of Serbia

We live at an exciting juncture in which Serbia has taken a decisive opportunity to instigate the acceleration of economic growth – through stronger law enforcement, tax reforms, further modernisation of the labour law and continuous energised work on digitalisation – and, following successful fiscal consolidation, ensure a sustainable development path

With a new investment cycle that has an estimated value of five billion euros, the sectors of construction and infrastructure will continue to provide a strong contribution to GDP growth and to support Serbia's ambitions to continue expanding its exports and to become the focal point of connectivity between Europe and growing eastern markets

The goals of the Ministry of Finance are to further maintain fiscal stability and eliminate systemic obstacles to economic growth. In the process of creating measures that will ease the operations of companies, the Ministry is particularly reliant on useful suggestions from the economy and the business community

Over the past six years, the National Bank of Serbia [NBS – Serbia’s central bank], has succeeded in securing and preserving price and financial stability, which has provided a significant contribution to the creation of a more favourable business environment, reduced borrowing costs and the more sustainable acceleration of economic growth. And over the next six years we will continue working to ensure that our results are in the interest of all equally, with the long-term goal of ensuring a better life for citizens

Thanks to the progress achieved in creating institutional preconditions for the development of agriculture and the food industry, the Ministry received praise from the EU, while Serbia became ready to welcome the upcoming opening of negotiation chapters

The EU's door is fully open to further accession, which remains merit-based. It is therefore very important that Serbia continues the reform process, making that its number one national priority: politically and economically, but also in society

A lot has been done over recent years, but results are lacking in some of the key areas: in the reform of public enterprises and public administration, and in the modernisation of education, pension and health systems. But let’s give the Government time to show whether it’s ready to seriously tackle these areas

The vision of the Tax Administration is to become an efficient tax administration that has available modern integrated information systems that support business processes and that are simple, understandable and aligned with the best international practises

The effective adoption of regulations, swift implementation of new electronic services and continued growth of the ICT sector in Serbia, which has exceeded a five per cent share of GDP, has led to Serbia quickly being recognised in the region, but also in global terms, as a country transformed 'overnight' by digitalisation

We are proud of everything we’ve done over the last 15 years on the eliminating of obstacles to doing business not only for our members, but for domestic companies. However, there is no resting on our laurels! Since 2002, when the FIC was established, the business climate has improved significantly, but our mission has not been completed

Serbia has demonstrated an ability to make tough reform decisions and has benefited immensely from those reforms. However, it needs to continuously renew to perform even better. If all the pro-market reforms are designed, implemented and sustained, the result will be faster growth

With a stable macroeconomic situation, rising employment and growing output on its side, the Serbian Government has a great opportunity to decisively address the underlying weaknesses that have been constraining the country’s output potential

Support for the development of infrastructure in the fields of transport, energy, health, education and the judiciary, the development of local communities and access to sources of long-term financing for small and medium-sized enterprises are our main goals in the region and in Serbia. We are here to stay even when the region’s countries join the European Union

Since the 2000s, when the transition process began, Serbia probably hasn’t had a better chance than this one – to conclude structural reforms and open the way to strengthening the new economy that has grown out of the ruins of the old system.

A key problem in combatting the grey economy is the treatment of misconduct and criminal charges in the area of illicit trade by the prosecution and the courts, i.e. ineffective processing and excessively mild punishment policies

Amendments to the Law on Food Safety should remove barriers to foreign trade and ease exports to the European market, thereby increasing the food sector’s competitiveness

The stance of Serbia’s central bank regarding its consideration of reducing the capital required to conduct real estate leasing activities is encouraging and will enable financial leasing to become a driver of the real estate sector’s development