Welcome to Serbia

Business in Serbia

Business News

200m provided for local administrations from EU funds

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic said today that €200 million has been provided for local administrations so far and that Serbia aims to qualify for all components from the EU budget by 2011.

Dinkic: Serbia officially overcoming recession

Serbia will officially overcome the recession in the first quarter of this year, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Mladjan Dinkic on Feb. 8.

Slovenian Adria Airways includes Serbia in route

The flights will take place 6 times a week, every day except Saturday.

Total of 805 media registered in Serbia

Of that total, 49 are internet media, 475 newspapers, 168 radio broadcasters, 19 news agency services and 90 television broadcasters.

Slovenian Maxim building zinc factory in Indjija

The Maxim Group from Celje will invest EUR21 million into a zinc factory line in Indjija, reports VIP Daily News Report.

US Ambassador and Serbian Minister of Justice to open “Draft Law on Enforcement Procedure: Key Changes” Conference

On Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 10:00 am, US Ambassador to Serbia Mary Warlick and the Serbian Minister of Justice Snezana Malovic will jointly open the "Draft Law on Enforcement Procedure: Key Changes" Conference.

International Steering Group for Kosovo-Metohija meets in Vienna

The International Steering Group for Kosovo on Feb. 8 backed a plan to integrate northern Kosovo into Pristina institutions, put forward by the International Civil Office. Political directors of foreign ministers of 25 member-countries of the ISG will have talks behind closed doors, regarding the extension of Feith"s mandate, based on the plan of Martti Ahtisaari.Serbia did not recognize the ISG and considered it illegal and its conclusions meaningless.

Members of North Mitrovica municipality team appointed

International Civilian Representative Peter Feith appointed 14 members of the municipal preparation team that is to help in the establishing of the new municipality of North Mitrovica, the International Civilian Office (ICO) stated on Friday.

Press conference for Safer Internet Day

The Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Society will hold a press conference on the occasion of Safer Internet Day that is marked worldwide on February 9, at 11 am, in the government press room, Nemanjina 11.

Cvetkovic, Dragutinovic to meet with IMF mission

Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic and Minister of Finance Diana Dragutinovic will meet with an IMF delegation led by Albert Jager to discuss the third revision of the credit stand-by arrangement between Serbia and the IMF.

Djelic to meet with new EU Enlargement Commissioner

Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Bozidar Djelic said that he will meet with new EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule on February 11, to discuss when Serbia"s EU candidacy application might be submitted to the Council of Ministers.

Programme for starting up production in underdeveloped communities to be prepared by end of February

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Regional Development Mladjan Dinkic said today that a programme for starting up production in underdeveloped communities should be prepared by the end of February and that more than €100 million will be set aside for that purpose.

World Bank: Inflow from Diaspora in 2009 $5.5bn

Serbian Minister for Diaspora Srdjan Sreckovic said today that foreign remittances and inflow from Serbian immigrants increased by over 15% in 2009 and that they totalled $5.5 billion, according to World Bank estimates.

Seselj's team sues Pelevic for war crime in Zvornik

The members of the team that supports Vojislav Seselj's defense filed a denunciation against Borislav Pelevic to the Serbian War Crimes Prosecution for crimes committed in Zvornik in April 1992, the Serbian Radical Party announced on Feb. 5.

Warlick: Serbia has open door to NATO membership

Serbia has an open door to NATO membership, but that's a decision it has to make on its own, the U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Mary Warlick stated on Feb. 5.According to Warlick, the U.S. strongly support the positive steps in Serbia's European integration that took place at the end of 2009, including the Schengen visa lifting.

Djelic to open conference on international assistance

The conference will be addressed by Deputy Prime Minister Djelic, Head of the European Commission Delegation in Serbia Vincent Degert and representatives of the Finance Ministry and the Permanent Conference of Cities and Municipalities.

Serbia, Italy’s cooperation in health sector

Minister of Health Tomica Milosavljevic signed in Florence a joint Declaration on Cooperation between Serbia and Tuscany in the Health Sector.

Serbia's aid for Haitians RSD 12 million

Serbia will send to the people of Haiti, which was severely hit last month by a destructive earthquake, the aid of over RSD 12 million, General Secretary of the Red Cross of Serbia Vesna Milenovic told Tanjug on Friday.According to the latest data, the total number of casualties in the earthquake which hit Haiti on January 12, including those who died of the consequences of the earthquake, has reached 212,000.

Serbia will not change its policy of military neutrality

Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic stated today that Belgrade will not make steps towards joining NATO or any other military alliance, but will cooperate with NATO and other players in the Western Balkans to maintain peace and stability.

IMF in Belgrade on February 8

An IMF mission, led by Albert Jaeger, is arriving in Belgrade on February 8, on the occasion of the thir revision of a loan arrangement with Serbia.

Cvetkovic informed of Bosniak minority rights violated

Chairman of the Executive Board of the Bosniak Ethnic Council Esad Dzudzevic has informed Serbia's Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic that Bosniaks' basic human and ethnic minority rights, are being violated.

Surging prices

This year the price of fuel in Serbia has increased three times; starting 1 March the price of electricity will increase by a tenth, while it seems that the several-month announcements of a decrease in the price of gas will remain nothing but words. What is actually behind the prices of all these energy substances?

WB allows two loans to Kosovo

he World Bank (WB) stated that the Board of Executive Directors allowed two loans to Pristina for the promotion of public sector and assets register of the total value of USD 11.14 million.

Konuzin: USD 800 mln of Russia's loan for four projects

A part of Russia's loan to Serbia, that is USD 800 million, will be used for four projects - the development of the Belgrade railway junction and the Prokop station, the reconstruction of the Belgrade-Bar railway track, construction of the Valjevo-Loznica track and modernization of the Nis-Dimitrovgrad track.

Low-cost flights from Belgrade to Dortmund and London

State Secretary for Tourism of the Ministry of Economy and Regional Development Goran Petkovic said that the arrival of Hungarian low-cost air company Wizz Air to Serbia will make Belgrade more visible within the tourist market of Europe.

Tax on mobile lines to be abolished this year

Minister of Telecommunications and Information Society Jasna Matic said that the 10% tax on mobile lines will be abolished this year if the planned stabilisation of the budget takes place.

AMSS: Drivers to remain cautious.

All main roads in Serbia have been cleared, however, vehicles are traveling at a significantly slower pace.

Warlick: NATO’s door open for Serbia

The new U.S. ambassador in Belgrade, Mary Warlick, has announced that the door of NATO membership is open to Serbia, stressing that Serbia is the one to decide if it wants to join the alliance.

Rasmussen: KFOR will guarantee safety, despite reduction

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO Secretary General, has evaluated in Istanbul that KFOR will be capable of guaranteeing safety despite the reduced number of its troops.

Serbian MoD: Citizens to decide on collaboration with NATO

Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac voiced belief that it is good that Serbia is starting to talk about joining NATO, since that will help its citizens with the transition from an emotional bond that the country has from the past to rational discussions focused on the country's future, in accordance with the Constitution and official state policy.

Business Events

Restructuring and Privatization of Public and Local Enterprises in Serbia

In the near future, the Government of Serbia is expected to adopt a restructuring strategy for the key public enterprises founded by the State, as well as local public utility companies. Elements of the strategy will directly affect the future of about 600 enterprises and about 150,000 employees, which will indirectly be transferred to the entire economy of Serbia.

The Vienna Agreement – one year later and what the future holds

At this year"s round table organized by the Bankar magazine you will be able to obtain answers to the key issues of significance for the financial, as well as economic stability of Serbia! Round Table "The Vienna Agreement - one year later and what the future holds" is dedicated to the anniversary of signing of the Vienna Agreement, by which banks with foreign capital obliged themselves not to reduce the credit exposure toward Serbia till the end of this year.

Financial Services & CFO Forum

"Risk comes from not knowing what you're doing." -Warren Buffet How will businesses transition into 2010? We are currently in the midst of the worst economic crisis that the world has seen in 50 years and managing money has gained great magnitude in the administration of a company. A company"s access to cash has become a matter of survival and at this year"s 5th Annual Financial Services and CFO Forum we will actively discuss how the stability and recovery of the banking sector will affect CFO"s access to cash and risk management over the upcoming year.

The Pharmaceuticals Market in Serbia from production to sales

Does the crisis influence the pharmaceutical products market and to what extent? What is the price policy in the market? Should the legislation be changed in order to make the pharmaceutical industry more successful, and in what direction? In what way are these problems solved in the region? These are the main topics of the THIRD traditional conference organized by EMG. These and many other issues related to the pharmaceutical sector - from production to sale, will be discussed by eminent experts in this field in three panels, after an introductory speech of Minister of Health, Mr. Tomica Milosavljevic.

Third Business Round Table with the Government of Serbia - Q&A with the Ministers

It is time for open questions and tangible answers. With the organization of this unique luncheon, Ekonomist Media Group will give you the opportunity to hear first hand from the Serbian government what their plans are as we move into 2010. You will have the opportunity to speak one on one with the members of the government of Serbia, to ask them your questions and to get answers.

Countries in the region have similar problems

Presidents of the region in Novi Sad, and Governors of national banks in Becici - that"s how Montenegrin media presented the summit of governors and leading bankers of the region named "Measures against the global crisis in the financial sector", organized by Ekonomist Media Group, which took place in Becici last weekend. Making a parallel of the two regional summits is not exaggerated. Central banks of Balkan countries, together with the largest banks operating in the region, have so far had special significance for economic and thus political stability, and the significance will be even greater in the upcoming period. The current situation in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Macedonia and Albania reminds of the known sentence from Tolstoy"s novel Ana Karenina: "All happy families look like each other, and each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way". Or, according to Mr. Vladimir Cupic, President of Hypo-Alpe-Adria Bank Executive Board, "all countries in the region have surprisingly similar problems; the difference is only in the dynamics of events".

"Strategies for Success in the New Reality"

SAP, supported by Ekonomist Media Group is organizing the conference "Strategies for Success in the New Reality", which will be held on June 2nd in the theatre "Pozorište na Terazijama". The main topic of the SAP World Tour 09 conference will be dedicated to the strategies that companies can employ in order to successfully adjust to the current economic situation and be prepared for an improved business climate and a new economic boost.

Corridor 10 - A New Road of Business and Development

As a modern transport "backbone", Corridor 10 might at the same time stimulate development and connecting of the remaining Serbian road and railway infrastructure with the neighborhood, as well as the entire economy as a whole. The direct highway from Western Europe to Greece, Turkey and even further will activate huge investments and have positive primary and secondary effects on the growth, employment, salaries and so on.

The ICT Market in South East Europe

EMG invites you to join us in a discussion at the Ekon:ference Forum: The ICT Market in South East Europe, which aims to raise the industry profile in the region and to initiate questions and strategies for positioning Serbia as an ICT center for the region.

Perspectives of green economy in Serbia - from waste to profit

During the last several years, a set of environmental laws have been discussed. Daily industrial development results in an increasing need for the establishment of systematic problem solving in this field. This is also one of the preconditions for Serbia on its way towards the European Union.

The Future of the Energy Sector in the Balkans

Who steers energy policy in Serbia and in the Balkans? Can we expect serious integration or at least cooperation between the energy sector companies in the Balkan countries? These, along with other significant topics will be discussed at The Third Annual Conference: The Future of the Energy Sector in the Balkans, which will be organised by Ekonomist Media Group on April 15, 2009.

How to Manage Risks In a Period Of Financial Crisis?

Ekonomist Media Group brings a group of the most prominent lecturers from the field of risk management, mostly directors of the largest global consulting and auditing companies, responsible for the regions of Central and South East Europe. The seminar will mostly focus on professionals who deal with risk management, risk assessment, investments in general, audit, accounting, etc. The seminar will give answers to the following questions:

The Real Estate Market in South East Europe

In the current declining market conditions where is the Real Estate Market in South East Europe headed? This, along with other significant issues will be posed at The Fourth Annual Conference: The Real Estate Market in South East Europe.

The Perspective of Public and State-owned Enterprises in Serbia

Citizens are eyeing public enterprises, many of which are among the most profitable ones in the country. With total number of employees of almost 200,000 people, as well as huge value of property and capital, public enterprises operate with uncertainty due to the world crisis.

Financial Services in South East Europe

Developing a strategy for a coherent and strengthened financial services market in an emerging market setting is a challenge facing Serbia and the countries of South East Europe.

Presenting Serbia! Investment Potential of Local Municipalities

Ekonomist Media Group presents the First Business Trade Fair: Presenting Serbia! Investment Potential of Local Municipalities, which will be held on November 27, 2008 at the Belgrade Trade Fair Center, Hall 14, on the second floor.

Business Breakfast: “CFO Challenges in a Changing Business Environment”

Ekonomist Media Group and PricewaterhouseCoopers cordially invite you to attend the Business Breakfast: "CFO Challenges in a Changing Business Environment", which will be held on November 25, 2008 in the Foccacia Restaurant of the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Belgrade.

Pharmaceutical Industry and Health Care

Ekonomist Media Group"s forum on the Pharmacuetical and Health Care Industry will present and attempt to answer key questions and problems that the industry deals with.

CSR: Authentic responsibilty or Advertisement?

EMG would like to bring your attention to the numerous projects of companies which make up the various segments of the economic, intellectual, and sporting culture in our daily lives.

VIP at the Forum for International Contacts and Investments - Global Connect

VIP will present opportunities for investing in the defined development sectors of Vojvodina at the Forum for International Contacts and Investments - Global Connect that"s being held in Stuttgart, Germany.

VIP at Investexpo 2008

VIP will participate at the third consecutive Investment Fair Investexpo 2008 that is organized in Novi Sad alongside the Fair of Power-Supply, Electronics and Telecommunications, Fair of Logistics and Transport and Fair of Civil Engineering.

The Second Business Round Table with Serbian Government Representatives

The four primary economic goals of the new government of the Republic of Serbia will be dynamic economic growth, lowering the unemployment rate, raising the standard of living and stable regional development, announced the mandated Prime minister of Serbia, Mirko Cvetkovic.

2nd SEE Financial Services Forum

The 2nd SEE Financial Services Forum is a follow-up of the last year"s Development of Capital Markets in SEE event. This year SeeNews expands the coverage of the sectors and topics in order to meet the needs of the business community for a single event where the professionals in the financial services market meet to discuss hot topics, make decisions and forecast changes in market developments.

Actuarial Courses at the NBS

On Monday, April 7th, the Vice-Governor of the National Bank of Serbia, Mira Eric-Jovic, and the Mission Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Michael Harvey, will formally launch the beginning of the Actuarial Training Course, taught by leading actuarial professors Doug Andrews, Rob Brown, Carole Bernard and Harry Panjer from the world"s largest Actuarial Science Department at the University of Waterloo, Canada.

First Annual Forum on Communications

The Forum intends to confront the most significant matters in the fields of media, public relations and marketing, with a special focus on current market trends in these areas. The focal point of the First Annual Forum on Communications will be the relationship between interdependent media, PR agencies, companies, marketing departments and advertising in general.

The Fourth Annual Conference:The Future of Capital Markets in the Balkans: Reality and Perspective

As the financial industry becomes more globally linked, the slowdown of global markets will undoubtedly affect the markets of the region. What strategies are in place to combat the global slowdown, the best tools to use in the current regional situation and solutions to the general situation facing the markets of the region are a few of the topics this conference will examine. The panelists will also have the opportunity to discuss the use of various financial instruments, market depth, IPO"s and investment funds, etc.