Foreign investors seemingly unfazed by Serbia’s numerous economic and political problems
Published:
3 July 2004 y., Saturday
Many western banks and companies are likely to continue investing in Serbia, despite ongoing political instability, the persistence of organised crime and the slow pace of reform.
The narrow victory of the Democratic Party candidate Boris Tadic over his Serbian Radical Party rival Tomislav Nikolic in the June 27 presidential ballot will have come as a great relief to many liberal Serbs concerned that an SRS triumph, on top of all the other problems blighting the republic, would scare off foreign investment.
Far-right gains are thought to stem from the public’s dissatisfaction with the economic reforms of the last few years and the hardships that have accompanied them.
Nonetheless, a number of western investors interviewed by IWPR said that they would continue to regard Serbia as a good bet, even if Nikolic had won - and would only get cold feet in the event of the European Union or the Americans imposing sanctions on Belgrade.
Western investors said they were confident that Serbia would in time develop into an advanced, democratic country. They said they were particularly attracted by the republic’s geographical position – in the heart of south-east Europe - and transport network; educated and skilled workforce; and the willingness of a significant proportion of the population to embrace reform.
Šaltinis:
IWPR
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
On 11 February, heads of state or government of European Union member states will meet in Brussels to seek a commitment towards implementing a revitalised economic strategy to boost employment and growth in the EU.
more »
International Monetary Fund forecasts that Lithuania’s economy will grow 1.6 % this year, making it “the only one of the three Baltic economies expected to be in the positive territory in 2010”.
more »
Raynair announced it would open its 40th and 1st Central European base at Kaunas, Lithuania’s second largest city, in May with 2 based aircraft and 18 routes.
more »
A new Partnership Strategy for Morocco has been approved by the Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank.
more »
The electric car is an opportunity for European industry.
more »
The EBRD’s Board of Directors has adopted a new strategy for Kazakhstan, which reinforces the Bank’s commitment to further support the Kazakh economy and sets out the priorities for its activities in the country over the next three years.
more »
The European Commission has authorised, under EU state aid rules, plans notified by Sweden to provide a guarantee that would enable Saab Automobile AB to access a loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB).
more »
At the informal meeting of the Ministers of Competitiveness (Science and Industry), to be held between 7 and 9 February in San Sebastian, the issues on the table will include placing science at the top of the EU agenda and showcasing its role in economic recovery, as well taking the debate on the electric vehicle to EU level.
more »
The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today approved a 27-month Stand-By Arrangement with Jamaica in the amount of SDR 820.5 million (about US$1.27 billion) to support the country’s economic reforms and help it cope with the consequences of the global downturn.
more »
Mr. Nadeem Ilahi, chief of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff mission to the Kyrgyz Republic, issued the following statement today in Bishkek.
more »