PKS chief hopes for "complete investment environment"

BELGRADE Serbia needs to create "a complete environment" to attract investment, President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) Zeljko Sertic has said. Serbia's First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic previously announced economic measures "that will not be easy at all" for the coming days. PKS chief hopes for "complete investment environment" Sertic commented on the announcement by saying that "it is no longer a question of whether or not our country will take serious steps, but only of the efficiency - the fastest ways to implement the necessary measures." He believes that Serbia "has only one way out," and that "we need a change of mindset, habits, conduct, regulation." At the same time, the PKS chief believes that people are "more than ever ready for reforms." Commenting on announced investments from Abu Dhabi, the opening of a Bosch factory in Simanovci, as well as a new factory of medical equipment in Vrsac, Sertic said this was "fantastic news - especially now that the whole world is fighting for foreign investment." He said he believed that the new investments came as a result of "great efforts of the government, the prime minister and his first deputy," and added that Serbia "must go into parallel processes - creating a complete environment for foreign investment." Sertic estimated that a strategic plan for the next three to five years should be brought, which would be the result of an agreement between the state, the economy and the trade unions, and which would have "very clear timetables." Sertic also noted that the economy had accumulated problems such as poor regulation, "non-synchronization of laws," and bad laws which, he says, created a complete chaos. In addition, the economy has seen a substantial decrease in total revenue, and is facing a liquidity problem. Setic spoke ahead of a gathering the PKS will host this Thursday and Friday in Belgrade. It will be the Chamber's "first business conference," and according to him, will also represent "the first international conference that will look to the future." The conference, "Quantum Leap", is according to organizers' aimed at galvanizing the Serbian economy and will bring together speakers that include representatives of the Serbian government and companies "such as Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Antenna Group, Philip Morris, McKinsey & Company, Erste Bank, Falkensteiner Michaeler Tourism Group," - as well as those from the United Nations World Tourism Organization. Zeljko Sertic (file) B92

PKS chief hopes for "complete investment environment"

Sertić commented on the announcement by saying that "it is no longer a question of whether or not our country will take serious steps, but only of the efficiency - the fastest ways to implement the necessary measures."

He believes that Serbia "has only one way out," and that "we need a change of mindset, habits, conduct, regulation." At the same time, the PKS chief believes that people are "more than ever ready for reforms."

Commenting on announced investments from Abu Dhabi, the opening of a Bosch factory in Šimanovci, as well as a new factory of medical equipment in Vršac, Sertić said this was "fantastic news - especially now that the whole world is fighting for foreign investment."

He said he believed that the new investments came as a result of "great efforts of the government, the prime minister and his first deputy," and added that Serbia "must go into parallel processes - creating a complete environment for foreign investment."

Sertić estimated that a strategic plan for the next three to five years should be brought, which would be the result of an agreement between the state, the economy and the trade unions, and which would have "very clear timetables."

Sertić also noted that the economy had accumulated problems such as poor regulation, "non-synchronization of laws," and bad laws which, he says, created a complete chaos. In addition, the economy has seen a substantial decrease in total revenue, and is facing a liquidity problem.

Setić spoke ahead of a gathering the PKS will host this Thursday and Friday in Belgrade. It will be the Chamber's "first business conference," and according to him, will also represent "the first international conference that will look to the future."

The conference, "Quantum Leap", is according to organizers' aimed at galvanizing the Serbian economy and will bring together speakers that include representatives of the Serbian government and companies "such as Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Antenna Group, Philip Morris, McKinsey & Company, Erste Bank, Falkensteiner Michaeler Tourism Group," - as well as those from the United Nations World Tourism Organization.