Germans rate Serbian economic climate as "negative"

We really can't compete with 50 cents a day labor in Albania and Macedonia. Of course they are more attractive. Kosovo is the most attractive, but there are other difficulties regarding it, such as international recognition and Serbia's trade embargo.

"We really can't compete with 50 cents a day labor in Albania and Macedonia. Of course they are more attractive."

How ironic.

You obviously forget that on the list there was also Czech Republic where the standard of living and labor costs are much higher than in all mentioned Balkan countries.

These decisions are not made on ethnic bases, not on poor judgments like yours. But on business climate, interests and infrastructure.

This is not good for anyone, but particularly Serbia. German investors are very important.

"but there are other difficulties regarding it, such as international recognition and Serbia's trade embargo."

Are you suggesting that Kosovo needs Serbia to survive?

I am not saying that Kosovo needs Serbia to survive. I am just saying that bad relations with Serbia do not work in the interest of Kosovo's economic development. Kosovo's development was always linked to Serbia. These connections have been severed, and it simply takes a lot of time and resources to build new such connections between Montenegro, Albania and Macedonia. Oh, there are some connections with these three already, but the infrastructure and capacity is very little and not developed. The embargo that Serbia has is hurting Kosovo a lot. Official Kosovo trade statistics show it. Exports are down big time. At any rate, Kosovo is the poorest region in Europe by far, and the region is in a hard situation if it is part of Serbia or if it is independent. It's too bad really.

Attractiveness to investors is based on much more than labour costs, otherwise none of the countries mentioned could compete in a global market. Education standards, availability of skilled staff, infrastructure, location, rule of law, business culture, and so forth, all contribute to what is a complicated equation. Serbia scores very highly against many of these criteria, and I write as an EU citizen who has chosen to invest his own money in opening a business here.

since when has the CZ republic had a better standard of living than serbia or anywhere else for that matter ? its all in the eye of the beholder . higher GDP does not always add up to higher stadards of living , and i live in london most of the time .

We really can't compete with 50 cents a day labor in Albania and Macedonia. Of course they are more attractive. Kosovo is the most attractive, but there are other difficulties regarding it, such as international recognition and Serbia's trade embargo.

"but there are other difficulties regarding it, such as international recognition and Serbia's trade embargo."

Are you suggesting that Kosovo needs Serbia to survive?

I am not saying that Kosovo needs Serbia to survive. I am just saying that bad relations with Serbia do not work in the interest of Kosovo's economic development. Kosovo's development was always linked to Serbia. These connections have been severed, and it simply takes a lot of time and resources to build new such connections between Montenegro, Albania and Macedonia. Oh, there are some connections with these three already, but the infrastructure and capacity is very little and not developed. The embargo that Serbia has is hurting Kosovo a lot. Official Kosovo trade statistics show it. Exports are down big time. At any rate, Kosovo is the poorest region in Europe by far, and the region is in a hard situation if it is part of Serbia or if it is independent. It's too bad really.

"We really can't compete with 50 cents a day labor in Albania and Macedonia. Of course they are more attractive."

How ironic.

You obviously forget that on the list there was also Czech Republic where the standard of living and labor costs are much higher than in all mentioned Balkan countries.

These decisions are not made on ethnic bases, not on poor judgments like yours. But on business climate, interests and infrastructure.

This is not good for anyone, but particularly Serbia. German investors are very important.

Attractiveness to investors is based on much more than labour costs, otherwise none of the countries mentioned could compete in a global market. Education standards, availability of skilled staff, infrastructure, location, rule of law, business culture, and so forth, all contribute to what is a complicated equation. Serbia scores very highly against many of these criteria, and I write as an EU citizen who has chosen to invest his own money in opening a business here.

since when has the CZ republic had a better standard of living than serbia or anywhere else for that matter ? its all in the eye of the beholder . higher GDP does not always add up to higher stadards of living , and i live in london most of the time .