Big parties present economic programs

Officials of the ruling Democrats (DS) and the opposition Progressives (SNS) Bozidar Djelic and Jorgovanka Tabakovic presented their parties' economic programs. The two parties are Serbia's most popular, with the Democrats currently trailing behind the Progressives in the polls. Big parties present economic programs The key for the DS is the battle for jobs, support to small and medium companies and larger export by strengthening the industry and agriculture, Djelic explained, while Tabakovic said the SNS's goal was "a consumer with enough money to spend". During the debate, organized by the office of the American Chamber of Commerce - AmCham - Djelic stressed it was necessary to ensure the continuity of the system for attracting investments and mentioned former Serbian president and DS leader Boris Tadic's visit to Hannover and 200 potential German investors as proof of its success. The Stabilization and Association Agreement provided stable trade relations with the EU, while the status of a candidate for EU membership led to new interest in investments in Serbia, Djelic underlined. The SNS wants to change the economic model and favors industrial development instead of the services sector, saving and investments instead of overconsumption and a policy that would focus on export instead of import, Tabakovic remarked. "The basis of our program is a government that answers to the people and is efficient and cheap, and the requirement for that is a completely independent legal system," she noted. According to Tabakovic, a battle against corruption, monopoly and cartels is needed to develop the economy, along with faster procedures for permits and analysis into the work and need for agencies and government subsidies. "A new law on public procurement is needed, which the SNS has already proposed, as well as a reform of government companies," she concluded. The AmCham-hosted debate on Tuesday (Tanjug) Tanjug

Big parties present economic programs

The key for the DS is the battle for jobs, support to small and medium companies and larger export by strengthening the industry and agriculture, Đelić explained, while Tabaković said the SNS's goal was "a consumer with enough money to spend".

During the debate, organized by the office of the American Chamber of Commerce - AmCham - Đelić stressed it was necessary to ensure the continuity of the system for attracting investments and mentioned former Serbian president and DS leader Boris Tadić's visit to Hannover and 200 potential German investors as proof of its success.

The Stabilization and Association Agreement provided stable trade relations with the EU, while the status of a candidate for EU membership led to new interest in investments in Serbia, Đelić underlined.

The SNS wants to change the economic model and favors industrial development instead of the services sector, saving and investments instead of overconsumption and a policy that would focus on export instead of import, Tabaković remarked.

"The basis of our program is a government that answers to the people and is efficient and cheap, and the requirement for that is a completely independent legal system," she noted.

According to Tabaković, a battle against corruption, monopoly and cartels is needed to develop the economy, along with faster procedures for permits and analysis into the work and need for agencies and government subsidies.

"A new law on public procurement is needed, which the SNS has already proposed, as well as a reform of government companies," she concluded.