"Investors from Germany see changes for better"

"Investors from Germany see changes for better"

Noting that around 370 German companies are doing business in Serbia, and hiring over 25,000 people, Vučić voiced the hope that the number would double, even triple.

The prime minister said that German partners are satisfied with reforms that are being put in place in Serbia, as well as measures taken for the country's fiscal stabilization.

He noted that representatives of the Committee made remarks concerning the red tape, from municipal to central levels, and the law on planning and construction, which would be changed soon.

“I think they feel the changes in Serbia and progress, and our strive to ensure the environment conducive to German investments,” the prime minister said, voicing belief that such meetings will be held twice a year.

The German Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations is a business association bringing together major German companies from the energy sector, chemical industry, finances, software production, telecommunications, car industry, construction, trade and electronics.

CEO of the German Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations Rainer Lindner announced new German investments in Serbia on Tuesday, adding that Germany supports Serbian government's fiscal consolidation measures and adoption of reform laws, especially the Labour Law.

Germany wants to help Serbia become a progressive area in the Balkans, Lindner said and welcomed all the steps the Serbian government is taking, including the domain of regional cooperation and the political steps aimed at reconciliation in the region.

The German Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations will also back Serbia on its EU path, Lindner said after the talks with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić at the joint news conference in the Serbian government building.

Lindner said that this is his third visit to Belgrade this year and noted that this time, he has come with representatives of 15 German companies looking to invest in Serbia.

We agreed with Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić that meetings like this one should be organised twice a year so as to review the realisation of ongoing projects and discuss new ones, Lindner said.

German investors welcomed the adoption of all laws and the Labor law which constitutes an excellent incentive for further cooperation, Lindner said and noted that it is now important to implement the laws on all levels, including the local level, in the same way they were conceived.

He said that the German Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations fully supports the announced fiscal consolidation measures and noted that this is the best indicator of achieved economic consolidation in Serbia.

Lindner said that fiscal consolidation measures are important for the finance and investments, noting that Germany is often targeted by criticism because it has a strong financial policy and no public debt.

Lindner said that this is the reason why he would like to recommend to Prime Minister Vučić to follow the same example.

The German official noted that the meeting with Prime Minister Vučić was attended by representatives of companies from almost all branches of Germany's economy, including energy, construction industry, healthcare, automobile industry and IT sector.

We want to take part in construction and infrastructure projects in Serbia and build roads and railways and also invest in the healthcare sector, Lindner said.

He noted that Germany is also interested in hosting young people from Serbia within the Zoran Djindjic programme for education and practical training aimed at students, as well as young interns and the people already working in the country.