Vučić's Pillars of Development: A clear vision for a strong, stable and resilient Serbia

The plan was designed with a single objective: to build a strong, economically powerful and infrastructure-resilient Serbia.

Through its main development pillars—which include 20 large factories in southern Serbia, more than 1,000 kilometres of modernised roads, expressways and an unprecedented €1.3 billion investment in healthcare—the state aims to launch a major wave of reindustrialisation.

Vučić’s vision is intended to lay a solid foundation for long-term economic prosperity, ensuring that young people remain in their communities, find employment and build their futures close to home.

Eastern Serbia: Six Pillars of Economic and Infrastructure Development

Aleksandar Vučić officially presented the development plan for eastern Serbia in Zaječar. The plan covers the Timok and Bor districts, as well as parts of the Braničevo and Pomoravlje districts. It is based on six key areas combining reindustrialisation, transport modernisation and direct investment in living standards.

1. Industry, Mining and Metallurgy: New Factories and the “First Salary in the East” Programme

• Environmentally responsible mining: Mining and industrial activities must comply strictly with the highest environmental protection standards to ensure clean air and a healthy environment for local residents.
• Subsidies for young people: A special programme called “First Salary in the East” will be launched to help young people without previous work experience find employment. The state will provide employers with significantly higher subsidies than those available in Serbia’s more developed regions, with the aim of encouraging young people to remain in their local communities.
• New manufacturing facilities: Production of military vehicles by the state-owned company Yugoimport SDPR is set to begin at the former Timočanka factory site in Zaječar. The first 50 employees are expected to start work soon, with more than 100 people planned to be employed within the following three months. Additional private investors may also be attracted to the region, or a new state-owned production facility may be established.

2. Energy, Transport and Logistics: Expressways, Railways and the Djerdap 3 Project

• Strategic energy and logistics projects: Plans include the development of the Djerdap 3 hydropower project to strengthen long-term energy security, as well as a major expansion of the Port of Prahovo to increase cargo-handling capacity and support the development of industrial zones.

• Modern road and railway networks: A key transport project is the construction of a 133-kilometre expressway connecting Paraćin, Zaječar and Negotin, with a projected completion period of six years.

  Other plans include improving transport links along the Danube towards Brza Palanka, renovating railway lines on the Majdanpek–Zaječar–Niš route, and resurfacing local roads. These include 12 kilometres of road sections near Šljivara, Zlot and Podgorac, as well as the Zaječar–Lubnica–Planinica–Boljevac route.

3. Tourism and Hospitality: Danube River Tourism and Investment in Stara Planina

• Support for accommodation facilities: State subsidies are planned for the construction of new hotels and sports infrastructure, alongside further development of tourism facilities on Stara Planina mountain.
• Danube river tourism: Plans include introducing environmentally friendly catamarans and scenic excursion routes connecting Kladovo, Donji Milanovac and Golubac.

4. Agriculture and the Food Industry: Subsidies covering up to 75 per cent of investment

• Processing plants and cold-storage facilities: State subsidies covering 70 to 75 per cent of total investment are planned for the establishment of factories and smaller processing facilities in the municipalities of Zaječar, Boljevac, Knjaževac and Sokobanja, as well as in the Bor district.

  The focus will be on building cold-storage facilities and logistics centres to ensure reliable purchasing and distribution of fruit and other agricultural products.

• Wine tourism routes: Plans include improving wine tourism routes and encouraging local wine producers to develop accommodation facilities, including bungalows and small hotels.

5. The Environment, Towns and Villages: Revitalising the Timok Riverbanks and Urban Centres

• River protection and green spaces: Plans include restoring and improving the banks of the Timok River, creating pedestrian and recreational areas, and renovating central squares in Zaječar, Knjaževac, Boljevac and Sokobanja.
• Nature conservation: Mining development is to be strictly aligned with the protection of the Danube and Timok rivers.

6. People, Education and Healthcare: €1.3 Billion for Healthcare and New Education Centres

• Major healthcare investment: An investment of €1.3 billion in hospitals and health centres across Serbia is planned over the next three years. Every municipal and district centre is expected to be equipped with a mammography machine, an X-ray machine and an MRI scanner.
• Major projects in Zaječar: Plans include building a new health centre and completely renovating the gynaecology and maternity department at Zaječar Hospital. The investment is estimated at more than €60 million. A new secondary education centre is also planned for Zaječar, with an estimated cost exceeding €30 million.
• Education aligned with business needs: The plan envisages expanding the dual education system and opening specialised training centres.

 

Southern Serbia: Six Pillars for a major leap forward in five districts

The special development programme devised by Aleksandar Vučić and his team is intended to support southern Serbia. It covers five districts: Nišava, Toplica, Pirot, Jablanica and Pčinja, which together have a population of approximately 854,000.

The main objective of the proposed strategy is to curb population outflows towards Belgrade and abroad through direct financial incentives, large-scale investment and systematic support for local communities.

1. Further Industrialisation: Higher subsidies and 20 major factories

• Increased incentives for investors: Domestic and foreign investors establishing factories in southern Serbia would receive significantly higher state subsidies than those available for investments in Belgrade and the country's more developed regions.
• New industrial capacity: The goal is to attract 20 major strategic factories to southern Serbia over the next eight to ten years, alongside dozens of smaller production facilities, particularly those intended to create employment opportunities for women. More than 10 strategic projects and industrial sites are also planned.
• Support for less-developed municipalities: Transfers of state funding to poorer municipalities, including Trgovište, Bosilegrad, Babušnica, Medveđa, Lebane and Bojnik, are set to increase.

2. Infrastructure Development: Upgrading 1,000 kilometres of roads and modernising the electricity grid

• Road reconstruction: The plan calls for the renovation and modernisation of more than 1,000 kilometres of local and regional roads.
• Energy security: Comprehensive reconstruction of power lines and low-voltage electricity networks is planned. Wooden utility poles in villages are also to be replaced to reduce winter power outages.

3. Tourism: Revitalising Spas and Developing Year-Round Tourism at Vlasina

• Tripling overnight stays: The programme aims to triple the number of tourist overnight stays in southern Serbia.

• Revitalising spas and natural health resorts: Significant investment is planned to renovate Prolom, Kuršumlija, Lukovo, Sijarinska, Bujanovac, Vranje and Niš spas.

  Particular attention will be given to developing the area stretching from Sijarinska Banja towards Zavojsko Lake near Pirot, as well as the Vlasina region, which is intended to attract visitors throughout the year.

4. Agriculture and Support for Rural Communities: Logistics centres and better conditions for producers

• Agricultural and rural support: The programme aims to improve conditions for farmers and rural communities through investment and financial assistance.
• Food supply-chain infrastructure: The state plans to establish a comprehensive logistics network and provide additional subsidies for cold-storage facilities and food-processing capacity.
• Support for farmers: Agricultural producers in southern Serbia are expected to receive particularly favourable state subsidies and assistance in bringing their products to market.

5. The “My First Home” Programme: Encouraging young people to remain in rural areas

• Affordable housing: A state programme provisionally called “My First Home”, or “A Home on My Doorstep”, is planned for young people who want to live and remain in rural communities.
• Linking housing with employment: Alongside the construction of modern homes meeting appropriate living standards, the programme envisages establishing small production facilities nearby to provide families with a sustainable source of income.

6. Investment in People and Education: Dual Education Centres and stronger Universities

• Knowledge and training centres: The plan envisages building 10 regional centres for dual education, combining classroom learning with practical workplace training.
• Expanding higher education: In addition to Niš, which already serves as a university centre, the programme proposes strengthening higher education in Leskovac, attracting university faculties to the city and opening higher education departments in Vranje and Prokuplje.

Twelve Development Pillars: The Programme’s Overall Objectives

The proposed 12 development pillars are presented as evidence of a policy based on practical projects and long-term planning.

The message to residents of eastern and southern Serbia is that the state intends to support their communities through increased subsidies, road construction and the establishment of factories in areas where investment is considered most necessary.

By linking economic development with healthcare and education, the programme aims to create a modern Serbian economy in which residents can experience improvements in their living standards without having to leave their home regions.