"Dun&Bradstreet": announcement of possibility of better rating of Serbia

In its report for August, "Dun & Bradstreet", the world's leader for international business credit reports, put Serbia among the countries with high risk and gave it DB5a rating. Of all four factors that have influence on overall rating, as indicators of risk for business environment in the country: political, macroeconomic, commercial and external, political situation has the largest influence on such high risk in our country and the rating Serbia got.

"D&B" anticipates that the new pro-European Government will intensify already existing dynamic inflow of foreign investments in Serbia within next three of four years. During the last few months, large number of foreign investors decided to start or expand business in Serbia.

Thus, Italian automobile manufacturer "Fiat" has made incredibly large investment by purchasing 70% of stocks of Kragujevac-based automobile factory "Zastava" and by investing initial 700m EUR in the factory. It is expected that 95% of production will be intended for export, while the whole zone of Kragujevac will be declared the free export zone. The agreement with company "Fiat" exceeded all expectations.

D&B states that the arresting of the leader of Bosnian Serbs, Radovan Karadžić, and his surrender to Hague tribunal will most certainly have positive influence on Serbia's rating in the near future.

Inability of Serbian authorities to arrest Radovan Karadžić and Ratko Mladić was the main obstacle for negotiations about Serbia's admission into EU. Recent event was warmly received by diplomatic circles of the countries in western Europe. French Minister of Foreign Affairs, currently presiding EU, said the main obstacle for Serbia's membership in EU had been eliminated.