German companies satisfied with business conditions in Serbia – AHK proposes foundation of advisory body to Government of Serbia

German and Serbian companies, members of the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce (AHK), rate the business climate in Serbia positively and believe that the economic situation has been improving compared to the past years, as shown by the chamber's survey, presented last week.

Half of the subjects of the survey, carried out in February, describe the economic situation as satisfactory, 12% say that it is good, and 85% of the companies would invest in Serbia again.

Still, 38% of the subjects do not see any improvement and believe that the economic situation might worsen in 2018 compared to last year.

In rating the factors that have an impact on doing business in Serbia, the fight against corruption and crime, legal security, transparency in public tenders, the tax system and the tax administration, as well as the efficiency of the public administration, received the worst ratings.

On the other hand, the companies are the most satisfied with the productivity and the motivation of employees, their education and labor costs, as well as the quality and the availability of local suppliers.

The survey carried out by AHK in 16 countries places Serbia in the 11th spot on the list of the most attractive business locations of Central and Eastern Europe.

German Ambassador Axel Dittmann said at the presentation of the results of the survey that the positive results of the survey were a result of important reforms carried out by the Government of Serbia and added that they now needed to continue.

– Companies primarily hope for decisive reforms in the field of the rule of law, and Germany will work together with Serbia on the further carrying out of reforms and support it on its road to the EU – Dittmann pointed out.

The president of AHK and the CEO of Hemofarm Vrsac, Ronald Seeliger, emphasized that the same factors had been rated negatively for three years and that effort should be made for them to improve.

– Serbia is a good country to invest in, but if we are always stumbling in the same places, that's not good and it should be overcome – Seeliger pointed out.

As Seeliger added, for that reason, “we will be free to recommend the foundation of an advisory body of German investors to the Government of Serbia. The chamber will offer its knowledge and experience, and the idea is to contribute to solving the problems which make the operations of business people in Serbia difficult as well through a direct contact between our experts and representatives of the Government, in a quick and non-bureaucratic manner”.

AHK Srbija

Delegacija Nemačke privrede u Srbiji AHK

Ambasada SR Nemačke Beograd

Hemofarm a.d. Vršac

Stada Beograd-obrisano iz rgistra

Vlada Republike Srbije

business climate in Serbia

business conditions in Serbia

economic situation in Serbia

German investors in Serbia

German investments in Serbia

fighting corruption

fighting crime

legal security

transparency in public tenders

public tenders

tenders

tax system

tax administration

public administration

Axel Dittmann

Ronald Seeliger

advisory body of German investors