Djuric: Serbia increasingly important investment destination for U.S. companies
"Serbia is a 'booming destination' for investments, and the main message at the Serbian-American Business Council just held here in Washington was - come to Serbia. Because Serbia is a country developing at a tremendous speed, where business opportunities today represent a secure investment for tomorrow, and with a growth rate of 4.7 percent in the first half of this year, with investments of around $17 billion in the EXPO, with a growing IT sector, with a skilled, competent, and determined workforce, with institutions fighting for every foreign investor, and with wide-open doors for American investments, I believe that we stand out in terms of quality", Minister Djuric emphasized.
Until the end of the year, as he emphasized, Serbia will receive another formal upgrade in our investment rating status.
"Our monetary system has been so stable that for more than a decade, the exchange rate of our currency has not changed even a little bit. I believe that for that reason, here in America, we are becoming big news as an investment destination, and the American economy is doing better than the European economy. It is very significant for us, for our standard of living, for our economy, that the Serbian-American Business Council, which we founded here last year when I was ambassador, continues to work at full throttle", Minister Djuric concluded.
According to Eric Stewart, CEO of ASBC and of the Washington-based American-Central European Business Association (ACEBA), many American companies held meetings with Minister Djuric to discuss potential investments, job creation and business expansion in Serbia.
"We are very excited, as we believe that this is an ideal time for doing business in Serbia. We have had a warm reception from the Serbian government, people, and companies. We are glad, because we waited a long time for Serbia to become a place for good business, and there is no better place for business in the Western Balkans than Serbia at the moment”, Stewart said.
Stewart reminded that last year the Association organized a visit by a delegation of American businesspersons to Belgrade, adding that such a visit will be arranged this year as well.
"We will continue to deepen the ties between the United States and Serbia, to find ways to do business together, in order to raise wages, increase investments and create new jobs in Serbia. This is an ideal time, and we support Serbia's accession to the EU and relations between the U.S. and Serbia at the highest possible level", Stewart stated.
The roundtable gathered members of the American-Serbian Business Council, including renowned U.S. companies such as Bechtel, UGT Renewables, Visa, Citibank, ADM, Palo Alto Networks, Westinghouse, and others.
