Serbia part of EU in energy sector

Belgrade/Vienna , April 24, 2010 – Minister of Energy and Mining Petar Skundric stated today that Serbia should become a focal point for gas supply in the Western Balkans, successfully supplying the entire region with gas. Skundric, who is visiting the headquarters of the Energy Community in Vienna, talked with Director of the Energy Community Secretariat Slavtcho Neykov about regional gas and electricity networks, the harmonization of energy legislation and the jurisdiction of regulatory agencies in the energy market. The Minister said that he talked with Neykov about issues related to Serbia’s energy sector and Serbia’s role in the implementation of energy policies, which is a responsibility of the Energy Community as part of the EU. As a fully-fledged member of the Energy Community, Serbia is practically a member of the EU when it comes to the energy sector, he said. Serbia wants to resolve vital national and regional energy issues. These issues are related to problems in a stable energy supply and the oil industry, he said. The Energy Community understands the nature of the problems facing Serbia and the region and is ready to find joint solutions for all problems in order to increase energy efficiency and power supply stability in the region. If we examine the gas sector we can see the importance of the national gasification plan which includes linking supply networks with neighboring countries, he said. Serbia and Bulgaria have an agreement to build the Nis – Dimitrovgrad – Bulgarian border interconnection, and talks on similar agreements have also been held with other countries in the region, he said. He said that he and Neykov discussed the electricity transfer, the construction of new facilities and the renewable energy sector, in which both Serbia and the Energy Community are interested. Skundric said that the Pan-European oil pipeline is one of the projects towards which the Energy Community is also inclined and which is of particular interest for Serbia and Romania, voicing his hope that other participating countries will take a more active stance towards its realization. The Minister said that they also discussed the issue of electricity supply to Serbs and other non-ethnic Albanian population in Kosovo-Metohija, adding that the Energy Community is willing to provide assistance within its capabilities. Neykov thanked Skundric for the initiative which the Serbian Minister started during the talks in Vienna, referring to the drafting of a regional strategy in energy.

German investors willing to invest in Serbia

Belgrade, April 23. 2010 (Serbia Today) - German investors positively assessed the growth of the operations in Serbia and 87 percent would again invest in the Serbian market, announced today the German business association in Serbia. All the companies that participated in the survey of German business associations on business conditions in Serbia, expect sales growth in 2010 and 39 percent plan major investments, told representatives of the Association at a press conference. Director of the Delegation of German investors in Serbia, Michael Schmidt said that the direct investment of German companies in Serbia during the economy crisis of 2009 were about 50 million Euros, and this year there is a possibility of expansion of existing investments in the Serbian market. "In times of crisis it is very important to create jobs," he said. Schmidt said that to attract new investments it is necessary for the Serbian government to be more effective, especially in the reduction of bureaucracy, building public infrastructure, public procurement, subsidies, and improving legal certainty. About two-thirds of the surveyed companies, according to Schmidt, said that the Serbian government measures to ease the crisis were average or ineffective. Chairman of the Board of the German Economic Association in Serbia Ernst Bode said the economists estimated that the economic position of Serbia is not fantastic, but that the position of the companies are better than last year. About 30 percent of companies surveyed rated its operations in Serbia as good, while 62 percent said that it is satisfactory, he said, adding that 48 percent of companies expect sales growth in 2010, a 42 percent expect the increase in profit. The German Ambassador in Serbia Wolfram Maas, said that the total German investment in Serbia is around 1.5 billion Eros, and Germany is among most important trade partners of Serbia. There are potential for expanding trade and economic cooperation between Germany and Serbia, said the ambassador.

German investors willing to invest in Serbia

Belgrade, April 23. 2010 (Serbia Today) - German investors positively assessed the growth of the operations in Serbia and 87 percent would again invest in the Serbian market, announced today the German business association in Serbia. All the companies that participated in the survey of German business associations on business conditions in Serbia, expect sales growth in 2010 and 39 percent plan major investments, told representatives of the Association at a press conference. Director of the Delegation of German investors in Serbia, Michael Schmidt said that the direct investment of German companies in Serbia during the economy crisis of 2009 were about 50 million Euros, and this year there is a possibility of expansion of existing investments in the Serbian market. "In times of crisis it is very important to create jobs," he said. Schmidt said that to attract new investments it is necessary for the Serbian government to be more effective, especially in the reduction of bureaucracy, building public infrastructure, public procurement, subsidies, and improving legal certainty. About two-thirds of the surveyed companies, according to Schmidt, said that the Serbian government measures to ease the crisis were average or ineffective. Chairman of the Board of the German Economic Association in Serbia Ernst Bode said the economists estimated that the economic position of Serbia is not fantastic, but that the position of the companies are better than last year. About 30 percent of companies surveyed rated its operations in Serbia as good, while 62 percent said that it is satisfactory, he said, adding that 48 percent of companies expect sales growth in 2010, a 42 percent expect the increase in profit. The German Ambassador in Serbia Wolfram Maas, said that the total German investment in Serbia is around 1.5 billion Eros, and Germany is among most important trade partners of Serbia. There are potential for expanding trade and economic cooperation between Germany and Serbia, said the ambassador.

Dinkic and Leskovac investors signed contracts

Belgrade, April 16. 2010 (Serbia Today) - Mladjan Dinkic,Vice President and Minister of Economy and Regional Development signed contracts with investors in Leskovac three day ago for finansial stimulus package in which they will invest in Serbia more than 35 milions Euros and employ more than 2 200 people. Nine investors will receive from the Agency for Foreign Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SIEPA) funds for each new employed worker from the allocated fund. Most of it will go to a German, "Falk," said the Ministry of Economy and Regional Development. The company plans to start production in Leskovac and hire about 600 new workers and to invest in the production of five to eight million Euros, it was said in the press release.

Slovenian investment in Serbia exceeds $1bn

Belgrade, April 10. 2010 ( Serbia Today) - Deputy Director of the Serbian Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SIEPA) Bojan Jankovic stated that Slovenian investment in money and goods invested in Serbia so far totals over $1 billion. At the meeting of the Slovenian Business Club in Belgrade, Jankovic specified that from 2001 to 2009 Slovenian investment in Serbia amounted to $704 million, while the total investment in money and goods is estimated at over $1 billion. He said that Slovenia ranks seventh among countries that have invested in Serbia, while according to the number of companies it has opened there, ie more than 400, it is among the top five countries. He stressed that Slovenian investment in Serbia was varied, adding that the most important areas of investment were in the financial and insurance sectors, the food industry and civil engineering. Jankovic announced the expansion of the capacity of the Gorenje factory in Valjevo and the completion of a €21 million investment by the Cinkarna Company in Indjija. Serbian investment in Slovenia in the period 2001–2009 amounts to less than $100 million. Our foreign trade marks a continuous growth and by 2009 it stood at $5.3 billion, Jankovic specified. He said that their cooperation can be further improved by facilitating the placement of Serbian goods in Slovenia, better cooperation between inspectorates and encouraging technical-technological cooperation.

Construction of Bridge on the River Lim

By Bojana Jankovic

Uzice, April, 01, 2010 (Serbia Today) - On Thursday, March 25, 2010 the Ministry for National Investment Plan, the Minister for NIP,Ms Verica Kalanović, director of the Company "Roads" , Mr. Milan Bojović, and Mayor of the county of Prijepolje, Mr. Dragoljub Zindović, signed a contract for construction of the bridge on the river Lim in Prijepolje (the western part of Serbia).

This investment is worth 105 million dinars, and the company “Roads” from Uzice will build the bridge. A deadline for completion of works is 350 days from the introduction of contractors in the business. The ministry stated that the contractor is ready to begin preparations for the construction of the bridge over the River Lim at the beginning of next week, which will significantly contribute to the relief of traffic in the city and better communication with the highway Belgrade-Podgorica. The Ministry for National Investment Plan (NIP) has singled out 95 million dinars and from the budget of Prijepolje 10 million dinars for the construction of this bridge.

Construction of Bridge on the River Lim

By Bojana Jankovic

Uzice, April, 01, 2010 (Serbia Today) - On Thursday, March 25, 2010 the Ministry for National Investment Plan, the Minister for NIP,Ms Verica Kalanović, director of the Company "Roads" , Mr. Milan Bojović, and Mayor of the county of Prijepolje, Mr. Dragoljub Zindović, signed a contract for construction of the bridge on the river Lim in Prijepolje (the western part of Serbia).

This investment is worth 105 million dinars, and the company “Roads” from Uzice will build the bridge. A deadline for completion of works is 350 days from the introduction of contractors in the business. The ministry stated that the contractor is ready to begin preparations for the construction of the bridge over the River Lim at the beginning of next week, which will significantly contribute to the relief of traffic in the city and better communication with the highway Belgrade-Podgorica. The Ministry for National Investment Plan (NIP) has singled out 95 million dinars and from the budget of Prijepolje 10 million dinars for the construction of this bridge.

Government adopts text of Zemun–Borca Bridge construction contract

Belgrade, March 30. 2010 (Serbia Today) – Minister for the National Investment Plan Verica Kalanovic stated that at yesterday’s session the government adopted the text of the contract for the construction of the Zemun–Borca Bridge, to be signed between the Serbian side, represented by her Ministry and the City of Belgrade, and the Chinese company Bridges and Roads.

Kalanovic told the Tanjug news agency yesterday that along with the text of the contract, the government also adopted the report on the course of negotiations, explaining that the contract is a complex one and specifies in detail the obligations of the investor, i.e. the Republic of Serbia, on one side and the contractor on the other. She said that the bridge will be completed within three years, the accompanying roads within two, while all standards, both when it comes to the quality of materials and work, will be in line with the Serbian legislature and the highest EU standards.