Belgrade, November 20th, 2009 – The Foreign Investors Council has presented the White Book 2009 to the Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic and the members of the Cabinet. The latest, seventh in a row, White book is the publication which offers the information on business environment in Serbia and reveals suggestions for ease of doing business in specific business areas.
This year’s edition of White book is being written to serve as the basis for the dialogue between the foreign investors and the Government on the ways to improve the overall business climate and raise competitiveness of Serbia as an investment location. The emphasis remains on three pillars of development: infrastructure, real estate and human capital, with special attention to progress made in between two editions as well as identification and concrete steps recommended to solve the remaining problems.
The launch was opened by FIC President Aleksandar Radosavljevic, who pointed out that investor’s expectations remain the same as in previous years: clearly formulated economic policy, continuation of reforms and a level playing field for all players. He stressed that the progress in any of these areas can be made only through dialogue with the business community and is a necessary step in the way of improving competitiveness and market liberalization in Serbia.
Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic and the Deputy Prime Minister Mladjan Dinkic also had their opening speeches and informed about Government’s plans and the reform agenda which will be pursued.
In the panel discussion on the business climate in Serbia, and steps which would lead to raising the competitiveness of this market, the opinions were also exchanged between Deputy Prime Minister Mladjan Dinkic, Minister of Telecommunication and Information Society Jasna Matic, Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning Oliver Dulic and Minister of Trade and Services Slobodan Milosavljevic. On behalf of the FIC, panellists who spoke were: FIC President and CEO of Carlsberg Aleksandar Radosavljevic, FIC Vice President and CEO of Telenor Kjell-Morten Johnsen, FIC Board member and President of Henkel Nenad Vukovic, and representative of Board member British American Tobacco Srdjan Lazovic, Head of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs.
More information about the White Book and this project was presented by Editor-in-Chief Mihailo Crnobrnja and Vidosava Dzagic, the Vice President of partner organization Serbian Chamber of Commerce.
FIC representatives reiterated that the foreign investors are prepared to share experience and work together with the Government to create more efficient business environment in Serbia.
