About NIF09

Niš Investment Forum 2009 - NIF09 that will take place on 9th October 2009 under the title Preparing the future - today's challenge for tomorrow's profit is the continuation of the presentation of business and investment opportunities Nišava, Pirot and Toplica districts.

The current world economic crisis takes its tribute in the slowing pace of investment in Serbia, which affects the economic trends in this area. However, the main theme of this year Niš Investment Forum - traffic and tourism represent the opportunities and priorities that the Government of the Republic of Serbia recognized as opportunity of development which was confirmed with concrete support of international financial institutions.

NIF09 will bring together representatives of business community from the region, interested domestic and foreign investors, cities and municipalities, as well as representatives of relevant ministries, the Government of the Republic of Serbia, representatives of embassies and foreign chambers of commerce.

Serbia has, since 2004, marked records in the growth rate (between 6% and 8%) and foreign direct investment, which is more than doubled in three years (from 0.9 to 2.3 billion dollars). Multilateral and bilateral grants (two of the Italian credit line for small and medium-sized enterprises, the German Development Bank - KfW, IFC, EBRD, EIB) allow the implementation of major projects in transport (corridor X including highway and railway route), environment (waste water and capacity for recycling plastic, metal and rubber automotive), energy (thermal, hydro), and the modernization of industrial and agricultural capacity.

Serbia has confirmed its commitment to a pro-European orientation in the 2008 Parliamentary and Presidential elections, and gave confidence that the democratic forces. Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union was ratified by the Serbian Parliament in September 2008 and is being implemented unilaterally in the area of trade from the 1st January 2009 (the abolition of import taxes in particular).

Challenges that remain present government is, of course, improving the competitiveness of Serbia at the time when the international crisis began to take its tribute in the devalvation of the exchange rate, of the balance of payments and high deficits. IMF has approved a total of 530 million dollars in 15 months to support actions undertaken by Serbia.

Serbia has the advantage of well-trained workforce available (unemployment rate of about 20%), flexible and low cost of salaries (around 400 € net per month). Serbia has the benefits of free trade agreements with its neighbors (CEFTA), Russia and, soon, with the European Union. Several foreign companies in Serbia produce for the Russian market. Finally, the Serbian state effort to improve the business environment is the incentive for investors (the reduction of bureaucratic procedures, tax incentives, grants, free zones).

Participants will have the opportunity to hear about the possibilities of investment in the infrastructure of municipalities, as well as business opportunities with the most sophisticated and respected companies in the region.

We invite you to participate in this conference, where you'll get information about the strategy of the Serbian Government for the development of these two sectors, with emphasis on the reconstruction of Corridor 10 (including highway and railway), as well as plans for tourism development.