Serbia is actively seeking investment opportunities, as emphasized by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marko Đurić, during his meeting with Dutch businessmen in The Hague. Đurić highlighted that Serbia has been a leading destination for foreign direct investment, attracting over 60% of all such investments in the Balkans over the past five years.
Đurić pointed out that the total volume of foreign investments in Serbia exceeded five billion euros last year, which he called a remarkable achievement for a country of Serbia’s size. “For an economy like ours, that’s an impressive number,” he said.
He also emphasized the country’s rapid economic growth, noting that Serbia has doubled its GDP in just over a decade, increasing from 32 billion euros to over 80 billion euros. He added that Serbia still has room for further growth, but the significant economic expansion in such a short time highlights that something extraordinary is happening within the largest economy in the Western Balkans.
Serbia’s position as a competitive investment destination is further strengthened by its trade agreements. Đurić pointed out that Serbia is the only country in the region, and one of only two countries in Europe, with free access to European markets while also maintaining free trade agreements with countries such as China, Egypt, the UAE, and Turkey, among others. This strategic positioning is drawing interest from businesses across Europe, the U.S., and beyond, including Africa, Asia, Central, and Latin America.
Đurić also addressed the country’s macroeconomic stability. He noted that despite inflationary pressures, Serbia’s exchange rate has remained stable for over a decade. Inflation last year stood at 4.5%, lower than in many other European countries. Serbia’s external debt has also reduced significantly from 79% of GDP to about 48% of GDP last year. The unemployment rate has dropped from 26.3% to 7.9% in under a decade, showcasing substantial improvement.
Serbia’s information and communications technology (ICT) sector has also seen remarkable growth. Đurić pointed out that IT and software services exports have increased nearly eightfold over the past decade. In fact, 2024 marked the first year in which the IT sector overtook agriculture in terms of its contribution to the national GDP.
The Serbian government is heavily investing in scientific development as well, with new institutes focusing on artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and modern agriculture. Furthermore, Serbia’s hosting of Expo 2027 is seen as a pivotal moment for the country’s international image. Đurić stressed that Expo 2027 is central to the government’s efforts to showcase a modernized Serbia, with the total investment in the project exceeding 17 billion euros. This large-scale infrastructure initiative is designed to transform the country and present a new image by 2027.
Đurić concluded his presentation by noting that Serbia finished 2024 as the second fastest-growing European economy, with plans to lead the growth charts in the coming year. As the largest and most dynamic economy in the Western Balkans, Serbia accounts for half of the region’s GDP and more than two-thirds of its total exports.
During his visit to The Hague, Đurić also participated in discussions at the Clingendael Institute for International Relations, where he highlighted Serbia’s efforts to foster closer ties with the European Union and improve its economic growth and infrastructure. He is also scheduled to meet with representatives of the House of Commons in the Netherlands and conclude his visit with talks with Dutch Foreign Minister Kaspar Veldkamp.
