Significant economic growth in Germany provides additional opportunity for Serbia through new investments and increased exports

A significant economic growth in the Federal Republic of Germany, which amounted to 3.6% in 2010 and is expected to reach 2.3% this year, has significantly contributed to a greater interest of companies from Germany to invest in countries other than Germany. According to the latest data, obtained from a recent poll conducted among German companies by the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), 44% of these companies (26% in 2010) plan to increase or make new investments in foreign countries, which can benefit Serbia a lot, said Michael Schmidt.

According to the Delegate Office of German Industry and Commerce for Serbia and Montenegro and on the basis of relevant data available to the Business Register Agency, "the current number of registered active business organizations founded by physical and juristic persons from Germany is 660, 360 of which are companies founded by juristic persons from Germany. These are, primarily, small and medium-sized enterprises, which also employ the largest number of people in Serbia".

Officials of the Delegate Office of German Industry and Commerce in Serbia are of the opinion that the economic cooperation is being intensified, which is also confirmed by last year's investments of German businessmen in the production sector in Serbia.

Michael Schmidt, the director of the Delegate Office of German Industry and Commerce, is of the opinion that the April results of the Poll on economic upturn trend in Serbia, which is traditionally conducted once a year by the German Business Association in Belgrade among its members, will confirm the interest in Serbia as a production location that becomes more and more recognizable among German businessmen:

- When it comes to investments in new markets, the most active companies from Germany are, actually, small and medium-sized enterprises (so-called "Mittelstand") with a long family tradition, which are particularly interested, especially in the last few months, in dynamic markets situated in the vicinity of the EU - says Mr. Schmidt and adds that good development and economic growth in Germany represents an additional stimulus for further arrival of German investors. In addition, he hopes that this year's exchange of goods between the two countries will exceed the amount of 2 billion euros.

Industrie- und Handelskammer Heilbronn-Franken

AHK Srbija

Agencija za privredne registre Beograd

Ambasada SR Nemačke Beograd

German Chamber of Industry and Commerce

DIHK

Michael Schmidt

Delegate Office of German Industry and Commerce in Serbia

Business Register Agency

Poll on economic upturn trend in Serbia

Mittelstand

Embassy of Germany to Belgrade