Representatives of the Association RES Serbia attended the presentation of the annual EBRD Transition Report for 2024-25 at the National Bank of Serbia, organized by the Association’s premium associate member, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). At the beginning of the event, the Governor of the National Bank of Serbia, Jorgovanka Tabaković, addressed the attendees, emphasizing that digitalization and automation are key to the further development of the industry.
Matteo Colangeli, EBRD Regional Director for the Western Balkans, emphasized that Serbia is one of the important markets due to its energy potential and favorable investment environment. As confirmation, he stated that the EBRD announced that it would soon reach a total of $10 billion in investments in Serbia.
“Serbia will continue to be a priority for the EBRD,” emphasized Colangeli, adding that the bank focuses on energy, especially renewable sources. He also called for regular energy auctions, which should become a permanent practice.
Peter Sanfey, Director of the EBRD’s Economic Strategy and Policy Department, said that Serbia’s economy is showing signs of improvement, but that there is still a significant gap in living standards compared to the EU. He stressed that accelerating the conversion will require further progress in openness to trade and investment, improving the rule of law and a stronger focus on the green economy, especially in the area of renewable energy.
Cevat Giray Aksoy, Senior Research Economist in the Office of the Chief Economist at EBRD, spoke about the importance of industrial policies and their impact on the economy, especially in the context of special economic zones. He noted that the success of these zones often depends on their proximity to ports, the quality of the workforce’s education and the rule of law.