The German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce presented the results of the survey ’Serbian Citizens’ Perceptions of German Economy and Investments’ in Belgrade on November 14th, 2017, indicating that Germany is the most desirable investor and desired employer for Serbian citizens.

German companies are the most desirable investor for as many as one third of citizens (31.4 percent), and almost 40 percent of respondents state economic, business and industrial development of Germany as the main reason thereof.

The results of the relevant survey were presented by the Chairman of the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Ronald Seeliger, while the Ambassador of Germany to Serbia Axel Dittmann reminded in the introductory part of the meeting that there are approximately 400 companies from this country present in Serbia. They have invested EUR 1.8 billion and employ 35,000 people.

’The economic exchange between our two countries is the central pillar of our bilateral relations. Germany is Serbia’s principal bilateral partner and engagement of German investors significantly contributes to the economic sustainability of Serbia’ - said Dittmann, adding that the German government continues to assist Serbia in the process of the European integrations.

The Ambassador praised the adoption of the dual education law because, as he said, it is important for investors who are planning to come to Serbia. ’I hope that we will be able to attract more companies from Germany. Politics should give a positive sign as a condition for more investors to come to Serbia’, – said Dittmann.

According to him, German businesses gladly operate in Serbia and are engaged as reliable partners and responsible employers in the long run. ’We are not only the biggest investors, but we have also been present here for decades, representing a reliable and loyal partner in the region’.

The Chairman of the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Ronald Seeliger, pointed out that Germany is ranked first, primarily due to the economic, business and industrial development of that country, followed by the regulated system according to respondents, (21.3 percent) as well as the fact that they are highly disciplined (10.2 percent).

In the imaginary choice between working in Germany and working in Serbia with a German employer, Serbian citizens give a slight advantage to staying in the country. ’Working in Serbia with a German employer would be the choice of 51.2 percent of citizens, while 48.8 percent prefer working in Germany. Serbian citizens have shown also in this survey that they appreciate real values and care for a strong economy, efficient business and fair attitude towards their work’, pointed out the Chairman of the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce.

According to Seeliger, who heads Hemofarm, Serbian citizens put salaries, working conditions, professional development and promotion, and security in the first place, as the most significant aspects that are important to them, if they would work with a German employer. Precision, efficiency, product quality, and reliability, as German business features, were highly rated by respondents. ’Prospective Serbia is the best incentive for investors who want to come here,’ concluded Seeliger.

Representatives of Hemofarm, Siemens, Bosch, Continental and Henkel pointed out their good business experience in Serbia. ’Every year, we make a new record, just as this year with the output of five billion tablets. Evidence of quality medicinal products, which we manufacture in Serbia, is the fact that we export to markets of 38 countries’, pointed out Sanda Savić, Director of Corporate Affairs and Communications in Hemofarm, which has been owned by Stada Group for the last 11 years.

Udo Eichlinger, Director of Siemens Serbia, indicated that the challenges of digitalization and global market are ahead of Serbia. Jovanka Jovanović, the Director of Bosch Serbia stated that this company will develop IT in the next two years with the goal of even better positioning of the company globally. Živko Topalović, Director of Continental, said that dual education is crucial for the development of all companies, while Đorđe Popović, Director of Detergents and Household Chemistry Division of Henkel, pointed out the corporate social responsibility that is implemented also by this company, especially when it comes to environmental protection.