Belgrade – On October 25, 2017, U.S. Ambassador Kyle Scott and Deputy Prime Minister Zorana Mihajlović shared the results of the USAID Business Enabling Project’s (BEP’s) Seventh Annual Business Survey. The survey of 1,000 Serbian companies helps identity key challenges to Serbia’s economic development and establish priorities for economic reforms. BEP conducted the survey in cooperation with IPSOS Strategic Marketing and the Serbian Chamber of Commerce.

"The effects of recent economic reforms on Serbia’s private sector are evident. Companies say they spend three times less money and time on paperwork than they did in 2011. Devoting less time to red tape means having more time to develop your business. Serbian businesses are increasingly positive about future prospects. More than half of businesses believe their earnings will be higher next year, and nearly one third of them plan to hire more workers," said U.S. Ambassador Kyle Scott. 

In 2017, Serbian businesses experienced positive trends in business inspections, construction permitting, and business licensing. Survey respondents cited para-fiscal charges, burdensome administrative procedures, and limited access to finance as areas that still need improvement.      

To view survey results, please see https://goo.gl/h8SWo2