A delegation of 35 investors from the Netherlands has arrived in Serbia to explore potential investment opportunities. Following a meeting with the delegation, Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić emphasized that the Netherlands is among the leading investors in the country.
Dutch investments in Serbia experienced a significant increase in 2023, jumping by 419 percent. Economists explain this sharp rise by pointing out that previous investment levels were relatively low.
Bojan Stanić from the Serbian Chamber of Commerce noted that nearly half of all European Union investments in Serbia last year were linked to Dutch investors. However, he clarified that many of these companies, while registered in the Netherlands, are not necessarily Dutch-owned. Some of the capital originates from the United States, China, and Serbia but is recorded as Dutch investment due to registration.
Professor Goran Radosavljević from FEFA echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of determining whether the investments truly come from Dutch companies. Historically, the Dutch have shown limited interest in the Serbian market, with trade exchange between the two countries accounting for only 1.5 to 2 percent of Serbia’s total foreign trade.
Prominent companies investing in Serbia through Dutch registration include Sweden’s Ikea, Germany’s Bosch, Serbia’s Marbo, and China’s Ziđin Mining. These investments span diverse sectors such as IT, food production, and mineral exploitation.
Experts are now considering how Serbia can attract more high-profile investors from the Netherlands. The country offers several advantages, including a skilled workforce, a favorable credit rating, government subsidies, and logistical support. Radosavljević suggested that projects like the upcoming Expo might draw Dutch interest, particularly given the Netherlands’ experience in such events. He also mentioned the potential involvement of Dutch financiers in funding future projects.
When asked what Serbia might learn or import from the Netherlands to make itself more appealing to major companies, Radosavljević highlighted two key factors that make the Dutch market attractive to investors: a stable tax system and substantial subsidies for foreign businesses.
Currently, over 500 Dutch-registered companies operate in Serbia, employing nearly 60,000 workers and contributing around 20 percent to the country’s total exports. An additional 30 companies are expected to join the market in the near future.
