Minister of Construction Goran Vesić stated that a large number of infrastructure projects means that a significant number of workers will be needed, and Serbia will have to import labor.
Serbia currently employs about a third of its workforce in construction from abroad.
“Last year, we liberalized labor legislation, making it easier for foreign workers to come. As the industry grows, we will need even more foreign labor,” said Vesić.
He mentioned that 2023 was a year of recovery for the construction industry.
Vesić announced the commencement of the construction of two new roads – the first being part of the Southern Adriatic route towards Montenegro, and the second from Belgrade to Sarajevo.
This year, the construction of a 108-kilometer high-speed railway from Novi Sad to Subotica will be completed, reducing travel time from Belgrade to Subotica to 70 minutes.
When asked about the source of funding for these projects, considering that his ministry’s budget is similar to last year’s, Vesić responded that the budget of the Ministry of Construction, specifically for investments, is larger than in 2023. He added that funds for the projects come from multiple ministries.
“Last year, as a country, we invested three billion euros in infrastructure. This year, we are investing four billion euros. That is our response to the crisis in Europe,” emphasized Vesić.
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