The Minister of Information and Telecommunications, Dejan Ristić, announced that in the first eight months of this year, income from the export of ICT services and products has increased by 19% compared to last year, with expectations that the surplus in this sector will surpass four billion euros by year-end.
Ristić noted that the surplus in ICT exports reached a record 3.44 billion euros last year, and further growth is anticipated. He attributed this success to the establishment of a robust legislative framework and the development of infrastructure, including science and technology parks, the Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and a state Data Center—one of only eight in Europe.
According to Ristić, Serbia leads the Southeastern Europe region in telecommunications, with the ICT sector representing 12.2% of the country’s economy. Currently, the sector employs 115,000 individuals, with an average salary of around 250,000 dinars.
Regarding the rollout of the 5G network, Ristić stated that procedures began in September, and a public debate on the minimum conditions for its implementation will conclude on October 29.
In discussing the media landscape, Ristić highlighted that local governments have conducted media contests for the first time this year, fulfilling a legal requirement. He emphasized the importance of strengthening the media community and addressing the challenges faced by journalists and associations alike.
With over 2,200 media outlets, 76 journalist associations, and three trade union organizations active in Serbia, Ristić acknowledged that journalists frequently express concerns about their material and social status. To address this, a joint meeting with all trade unions in public information is scheduled for next week.
Ristić also mentioned a 40% decrease in incidents of interference with journalists’ work and threats to their safety compared to the same period last year.
