Brnabic meets with members of EBRD Board of Directors

BELGRADE - Serbian PM Ana Brnabic met with members of the EBRD Board of Directors on Wednesday to discuss Serbia's economic growth, energy and digitalisation as key factors of economic growth.

Brnabic noted that the IT sector had seen great success in 2022 and contributed a large share of the national GDP, and added that the introduction of digitalisation in rural areas was extremely significant for Serbia in order to provide all citizens with access to high-speed internet.

She said that would also stop migration from smaller communities to large urban hubs, the Serbian government said in a statement.

She said that, besides expansions of science and technology parks in Cacak and Nis, there were plans to build a new one in Krusevac as well.

Brnabic briefed the EBRD representatives on the construction of a BIO4 campus, which she said was a major step forward for Serbia.

She added that a stable economy and support to talented young people were crucial for sustainability and progress in a country.

She thanked the EBRD Board of Directors for recognising the significance of innovation and investments in education as the EBRD had provided assistance in those areas through multiple projects, and added that Serbia still needed support from the institution to ensure sustainable development and attract new investments.

The EBRD representatives welcomed Serbia's work in those activities and said digitalisation and IT were areas crucial for further investments.

They noted that the EBRD remained a major investor in areas of significance for Serbia's further economic progress, and announced support in the fields of energy efficiency and the green economy.