Serbian Finance Minister Sinisa Mali has stated that Serbia is interested in obtaining a concession to manage two international passenger airports in Montenegro — in Podgorica and Tivat.
According to him, despite repeated appeals to the Montenegrin authorities, Serbia has not been included in the process of considering concession proposals.
Mali stressed that Serbia is ready to invest in the development of these airports in excess of the current offers and has the necessary experience and resources to modernize aviation infrastructure, citing the successful development of Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Airport.
The Montenegrin government is currently considering proposals from three companies interested in the airport concession, including a consortium from France and Turkey, as well as companies from Luxembourg and South Korea. The decision on the transfer of the airports to concession will be made after analyzing the proposals received.
However, there is active debate within Montenegro about the advisability of transferring the airports to concession. Some experts and trade union representatives have expressed concerns that such a move could lead to a loss of control over strategically important assets and negatively affect the country’s economy, especially given the significant role of tourism in Montenegro’s GDP.
Thus, despite the interest of Serbia and other foreign investors, the future of Montenegro’s airports remains uncertain, and the final decision will depend on the balance between economic interests and national development strategy.
Source: https://t.me/relocationrs/1041
In recent years, the real estate market in Serbia has shown a unique trend: the vast majority of transactions are made in cash. According to data from the
Republic Geodetic Administration (RGZ), in the fourth quarter of 2024, 89% of all real estate transactions were paid in cash, including 76% of apartment purchases. In Belgrade, this figure was 70.4%, and in Novi Sad, 71.8%.
Experts identify several factors contributing to the high level of cash payments in the real estate market:
Limited access to mortgage lending: High interest rates and strict bank requirements make mortgages less accessible to many citizens.
Savings and investments: Citizens with savings prefer to invest in real estate, considering it a reliable way to preserve capital.
Financial support from relatives: Buyers often receive funds from family members or from the sale of inherited property.
Some analysts are concerned that the high level of cash payments may indicate attempts to legalize income of dubious origin. However, according to experts such as Alexander Radivojevic, most real estate transactions in Serbia are legal, and it is incorrect to link them to money laundering without sufficient grounds.
Impact on the real estate market
The prevalence of cash payments has a significant impact on the real estate market:
Rising housing prices: High demand from cash buyers contributes to rising real estate prices.
Reduced housing affordability: For citizens who do not have significant savings, purchasing a home becomes less affordable.
Declining role of mortgage lending: Banks are facing a decline in demand for mortgage loans, which may affect their lending policies.
To ensure transparency and stability in the real estate market in Serbia, the following is recommended:
Improving access to mortgage lending: Developing programs with more favorable terms for borrowers.
Strengthening control over financial flows: Improving the effectiveness of monitoring large cash transactions.
Improving financial literacy among the population: Informing citizens about the advantages and risks of different methods of financing home purchases.
Source: https://t.me/relocationrs/1032
In 2025, construction will begin in Serbia on the largest food industry enterprise in decades—a corn starch processing plant. The project is being implemented by Amelo, part of the Moldovan agro-industrial group Trans-Oil.
Location and scope of the project
The plant will be built in the city of Sremska Mitrovica on the site of the former Checherana sugar factory. The total investment will amount to €35 million. The plant will be able to process up to 250,000 tons of corn per year, producing native and modified starch, as well as corn syrup for the food, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries.
Construction will begin in May 2025 and will last 18–20 months. The project partner is the Chinese company Myande Group, which specializes in equipment for starch production.
Once operational, the plant will create around 150 new jobs. Sremska Mitrovica Mayor Branislav Nedimovic noted that this is one of the largest investments in Serbia’s food industry in the last 40–50 years.
The new plant will increase domestic corn processing, reduce raw material exports, and increase the added value of products. This will strengthen Serbia’s position in the European market for starch and related products.
According to SERBIAN ECONOMIST, German pharmaceutical company Phoenix Pharma has announced plans to invest around €14 million in the construction of a modern distribution center in Leskovac, Serbia. The project involves the creation of a 1.5-hectare facility as part of the development of the Leskovac Green Zone, which is positioned as a key logistics and business hub for the region.
Strategic importance of the project
The new center will serve not only the local market but also the entire territory of Serbia, ensuring the efficient distribution of pharmaceutical products, including medicines, food supplements, cosmetics, and medical devices. It is expected to create around 120 jobs, which will be a significant contribution to the development of the region’s economy.
The mayor of Leskovac, Goran Cvetanovic, emphasized the importance of this investment project for the local economy, noting that it contributes to the creation of new jobs and strengthens the position of the “Green Zone” as a key business area.
Phoenix Pharma is a subsidiary of Phoenix Pharmahandel AG & Co KG, one of the largest pharmaceutical distributors in Europe. The company is headquartered in Mannheim, Germany. Phoenix Pharmahandel operates in more than 27 European countries, providing distribution services for pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and related products.
In the 2023 financial year, the group’s turnover exceeded €25 billion, and it employed more than 39,000 people. The company is actively investing in the expansion of its logistics network, including the construction of new distribution centers and the introduction of modern technologies to optimize supply chains.
Phoenix Pharmahandel has an extensive geographical presence, including countries such as Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, and others. The company serves more than 150,000 customers, including pharmacies, hospitals, and other medical institutions, ensuring the timely and reliable delivery of pharmaceutical products.
Source: https://t.me/relocationrs/963
According to SERBIAN ECONOMIST, in April 2025, French company Eviden, part of the Atos group, signed a €50 million contract with the Serbian Ministry of Information Technology and Electronic Governance to establish a National Artificial Intelligence Factory (AI). This project aims to accelerate the development of AI in the country and strengthen technological autonomy using European technologies.
A comprehensive approach to AI development
The National AI Factory will consist of a Center of Excellence and a supercomputing platform designed to support innovation in key sectors such as healthcare, energy, transportation, and public administration. The project will provide access to these resources for government agencies, academic organizations, and businesses.
Technical infrastructure
The project will install a BullSequana XH3000 supercomputer, designed and manufactured at Eviden’s flagship factory in France. The system has a computing power of up to 25 petaflops, includes 300 graphics processors and 2.5 petabytes of data storage. This supercomputer will form the basis of the Center of Excellence, providing the necessary computing power for the development and implementation of innovative AI solutions.
Eviden
In addition, the BullSequana AI software platform will be deployed to accelerate the development of AI applications. The software layer will integrate Mistral AI technology, which provides cutting-edge European generative AI models to support breakthrough solutions.
– International cooperation and training
The project will involve AI experts from Eviden teams in France, the Czech Republic, and Serbia. These experts will ensure the effective application of AI in Serbia’s strategic sectors and will also participate in the recruitment and training of engineers and academic staff across the country, helping to transform the Center of Excellence into a self-sufficient innovation hub.
– Statements from officials
Mihailo Jovanovic, Director of the Information Technology and E-Government Directorate of Serbia, said:
EdTech Innovation Hub
“This partnership with Eviden, a leading European player in supercomputing and AI, is a historic moment for the digital future of our country, demonstrating the spirit of Franco-Serbian cooperation. It is not just a technological leap forward, but also a statement of our commitment to stimulating innovation, developing our economy, and strengthening our position as a regional leader in AI.”
Source: https://t.me/relocationrs/959
The mayor of Niš, Dragoslav Pavlović, has announced the prospects of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba coming to southern Serbia. This became possible after the signing of a memorandum of cooperation with the Chinese city of Hangzhou, the birthplace of Alibaba. The document confirms the partnership within the framework of the Digital Silk Road initiative and provides for the intensification of Chinese investment in the region.
According to Pavlovic, the possibility of building an Alibaba logistics center in Nis is being discussed, as well as the implementation of projects in the fields of science and education. However, at this point, there has been no official confirmation from Alibaba or Chinese authorities regarding these plans.
Earlier it was reported that AliExpress, a subsidiary of Alibaba, is considering the possibility of setting up warehouses in Serbia to speed up the delivery of goods to countries in Southeast Europe. According to Serbia Business, such plans were discussed after the Chinese president’s visit to Serbia in 2024.
In addition, as part of the expansion of transport infrastructure in Niš, the Chinese company Shandong Hi-Speed Group has signed a contract to modernize the Constantine the Great Airport. The project, worth more than $153 million, includes the reconstruction of the runway, the expansion of the apron, and the construction of new taxiways.
Thus, Niš is becoming an important center for Chinese-Serbian cooperation, bringing together initiatives in logistics, infrastructure, and digital trade.
Source: https://t.me/relocationrs/949
