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Serbia
Serbia: Bad Loans Declining Slightly
At the end of June, the share of non-performing loans came at 19.5%.
September 29, 2012
Serbian Industrial Production Still Shrinks
According to Raiffeisen Research, the crisis in the industrial sector goes on. Real wages are shrinking.
September 27, 2012
Serbia Asks China for Loan
The Serbian Minister of Finance Mladjan Dinkic asked the Chinese Exim Bank for a € 850m loan in order to realize construction projects. IMF is not satisfied with Serbia´s austerity policies yet.
September 26, 2012
Dacic: „Reforms, Attracting Investments and Starting EU Integration“
The Serbia Prime Minister Ivica Dacic underlined that the government will implement reforms in order to stop the economic crisis.
September 26, 2012
Serbia: „EU Cannot Force Us to Recognize Kosovo´s Independence“
The Serbian Prime Minister is ready to continue talks with Kosovo at a higher political level. For the EU, a recognition of Kosovo´s indepence is the precondition for Serbia´s EU accession.
September 22, 2012
Serbia Attempts to Stop Rise in Public Debt
The Serbian government aims to achieve a balanced buget in 2014. Austerity measures should be sharpened.
September 22, 2012
Serbia to Privatize Publicly Held Companies
In order to reduce the budget deficit, the Serbian Minister of Finance Mladjan Dinkic plans to sell a part of the state-owned companies.
September 22, 2012
Serbian EU Approach Endangered
The Serbian government rejects making concessions to Kosovo. The EU accession may be damaged, however.
September 19, 2012
Serbia Lifts VAT Rate
In order to prevent the national bankruptcy, the Serbian government raises the VAT by two percentage points.
September 11, 2012
RWE Agrees to Strategic Collaboration with Serbian Energy Utility EPS
The German energy group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding on further development of energy generation in Serbia. The focus will be on laid on hydropower.
September 11, 2012
„I´m Concerned About the Atmosphere in Southeastern Europe“
In an interview with the Austrian newspaper “Presse”, the Croatian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vesna Pusic explains that Croatia still aims to become a member of the Eurozone. The Maastricht Criteria would not be fulfilled yet, she says.
September 11, 2012
Temporary Surplus in Serbia´s Budget
Due to the VAT intake, Serbia faced a budget surplus in July. In June, Serbia recorded a massive deficit.
September 8, 2012
Serbia: Exports Decline, Foreign Deficit Goes Up
According to RCB (Raiffeisen Centrobank), the draught in Serbia is likely to reduce the corn yield exports volumes. The trade deficit rose by 13.6% in June.
September 8, 2012
Serbian Industrial Production Declines
In June, Serbia´s industrial production fell by 4.0% against 2011. The outlook is not promising, RCB says.
September 7, 2012
Serbia´s Current Account Deficit on the Rise
According to RCB (Raiffeisen Centrobank), the current account gap widened in June by 15.6% mom supported by remittances fall (-32.0% mom),
September 7, 2012
Serbian Government Tries Act of Liberation
Serbia´s economy weakens, the outlook is negative. Even a bankruptcy is not excluded anymore.
August 29, 2012
Croatian Labor Market Crisis Deteriorates
Not only the unemployment rate is increasing. Croatia has the third-highest youth unemployment rate in Europe.
August 29, 2012
Serbians Push Government for Reforms
The support for an EU membership has fallen below 50%. However, more Serbians call for economic and social reforms.
August 27, 2012
Serbia: Rise in Poverty Expected
The economic crisis in Serbia sharpens. Millions of households are not able to repay their debts.
August 25, 2012
Serbia: Struggle for Central Bank Sharpens
After the resignation of governor Dejan Soskic, the EU warns Serbia of abolishing the independence of the Serbian Central Bank.
August 6, 2012
Budget Crisis: Serbia to Reduce Foreign Exchange Reserves
In order to mend Serbia´s budget hole, the government plans to amend the Central Bank law.
August 2, 2012
Rising Serbian Budget Deficit Causes Worries
This year, Serbia has to borrow € 4.2bn. A budget deficit of € 300m is forecasted in 2012.
July 24, 2012
EU – An Escape for Serbia?
The economic prospects for Serbia are gloomy. The priority of the new Serbian government is to join the European Union.
July 14, 2012
Southeastern Europe Faces Recession
According to the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (WIIW), Southeastern Europe is the weak point among European emerging countries.
July 7, 2012
Austria Remains One of the Biggest CESEE Investors
Austria is still an important net investor in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. However, the global importance of the region did not increase.
July 6, 2012
Telekom Austria Not Interested in Telecom Kosovo
The privatization of the state-owned Kosovan PTK has begun. Telekom Austria will not participated in the sales process.
July 5, 2012
CEE Defies Turbulences in the Eurozone
GDP in CEE expected to grow 2.6 per cent in 2012 – eurozone expected to shrink by 0.3 per cent. Growth forecast for Austria’s GDP at 0.7 per cent in 2012
July 5, 2012
Real Estate Crisis in the Balkans Has Deepened
Due to the economic crisis in Southeastern Europe, real estate prices are still falling. Since 2008, prices fell by up to 50%.
June 28, 2012
CEE Banking Sector „Performs Well“
The Austrian Raiffeisen Centrobank sees high-growth potential in the CESEE region. Loan growth is at „healthy levels“, there are „no signs of a credit crunch“.
June 6, 2012
Downsizing: Hypo Group Aims to Achieve Proceeds of € 1.5bn
The nationalized Austrian banking group Hypo Group Alpe Adria starts its sales program in SEE countries and wants to achieve proceeds of € 1.5bn
May 21, 2012
Ruttenstorfer Enters Serbian Gazprom Subsidiary
The former CEO of Austrian OMV becomes a member of the supervisory board of the Serbian NIS.
May 9, 2012
Improved Business Atmosphere in CESEE Region
According to a survey by OeKB (Oesterreichische Kontrollbank), expectations of investors are beyond the level of January. Austrian exports to the CESEE region may increase.
May 4, 2012
Agrana Aims for Expansion into Balkan Region
The Austrian sugar and starch company Agrana is looking for acquisition targets in the Western Balkans.
April 23, 2012
RHI Pursues Growth Strategy in India
The Austrian RHI AG, the world’s biggest maker of fireproofing ceramics, is pursuing a takeover in India and may start a joint venture in Russia to expand its global reach.
April 21, 2012
EVN Expands into Serbia
EVN subsidiary WTE Wassertechnik GmbH wins the contract for construction of a drinking water treatment plant in Zrenjanin, Serbia.
April 19, 2012
Waldner: “Serbia Needs to Continue its Approach to the EU Unwaveringly”
Wolfgang Waldner, Austrian State Secretary is on a working visit in Belgrade.
April 12, 2012
Serbia: Promising Market for Austrian Construction Industry
The Western Balkan state Serbia invests massively in the modernization of its infrastructure. This year, the civil engineering sector will grow by 20%.
March 19, 2012
RHI Eyes Serbia’s Magnohrom
RHI, the Austrian maker of fire- proofing ceramics, is interested in Magnohrom, Serbia’s sole basic refractory product manufacturer, Privatization Agency chief Vladislav Cvetkovic said.
March 3, 2012
Austrian Economy Appreciates Serbian Approach to EU
Serbia officially became candidate for the EU-access. Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the importance of the “European perspective” for Serbia.
March 2, 2012
CSC Establishes its CEE Headquarters in Vienna
The U.S. IT service supplier CSC upgrades the Viennese subsidiary as regional headquarters for ten countries.
February 22, 2012
Sberbank Upgrades VBI´s Headquarter in Vienna
After the acquisition of the Austrian VBI, the Russian bank wants to expand massively in Europe.
February 20, 2012
Enso Hydro Looking for Hydro Power Plants in SEE
The Austrian hydro power specialist aims for collecting € 70m of Deutsche Bank´s subsidiary DWS. Currently, enso hydro searches for new hydro power projects.
February 1, 2012
3E Group Grows in Eastern Europe
The Austrian building material company´s revenues were up by 3.2% in 2011. Total sales reached € 546m.
January 30, 2012
Good Export Chances in SEE Region
The Austrian Chamber of Commerce regards South-Eastern Europe as growth region. Importance for the Austrian export industry is seen to increase.
January 28, 2012
Erste Group Provides Major Loan to Telekom Serbia
The Austrian bank commits € 140m to Telekom Serbia as part of a recent syndicated loan taken by the company. Erste Group acted as joint mandated lead arranger, underwriter and bookrunner.
January 18, 2012
Porr: Capital Increase Flows Smoothly
According to Porr´s CEO Karl Heinz Strauss, the Austrian construction group raises ist capital within the next 60 days. Operating business is performing well, Strauss says.
January 16, 2012
Serbia Tries Privatization Again
After the privatization of Telekom Srbija has failed in spring 2011, the Serbian government tries again. Telekom Austria could still show interest.
December 19, 2011
Strabag Wins New Orders for Environmental Technology Division
The Austrian construction group secured new business worldwide. The total volume is € 110m.
November 29, 2011
Still Danger of Overheating in SEE Property Markets
According to the “Bank Austria Real Estate Country Facts”, commercial property markets in Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia are gaining ground, but risks of overheating remains.
October 15, 2011
Serbia as Growth Market for Denkstatt
The Vienna-based environment consulting group Denkstatt intends to gain a foothold in Serbia.
September 19, 2011
