Serbia could attract over EUR 2 billion in investments this year, and the interest from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the most significant development in the recent period, Serbia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SIEPA) said, ANSAmed reported.

Investments are expected in the energy sector, automobile and light industries - such as textile, confectioneries, shoes and leather products - and the IT sector. ''Most of Serbia's foreign investments come from EU member countries, where in addition to the Austrians, Italians and Slovenians who have been around for a while, we are also seeing growing interest from Germany. There has also been more interest from the United States and Russia, and some new countries such as the UAE,'' said SIEPA. They noted that only two companies from the UAE had previously invested in Serbia, in the wood processing and construction industries, which is very little considering the potential for cooperation between the two countries.

UAE's leading agricultural company Al Dahra has announced it will invest EUR 200 million in eight state-owned agricultural cooperatives in a joint project with the Serbian government.

Source: bne