The United Arab Emirates has made the largest investment in Serbia in more than 30 years, with Serbian deputy prime minister Aleksandar Vucic saying three deals signed with foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed would total $220m by 2017, according to reports.

Vucic said the investments included funding for Serbian military factories in Krusik, Teloptik and Utva, and a micro-chip factory, while UAE-based company Mubadala may also put about US$4bn into Serbia in the future in investments in the missile industry, agro-business and a new modern hotel on the site of the former military headquarters in Belgrade that were bombed by Nato in 1999.

The deputy prime minister also vowed that all deals with the U.A.E. would be made public, highlighting the issues Serbia has had with corruption and an opaque investment climate, as well as failed privatizations of the past.

RFE/RL reports that after investments from both east and west failed to lift Serbia out of its economic doldrums, Belgrade is hoping money from the Middle East will improve its sluggish development.

The government of Prime Minister Ivica Dacic needs to find some economic good news, with Serbia's economy estimated to have contracted by almost 2% in 2012, unemployment around 25%, and an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan on hold over concerns about Serbia's budget deficit.

Source: bne