June 9, 2010

9. June 2010.

Subotica, Leskovac, Pirot, Vranje and Bujanovac Received Certificates of Municipalities with Favorable Business Surroundings

Mladjen Dinkic, Minister of Economy and Regional Development, said yesterday at the issuing of certificates of municipalities with favorable business surroundings that it wasn’t only the Republican Government, which offers political and macro-economic security and financial stimulus, which contributes to the attraction of new investments, but also local self-governments. The certificates are a guarantee to businessmen and investors that they have reliable partners in those municipalities, who will provide them with services and information in a timely manner, as well as make it possible for them to carry out business operations easily.

The example of Bujanovac, which received the certificate, shows that even the poorest municipalities may improve their business surroundings. According to Saip Kamberi, the mayor of Bujanovac, this municipality, set up its Local Economic Development Office, simplified its administrative procedures and began preparing its town-planning project within a six-month period. In addition to the establishing and equipping of the industrial zone, these were the reasons why Bujanovac received the certificate.

Minister Dinkic also said that all five municipalities that had got the certificates were situated on Corridor 10, as well as that as of July 1, 2010, the transfer of cash from the governmental budget to the least developed municipalities with favorable business surroundings would be increased by one billion dinars.

Milan Markovic, President of the Coordination Body of the Government of the Republic of Serbia for the Municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja and Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, pointed out that those certificates were objective proofs that municipalities that had received them could provide services that are necessary for economic development.

Alberto Cammarata, Head of the European Integration and Economic Section, Delegation of the European Commission to the Republic of Serbia, said that Euro-integrations didn’t only take place only at the governmental level, but also at the local level of the EU member countries and of those that wished to join the EU. He said that the EU had donated around 200 million euros to local self-governments in Serbia during the previous few years.