Invest in Serbia

Our law firm provides comprehensive legal services to foreign investors in Serbia and the region of South East Europe.

We provide specialized services in Chinese language to Chinese corporations investing in the region.

Why Serbia

Serbia is located at the crossroads of Central and South East Europe, in the heart of the Balkans. Its location allows Serbia to serve as a hub to foreign investors both from the West and the East. Its capital Belgrade, with the population of around 1.7 million people, is among the largest cities in the South East Europe.

With the 2nd largest market in South East Europe, free trade agreements with EU, legal framework, financial incentives for foreign investors and tax and customs regime have brought the investment of a significant number of foreign corporations and banks such Fiat, Telenor, Intesa Sanpaolo, US Steel, Michelin, Huawei, China Road and Bridge Corporation and many others.

Global Market

Serbia is a perfect location for duty-free imports and exports to a global market of 1 billion people including the following.

European Union

pursuant to the Stabilization and Association Agreement exports to a market of around 500 million consumers are customs free.

Russia

according to a Free Trade Agreement with Russia in 2000 the duty-free regime applies to more than 98% of the goods are customs free.

European Free Trade Association (EFTA)

custom free exports to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA)

is a free trade agreement between non-EU countries in Central and South-East Europe providing access to a market of around 29 million people.

United States

General System of Preferences according to which there is a preferential duty free entry for around 4,650 products, excluded certain sensible goods such as textile and leather products.

Turkey

free trade of most of the industrial products.

Belarus

complete liberalization with the exclusion of three agricultural products.

Chinese investment

Serbia as the largest country in the western Balkans and a country with longstanding political relationship with China is an excellent place for Chinese investments. Moreover Serbia is an important part of China’s “go global” strategy and may present a gateway for large Chinese investments in Europe.

Chinese corporations are going to be involved in major infrastructure, telecommunications and energy project in Serbia, such as the reconstruction of thermal power plant Kostolac and the construction of the bridge over the river Danube, as well as reconstruction of telecommunication networks of major telecom operators.

Financial incentives

Large scale investments

for project with value exceeding 200 million euros, with the minimum of 1,000 new jobs created within 3 years up to 20% of the investment may be covered by the State.

Medium scale investments

for projects with value exceeding 50 million euros, with the minimum of 500 new jobs created within 3 years 20% may be subsidized by the State.

Tax incentives

Serbia has a tax system that favours foreign investment.

In particular there are following tax incentives:

• 10 year Corporate Tax holiday (regular annual corporate tax rate is 10%) for investments over 8 million euro and 100 new employees or 20%, 40% or 80% of investment value as tax credit
• lower rate of withholding tax of 10% or 5 % depending on the double taxation agreement (regular annual tax rate is 20%)
• salary tax exemptions: 3 year holiday for hiring apprentices, 2 year holiday for hiring unemployed workers
• social insurance exemptions: 3 year holiday for hiring apprentices, 2 year holiday for hiring unemployed workers
• health and unemployment insurance: 3 year holiday for hiring apprentices, 2 year holiday for hiring unemployed workers