The Presence of Foreign Companies in Serbia: Strengthening the Economy or Creating Opportunities for Corruption?
AMO
/ Ed. 29. 1. 2025
The presence of foreign companies in Serbia has been on the rise over the past decade, with most foreign investors coming from China, the United States, Germany, France, and Russia. President Aleksandar Vučić proudly speaks about these companies, emphasizing that he and his party were responsible for bringing them to Serbia.
For the past 12 years, Serbia’s economy has largely relied on foreign companies. While it is true that many citizens of the country depend on these firms for their livelihoods, the working conditions and salaries are often far from ideal.
However, the negative aspects of foreign corporations are rarely mentioned by the ruling establishment, and their presence in the country is frequently used to score political points.
According to numerous statements by the president, relations between the countries from which these companies predominantly originate and Serbia are strengthening precisely due to their presence. Consequently, Vučić rarely has anything negative to say about the political leaders of these foreign states.
The article by Nađa Vukajlović was originaly published with the support of the project Enhancing the Capacities of Serbian Investigative Journalists in Mapping Foreign Influence in Serbia by Danas. You can read the original version in Serbian here.
