IVANA VULETIĆ, SECRETARY OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY OF SERBIA
Volume Of Works And New Jobs
GROWING CONSTANTLY The construction sector is recording constant growth year on year. We will continue promoting these trends in the period ahead by connecting relevant participants
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f we listed all the areas of activity within the scope of the construction sector, as well as other economic activities that are connected, directly or indirectly, with this industry, this whole page wouldn’t be enough to present them in the proper way. It would be enough to mention roads alone for there to be no end to the list. Serbia’s construction industry today comprises more than 11,000 companies employing in excess of 100,000 workers. The value of construction works implemented in 2021 had real growth of 17 per cent. It’s worth reminding readers that, in the first quarter of 2021, the construction sector achieved the highest year-on-year growth in gross value added of any economic activity, totalling 19.6% compared to the same quarter of the previous year. A total of 2,916 construction permits were issued in December 2021 alone, which is up 34.3% compared to December 2020. Works on newbuild construction projects conducted in December 2021 had an estimated value of 72.6% of the total estimated value of works. The highest concentration of construction activity is expected in Belgrade’s districts, representing 18.9% of the projected value of newbuild construction works, followed by the Kolubara District (15.9%), the South Bačka District (12.4%), the Srem District (10.3%) and the Šumadija region (9.1%), while the participation of the country’s remaining regions reaches up to six per cent. Given announcements of the continuation of investments in Serbia in the period ahead, particularly investments in infrastructure, we expect these kinds of positive construction trends to continue. The construction sector’s influence over the country’s overall economic growth, through
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PILLARS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
many factors, is immeasurable, whether that relates to the construction stage or the stage of the exploitation of facilities through the engaging of domestic operatives and the local workforce, and the use of materials sourced domestically, while, for example, following the completion of construction, better infrastructure eases the economy’s operations. When it comes to presenting us to the world, it is particularly important to mention Expo 2020 Dubai, during the course of which it has been planned for the Republic of Serbia to have business delegations participating in nine thematic
weeks. The Republic of Serbia’s attendance of the expo has been jointly organised by the Cabinet of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia – Platform Serbia, the Development Agency of Serbia (RAS) and the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Serbia (CCIS). A total of 77 companies and 158 businesspeople applied for inclusion in the business delegation to participate in the Third Thematic Week, “Urban and Rural Development”. The 77 companies included in this business delegation employ a combined total of 4,546 workers, while financial statements for 2019 show
