The UN report: Serbia DOMINATES in foreign direct investment

Last year, the region of Western Balkans recorded a growth in foreign direct investment, despite a negative trend around the world, a report from the responsible body at the United Nations shows. While foreign direct investment decreased by 13 percent worldwide, to US$ 1,300 billion, the region  of Western Balkans, which in report is referred to as Southeast Europe and part of the wider region of economies in transition, recorded an increase of 33 percent, to US$ 7.4 billion. According to the „World Investment Report 2019“, published at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Northern Macedonia recorded the biggest growth in the Western Balkans, in which the inflow of foreign direct investment increased by 260 percent, from US$ 205 million in 2017 to US$ 737 million last year. Serbia, that has the biggest inflow of foreign direct investment in the region, recorded a 44 percent increase, to US$ 4.1 billion. Montenegro is the only company to record decline – by 12 percent, to US$ 490 million, while Bosnia and Herzegovina recorded a growth by four percent, to US$ 468 million, and Albania recorded a growth by 13 percent, to US$ 1.3 billion. As for countries in the region that belong to the European Union, Slovenia had the biggest inflow of foreign direct investments – 81 percent, to US$ 1.4 billion. A 43 percent decrease was recorded in Croatia, to US$ 1.2 billion, and a 21 percent decrease in Bulgaria, to US$ 2 billion. Greece recorded a growth by nine percent, to US$ 4.3 billion and Romania recorded a growth by nine percent, to US$ 5.9 billion.

Izvor: RSE

Foto: Pixabay