Partner: Ministry of Economy, Government of the Republic of Serbia
Year: 2017
The project's goal was to improve the policy-making process for creating new jobs, enhancing competitiveness, and attracting investments in Serbia, as defined by the Ministry of Economy; through improving the information, data, and tools needed for such interventions. The research provided detailed analyses of selected industries, assessed their competitiveness among peer countries, and offered concrete policy recommendations for sustainably increasing their competitiveness. The performance and competitiveness of sectors were assessed based on the detailed database of the Serbian Business Registers Agency (APR) and the Customs Administration data, as well as the export competitiveness of products from Serbia in all international markets where they were sold (detailed UNComtrade database disaggregated to the four-digit level).
Additionally, CEVES conducted over 130 „face-to-face“ interviews (mostly outside the territory of Belgrade), value chain mapping and quantification, and gap analysis (based on the current and optimal state of each selected sector). The research is intended for the Ministry of Economy as a basis for formulating a new industrial development strategy. Within the four selected priority sectors, two technologically intensive ones (machinery and electrical equipment, and rubber and plastic products) and two resource-based ones (food industry and wood industry) were covered, recognized as sectors with the highest potential to contribute to Serbia's competitiveness. Furthermore, the research also covered a brief overview of the performance and competitiveness of the remaining eight manufacturing industry sectors.
