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October 2009

From the American People…. October 2009. Total U.S. Assistance to Serbia from 2001-2009: $716 Million (USAID: $545 million) Mission Statement: USAID programs seek to support Serbia (and Montenegro) in their goals of being democratic, prosperous, and moving towards Euro-Atlantic integration.

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October 2009

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  1. From the American People… October 2009

  2. Total U.S. Assistance to Serbia from 2001-2009: $716 Million (USAID: $545 million) Mission Statement: USAID programs seek to support Serbia (and Montenegro) in their goals of being democratic, prosperous, and moving towards Euro-Atlantic integration. The Strategy: • Adopts an innovative approach that integrates key democracy and economic growth components • Promotes fundamental changes in governance, institutions, human capacity and economic structures; • Based on close cooperation between USAID and national and local governments, civil society organizations, associations and private companies • Activities coordinated with partners & other donors to avoid overlap and ensure maximum impact.

  3. Total U.S. Assistance 2009: $46.5m (USAID $37.9m) Programs: Democracy & Governance • Civil Society Advocacy Initiative • Political Processes • Media Assistance Program • Separation of Powers Program Economic Growth • Agribusiness Project • Competitiveness Project • Municipal Economic Growth Activity • Bankruptcy and Enforcement Strengthening • Serbia Economic Growth Activity • Contingency Planning and Economic Security Program Cross Cutting Initiatives

  4. Democracy and Governance Areas of intervention • Supporting civil society as a true voice of the people in advocating for important issues • Helping independent media outlets and media organizations become more self-sufficient and professional • Increased dialogue between citizens and their elected representatives Key results: • Support to over 160 civil society organizations for important initiatives in Corporate Social Responsibility, Freedom of Information, and Environmental Awareness • More independent,professional, and financially viable media outlets and media associations. The regulatory environment now better supports the development of e-media. Over 2,000 media professionals received training through USAID programs.

  5. Which of these do you think is the most important for the future of Serbia? Source: Strategic Marketing Survey, September 2009

  6. What do you think is the priority in your municipality / city? Source: Strategic Marketing Survey, September 2009

  7. Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2019: Serbia (Composite ranking of 93 of 133 countries) (Note that Serbia is a WEF “Stage 2” country, “efficiency-driven,” after which it will transition to a “Stage 3” country, “innovation-driven”) Disadvantages: • Public Institutions: Government Inefficiency (118) • Burden of Government Regulation (129) • Efficiency of Legal System in Settling Disputes (124) • Private Institutions: Accountability (123) • Competition: Domestic Competition (118) • Technological Readiness: Firm-level Technology Absorption (125) • Domestic Market Size: Exports as Percentage of GDP (116) Advantages: • Health: Infant Mortality (46) • Quality of Education: Quality of Math and Science Education (43) • Competition: Total Tax Rate (37) • Specific Infrastructure: Telephone Lines (38)

  8. Economic Growth Areas of Intervention: • A legal and policy environment that promotes economic growth • The capacity of key institutions to implement and enforce economic reforms • The capability of local authorities to stimulate local economic development • Helping businesses identify and successfully enter new markets • The competitiveness of Serbian products and services in key sectors by introducing best practices and raising product/service standards to internationally acceptable levels • Assisting Serbian agribusinesses “from field to fork” to get maximum returns from their labor and increase exports

  9. Economic Growth Development Key results: • In the last 2 years, municipalities in USAID’s Municipal Economic Growth Activity attracted over 800m Euro in investments and created over 11,000 jobs by becoming more business friendly; • Commercial Courts were made more efficient and transparent by introducing a Case Management System in all Commercial Courts. Case backlogs have been cut drastically. • Projects helped introduce: VAT; private pensions; investment funds; a sound insurance industry, bankruptcy and enforcement and modern payment systems. • In 2 ½ years, the Agribusiness Project has helped Serbian companies to 91 million in export contracts (signed or under negotiation) • The Competitiveness Project has helped raise the profile of Serbia as a destination for film production (with a Ralph Fiennes directed production to begin filming in 2010) and helped attract $40m in investments and exports

  10. Please see: http://serbia.usaid.gov for more information. Thank you.

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