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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

“Leap into the Future – Serbia EXPO 2027” plan presented

Belgrade, 20 January 2024

President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic announced this evening at the presentation of the "Leap into the Future - Serbia EXPO 2027" plan that our country will invest €17.8 billion in the next 3.5 to four years for all projects, including EXPO 2027.

In the Palace of Serbia, Vucic presented the key segments of the all-encompassing development of Serbia, including programmes to raise the standard of living of citizens, projects in the fields of science and technology, education, infrastructure development, industrialisation, energy, ecology, agriculture, health, tourism, as well as in other areas of national importance.

The President specifically presented the concept of planning and building complex infrastructure as part of the implementation of the International Specialised Exhibition EXPO 2027 in Belgrade, which will largely represent the investment core in the upcoming period.

We plan to invest €17.8 billion, which is at the level of the one-year budget of the Republic of Serbia. At the same time, the public debt must not at any time be close to or exceed 60 percent, which is our obligation from Maastricht.

Vucic expressed his belief that in 2027, if Serbia is successful and does everything as planned, it will increase its gross domestic product to €92.7 billion.

He also pointed out that during that period, Serbia will fight to preserve peace, while at the same time protecting its country and its Constitution.

Serbia must send a clear message tonight that with its serious and responsible behaviour it will try to speed up its European path, protecting its traditional friends, its freedom and independence.

The President underlined that the average salary in Serbia is currently €836, announcing that it will exceed €1,000 in 2025.

He added that the goal is to reach the level of the average salary of €1,800 and more by December 2027.

According to him, the average pension is currently €391, and it is expected to be €650 by 2027.

Vucic announced that from April or May of this year, the state will allocate RSD 500,000 for the birth of the first child, RSD 600,000 for the second child, and even more serious financial assistance for the third and fourth children.

We have reduced poverty in Serbia from 26.7 percent to 20 percent, and we want to reduce it to 16.7 percent by 2027, which would put us above the EU average, he said, announcing that in the next three years the budget for rare diseases will be increased - €85 million in the first year, then €150 million and at the end €200 million.

We have made a decision to reconstruct almost all maternity hospitals in Serbia in the next four years, first in Belgrade, Nis, Kragujevac, Novi Sad, and we will do the same for Banjaluka, said the President of Serbia.

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic pointed out in her address that it is expected that by investing in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, exports in this sector will reach €10 billion by 2027, recalling that last year that export amounted to between €3.5 billion and €3.6 billion.

This means that 140,000 people will be employed in this sector, she said, noting that in 2012, approximately 50,000 people worked in this sector.

She emphasised that digitalisation and artificial intelligence are fundamentally changing Serbia, and that the special international exhibition EXPO 2027 will present an advanced image of Serbia in the field of ICT.

We present a Serbia where young people want to stay, where some who left for work and studies return, and want to return as soon as possible because here they have the same, or better, chances than anywhere else, the Prime Minister pointed out.

Brnabic stated that there is a clear vision for the progress of Serbia in the field of high technology.

We have a clear vision of how to do it - two focuses, biotechnology and artificial intelligence, she stated.

By 2027, the state will invest around €70 million in the field of artificial intelligence, Brnabic underlined.

The Prime Minister announced an additional investment of between €150 million and €200 million in scientific, research and innovation infrastructure, adding that by 2027 the facility of the Nis Science and Technology Park will be expanded, then in Cacak, Belgrade and Novi Sad.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Sinisa Mali, speaking about the construction of facilities for the specialised exhibition EXPO 2027, said that the complex will span 250 hectares.

He explained that there will be a fair complex, along with the EXPO 2027 complex, a residential complex with 1,500 apartments, a new aquatic centre for water sports and a new national stadium.