Value of IT services will overcome 185 million Euros for 2012, estimates IT analyst Milovan Matijevic.He believes that these facts are optimistic and reminds that export amounted 62 million in 2007, and reached 166 million Euros in 2011.
According to his words, program sector in Serbia consists of 554 companies which managed 200, 5 million Euros operating income.
10 leading IT companies in Serbia have 21, 4% employees from the whole sector, comparing to other companies. These companies managed 30, 9% of total operating income, while income per employee in these 10 companies is a quarter bigger than in other companies from sector, alleged Matijevic.
Zero income rate of taxation would have the strongest effect, said Matijevic, when he was talking about measures state can use to stimulate the sector.
Although these companies paid more than 50 million Euros to state budget within payment contributions, employees, VAT, income and other taxes, state didn’t answer with any stimulating measure. That brings to apathy and skepticism at programming companies, said Matijevic.
He added that state is important factor in education area, because it finances about 80% of students at ICT Studies, and it is the main financier of scientific research work with around 200 million Euros yearly.
State Must Stimulate Growth
Ministry of Finance and Industry Counselor, Jasna Matic said that all taxes, customs and another law changes have brought to IT Industry position improvement, even though it isn’t recognized as possible source of software export.
Serbia should ask for prosperity in new sectors, especially in IT sector, because it is growing market where it is easier to find its place- demand is bigger than offer and talented people are required so they can make software and different applications.
“State should find stimulating measures to that industry which have future and can improve our industry concurrence”, stressed Matic. She added that state should also stimulate growth of companies which already are on global market.
She reminded that IT companies made profit and employment rate increase when country had a different trend.
Matic alleged quotas for technical faculties and IT courses, where education is high qualified and it ensures high payments and prosperous carriers, as crucial problem.
Minister of Trade Rasim Ljajic declared that Serbia earned more from software than raspberry export for the first time this year.
Source Serbia Business
