Serbia has improved its performance across international competitiveness benchmarks, with progress recorded in regulatory conditions, business entry and several policy areas. The next phase of development will increasingly depend on productivity, infrastructure quality and effective implementation of public policies, according to assessments cited by the National Bank of Serbia (NBS).
The OECD assessment shows Serbia improving in eight of 15 areas compared with 2021 and outperforming the Western Balkan average in 13 areas. The most substantial gains were recorded in agriculture, science, technology and innovation, and employment policy.
International Assessments Show Progress in Business Conditions
The World Bank’s Business Ready assessment also places Serbia among a small group of economies performing in the top quintile in two of its three main pillars.
Serbia recorded particularly strong results in business entry, while its scores for the regulatory framework and operational efficiency were also relatively favourable. These results strengthen the country’s position as a regional destination for investment.
Infrastructure and Skills Shape Industrial Investment
As Serbia seeks to attract higher-value industrial projects, investors are increasingly assessing factors beyond the ability to establish a company. Electricity security, logistics, engineering capabilities, digital infrastructure, reliable permitting procedures and the availability of skilled workers are becoming important considerations.
The next stage of competitiveness improvements will require coordinated progress across energy, transport, education, finance and public administration, rather than relying primarily on individual regulatory changes. Serbia’s position as a regional manufacturing and services platform will therefore depend increasingly on whether productivity and infrastructure development can keep pace with wage growth and capital investment.
