Ladies and gentlemen, 

I am proud to be able to address you on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Serbia. I am proud because there are results that lie behind us and ahead of us there are tasks which none of the Governments before this one had the courage to face or the willingness to broach.
At the outset, we had faced those challenges fully alert; ready to put in place envisaged painful measures as they were necessary to curb the decline of our finances and our economy. As a result of these actions, we were awarded with trust from all relevant international financial institutions.
We were able to improve Serbia’s image and present it as a credible and trusted partner, a partner who will prove to be reliable and stable on a long-term basis.
Words cannot express actions, they are merely names for actions, but we also have some concrete data to support these words. In 2013, Serbia’s GDP growth amounted to 2, 4%. Unemployment rate in Serbia decreased form 25 to 20%. Serbia reached an inflation rate which had not been recorded in the past four decades, falling to a record-low 2%.
Investments in Serbia are today a reality for which we have been preparing and for which we are still adjusting the environment in order for all those who see the future of their business in Serbia to feel safe and to know that they are doing business with reliable partners.
Serbia today is a country which manufactures food which is rated among the foods of the highest quality in Europe, and in agriculture alone we have recorded around 1 billion euros in exports. This is the area of great potential in both primary productions as well as in the treatment and processing of crude materials of highest quality in the food industry.
Our young experts are among the top in education ranking, especially in the filed of mathematics and electronics, and the network of business incubators in Serbia present a chance for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises in high-tech industries which has already produced significant results.
We also see great potential in investments into large scale infrastructure projects.  By completion of the Corridor 10 and the road network through Serbia we will open opportunities for the development of inland cities which would tomorrow easily follow the example of Kragujevac in which Fiat is currently doing business. 
Legal frameworks which we are creating are anchored in the Labor Law which will provide employment for all those who sincerely wish to work and protect those who are contributing to the enhancement of our economic growth. 
Accelerated issuance of building permits is yet to follow in order to enable unhampered progression of capital projects such as the “Belgrade on water” which will further improve the quality of life in the most vivid metropolis in the Balkans.
The work has just begun. We have seen a clear vision of Serbia in the future. We must stop and reduce our public debt. Former policy of doubtful loans and irrational guarantees must remain in the past. By doing this we are sending a clear signal and opening new doors for all those who want to participate in the business market on real market terms respecting the principles of social justice and taking account of the worker’s future.
We still need to finalize the restructuring of 155 companies which employ over 55 000 workers. This process is going to be finalized in a way to allow the creation of conditions for the continuation of an unimpeded economic development of Serbian. In parallel, what lies ahead of us is the adoption of the law which is one of the basic requirements for creating stable economic ground – the Labor Law. This document will be the result of the agreement between the government, employers and trade unions and will be drawn up in such manner so as to create a sound basis for doing business, ensuring at the same time the implementation of the policy of care for employees in line with the highest standards.
The decisive battle in the fight against black economy is upon us, and placing money into legal flows ensures fiscal stability and realistic long-term projections.
The reform of the model of taxation allows for a stable and more advanced tax collection system. Switching to e-forms is a reality today, and we have started addressing the issue of collecting taxes from the top, that is from the most affluent ones who have tried to evade regulations. Legal actions are being taken against them, with the state having shown a clear and unambiguous sign that there are no exceptions in the fight against corruption.
One of the key words that I am going to reiterate today when talking about Serbia is credibility. The credibility of Serbia is spoken of by the IMF and the World Bank as well as by Mercedes, Johnson Electric or Michelin. Serbia has the will and strength to confront major economic and political challenges in its recent history. What distinguishes our present approach from previous misconceptions and misjudgments is our down-to-earth perception.