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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

EBRD Annual Meeting to gather nearly 3,000 participants

Belgrade, 18 May 2005

Serbian Minister of Finance Mladjan Dinkic said today that the forthcoming Annual Meeting of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), due to take place in Belgrade from May 21 to 23, will be an opportunity for Belgrade and Serbia to improve the country’s image in the world. He announced that nearly 3,000 guests from all over the world are expected to attend the conference, including 59 state delegations and representatives of the world’s leading banks and multinational companies.

Serbian Minister of Finance Mladjan Dinkic at today's press conference

After receiving a positive feasibility study, this is a chance for Serbia to change its image abroad, Dinkic said, stressing that this chance must not be missed.

The organisation of the conference will cost 300 million dinars, he said, noting that the government set aside 172 million and the remainder was financed by the City of Belgrade.

Dinkic said that the Serbian government will form a special press centre during the conference.

As part of the conference, a business forum will be organised as well as a round table of prime ministers in the region, presentation of 27 national economies, session of EBRD governors and a number of bilateral meetings.

Dinkic said that Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic will open the conference and that he will open the business forum. He added that EBRD President Jean Lemierre will arrive in Belgrade on Friday.

Speaking about bank privatisation, Dinkic said that Austrian Erste Bank submitted the best bid for the takeover of Novosadska Banka while Slovenian Nova Ljubljanska Banka is bidding on Continental bank.

He also said that tenders for privatisation of Vojvodjanska Banka and Panonska Banka will be called by the end of September.

The government will soon offer hotels Jugoslavija and Slavija for sale and recapitalise the Metropol Hotel.

Dinkic said that the government’s self-employment programme so far attracted 1,000 citizens who are ready to employ 2,200 workers. He added that the contest ends on Friday and that the rank list will be finished by the end of June.

According to Dinkic, there is no reason for the state to rush with selling its stake in mobile operator Mobtel, noting that arbitration in Zurich should end first.

Dinkic also announced that Telekom 064 might go private and that a tender for a third mobile operator will be called by the end of the month, which will, as he said, reduce mobile phone bills.