Vucic: One German company said it would create 3,000 jobs

BERLIN - Serbia's Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday after a meeting with a number of German companies in Berlin that one large company had said it would create more than 3,000 jobs in Serbia by 2016.

"They already operate in Serbia and need support from the Serbian government. It is a great thing for us," he told reporters after the meeting organised by German economy committee for the east.

He said he would meet some of the officials from the meeting in Belgrade on Monday.

The companies pointed out the issues they had faced so far, he noted, adding that some had been resolved, while others would be addressed in the days and weeks ahead.

"We have somewhat serious problems in the pharmaceutical industry and face difficult talks with officials of some of our institutions," he remarked.

A proposal was put forth at the meeting to organise a similar event in Bavaria, Munich, Baden-Wurttenberg and Stuttgart because of their strong industrial associations, he stated.

"Even if this meeting results in nothing more than these few thousand employees, it is still a great success and I am very happy because of it," said Vucic, who expects an increase in investments in the future.

"I believe that we had a fruitful and successful meeting," Vucic said.

He noted that he is proud of the reception of Serbia in Berlin and that he is deeply grateful to German Chancellor Angela Merkel for the attention she devoted to the country and her attitude toward the problems Serbia is facing.

Vucic also expressed gratitude to German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier for his genuine appreciation of the specificities of Serbia's position in the contemporary world, and he also...