Serbia: Turkey wants to participate in Telekom privatisation

UNWTO: International tourism – strongest half-year results since 2010

2017/09/09 Destinations worldwide welcomed 598 million international tourists in the initial six months of 2017, some 36 million additional than in the same period of 2016. At 6%, increase was well above the trend of recent years, making the current January-June period the strongest half-year since 2010. Visitor numbers reported by destinations around the world reflect strong request for international travel in the initial half of 2017, according to the new UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. Worldwide, international tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) increased by 6% compared to the same six-month period last year, well above the sustained and consistent trend of 4% or higher increase since 2010. This represents the strongest half-year in seven years.

US LNG exports make European market more competitive

2017/08/27 The European gas market is becoming additional and additional competitive and US exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) are part of this landscape, Francis Perrin, energy expert, chairman of Energy Strategies and Policies (France) told Trend. “Energy is always a strategic business. Economic aspects are very significant of course, particularly the price of LNG, but nations as well take into account strategic issues. For some Central and Eastern European nations one of the key priorities of their energy policies is the diversification of their supplies, in particular gas imports, in order to reduce their dependence on Russia,” said the expert.

Hungarian Border ‘Smart Fence’ Violates Rights

2017/07/08 Next Belgrade newspaper Politika reported on Tuesday that the Hungarian government is testing an electrified ‘smart fence’ on the border with Serbia, the Belgrade Centre for Protection and Help for Asylum-Seekers said the move was a violation of European human-rights agreements. “Hungarian [border police] are beating migrants, attacking them with dogs, they are even beating children, and according to statements of migrants, they are periodically turning on the electricity in some parts of the [border] fence,” Rados Djurovic from the Centre told BIRN. According to Politika, Hungarian officials insisted however that the voltage of the electricity is low, at 900 volts, so “it can’t seriously hurt people”.

The Balkan country sees China’s ‘new Silk Road’

2017/04/26 This is the sixth in a series of reports focusing on the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, China’s proposed extensive trading route linking Asia, Europe and Africa. With a people of 7 million, roughly the same as a number of Chinese cities, Serbia will enjoy rapid economic increase, climbing from last year’s 2.8 % to 3.5 % in 2019, according to the World Bank. The bank’s new updates suggest the Balkan country’s prospects are even rosier than those of the European Union economies, which will average about 2 % a year. The promising outlook is half a result of the coun- try’s plan to become a regional transportation hub, which has seen Serbia deepen investment in roads, rails, the expansion of urban infrastructure and even construction of high-tech business parks — similar to the increase engines used in a number of cities in China.