The Republic of Serbia, is a landlocked country in Central and South-Eastern Europe, covering the southern part of the Pannonian Plain and the central part of the Balkan Peninsula. It is bordered by Hungary on the north; Romania and Bulgaria on the east; Albania and Republic of Macedonia on the south; and Montenegro, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the west. The capital of the Republic of Serbia is Belgrade.
Serbia became an independent state in 2006, after Montenegro left the union which was formed after the dissolution of Yugoslavia in 1990s.
The Serbian climate varies between a continental climate in the north, with cool winters, and hot, humid summers with well distributed rainfall patterns, and a more Adriatic climate in the south; with hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively cool winters with regular snowfall inland.
Serbia has made great progress towards EU membership and is also pursuing membership in the (WTO) World Trade Organization.
Tourism in Serbia is mostly focused on the villages and mountains of the country. The most famous mountain resorts are Zlatibor, Kopaonik, and the Tara.
There are also many spas in Serbia, one the biggest of which is Vrnjacka Banja. There is a significant amount of tourism in the largest cities like Belgrade, Novi Sad and Niš.
In 2007, 2.2 million tourists have chosen Serbia as its destination, a 15% increase comparing to 2006.
Facts
Capital – Belgrade
Largest city - Belgrade
Currency – Serbian Dinar
Time Zone – CET (UTC +1) Summer (DST) CEST (UTC +2)
Population - 10,350,265
Area – Total - 88,361 km² 34,116 sq mi
Coastline - 4,964 km
Bordering countries - Albania 115 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina 302 km, Bulgaria 318 km, Croatia 241 km, Hungary 151 km, Macedonia 221 km, Montenegro 203 km, Romania 476 km
Major airports – : Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, Niš Constantine the Great Airport, Vršac International Airport and Priština International Airport
Religion - Serbian Orthodox 85%, Catholic 5.5%, Protestant 1.1%, Muslim 3.2%, unspecified 2.6%, other, unknown, or atheist 2.6% (2002)
Languages – Serbian 88.3% (official), Hungarian 3.8%, Bosniak 1.8%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.1%, other 4.1%, unknown 0.9% (2002)
Flight – London to Belgrade 2 hours 30 mins.
Average Temp winter – 3 °C
Average Temp summer – 22.1 °C (71.8 °F)
Summer days with temperature higher than 25 °C is 95
The average annual number of days with temperatures higher than 30 °C - is 31.
Serbia is one of the fastest growing countries in Europe. With strong growth indications it has allowed many foreign investors to enjoy the continual success in which it thrives. Although not in the EU, working within the EU legal framework provides the security needed for any type of investment.
Why Invest in Serbia?
Belgrade has been awarded as the City of the Future for Southern Europe 2005
The world Bank’s guide Doing Business in 2006 naming Serbia the top global reformer
Belgrade has been recognised as one of the top 20 hot spots worldwide in 2005 by Lonely Planet
Serbia has the lowest corporate profit tax rate in Europe with a flat rate of 10% - This point alone is favourable enough to support any investment with VProperty UK
A 10-year corporate profit tax holiday for investments over approx €7 million and employment of 100 or more employees
Tax credits for
Croatia is located in South-Central Europe. Its shape resembles that of a crescent or a horseshoe, which flanks its neighbours Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. To the north lie Slovenia and Hungary; Italy lies across the Adriatic Sea. It’s mainland territory is split in two non-contiguous parts by the short coastline of Bosnia and Herzegovina around Neum.
Its terrain is diverse, including: plains, lakes and rolling hills in the continental north and northeast (Central Croatia and Slavonia, part of the Pannonian Basin); densely wooded mountains in Lika and Gorski Kotar, part of the Dinaric Alps; rocky coastlines on the Adriatic Sea (Istria, Northern Seacoast and Dalmatia).
Croatia has a mixture of climates. In the north and east it is continental, Mediterranean along the coast and a semi-highland and highland climate in the south-central region. Offshore Croatia consists of over one thousand islands varying in size.
The country is famous for its many national parks.
Croatia plans to join the EU by 2010, after initial application in 2003.
Facts
Capital – Zagreb
Largest city - Zagreb
Currency – Kuna
Time Zone – CET (UTC) +1 Summer – CEST (UTC) +2
Population – 4,440,690 (September 2007)
Area – Total - 56,542 km² 21,831 sq mi
Coastline - 5,835 km (mainland 1,777 km, islands 4,058 km)
Bordering countries - Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km, Serbia 241 km, Montenegro 25 km, Slovenia 670 km
Major airports – Dubrovnik, Pula, Rijeka, Split, Zadar, Zagreb
Religion - Roman Catholic 87.8%, Orthodox 4.4%, other Christian 0.4%, Muslim 1.3%, other and unspecified 0.9%, none 5.2%
Languages - Croatian 96.1%, Serbian 1%, other and undesignated 2.9% (including Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German
Flight – UK to Croatia 2 hours 15 minutes
Average Temp winter – 12°C
Average Temp summer – 25°C