Fiat coming to Serbia

A well-known carmaker is investing in Serbia, maybe presaging a surge of foreign investment as President Boris Tadic nominates an EU-friendly prime minister. By Davor Konjikusic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade -- 02/07/08 Fiat will create 10,000 jobs and plans to assemble complete cars in Serbia by the end of 2009. [Getty Images] With confirmation of a pro-EU government in Belgrade expected this week, the announcement in May that the Italian automaker Fiat is coming to Serbia may foreshadow a surge in western investment. President Boris Tadic's nomination of Finance Minister and fellow Democrat Mirko Cvetkovic to be prime minister indicates a Serbian effort, predicted by numerous observers, to attract sceptical foreign investors and raise living standards. Long blocked by wars and international sanctions, Serbia now... [read full story]