Why SouthEastern Europe and why we operate from Serbia

Solidum operates from Belgrade, Serbia located conveniently in the center of the Balkan Peninsula and Brussels, Belgium, the de facto capital of Europe.

SouthEast Europe

Southeast Europe or Southeastern Europe (SEE) is a geographical region of Europe, consisting primarily of the coterminous Balkan Peninsula. There are overlapping and conflicting definitions as to where exactly Southeastern Europe begins or ends or how it relates to other regions of the continent. Sovereign states that are most frequently included in the region are, in alphabetical order: AlbaniaBosnia and HerzegovinaBulgariaCroatiaGreeceKosovoMontenegroNorth MacedoniaRomaniaSerbia, and Slovenia. Close to 55 Million people live in the SEE region.

Serbia

Belgrade Waterfront

An impression of the Belgrade Waterfront development, a multi-billion euro construction for mixed use.

Why Serbia

Over the last two decades Serbia became an outsourcing destination. Many key global players such as Microsoft, SKF Group, Adobe, Oracle, Google, Hewlett Packard, SAP, IBM, Siemens, Intel, Cisco, NCR Corporation, Erickson and others, entered the country either by establishing their development centres in Serbia or outsourcing services to local IT companies.

As the world market for ICT continues to evolve towards outsourced software engineering, offshore systems design and integration, Serbia is well-placed both geographically and structurally to provide a cost-effective, reliable alternative to more established markets. An outstanding pool of intellectual capital, attractive labor costs, excellent skills, good communications networks and a high fluency in English are just some of the key competitive advantages for companies to consider resourcing from and outsourcing to Serbia. Serbia is becoming one of Europe's most attractive IT hot spots. Over the past few years, the development and promotion of IT services (such as mobile internet technologies and applications development, outsourcing and data transfers) has increased significantly. The number of economic entities using and dealing with IT in Serbia is also growing. On the global market, IT companies from Serbia are mainly engaged in the outsourcing of software development, testing software and designing websites, but also providing solutions in embedded industry. 

And thanks to the implementation of the EU Directive 2011/98/EU, by most member states,  a single application procedure is now provided in the European Member States for a single permit for third country nationals to reside and work in the territory of a Member State and on a common set of rights for third-country workers legally residing in a Member State.

This allows Western European companies to source talent from Serbia and other SouthEstern Europe countries for long term employment within the EU. And at the same time allows SEE citizens to target local employment within the EU Member States.

Key Advantages of Resourcing from and Outsourcing to Serbia

Analysis: The potential of ICT in Serbia.

An Emerging Industry in the European Context

Read this Technical report by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), the European Commission’s science and knowledge service. It aims to provide evidence-based scientific support to the European policymaking process.

Acknowledgement: 

Kleibrink, A., Radovanovic, N., Kroll, H., Horvat, D., Kutlaca, D. and Zivkovic, L., The Potential of ICT in Serbia: An Emerging Industry in the European Context, EUR 29558 EN, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2018, ISBN 978-92-79-98369-6, doi: 10.2760 / 994464, JRC114209.

 ICT service exports (% of service exports, BoP), Serbia vs selected EU countries, 2008- 2017.

Related Insights

Working in Belgium
May 20, 2019

You must meet a number of conditions to come and work in Belgium. More information can be found on the Embassy of Belgium website in Belgrade.

Working in The Netherlands
May 20, 2019

You must meet a number of conditions to come and work in Belgium. More information can be found on the website Netherlandsandyou.nl for Dutch representations.

Single Permit - European Migration Law
March 29, 2019

Information on the Directive 2011/98/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on a single application procedure for a single permit for third-country nationals.