http://www.srbija.sr.gov.yu/

Territory

88,361 km2

Location

Between 41°52' and 46°11' of North latitude and 18°06' and 23°01' of East longitude

Population (excluding Kosovo)

7,498,001

Largest Cities (over 100,000 inhabitants)

Longest River

Highest Mountain Peaks

Total length of railway network

3,619 km

Total length of roads

42,692 km (asphalt) and 24,860 km (concrete )

Agricultural land

5,718,599 ha out of witch:

• 4,674,622 ha Arable land,

• 1,006,473 ha Pastures,

• 37,504 ha Fish-ponds.

Sown with:

• 2,453,374 ha Cereals

• 494,598 ha Reed-marshes and ponds forage

• 348,641 ha Industrial herbs

• 300,484 ha Vegetables

• 256,887 ha Orchards

• 85,763 ha Vineyards

• 2,164 ha Nursery-gardens

• 64,722 ha Not cultivated

• 666,702 ha Meadows

• 86,866 ha Forests

Serbia is located in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula, on the most important route linking Europe and Asia, occupying an area of 88, 361 sq. km. Serbia is in the West European time zone (one hour ahead of Greenwich time). Its climate is temperate continental, with a gradual transition between the four seasons of the year.

Serbia is referred to as the cross-roads of Europe. The international roads and railways passing down its river valleys make up the shortest link between Western and Central Europe, on the one side, and the Middle East, Asia and Africa, on the other. Hence the geopolitical importance of its territory . These roads follow the course of the valley of the river Morava, splitting in two near the city of Nis. One track follows the valleys of the rivers Southern Morava and Vardar to Thessaloniki; the other, the river Nisava to Sofia and Istanbul.

Serbian rivers belong to the basins of the Black, Adriatic and Aegean Seas. Three of them, the Danube, Sava and Tisa, are navigable. The longest river is the Danube, which flows for 588 of its 2.857 kilometer course through Serbia. The Danube basin has always been important for Serbia. With the commissioning of the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal in September 1992, the Black Sea and the Near and Far Eastern ports have come much nearer to Europe. Serbia is linked to the Adriatic Sea and Montenegro via Belgrade-Bar railway.

Northern Serbia is mainly flat, while its central and southern areas consist of highlands and mountains. The flatlands are mainly in Vojvodina (the Pannonian Plain and its rim: Macva, the Sava Valley, the Morava Valley, Stig and the Negotin Marches in Eastern Serbia). 55 per cent of Serbia is arable land, and 27 per cent is forested. Of its mountains 15 reach heights of over 2,000 meters , the highest being Djeravica in the Prokletija range (2,656 m).

The length of Serbia's border is 2,397 km. To the East Serbia borders with Bulgaria, to the North East with Romania, to the North with Hungary, to the West with Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to the South with Albania and Macedonia.Energy and Mining

The Electric Utility Company of Serbia (EPS) encompasses coal mines, electric power sources (hydroelectric power plants, thermal power plants, heating plants) and grid distribution systems.

Serbia is not rich in power resources. At the current level of production which meets only 25% of the country’s needs, Serbia (excluding Kosovo) will have a supply of coal for the next 55 years and oil and gas for 20 years. The current hydroelectric power capacity is 10,200 GWh per year, while potential capacity is estimated at 14,200 GWh per year.

Electricity consumption in households has been increasing for the last two years, while electric consumption in industry has been steadily decreasing. Electricity consumption per capita increased by 44% between 1990 and 2000.

Over the last ten years, capacity of power plants has decreased by 77% due to poor maintenance. Output capacity was reduced since Kosovo is not covered by EPS. No new power plant has been built over the last decade, and only one major repair overhaul has been performed. Losses in transmission and distribution have been on the increase since 1990 and are at the highest level in Europe. Electricity prices are several times lower relative to other countries in the region.

From 1975 to 1990, US$450 million was invested in EPS on a yearly basis (a total of US$7.5 billion). In the period between 1990 and 2000, less than 10% of planned funds were invested in repairs and maintenance works per year.

There is an urgent need for construction of new power plants.

For six successive winters, Serbia has had an electricity deficit – up to 40% on an average winter day. In the year 2000, 55 days of power failures were registered in Serbia. Average daily import of electricity in the winter of 2000 was larger than the maximum possible output of the country’s largest power plant, TENT B, or hydroelectric power plants Djerdap I and Djerdap II combined.

In order to boost coal production, we need to find an exploitation field, raise the level of system operation reliability, increase system capacity and improve working conditions.

There are 42 city heating plants in Serbia with heat energy capacity of 5,500 MW. However, Serbia does not have sufficient energy production or funds for their procurement. The main characteristics of Serbia’s heating plants are low operating readiness due to insufficient maintenance and outdated equipment, financial exhaustion and an inability to perform urgent intervention on sources and grids. Heating is poor and there is a need for additional capacity.

The industrial and mining sector of the Republic of Serbia encompass ore mining, stone mining, the processing industry, the electric power industry and production and distribution of petroleum products and water.

The break –up in total industrial production in these areas are as follows:

• processing industry – 75.18%
• production and distribution of electric power, petroleum products and water – 19.69%
• more and stone mining – 5.13%.

The processing industry includes 23 sub-sectors. Participation of individual sub-sectors in total industrial production are as follows:

• food and beverages – 19.97%
• tobacco – 1.61%
• textiles – 4.11%
• garment industry and fur production – 3.00%
• tanning – 1,23%
• timber and wood industry, excluding furniture – 0.84%
• pulp and paper – 2.68%
• printing and reproduction – 0.97%
• production of coke and oil derivatives – 1.14%
• chemicals – 9.50%
• plastics and rubber – 3.63%
• non-metal minerals – 5.49%
• basic metals – 5.74%
• metal-manufacturing industry, excluding machines – 3.20%
• production of machines and devices, excluding electrical devices – 3.11%
• production of office supplies and equipment – 2.41%
• production of electrical devices – 2.41%
• production of radio, TV and communications equipment – 0.31%
• production of precision and optical instruments – 0.22%
• motor industry - 3.10%
• production of other means of transportation – 0.76%
• furniture – 0.02%
• recycling – 011%.

There are 696,540 workers employed in industrial and mining companies, comprising 52% of the total active labour force in the Republic of Serbia. Small enterprises employ 82,273 workers, 146,972 in medium-size and 457,286 in large enterprises.

The Law on Privatization has set down conditions for economic reforms envisioning optimal development of the industrial sector.

Large industrial enterprises with financial difficulties are obliged to undertake a programme of restructuring (restructuring of ownership, production processes, technology, organisation and personnel). Foreign partners who are prepared to invest in the Serbian economy have expressed their interest in many of these companies.

The reforms that are in currently underway will improve macroeconomic conditions and provide additional sources of financing, such as direct foreign investments through privatization, credits approved by the International Monetary Fund, funds approved at the donors’ conference in Brussels, credits from the World Bank etc.

All policy measures that have been undertaken so far in order to repay current outstanding debts, providing means and energy products, and especially in the area of privatization and further development of the reform agenda will all contribute to the recovery of Serbia’s industrial sector, and facilitate its adaptation to evolving economic conditions.

Agriculture

SERBIA’S AGRICULTURE FACTS (Basic Data on Agriculture in Serbia – OR – Overview of the Agricultural Sector in Serbia)

The total surface area of Serbia is 8,840,000 ha. Agricultural land stretches over (covers) 5,734,000 ha. (0.56 ha. per capita), of which 4,867,000 ha. are arable land (O.46 ha. per capita). Farmland comprises 70% of the total surface area of Serbia, while 30% is woodland.

The climate is temperate continental with an average annual temperature of 11-12?C. The temperatures in January and June average –1 - +1?C and 22-23?C respectively. Average annual precipitation ranges from 600mm to 800mm in the plains and between 800mm and 1,200mm in the mountains.

Land and climate conditions are highly conducive to the development of agricultural. The plains of Vojvodina, Kosovo, Metohija, Pomoravlje, Posavina, Tamnava, Krusevac and Leskovac offer favourable conditions for mechanized field crop farming and vegetable production.

Rolling hills and foothills support fruit and wine production and livestock breeding. The hills and mountains of Zlatibor, Rudnik, Stara Planina, Kopaonik and Sar are attractive for developing sheep and cattle production and forestry.

The Republic of Serbia has a total agricultural labour force of 1,305,426, comprising 17.3% of the total population. According to the latest data, the population engaged in agricultural production is rapidly aging.

The structure of Serbia’s agricultural labour force is as follows: livestock breeding (43%), field crop farming (42%), fruit and wine production (12%), other crops (3%).

Traditional family-owned small farms and private estates prevail, with the average commercial farm occupying 500-700 ha. Family farms consist of small plots and are based on subsistence production, being turned over to commercial use to a smaller degree than European farms.

Agricultural land is cultivated using 425,000 double-axle tractors, 261,000 single-axle tractors, 25,000 combines and more than 3 million machine tools. Rural transport infrastructure is underdeveloped, while agricultural machinery and equipment are in generally poor condition. The average age of tractors is 12 years, while combines average 15 years old.

Mineral fertilizer consumption is 36 kilos per hectare. The use of agrochemicals is fairly low and kept in check, with a highly organized system of regular veterinary, phytosanitary and sanitary inspections.

Serbia’s irrigation system covers 180,000 ha. Yet only 30,000 ha. of cultivated land is irrigated, which means that irrigation in Serbia is minimal. For this reason, potential for greater production of sugar beet, sunflower, soy, vegetables and forage are not fully exploited.

Livestock production is dominated by cattle, while fields and gardens cover most farmland. There is a marked neglect of the potential of meadows, pastures and fields for more intensive and efficient livestock production.

Serbia has a network of agrarian organizations in the form of chambers, farmers’ cooperatives, unions and funds.

According to the most recent data, Serbia numbers 6,000 townships. Rural regions stage numerous events presenting ethno-culture and folk art, including fairs, exhibitions, kermises and various competitions.