Mali meets with representatives of Saudi Fund for Development

BELGRADE - Serbian Finance Minister Sinisa Mali met with representatives of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) on Thursday to discuss the fund's potential investments in projects across Serbia.

According to a statement released by the Finance Ministry, the SFD representatives have spent a week in Serbia to famiiarise themselves with scientific and tech projects such as science and technology parks and the BIO4 institute as well as with energy and agriculture projects, particularly irrigation infrastructure projects.

They said the visit had been very successful and that they were interested in financing several projects in those areas.

Mali said he believed this was a new chapter in the relations with Saudi Arabia and just the beginning of successful cooperation.

He added that Serbia had friends worldwide and that that was important, especially in a crisis and in uncertain times, and noted that Serbia was a credible partner.

He said Serbia was currently building nine motorways and a Belgrade metro system and carrying out projects from the green agenda, and added that the country had an excellent geographic position and a skilled workforce.

All that makes Serbia more attractive to foreign investors, he said.

The parties said they were confident they would be able to sign agreements on funding for concrete projects by the end of the year.