TABAKOVIC: Serbia a step away from getting an investment ranking

Serbia is a step away from getting an investment rating which brings lower interest rates for the state and the banks, as well as more foreign investments, stated the governor of the National Bank of Serbia (NBS), Jorgovanka Tabakovic.

– Simply said, the state’s investment rating increases the value of each individual company. Furthermore, the awarding of an investment rating to Serbia would mean a higher inflow of investments to the country, with all the positive effects to the economic growth, employment and the standard of living – the governor said for the Biznis website.

According to the data published by this portal, the world’s leading rating agencies Standard and Poor’s and Fitch Ratings rate Serbia at BB+, that is, only one level below getting an investment ranking, whereas, according to an estimate by Moody’s, Serbia has the Ba2 rating, two levels below the investment ranking.

The governor notes that Serbia is already seen among investors from the world as a country with an investment rating.

– This is shown by the interest rates achieved when issuing bonds in the international market – Eurobonds – and the risk premium, which is below the level of certain countries that officially have an investment rating, such as Romania. So, investors already place Serbia among the countries which are characterized by a high security of investments and a low level of investment risks – Tabakovic notes.

She adds that Serbia has deserved this thanks to its successful economic transformation.

Narodna banka Srbije Beograd

STANDARS & POOR'S Denmark

National Bank of Serbia

NBS

Standard and Poors

Fitch Ratings

Moodys

investment rating

Jorgovanka Tabaković

BB plus rating

Ba2 rating