The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic presented Hildegard Gacek, Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, with the recognition of the Economic Journalists Club – golden plaque for exceptional contributions to the development of Serbian economy and Gold Dinar of Emperor Dusan. As she is unable to attend the ceremony on 7 February, the EBRD Director received the recognition today.

“The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for Serbia, under your leadership for the last 5 years, has since 2001 placed 2.4 billon EUR worth of funds into the Serbian economy under favourable conditions. The projects that you have thus supported are strategically significant for Serbia’s economic reconstruction and development and thank you for it”, said the NARS Speaker handing the recognition over to the EBRD Director. Adding that she is exceptionally pleased that the recognition goes to Gacek, “a successful woman, Djukic-Dejanovic stressed that she was sure that the EBRD Director has contributed to the reputation of the institution she represents in Serbia.

Gacek extended her thanks for the recognition that she received on the behalf of EBRD, pointing out that it is not “just an honour, but a duty as well”, and congratulated the National Assembly for its efforts to ensure higher security for the increasing number of investors into Serbia, by adopting the appropriate legal documents. Gacek informed the NARS Speaker that the EBRD Board of Directors will visit Serbia on 20 June, expressing her wish that they be received by the NARS Speaker, which the Speaker was happy to accept.

The meeting was attended by the President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce Milos Bugarin, Gordan Ranitovic, Serbian Economic Journalists Club President, Branislav Gulan, head of the jury and Goran Percevic, businessman of the year according to this year’s traditional selection by the Serbian Economic Journalists Club. On the behalf of the Serbian business community, Bugarin thanked EBRD for its support of Serbia’s economy.

The Economic Journalists Club decided to present the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development with the recognition for pursuing an intelligent, responsible and successful business policy, supporting projects and companies strategically important for Serbia’s economic reconstruction and development.