Yesterday, during a discussion with Serbian City Club, which is followed by our diaspora from more than 40 countries, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, Ana Brnabić, said that one of the priorities of her work in that office was to improve the relations between the motherland and the diaspora, and to support all returnees to Serbia.

Brnabić stated that systemic support was provided also through work of the minister without portfolio in charge of diaspora issues, as well as through work of the non-governmental organization Point of Return, in addition to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Directorate for the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region.

The dialogue with the diaspora provided by these institutions has resulted in solving many challenges, but also in providing concrete support for the promotion of Serbia abroad and enabling return of Serbs to their motherland.

The Prime Minister said that novelties had also been introduced and cited as an example the Science Fund’s program connecting scientists from the motherland and the diaspora, and incentives for employing returnees, amounting to up to 70 percent tax exemption for employing returnees in scientific institutes.

Other novelties include favourable housing loans for returnees offered by the Postal Savings Bank, facilitated diploma nostrification, establishment of Serbian cultural centres in London and Beijing, and Carta Serbica program intended for our people from the diaspora who want to live, work or retire in Serbia, she said.

Part of the discussion focused on diaspora’s interest in participating in the upcoming elections on Sunday, 17 December, and their ability to vote from abroad.

The Prime Minister noted that diaspora turnout to vote in the past two years of approximately 40,000 had been the highest compared to the previous years.

Serbian City Club is a London-based non-governmental, independent and non-political organization established to promote the interests of Serbian experts’ society.

The aim of this organization is to provide a network of contacts for all Serbs looking to pursue a career in the City of London, and in the last few years also for those looking to return to Serbia.

Source and photo: Government of the Republic of Serbia