Study Visit in Serbia: Regional Cooperation for Improving Public-Private Partnership

Within the project “Implementing Good governance Principles in Public-Private Partnership Projects (GO PPP)”, as study visit was organised in Belgrade on 12-15 November 2024, which gathered the representatives of relevant ministries from Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania. The purpose of the visit was to improve experiences and build capacities of public-private partnerships, and strengthen regional cooperation in applying good governance principles.

Serbia, leading in the region with as many as 304 approved public-private partnership (PPP) projects - most of which boast good quality and successful implementation - served as a host and mentor to its neighbors. In addition to presenting the legislative framework and financial analyses used in preparing these projects, participants had the opportunity to learn about specific examples of successful PPP projects in various sectors, such as infrastructure, healthcare, and energy efficiency.

A significant contribution to the visit was made by Andrijana Jovanović, Deputy Chair of the PPP Commission and State Secretary in the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Serbia, who shared her extensive experience and expressed readiness to assist colleagues from the region in enhancing their capacities. “Every successful PPP project begins with the exchange of knowledge and experience. Regional cooperation is key to collectively improving project quality and providing better services to citizens,” Jovanović emphasized.

For participants from Montenegro, where the first PPP project is still in the preparation phase, the visit was a valuable opportunity to gain practical guidance and tools for initiating work in this field. Representatives from Albania, currently revising their legal framework for PPPs, highlighted the importance of the materials and examples from Serbia for application in their legislation. Meanwhile, representatives from North Macedonia, faced with challenges from past unsuccessful projects, noted that they gained a new perspective and inspiration for future endeavors. This study visit once again demonstrated the importance of regional cooperation and knowledge exchange in advancing public-private partnerships, with the ultimate goal of providing better services and infrastructure for citizens.