Transport
As a logistics base, Serbia is a perfect place for a company to locate its operations if wanting to closely and most efficiently serve its EU, SEE or Middle Eastern customers. It borders the EU, at the Hungarian, Bulgarian and Romanian state line, offering a possibility of production outside the European Union. At the same time, businesses can enjoy all the benefits of working outside the EU, while being able to provide services and transport goods in projected and flexible time frames.
Furthermore, for its position on the geographic borderline between the East and West, it is very often referred to as a gateway of Europe. Also, two very important pan-European corridors, VII - River Danube and X - highway and railroad, intersect on Serbian ground providing excellent logistic connections with Western Europe and the Middle East. Thus, Serbia offers a great transport potential and has an extraordinary potential to become the logistic hub of the Southeastern Europe.
Roads
By using highly developed road connections a shipment from Serbia can reach even remotest parts of Europe, in less than 72 hours. Products can also move rapidly cross-country: the road network of the Republic of Serbia is 40,845 km (25,380 miles) long, out of which 415.7 km (257 miles) of highways with toll collection, 246.5 km (153 miles) of semi-highways with toll collection, 5,525 km (3,433 miles) of arterial roads, 11,540 km (7,171 miles) of regional roads, and 23,780 km (14,776 miles) of local roads.
The distance between Belgrade and major European cities
| Belgrade |
Zurich | 1,400 |
Vienna | 660 |
Stockholm | 2,390 |
Rome | 1,400 |
Paris | 1,830 |
Munich | 970 |
Madrid | 2,670 |
London | 2,050 |
Lisbon | 3,320 |
Istanbul | 1,000 |
Berlin | 1,310 |
Athens | 1,280 |
Railroad
Transport of goods via railroad is very cost effective and through Pan European Corridors X and VII, Serbia offers an access to all European destinations. As in many countries, the railway system in Serbia suffered due to lack of investments in previous years, but serious efforts have been made by the Government of Serbia in order to restructure and modernize railway network in Serbia. By 2008, public utility company Serbian Railways will, for the sake of increasing its participation in the transportation services market and improving the extent of transportation quality, invest about €200 million into the repair of transport means. The scope of work in 2005 was increased by 11.5%, compared to year before, transit increased by 22% and total productivity by 25%. Serbian Railways has signed contracts with 43 international forwarding companies and due to that, "shuttle" container trains started using Serbian railways for pan-European transport. Also, the maximum spindle capacity of the Serbian railways system is 22.5 t. Finally, the priority for the next period is the development of multimodal transportation (transition from road to railway and river transportation).
Air
Air transportation is the fastest and the most convenient way of transportation. Serbia can be reached by air using one of two available international airports in Serbia - Nikola Tesla Airport and Nis International Airport. An airport in Vrsac is currently being used only for domestic non-commercial flights, training and leisure aviation, while it is expected soon to be granted an international certification. Transportation by air to and from Belgrade is possible to almost every destination in the world, either directly or by layover.
River
Serbia offers an outstanding potential when river transportation is concerned. A highly cost effective way of transport can be pursued on three rivers giving a total of 959 km of safe navigable routes. 588 km of the International River Danube, represents the most reliable navigable route that can be used for transportation throughout the year. In addition, artificial canals Rhine-Main-Danube, an international canal that allows barge traffic between the North Sea and the Black Sea, and Danube-Tisa-Danube create a network of routes providing access to all Danube basin countries. The Sava River links the following countries in the region: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Serbia, and it is in the process of gaining the status of International Navigable Route.
Danube
588 km of the International River Danube, represents the most dependable navigable route throughout the year. The Rhine-Main-Danube canal, completed in 1992, allows barge traffic between the North Sea and the Black Sea.
Tisa
164 km of inter-state navigable passage on the river Tisa, with the network of the domestic channel Danube - Tisa - Danube totaling 600 km, has the potential to become an International Navigable Route of satisfactory level for use by all Danube basin countries.
Sava
207 km of the river Sava provide excellent potential for transportation of goods in the Western Balkans. The river Sava links the following countries in the region: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina (The Republic of Srpska) and Serbia. It is in the process of gaining the status of International Navigable Route.
Ports
There are seven ports on the River Danube: Luka Apatin, Luka Bačka Palanka, Luka Novi Sad, Luka Beograd, Luka Pančevo, Luka Smederevo i Luka Prahovo. They can all be used for logistic purposes i.e. loading and unloading the cargo.
