Professor: Serbia secured EXPO thanks to Chinese support, but warns of investment risks

University professor Danica Popović believes Serbia's successful bid for EXPO was significantly influenced by Chinese support in the decision-making process. She explained that Serbia is important to China as a gateway to Europe, which was a key consideration in developing the EXPO concept.

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Because we are important to China in that sense, for them to connect with Europe through us, that was the first step in conceptualizing Expo.

Popović highlighted the critical role of foreign investments in maintaining Serbia's currency exchange rate. However, she cautioned against investments from countries like China, citing concerns over low operational standards, environmental pollution, and inadequate worker protection. She recalled the Linglong tire factory incident, where workers allegedly suffered poor conditions, emphasizing the danger of investors operating with standards from their home countries, which can be detrimental to Serbia.

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Because we wouldn't have this exchange rate if it weren't for foreign investments and the inflow of foreign capital.

Addressing the issue of automation, Popović dismissed the idea of importing robots, arguing that Serbia's larger problem is President Aleksandar Vučić's alleged destruction of the education system. She asserted that a strong educational foundation and skilled workforce are prerequisites for attracting investors who bring genuine profit and benefit, rather than merely assembling products. She stressed the need for a global division of labor and mutual trust, framing it as a political rather than economic issue.

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If anyone remembers Linglong, those are people who go barefoot in slippers in the snow in the middle of winter.

Popović reiterated her concerns about Chinese standards, suggesting they might not be lower than those in China but are unacceptable for Serbia. She urged the nation to prioritize its well-being, noting a lack of state protection. She also pointed out the significant impact of Chinese companies on Serbia's economy, with three major export firms being Chinese. Despite the benefits of Chinese loans and investments, she warned of the immense problems Serbia faces in managing these relationships, given China's global scale and Serbia's relative smallness.

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Our bigger problem is that Vučić has destroyed education, so we don't have people for whom investors will come, so we can build robots, not just assemble them.