Eastern Serbia at a glance — where it is, what it has, and why it's important for your business.
Where we are and what we have
East Serbia is located in the southeast of the country, with 330 km of border with the European Union—Bulgaria and Romania. The region lies on corridors 10 and 4, with a connection to Bulgaria via Vrška Čuka and to Romania via the Danube Gorges I and II.
The Danube port of Prahovo is one of the most significant in Serbia, with the ports of Turnu Severin (Romania) and Vidin (Bulgaria) in the immediate vicinity. The region has a Niš–Zaječar–Prahovo railway connection, and the airport in Niš is 60 km away; Belgrade, Sofia, Skopje, and Krajova are within 300 km.
The region also has natural resources that are not only a tourist attraction but also a potential basis for business: the Danube, Timoch, and Pek rivers; spa resorts (Sokobanja, Brestovačka, Rgoška, Gamzigradska); the artificial lakes of Đerdap and Bovansko; mineral wealth; Đerdap National Park; and the Stara Planina Nature Park.
Region in Figures
The numbers that really matter when you're thinking about getting started.
|
DATA |
VALUE |
REFERENCE PERIOD |
|
Area |
7,133 km² — two counties, two cities, six municipalities (eight local government units) |
Unchanging data |
|
Population |
197,815 |
2022 census |
|
Registered entrepreneurs |
over 8,200, steadily growing for the last five years |
2025 |
|
Business entities |
1,666 |
2025 |
|
Employees |
58,501 |
2025 |
|
Average net salary |
102,361 dinars |
2025 |
|
Unemployment |
11,317 (from 20,710 in 2018) |
2025 |
|
Diaspora |
over 35,000 people |
estimate for 2025 |
|
Employment Structure |
Services dominate; manufacturing 19%, mining 15% |
2025 |
|
Tourism |
245,365 tourists, nearly 900,000 overnight stays — Sokobanja is leading destination |
2025 |
Partners in regional development
In addition to RARIS, the Development Agency of Serbia (RAS), the National Employment Service (NSZ), the Development Fund of the Republic of Serbia, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (PKS) participate in the region's development.