Diaspora sends EUR 2,6 billion per year - Sufficient for 13th salary for every Serbian resident

(Photo: Ivana Vuksa)

It has been estimated that 800.000 people in Serbia gets money support from a cousin or friends from diaspora. On the average, every our household builds 15% of its consumption from the funds which arrives from abroad, the World Bank data showed.

According to statistics, every Serbian resident gets thirteenth salary not from an employer but from a family member abroad. Calculation shows that citizen gets some EUR 400 annually. It ranks our diaspora in 20 most generous ones in the world.

Total amount of payment of transfer in 2014 totaled EUR 2,6 billion and in the first half this year a growth of 12% was generated. Experts state as one of the reasons recovery of world economy.

Two thirds of funds is coming from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France through the official channels though banks some EUR 2 billion every year. Unofficially, by bus, through a friend and family, arrives at least half of the funds.

Their stake at GDP is 10%.

Trend of migration from our country continues so therefore, transfers will definitely remain final foreign exchange profit of our citizens, the informed ones estimate. They add also that people who are now leaving are mainly highly educated so transfer of funds will move into transfer of knowledge and technology throughout time.