Nicola Pontara is the Country Manager for Serbia, based in Belgrade. Pontara, an Italian national, joined the World Bank Group in 2000 as a Young Professional. Most recently, he held the position of Country Manager for Lao PDR in the East Asia and Pacific Region. Prior to that, he was Country Manager for Bolivia in the Latin America and Caribbean Region. He also served as Head of Office and Program Leader based in Juba, South Sudan, in the Africa Region. Nicola Pontara holds a PhD in Economics from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Prior to joining the World Bank Group, he was an ODI Fellow at the Ministry of Planning and Finance in Maputo, Mozambique.
Wednesday 17
12.30 - 13.00
Investing in Tomorrow: Serbia's Strategy to Combat Brain Drain
Metropol Palace Hotel
The discussion describes the country's dual challenge of attracting foreign investment while simultaneously retaining its skilled workforce. The discussion highlights that while low labor costs draw international business, they also contribute to a high rate of working poverty, pushing many Serbs to seek better wages abroad.