Economy

The administrative district of Zlatibor contributes about 3% to the gross value added of the Republic of Serbia and 2% to the total realised investments at the Serbian level. The largest investments are in manufacturing, production and supply of electricity and water, and transport and storage.

3.4% of all employed persons in the Republic of Serbia are employed in the administrative district of Zlatibor. About 23% of the total population of the Zlatibor administrative district is employed. The highest employment (above the national average) in relation to the total number of inhabitants is in Čajetina, Arilje and Užice, and the lowest in Priboj, Sjenica and Nova Varoš. By economic sector, most employees work in manufacturing and trade.

Realised net earnings in 2016 in the Zlatibor administrative district are below the average for the Republic of Serbia, at the level of about 86% of the national average. In the municipality of Kosjerić, earnings are above the national average, while the town of Užice is at the level of Serbia.

According to the Užice Regional Chamber of Commerce, industrial production in the Užice region increased by 2.41% in the first seven months of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016. The largest increase was recorded in mining (14%) and manufacturing (11%), while a decrease of 27% was recorded in electricity, gas and water production.

Foreign trade recorded a surplus in all municipalities except Priboj.

The main export partners are Germany, the countries of the former Yugoslavia, Italy, the USA and France. In terms of structure by economic sector, non-ferrous metals, fruit and weapons and ammunition (together 77% of total exports) have the largest share.

Most goods are imported from the Russian Federation, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, Turkey, Italy, India, Slovenia and China. The most important import item is non-ferrous metals.

The administrative district of Zlatibor has the largest number of registered farms in Serbia, about 47 thousand, which is 7% of the total number of farms in the Republic of Serbia. Most farms are registered in the area of Užice and Prijepolje, followed by Sjenica and Požega, then Bajina Bašta and Arilje.

In terms of the size of agricultural land, the Zlatibor administrative district ranks fifth with over 223 thousand hectares or 6%, with Sjenica accounting for almost a quarter of this. The largest part of the area is meadows and pastures with 22% of the total meadows and pastures in Serbia and orchards with 12%, so that the Zlatibor administrative district covers the largest area in the country in these two categories. At the level of Okrug Sjenica it has the most pastures, while in Arilje orchards dominate.

The administrative district of Zlatibor ranks first in Serbia in sheep (14%) and horse (12%) breeding, and second in cattle breeding (9%). The district also leads the country in the development of beekeeping with a share of 7%.

In 2016, the Zlatibor administrative district accounted for 12% of Serbia’s total tourism traffic, while its share in domestic tourism was 17%. Zlatibor and Tara have the highest tourism turnover, with an average of 3.9 domestic tourist nights, which is higher than the average of RS, followed by Zlatar and Mokra Gora. And in terms of overnight stays by foreign tourists, Zlatibor (2.8) and Tara (2.6) are above the national average (2.1).