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FACES & PLACES
3/11/2022 Day Of The Dead At The Cervantes Institute
At the Cervantes Institute in Belgrade, the Day of the Dead was celebrated again this year and the Altar of the Dead was presented. On this occasion, for the first time, the Katrina walk and the presentation of prizes for the bestmasked ones took place. The event was organized by the Embassy of Mexico and Cervantes Institute. The Altar of the Dead in the gallery of the Cervantes Institute was available to visitors until 15 November.
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4/11/2022 The Serbia-Spain Business Forum Held In Belgrade
The Serbia-Spain Business Forum attracted a lot of attention and gathered nearly 200 representatives of international financial institutions, Serbian and Spanish administrations and ministries and other public institutions, including representatives of about twenty Spanish companies, as well as a large number of Serbian businessmen. This forum was organized by the Trade Department of the Embassy of Spain in Belgrade, the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia and the Chamber of Commerce of Spain, with the support of the Governments of Serbia and Spain and their relevant ministries.
4/11/2022 The Week Of Italian Cuisine In The World 2022 Presented At The Embassy
The program of the seventh consecutive week of Italian cuisine in the world was presented in Belgrade. The initiative is organized by the Embassy of Italy, in cooperation with the actors of the “Italy System” in Serbia (ICE Agency, Institute for Culture, Chamber of Italian-Serbian Businessmen and Confindustria Serbia). The program ranged from distribution in large retail chains to e-commerce, from meetings between producers and importers of Italian products to scientific seminars. The program also included professional wine, cheese and oil tastings organized in cooperation with Italian consortia, as well as tasting menus in certain Italian restaurants and pizzerias that have joined the initiative.
4/11/2022 National Day Of Algeria Celebrated
The Embassy of Algeria hosted a reception marking the National Day of this country. Ambassador of Algeria H.E. Fatah Mahrez greeted the guests and welcomed the attendees with a speech. The event held at the Hyatt Hotel was attended by high-ranking government officials, members of the diplomatic community and representatives of science, art and religious figures. The event marks the date of the outbreak of the national liberation struggle.
7/11/2022 The Russian National Unity Day Marked
On the occasion of the Russian national day, the Day of National Unity, a Festive Academy was held at the Russian Center for Science and Culture “Russian House” in Belgrade. The official academy was opened by the ambassador of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Serbia, H.E. Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko, addressing the dignitaries. He pointed out that the Russian people find strength in true values, to which they have always been faithful. It is this unity, despite all the obstacles, that gives us the energy to move forward – said the ambassador.
8/11/2022 Victory Day Of Azerbaijan Marked
The Embassy of Azerbaijan Held a reception at the Hyatt Hotel marking the Victory Day of this country. Ambassador of Azerbaijan H.E. Kamil Khasiyev noted that November 8 - Victory Day is one of the brightest and most unforgettable days in the history of our country. He said that two years ago, on 8 November, under the leadership of the President of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, Army liberated the city of Shusha from the occupation. Minister of Economy of Serbia Rade Basta, officials of the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Defense, as well as other highranking state and government representatives, science, art and religious figures, attended the event.
FACES PLACES&
11/11/2022 Armistice Day Marked In Serbia
The central state ceremony of laying wreaths on the memorial ossuary of the defenders of Belgrade in the First World War at the New Cemetery in Belgrade was led by Minister Nikola Selaković. The wreath-laying ceremony at the French cemetery in Belgrade honoured the fallen French soldiers. Wreaths were laid by the Ambassador of France Pierre Cochard, Ambassador of Germany Anke Konrad, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ivica Dacic, the head of the EU Delegation Emanuele Giaufret, as well as representatives of embassies, representatives of the City of Belgrade and veterans’ associations. Ambassador Cochard reminded that at the French cemetery in Belgrade, France remembers 50,000 Frenchmen who died alongside their Serbian brothers on the battlefields of the Thessaloniki front.
14/11/2022 Republic Day Of Kazakhstan Marked
The Embassy of Kazakhstan organized a celebration marking the Republic Day of this country. The event was held at Belgrade’s Hyatt Hotel. Ambassador of Kazakhstan H.E. Madi Atamkulov delivered a welcoming speech, addressing current Kazakstan’s political situation, and emphasizing the recent presidential elections. The event was attended by Serbian Government officials, members of the diplomatic community as well as partners and friends of the Embassy.
Led by Norwegian Embassy in Serbia, the second in a series of events “Nordic Green – Solutions for Serbia” was held at the Science Technology Park Belgrade. The title “Nordic-Serbian Partnership for Renewable Energy” event focused on renewable energy, the application of the latest technologies in energy systems and storage solutions as well as other relevant topics such as balancing the power market, technology development and public-private partnership for innovation. With all four Nordic Ambassadors in presence, Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic addressed the audience highlighting the Government’s priorities in the Energy sector and the importance of Nordic support and close cooperation on ongoing projects and initiatives.
During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, staff of the Institute of Public Health “Batut” in Belgrade were particularly active in providing support and information on immunisation to the diplomatic community in Serbia. The diplomatic community was grateful for the support and showed gratitude by organising fundraising for “Batut” through the foundation “Catalyst”. On the initiative of Tobias Flessenekmper, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade, funds were raised to provide equipment for work for the dedicated staff of “Batut”. He was accompanied by H.E. Virginia Pina, Ambassador of Portugal, H.E. Mohammed Belhaj, Ambassador of Morocco and Miloš Janković from the Catalyst Foundation during the symbolic hand-over of the donation.
The regional conference “Investment opportunities in renewable energy sources in the Western Balkans”, organized by the Norwegian embassies in Belgrade and Sarajevo, was held in Belgrade. The event was attended by President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić, the special envoy of the Prime Minister of Norway Andreas Eriksen, the Prime Ministers of Albania, North Macedonia and Montenegro Edi Rama, Dimitar Kovačevski and Dritan Abazović, the Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers, Zoran Tegeltija, as well as members of the diplomatic and business community. “We can help each other a lot and jointly secure the future,” said Vučić, while Eriksen said that it is necessary to provide safer sources of energy in this time of uncertainty, and that action must be taken immediately.
18/11/2022 AHK Members Dinner With Ambassador Konrad
German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce-AHK Serbia hosted its traditional annual event Members Dinner. The event was attended by the German Ambassador H.E. Anke Konrad as a key speaker. AHK President Milan Grujić welcomed guests and said in his speech that economic relations between Serbia and Germany are at a high level followed by stable political relations between these two countries. This is empowered by frequent talks and meetings at the highest level. He said that the goal of German support from the very beginning was to bring Serbia closer to the European Union, to strengthen the efficiency of the economy, and thus to improve the living standard of citizens.
18/11/2022 CCIFS Hosts Annual Event French Week
The tenth anniversary “French Week” under the slogan “Lights of Paris in Belgrade streets” was opened at the Navigator Business Centre 2, with the aim to promote historical, cultural and business ties between France and Serbia. The manifestation organized by the French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIFS) is held from 17 to 23 November, while the dates of the event are associated with the French custom of awaiting the release of the young French wine, “Beaujolais nouveau”, which was tasted at the opening. The guests were welcomed by Dragan Stokić, President of the French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Fatih Akcal, First Counsellor of the Embassy of France to Serbia.
FACES PLACES&
22/11/2022 Foreign Investors Council Presented The White Book 2022
In the year when the Foreign Investors Council (FIC) marks the 20th anniversary of its establishment and operation, the “White Book 2022” was presented to the highest representatives of the Government of the Republic of Serbia within the framework of the Working Group of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Foreign Investors council for implementation of the recommendations of the White Book, chaired by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia Ana Brnabić. The White Book, written by FIC members, is the major product by which, for the last two decades, the FIC gives recommendations aimed at improving economic growth and better living standard of Serbian citizens.
20/11/2022 Reception On The Occasion Of The Belgian King’s Day
The Belgian Defence Attaché David Lambeens and his spouse Milica have organised in Hotel Amsterdam in Belgrade the yearly reception and the toast to His Majesty King Filip I. The event was held in the presence of her Excellency Ambassador Cathy Buggenhout, Representatives from the Serbian Armed Forces and the international Defence Attaché’s community in Serbia. Belgian King’s Day is being celebrated every year since the accession of Leopold I as the first Belgian King in 1831, a year after the independence of Belgium.
24/11/2022 Canadian Embassy Hosts Etno mreža Exhibition
Ambassador of Canada H.E. Giles Norman and his spouse Valerie Lane, diplomatic Patron of Etno mreža, hosted an event that took place at the Official Residence. The special Holiday Exhibition and Sale of the Etno mreža products offered various articles, from wooden gloves to toys and Christmas tree decorations. The event was attended by NALED Executive Director Violeta Jovanovic, as well as many members of the diplomatic community and friends of the Embassy.
Learning From Champions
As this special edition shows, Nordic countries have been exerting considerable efforts to assist Serbia in its green transition, by sharing Nordic experiences in this field, increasing awareness of local stakeholders with regard to the circular economy and providing proposals on ways to continue implementing these principles in Serbia
Norway is the most sustainable country in the world. Sweden, Finland and Denmark are hot on its heels - this is how one notable website explains the position of the Nordic countries when it comes to green transition. These countries have for years been leaders in many areas, including governance, innovation, human capital and environmental indicators, and it comes as no surprise that they took the lead on cooperating with Serbia in this highly neglected area.
Just to get an idea of how important climate change, environmental policies and sustainability are for the political agenda, consider that – just a few months ago – the Norwegian parliament approved a proposal to achieve climate neutrality by 2030, two decades earlier than planned. The European Union, for example, aims to be climate neutral by 2050.
On the other hand, Finland has become the world’s first country to establish a roadmap to the efficient and sustainable use of resources in close collaboration between representatives of the public and private sectors and the general public. It features measures that impact on the state administration, towns and cities, businesses and the daily lives of the Finnish people.
Denmark is leading the way when it comes to green transition. It has successfully cut its CO2 emissions by more than half since 1996. In 2019, 47% of all electricity generated in the country was sourced from wind power. The Danes are working to drive the global transition to a sustainable, low-carbon, resource-efficient society. Their work encompasses renewable energies, energy efficiency, water management, waste management, climate adaptation, the circular economy and integrated urban solutions.
Sweden, the world’s first country to pass an environmental protection act, way back in 1967, also hosted the first UN conference on the global environment in 1972. Over the course of the last decade and more, Sweden has ranked among the top ten on the globally respected Environmental Performance Index and is a country that prides itself on its exceptionally clean air, clean water and low emissions.
Those are, in short, the profiles of the Nordic countries that stand at the forefront of sustainability rankings, and that have pledged to make their region the world’s most sustainable and integrated by 2030, and to demonstrate leadership in the fight against climate change.
The Nordic countries are also best practice ambassadors. In an effort to support Serbia in 2021, the embassies of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, with the support of the Nordic Council of Ministers, launched the project ‘Strengthening the Circular Economy in Serbia – Nordic Experiences’.
Throughout the implementation of this project, the Nordic countries have presented examples of good practice and highlighted the importance and benefits of the circular economy. They have also been involved in many parallel activities, including legislative changes, administrative infrastructure development and hands-on practical projects regarding waste management and similar areas across Serbia.
Nordic countries are at the forefront of green transition and are leading the way on the development of a more sustainable economy
Greening The World Together
Since the launch of the Nordic/Serbian green project, we have seen increased contacts and concrete collaboration between Nordic and Serbian businesses within the scope of green transition
Denmark has worked hard since the 1970s to become one of the world’s greenest countries. As Danish Ambassador to Serbia H.E. Susanne Shine notes in this interview, sustainability is today a key element of Danish society.
Denmark’s green transition has proved hugely beneficial to the Danish economy. What steps or preconditions were the most important to securing a sustainable transition? - The Danish energy sector has seen several dramatic changes over the past 50 years. The green transition in Denmark originally began at the time of the oil crisis of the 1970s. At that time, more than 90% of our energy needs were covered by oil imported from the Middle East. As a result of the crisis, the government introduced a range of measures to reduce our energy dependence, such as “car-free Sundays” and lowering of speed limits. The government also began to explore ways to meet growing energy demand in a more sustainable way, and accordingly introduced centralised economic incentives for developing sustainable solutions. Over the years, this shift in mentality transformed Danish society fundamentally. Today, children are taught early on to save water and electricity, while we also insulate our houses and recycle our waste in a sustainable way. The most visible legacy of that mentality is probably our cycle lanes and wind turbines. We started erecting wind turbines already during the 1970s, and today Denmark is among the leading nations when it comes to the research, development, production and installation of wind turbines. The turnover of the Danish wind sector amounted to 17 billion euros in 2020. This development was a conscious choice on behalf of our government, which introduced subsidies for research and test facilities early on. Later on, price subsidies were also introduced to make it economically sustainable to sell electricity generated from wind turbines. When the technology improved and wind turbines became more profitable, we were able to phase out price subsidies. Vestas – our world-leading wind turbine manufacturer, with more than 160 GW of wind turbines installed in 88 countries – is present here in Serbia.
These deliberate policy choices have put us in a position where roughly 70% of our electricity is today sourced from renewables. When the wind blows hard across the North Sea (which it often does), wind energy produces more than 100% of Danish electricity demand, allowing us to export the surplus to our neighbours. Over the course of the past 15 years, we’ve also been able to reduce coal consumption by 80% and natural gas consumption by 45%.
In summary, it was crucial that Danish politicians, when confronted by immense geopolitical challenges, had the political will and courage to drastically change Danish policy. Danish governments have since continued on this path and today we have the ambition to become fossil-fuel free by 2050. In order to achieve this target, the Danish parliament adopted the 2019 ‘Climate Act’, which sets out the ambitious goal of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2030.
BALANCE
Making agriculture more sustainable is not only an environmental question, but also a question of dollars and cents. This kind of thinking makes agriculture more sustainable
PARTNERSHIPS
Nordic companies are nowadays role models for all things sustainable. In that sense, I am very happy to see that several eminent Danish companies have chosen Serbia as reliable partners
IMPACT
I believe that the Nordic/Serbian green project has placed an increased focus on the importance of green transition and the circular economy in Serbia
What has changed positively since the Nordic countries first shifted the focused of their cooperation in Serbia to the Green Agenda? - Since the Nordic/Serbian green project began, we have seen increased contacts and concrete collaboration between Nordic and Serbian businesses within the scope of green transition. I also believe that the Nordic/ Serbian green project has placed an increased focus on the importance of green transition and the circular economy in Serbia.
Nordic companies are nowadays role models for all things sustainable. In that sense, I am very happy to see that several eminent Danish companies have chosen Serbia as a reliable partner in showcasing their sustainable achievements. Pump manufacturer Grundfos is one of the prime examples of this. It has just recently inaugurated a new state of the art production plant in Inđija that features solar panels, a rainwater harvesting system, geothermal technology for cooling and heating and a distributed pumping solution using Grundfos’s own technology. It is a great pleasure for me to see that Serbia is hosting and embracing such successful examples and, hopefully, they can also serve as an example to others.
Denmark will take on special responsibility for sustainable farming, which is a huge topic. How did you go about it? - Denmark has agriculture in its DNA. The Danish economy was based on the agriculture and fishery sectors for hundreds of years. The economy has today changed, but the agriculture sector still employs roughly 200,000 people and yields exports worth 21 billion euros annually. Since 1990, we have managed to triple production in our food sector while simultaneously reducing emissions related to the food sector by 16%. However, given that agriculture represents roughly 15 per cent of global emissions and that we have a population that’s growing globally, we have to realise that current production methods and emission levels are unsustainable.
Connecting all these issues is no simple task. Increasing output and quality, while lowering greenhouse gas emissions and maintaining top standards of animal welfare, is not a task for one country and it is definitely not a task for one farmer to take on alone. Having this in mind, we decided to dedicate the Danish-led conference to this topic, and to give both Danish and Serbian experts and farmers an opportunity to present their findings and exchange their experiences.
What are the most significant outcomes of the “Nordic-Serbian Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture” Conference, which was held in Novi Sad on 18th October? - We are very satisfied that we managed to gather a significant number of both Danish and Serbian agriculture experts at Science and Technology Park Novi Sad, with whom we had great collaboration. From the Danish side, this included Ms Lise Walbom, CEO of Food Nation Denmark, Mr Tom Axelgaard, CEO of Goodvalley and president of Danish Farmers Abroad, Mr Torben Tornegaard Olesen, Chairman of the Danish Pig Academy, as well as representatives of industry leaders ACO FUNKI, DanVit, Breeders of Denmark, Skov, SundsAlfa and Fog Agroteknik. From the Serbian side, we heard from Professor Vitomir Vidović of the University of Novi Sad, Mr Marko Panić of the Biosense Institute and other eminent Serbian professionals. The event’s most significant outcome was the knowledge exchange between Danish and Serbian stakeholders. An important takeaway from the conference was also that making agriculture more sustainable is not only an environmental question, but also a question of dollars and cents. For example, when farmers take a scientific approach to choosing fodder for their pigs and invest in the right products, they can both lower their costs (because they won’t need to buy as much as before), increase their output (because the animal feed is more nutritious) and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions (because the feed is more sustainable). This kind of thinking is what is needed to make agriculture more sustainable.
Common Challenges Related To Greening Economies
There is rising interest among both local companies that want to cooperate with their Finnish counterparts and among Finnish companies that want to support potential partners in applying green industrial processes in Serbia and around the region
Although the previous years have been filled with events that distracted Nordic countries and Serbia from cooperating on green transition, current developments that point to the importance of sustainability are underpinning the formation of “green partnerships”.
Your term as ambassador to Serbia, which started in mid-2019, has been full of extraordinary events, starting with the COVID-19 pandemic and extending to the current energy crisis. How have these events shaped your work in Serbia? - It is true that the focus of my work has been shifting quite a bit during these years. In autumn 2019, Finland held the presidency of the EU Council and we focused on that agenda. Soon after that, the pandemic broke out and the embassy’s main task was to advise and help Finnish citizens in the region. I was lucky to be able to build networks before things were shut down by the pandemic. I really appreciate the Nordic and EU cooperation that we have, but also our excellent cooperation with the Serbian authorities.
This year has unfortunately been marked by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and its repercussions on international relations, and on this region. Russia’s attack also led Finland to reconsider its longstanding security and defence policy and to apply – together with Sweden – for membership in NATO. A serious consequence of the attack is the worsening of the energy crisis, as you mentioned. The only solution is to cut our dependency on Russian hydrocarbons and boost the transition to greener technologies.
Nordic regional cooperation is recognised as both a highly ambitious approach and a relevant model of cooperation when it comes to green transition. What makes it useful for Serbia and the other countries of this region? - Formal Nordic cooperation dates back several decades and extends across all areas of society, from politics and research to culture and art. The Nordic Council of Ministers has set an ambitious Nordic vision for 2030: The Nordic region will become the world’s most sustainable and integrated region. We acknowledge the fact that the Nordic region is seen as a role model when it comes to the environment and climate. We therefore also see that sharing our knowledge and experiences can prove helpful to other regions. A copy-paste approach rarely works, but challenges related to greening the economies are common both here and in the north. We all want to develop clean, resource-efficient and sustainable solutions. Like the Nordic countries, the Balkan states are relatively small in terms of population. You could thus say that a common approach is not only desired, but also needed to be competitive on the global market.
Finland consistently ranks at or near the top of international rankings when it comes
COMMONALITY
Like the Nordic countries, Balkan states are relatively small in terms of population. A common approach is thus not only desired, but also needed to be competitive on the global market
OPPORTUNITY
Green transition is a great opportunity to attract new investments, create new jobs, achieve greater competitiveness of the economy and strengthen the local market and businesses around it
LEADERSHIP
Finland is recognised in Serbia as one of the leaders in the development of smart solutions related to the circular economy, clean energy, green industrial processes and other environmentally friendly solutions
to innovation. To what extent could green transition solutions be upgraded with the help of ICT and other technological solutions? - In addressing the challenges of sustainability, mitigating climate change and transforming the energy system, the role of innovation is today greater and more crucial than ever before. At the same time, green transition and cutting carbon emissions have become key ingredients of innovation that cannot be viewed separately. Digital transformation and ICT are definitely enablers of green transition, and Finland is the most digitised country in Europe, according to the EU’s Digital Economy and Society Index. Additionally, it is one of the global forerunners in 5G mobile communications technology. New technologies, including automation, robotics, electric vehicles, renewable energy, biotechnologies, and artificial intelligence, have immense potential to foster growth, prosperity and environmental sustainability. Given that Finland aims to become a leading country in combating climate change, with the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2035, the aforementioned technologies are essential in achieving this target.
What major lessons could Finland share with us when it comes to greening business and creating green industrial processes? - Finland has strong collaboration between its companies, industries, research institutes, universities, the government and other relevant stakeholders. This is definitely one of the positive examples that we can share with Serbia. The authorities need to recognise that green transition is a great opportunity to attract new investments, create new jobs, achieve greater competitiveness of the economy and strengthen the local market and businesses around it. On the other hand, businesses are able to see numerous benefits, starting from reduced costs, achieving sustainability and ultimately making an impact on public health and improved quality of life for citizens, as a common good. Finland and the other Nordic countries will continue to support Serbia in its move towards a greener future. As part of the Nordic Green project, Finland will organise an event on greening businesses and green industrial processes at Science and Technology Park Niš on 2nd February 2023. The focus of the event
will be on company cases and examples of how to advance production processes, improve and make greener business operations, increase efficiency, improve quality, include circular economy principles etc.
Finland will organise an event at Science and Technology Park Niš on 2nd February 2023, which will focus on company cases and examples of how to advance production processes, improve and make greener business operations
As of 2021, the Nordic embassies, together with local partners that include the Nordic Business Alliance, have organised a series of events related to the circular economy. What do you see as the major achievements of this initiative to date? - I think we have managed to raise public awareness of the urgent need for societies to be greener and more sustainable. Our message is that this does not need to be to the detriment of businesses and the economy. On the contrary, green transition is an opportunity. We have chosen to engage with businesses, government and City representatives, civil society and the media. Everyone is needed, but it is the most influential actors in each society that need to show the way. The attention we have received shows that Serbian actors also see the circular economy as an opportunity. I hope we have inspired some of them and created “green partnerships” that will stand the test of time.
The Team Finland network has been actively supporting Finnish companies in finding partners and opportunities in the Western Balkan region. In that respect, do Finnish companies recognise opportunities in the industrial and clean-tech sector in Serbia? - Finland is recognised in Serbia as one of the leaders in the development of smart solutions related to the circular economy, clean energy, green industrial processes, air quality and other environmentally friendly solutions. Looking at investments by Finnish companies, there has recently been more interest towards renewable energy and environmentally friendly solutions. It is worth mentioning that Finnish company Taaleri Energia is one of the major investors in the largest wind farm in Serbia and the region, Čibuk 1. On the other hand, numerous Finnish companies, such as Valmet, are already involved in improving the industrial processes of some major local companies. There is rising interest among both local companies that want to cooperate with their Finnish counterparts and among Finnish companies that want to support potential partners in Serbia and around the region. We can therefore definitely see that the future focus of Finnish companies will be on sectors that are relevant to the green transition of Serbia’s economy.
H.E. JØRN EUGEN GJELSTAD, AMBASSADOR OF NORWAY TO SERBIA
Environmental And Strategic Imperative
I have a strong belief in the prospects of green transition in Serbia. Now is the time to step up the momentum and accelerate the change
Markets will push green transition and investments in green technologies, thus persuading Serbia to continue harmonising its environmental regulations with those of its European peers. This seems to be one of the most crucial lessons to be learned from the experience of the Nordic countries. This was the main topic of our interview with Norwegian Ambassador to Serbia H.E. Jørn Eugen Gjelstad.
If we compare the conference you hosted in cooperation with the Serbian Ministry of Mining and Energy in December last year and the new one scheduled to take place at Science and Technology Park Belgrade this month (November 2022), what do you see as the major changes that have happened in the meantime? - The major change that has occurred is the energy crisis that has struck our continent. We have seen record-high electricity prices and an increased focus on energy and energy independence. It has become clear that shifting away from fossil fuels is not only an environmental imperative, but a necessity of strategic autonomy. This has always been the case, but rarely to the extent that it is now. The current crisis has underscored the urgent need for a variegated supply chain and more renewables in countries’ energy mix. In this regard, I was glad to hear Prime Minister Brnabić declare, for similar reasons, energy the main priority of the new government, with renewables representing a significant part of that priority.
Energy is indeed a hot political topic. To what extent does this help or hinder the transition to greener solutions? - Major industrial transitions are always difficult and costly, but it is important to be clear that green transition is both a must and an opportunity. Strategic investments made today will pay off later and should not be considered as burdensome costs. It is a must primarily because all evidence points towards the catastrophic environmental consequences of inaction. Moreover, in order to remain competitive in today’s global markets, both businesses and countries must invest in the future – and that future is undeniably green! We can already see this at the European level. The EU has clearly signalled its commitment to green transformation. And we know that the markets will follow suit. In the case of Serbia, the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism stands out as a key challenge for everyone. With this new carbon tax, it will be increasingly difficult to sustain export access to European markets if products are not aligned with these new environmental criteria. As Serbia continues to harmonise its environmental policies with those of its European counterparts, markets will drive the green transition, and consequently investments in green technologies will become more profitable than the alternatives. This transformative shift should not only be considered a necessary undertaking based on principles and standards, but should also be considered as being existential to the future of national economic interests and public health.
What further steps need to be taken in advancing the green agenda and improving resilience in the energy sector? - Firstly, I would like to acknowledge that Serbia has achieved important progress in terms of renewable energy and energy
OPPORTUNITY
Major industrial transitions are always difficult and costly, but it is important to be clear that green transition is both a must and an opportunity
PROGRESS
Serbia has achieved important progress in terms of renewable energy and energy efficiency over the past few years, mainly in the realm of legislative efforts
CONTRIBUTION
Through the Nordic Green project, we hope to contribute to knowledge-sharing and constructive initiatives that can accelerate green transition in Serbia
efficiency over the past few years. Legislative efforts have been made in the fields of energy and mining that are intended to improve conditions for energy independence and enable further harmonisation with EU legislation. Still, two-thirds of Serbia’s energy production continues to rely on low-quality coal. This is unsustainable over the long run and presents a major challenge that requires cross-sectoral efforts to solve.
The shift to renewable sources of energy is one of the most important steps any country can take to improve its energy resilience. However, time is needed to bring about transformative change in the way a country manages its resources, industries and value chains. The EU’s 2022 Enlargement Report on Serbia stated that Serbia has a lot of untapped potential regarding Chapter 15 on energy. Battery solutions, hydrogen storage and reversible hydropower are some of the energy carriers that have been identified as having major potential in Serbia’s upcoming shift away from coal. Developing these sources and carriers, in parallel with transmission and distribution networks, will be key.
What advances the green agenda more than anything else is a decisive commitment to change. Through the Nordic Green project, we hope to contribute to knowledge-sharing and constructive initiatives that can accelerate green transition in Serbia and realise the country’s great potential.
How might Norwegian expertise help in reducing the country’s dependency on both specific energy sources and individual suppliers? - What Norwegian expertise can do is to share our experience of organising the energy sector in the most effective way, based on a diversified mix of sources and carriers. We can do this with a view to increasing output and reducing greenhouse emissions. Secondly, and not to be forgotten, we also have certain competence in bringing state-owned companies in line with internationally accepted corporate governance principles. By doing so, we are making the energy sector attractive to investors, which eases access to capital. In this way, we can significantly increase sector productivity
and profitability, making the energy sector the cornerstone of the national economy. The success of today’s Norwegian energy sector is rooted in decades of targeted action, as well as the profile of our higher education system that can respond easily to the requirements of the energy economy. Additionally, I think it is relevant to mention that our cluster model, which connects research institutions, companies, universities/student programmes, government, and private equity funds, has over time been a strong driver behind our high-level technological entrepreneurship and our culture of innovation.
Overall, what do you see as the major achievements of bilateral relations between our two countries and the Serbian EU integration process in the areas supported by Norway? - Relations between our two countries remain strong. Norway continues to be a reliable partner to Serbia on important issues and is a consistent supporter of socioeconomic development across the region. I would highlight our long-term support to socioeconomic development in cooperation with local SMEs and municipalities. Additionally, we will now step up our efforts in the areas of innovation and entrepreneurship, with a particular view to make use of young and highly skilled professionals in this country. Serbia has a lot of talented young people, and they should be given the right opportunities to develop their skills and contribute to new growth impulses in the national economy. This is the future.
At the same time, we hope to continue our excellent cooperation on energy and on efforts to make the energy sector efficient, diversified and as green as possible. We believe energy should be considered the main driver of strengthened and deepened regional cooperation among the WB6. Common engagement across borders to meet the energy challenge will build trust and make the region much more resilient.
Norway, therefore, continues to work with financial partners like the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) to support investments in clean energy, sustainable infrastructure and improving the competitiveness of business sectors within this region. Norway is consistently among the biggest bilateral donors to the WBIF, and we are happy to further our strong commitment in this regard.
H.E. ANNIKA BEN DAVID, AMBASSADOR OF SWEDEN TO SERBIA
We Now Need To Involve Citizens
The Swedish bioenergy success story could apply to Serbia in many ways. We hope that Swedish companies and experts will play a significant role in helping Serbia increase the use of bioenergy in an economically and environmentally optimal way ~ Annika Ben David
Sweden can share a lot of its experiences and practises regarding the fight against climate change, says Swedish Ambassador to Serbia H.E. Annika Ben David, speaking in this CorD interview. “The most important experience is that all parts of Swedish society can and want to participate in fighting climate change – leading by example,” explains our interlocutor. “There are impressive investments being implemented by industry, for example in developing carbon-free steel production, while at the same time people are re-thinking their lifestyles to see how they can contribute, for example by eating more vegetarian, recycling household waste, using more public transportation or buying a bio-fuel car.”
From such an ecological perspective, what would be the most important lessons you would like to share with the Serbian public and Serbian policymakers? - There are two important lessons. The first is that the investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy that we made in the ‘90s are now paying off. Our foresight then is helping us today, when we find ourselves in the midst of an energy crisis. The second lesson is that we need to involve citizens. As an explanation, it is important to lead the way, but also to listen – to people, civil society, industry and academia. By making them partners in green transition, policy and action become more sustainable.
FORESIGHT
The investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy that we made in the ‘90s are now paying off, just when we find ourselves in the midst of an energy crisis
Waste separation and recycling is greatly lacking in our experience and our focus. How do you contribute to the sharing of knowledge and the implementation of sustainable solutions in this area? - In Sweden, 98 per cent of all waste is recycled and becomes new energy. Recycling is made easy and has become a reflex. Sweden has supported Serbia in developing strategies and plans to improve waste management standards nationwide. Serbia’s policy is now aligned with EU standards and supported by practical and affordable local experience.
The need for sustainability is as key for Serbia as it is for Sweden. There is no substitute for practical experience and persistence. Swedish cooperation with Serbia’s national and local authorities made possible pilot projects like the Arilje source separation station, the Čačak transfer station and waste planning in Čajetina. These projects serve to demonstrate how progress can be achieved.
Thanks to Swedish support, as part of the Team Europe effort, small-scale pilot projects have turned into large-scale investments in 17 municipalities. These are being rolled out as we speak. Tons of waste is now being recycled! In line with Serbia’s national plans, this approach will be expanded and applied across the country.
Swedish companies are said to be interested in investing in biomass and biogas in Serbia. How many opportunities for cooperation do you see today and in future? - The Green transition of our society is very important to us. There is simply no way around it.
Swedish companies are our partners. They are global leaders of innovation and sustainability. This includes the use of biogas and biomass, something we refer to as bioenergy in Sweden. In fact, according to 2020 data, bioenergy is the leading source of energy in Sweden, with close to a 40% stake in the overall energy mix. When it
SUPPORT
Thanks to Swedish support to Serbia, as part of the Team Europe effort, small-scale pilot projects have turned into large-scale investments in 17 municipalities. These are being rolled out as we speak
ACHIEVEMENT
In Sweden, 98 per cent of all waste is recycled and becomes new energy. Recycling is made easy and has become a reflex
comes to district heating, biomass has a dominant position of about 70% as the main source of fuel for producing heat. As Serbia embarks on the path of increased use of renewable energy sources, we know that bioenergy is one of those with the greatest potential to replace fossil fuels.
Fossil fuels are currently used in Serbian district heating plants, for example. In the north of Serbia, in Vojvodina, there is significant potential to produce biogas from manure, with additional quantities of energy crop substrates, such as maize silage, which is abundant there.
The bioenergy success story in Sweden could therefore apply to Serbia in many ways. We hope that Swedish companies and experts will play a significant role in helping Serbia increase the use of bioenergy in an economically and environmentally optimal way.
A bilateral agreement on cooperation in reducing industrial emissions was signed a year ago by Sweden and the Serbian Ministry of Environmental Protection. What progress has been made so far? - The first year of our project has been very successful: the process of preparing a new law with high environmental standards has now started. Together with several industries, our experts have worked on permit preparation for investments in green technologies. We have held several training sessions for inspectors, so they can do their job better. And, very importantly, we have engaged students in a Tech Case competition, showing that students in Serbia are a great resource when it comes to solving challenging problems. Together with the EU, Serbia and UNDP, we are active in the huge EU for Green Agenda project. It has made challenge calls engaging several more industries in green investments for the future. Industrial emissions should be in the focus in the years ahead.
EU Accession Negotiation Chapter 27 – Living Environment and Climate is one of the toughest for any country to fulfil. In which areas has Serbia, with your support, made the most visible change? - Sweden’s support for waste management and wastewater improvements are the most visible changes. For example, a major wastewater treatment plant in Niš is now under construction and will serve to reduce the levels of untreated wastewater entering the river Nišava. The plant was prepared by Sweden and is now being co-financed by Serbia and the EU. Through our recycling reform, regions that are home to up to 700,000 citizens are now engaged; citizens recycle their own household waste, separating metal, plastic, paper and glass.
This is very hands-on and very visible! Nordic Countries & Serbia 2022 13
DOINITA MIHAI, VICE PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, EASTERN EUROPE SOUTH, TOMRA
Developing Deposit-Return Systems
Topics like climate change, land and marine pollution, and dependence on fossil fuels amid increasing demand for resources from a growing population all represent complex challenges for every country. Current projections suggest that the world's population will hit 8.2 billion by 2030 and as much as 11 billion by the end of the 21st century. It is becoming increasingly clear that the process of moving from a linear economy, based on resource consumption and disposal, to a circular economy, based on resource saving and reuse, must be accelerated
We are witnessing a seismic shift in people’s attitudes towards the planet’s resources and elements that threaten human health and the environment, such as waste pollution.
Globally, an overwhelming percentage of over 90% of goods are sold in packaging that will, sooner or later, enter waste streams, which is leading all countries to seek effective management solutions that limit environmental impact.
Serbia is no exception, as it is also facing rising environmental emergencies and it seems as though the fight against landfilling is far from over. In the absence of some of the most important circular economy tools, such as “pay-as-you-throw”, a significant landfill tax and a deposit-return system, less than 10% of recyclable materials are diverted from landfills and recycled.
Beverage packaging, which is considered as being among the top three most polluting items found in the environment, becomes an important secondary raw material resource for various industries when collected and recycled, thus reducing demand for, and dependency on, virgin raw materials.
In the race against plastic pollution, ambitious targets are set for EU member states and a minimum of 77% of plastic beverage packaging must be collected for recycling by 2025, and 90% by 2029. Additionally, in the production of new plastic beverage bottles, it is required that such packaging contains 25% recycled plastic by 2025, respectively 30% by 2030.
According to experts, achieving new collection and recycling targets for beverage packaging waste under European directives is impossible without a deposit-return system (DRS). Such programes achieve an average beverage packaging collection rate of 92% across Europe, which is almost 40% higher than any traditional separate collection scheme. Lithuania advanced from a collection rate of 34% to 92%
within just two years of implementation, while Germany recovers 98% of beverage packaging under the scope of its DRS. The Nordic countries are pioneers in the launching of such programmes, operating them for decades and reaching some of the highest collection rates for beverage containers, such as Finland of 96%, Denmark of 93%, Norway of 92% , Iceland of 91% and Sweden of 88%.
Deposit-return system defined
A deposit-return system (DRS) is a mechanism that enables actors involved in the consumer-recycler chain to organise a system to return beverage containers to the point of sale with the help of a financial incentive, i.e., a deposit. The consumer pays a deposit when buying a drink, which is subsequently refunded in full when the post-consumer packaging is returned to a special return point, usually at the retailer point of sale. It is important to note that the deposit is not a tax. This deposit accompanies the packaging on its journey from the producer to the point of return, where it is collected for recycling. The packaging thus gains value, is diverted from dumping at landfill sites and becomes a secondary raw material to be reintroduced to the economy.
Over 50 years of experience in the field, coupled with the analysing of DRS results in over 40 markets where it is present, TOMRA has found that the most effective schemes are built around four principles:
Performance: a collection target for a broad scope of beverage packaging, as well as a meaningful deposit, delivers strong results.
Accessibility: the redemption system is easy, accessible and fair for everyone.
Producer responsibility: producers manage, finance and invest in the system with the use of unredeemed deposits and commodity revenues.
System integrity: trust is built into the system’s processes through transparent management, a data-driven clearinghouse and reliable redemption technology.
These principles are reflected in 12 key elements that are common to high-performing deposit-return systems, address global waste challenges and advance a circular economy when applied together.
Benefits of a deposit-return system A DRS is primarily an effective environmental tool, while it simultaneously also brings multiple benefits to population` s health, as well as to the economy. It prevents land and sea from being polluted with packaging waste, contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and compels producers and citizens to act responsibly. The materials recovered have a superior quality that allows their reintroduction into the economy, thus helping to conserve valuable natural resources. It generates significant cost savings for municipalities. More than 30 international studies show that the the
Key elements of high-performing DRS
All of the elements – when applied together – will address global waste challenges and advance a circular economy.
In the race against plastic pollution, ambitious targets are set for EU member states and a minimum of 77% of plastic beverage packaging must be collected for recycling by 2025, respectively 90% by 2029. Additionally, in the production of new plastic beverage bottles, it is required that such packaging contains 25% recycled plastic by 2025, respectively 30% by 2030
implementation of a deposit system has a positive impact on local budgets. The impact assessment performed by the Scottish Government on the prospects of introducing a DRS resulted in an overall net benefit to local authorities of £191.1 million. Also a 2016 study carried out by MRA Consulting Group for the DRS operator in Australia (CDSO) concluded that annual savings of $10.1 million can be made from reducing costs associated with landfilling and $59 million from reducing costs associated with litter collection – reference: (https://onlinelibrary.wiley. com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1759-3441.12305).
Financing a deposit-return system According to the ‘polluter pays’ principle, beverage producers and importers
About Tomra:
TOMRA was founded in 1972, based on the design, manufacturing, and sale of reverse vending machines (RVMs) for automated collection of used beverage containers. Today TOMRA provides technology-led solutions that enable the circular economy with advanced collection and sorting systems, and food processing by employing sensor based sorting and grading technology.
Altogether TOMRA has over 100,000 installations in over 80 markets worldwide. The TOMRA Group employs roughly 4600 people globally and is publicly listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. https://www.tomra.com doinita.mihai@tomra.com that place beverage packaging on the market have the obligation to finance the system. The highest return rates can be seen in systems that take a return to retail (R2R) approach. According to such an approach, retailers that sell beverages have legal responsibility to take back the post-consumption packaging and refund the deposit to consumers. The authorities ensure that the required legal framework is respected for the implementation and optimal functioning of such a system, while an extremely important role is also played by the consumer, who has the responsibility to return the packaging. According to the Waste Management Action Plan for 2022-2031, Serbia has aligned its programme with the EU’s goals and vision. In section 6.4, a deposit return system is listed as a necessary economic instrument for waste management in reaching these targets. The local culture, socio-economic conditions, politics and existing waste management infrastructure will influence the design of such a programme when it is considered for Serbia. TOMRA relies on decades of practical experience to develop holistic collection and recycling processes that are customised to meet the demands of different markets. Through our daily activities, as well as through our research and development work, we aim to determine changes in attitude and behaviour that motivate recycling and the transformation of waste into resources for the economy. To find out more, please download Tomra’s white paper, Rewarding Recycling on deposit—return systems – reference: (https://circular-economy.tomra.com/ resources/drs-white-paper).
AstraZeneca And Urban Beekeeping
As a socially responsible company, AstraZeneca has joined the urban beekeeping project in Belgrade that is being implemented in cooperation with the Nordic Business Alliance and beekeeper associations, and which aims to help ensure the survival of bees in nature
Apart from honey, propolis and other important products that bees are directly responsible for producing with their work, these hardworking little creatures are also responsible for pollinating large numbers of fruits and vegetables, thus indirectly providing food for the whole of humankind. However, various factors are causing their numbers to decrease, the most prominent of which is climate change, which threatens the amount and variety of food available to the whole world. It is precisely for this reason, and in order to provide its own contribution to maintaining bees in nature, that AstraZeneca launched its engagement by adopting three hives with beekeeper associations in Belgrade, with the apiary located in the vicinity of the Port of Belgrade’s Passenger Terminal. The undeveloped area around the terminal has been cleared and planted with flowering nectar source plants, thus creating a mini-ecosystem ideal for bees. Alongside cooperation with beekeepers and expert support provided by them, AstraZeneca employees also received an opportunity to try their hand at beekeeping, resulting in honey collection beginning after less than six months. Around 150,000 bees produced 35kg of honey and pollinated almost half a million flowers in Belgrade city centre, with all these activities supported by about 20 volunteering employees of AstraZeneca Serbia.
The company plans to continue and additionally expand these activities in the coming years.
VLADIMIR MITIĆ, CEO, VISA PROM D.O.O. (LTD.)
Respecting Nature, Nurturing Quality
Visa-Prom, one of the largest primary wood processors in the Republic of Serbia, which has been operating successfully since 1992, this year marks the 30th anniversary of its existence. The capital of this enterprise, which has more than 250 employees, is under complete domestic ownership
In every segment of its operations – from cutting and transporting wood, via processing and production, but also to trade – this Kanjiža-based company consistently respects all environmental protection and circular economy principles, thus providing a huge contribution to ensuring an environmentally friendly future.
You’ve been operating in Serbia for a full three decades, while since 2011 you’ve also been engaged in the production and processing of wood. How did you diversify your operations and what does your portfolio comprise? - Apart from trade, since 2011 our composition has also included a primary wood processing plant, which was opened with a desire to renew the production of packaging and create new jobs for residents of the municipality of Kanjiža. Our company is one of the largest primary wood processors operating in the Republic of Serbia, with annual processing that exceeds 50,000m3. We are simultaneously one of the largest producers of pallets, with annual production exceeding 600,000 units that are sold on the domestic market, as well as over 12,000m3 of poplar veneers and plywood that are sold exclusively on the markets of the EU.
Does the fact that you source raw wood material exclusively from forests that are managed sustainably represent your contribution to Serbia’s eco-friendly future? - We have the FSC [Forest Stewardship Council] certificate, which represents a guarantee that our wood reaches the end user via a chain that’s strictly monitored: from certified forests, through processing to final production. The FSC certificate represents a reliable link that can be traced back from the product in the hands of the end user through responsible production and the rational use of wood, to the felling of forests under strict expert supervision.
What do you mean precisely when you say that your factory is free of waste? - We like to say that there is no waste in the wood industry, only leftover wood. In the production process, during the processing and treatment of wood, a large amount of leftover wood remains, which accounts for approximately 40% of the total raw material processed. We use leftover wood as an energy source for our furnace plants. In order for us to round off the production process and maximise the use of raw materials, we invested in a new plant for the processing of leftover wood, with the aim of creating added value usage and a new product: compressed wood blocks, which serve as an integral element in the production of pallets. Creating the new plant and equipment to produce compressed blocks included an investment of considerable funds, exceeding 1.5 million euros.
Your operations consistently respect all environmental protection and circular economy principles. One could say that you place a great emphasis on this aspect in all stages of production, even more than you’re obliged to do so according to laws and regulations? - Visa-Prom is the only company on the Serbian
market that produces compressed blocks. As one of Serbia’s largest producers of EPAL pallets, we have licensed our compressed blocks according to the EPAL standard, with which the use of these blocks in the production of EPAL pallets is enabled. We also possess a thermal treatment certificate, while production is harmonised with the European standard ISPM 15 [International Standards For Phytosanitary Measures] and we have implemented ISO standard 9001 on management quality. As a responsible player in both the economic and social life of Serbia, we endeavour to organise our production process with respect for all legally stipulated environmental protection procedures and processes. We are planning to invest in a new furnace plant, with which we would reduce emissions of harmful gases and therefore also reduce environmental pollution. If we were to implement this investment with some form of subsidy and state assistance, we would create conditions for the creation of new jobs, in addition to improving energy efficiency.
For what do you use the green energy that you produce from excess materials in your own furnace? How far have you progressed with your ambitious plans to instal solar panels? - As I mentioned, our furnace plants use leftover wood from the production process as an energy source. The heating energy released is used to launch operations at the plant for drying veneers and pressing plywood and LVL [Laminated Veneer Lumber] boards, as well as to heat the plant and thaw logs during the winter months. We thus ensure the self-sustainability of production.
Ash is left behind as the remains of the burning of leftover wood in furnaces, which unfortunately represents waste. When considering how we can turn this waste into a viable product, we discovered that there are furnace plants that produce bio-coal instead of ash. Bio-coal has broad applications in agriculture, due to the fact that adding it to farmland significantly increases the fertility of the soil and helps restore degraded land successfully.
Given that electricity is becoming a scarce product, with a serious price growth tendency, we decided to instal solar panels on the premises of the factory. The first phase of the investment is already being implemented, with the installation of solar panels to produce 140kWp of electricity, and will be completed and made operational before the end of November. The implementation of the second phase, which implies the installing of additional solar panels with a capacity to produce 80kWp, is planned for the first quarter of 2023.
We are also currently in the phase of conducting a feasibility study for the implementation of an investment in a large solar power plant up to 10mWp. The realisation of this investment wouldn’t only cater fully to the factory’s electricity needs, but would also enable us to make the excess energy produced available to the Serbian power grid.
There is no waste in the wood industry, only leftover wood… and it accounts for approximately 40% of the total raw material processed. We use leftover wood as an energy source for our furnace plants
We shouldn’t overlook the fact that your company also engages in trade and that you take care to protect the environment and adhere to circular economy principles in this segment of your operations. You also adhere, among other things, to very stringent regulations with regard to packaging… - Our retail outlets sell dyes, varnishes, paints for interior and exterior walls, electrical materials, façades and thermal insulation materials. Our dyes, varnishes and paints are packaged in metal or plastic containers. We encourage customers to return the packaging to us after they’ve used the product, which we dispose of in an appropriate way and subsequently submit to recycling companies. Our desire is to collect as much of this type of waste as possible, in cooperation with companies that handle the recycling of this type of waste, and we are prepared to offer storage facilities to cater for its disposal, with the possibility of jointly investing in a major recycling centre.
Why Buy When You Can Rent?
Finnish company Lindstrom has been present on the Serbian market for the last eight years and provides rental services for workwear and uniforms, as well as renting mats and rubber scrapers
Renting and maintaining workwear and uniforms, along with a wide range of products and a flexible, cost-effective service, enables staff to look good, feel comfortable and work more efficiently, but those aren’t the only benefits.
Lindström is a Finnish company that has brought over 170 years of experience in working with textile products, tried and tested in 24 countries around the world, to the Serbian market. This company’s innovations, technology, standards, knowledge of regulations and tailored services help clients find the best solutions, regardless of the size and activity of the company.
GETTING IT RIGHT WITH WORKWEAR
Running a business is today no easy task. Factory procurement managers, for example, have dozens of issues to consider, but there’s one that always seems to find its way to the top of any list: pricing pressure. Procurement has become an integral part of corporate performance. Many organisations ask, plead, and even demand that their procurement managers purchase products that meet the same quality standards to which the company has become accustomed, but that they do so cheaper. And as we all know already, that’s no easy task.
Current global tendencies are inclined towards renting. Although a company’s biggest spend is on the procurement of staff clothing, it might come as a surprise that these costs don’t end there. Caring for workwear can also result in a surprising number of costs incurred by everything from washing and drying, to alterations, transportation, inventory management and, finally, disposal or recycling. 20 Nordic Countries & Serbia 2022
In addition to clothing being taken care of for the entire lifecycle, renting also means that you don’t have to make unnecessary investments in properly storing workwear that isn’’t currently in use – you only pay for what you use. Moreover, damaged garments are repaired, replaced, or retired as required. With proper cleaning techniques handled for you, you can be sure that garments remain crisp and hygienically clean, without colour transfer or deterioration.
In addition to saving time and money, renting workwear and uniforms from a reliable partner allows employers to focus exclusively on their core business.
When you use Lindstrom’s service, the company not only acquires the necessary workwear, but also washes, maintains, repairs, renews, and even stores it on your behalf. Lindstrom delivers clean, well-kept clothing on a weekly basis, directly to every employee’s locker or another location specified by the client. This enables you to stress less and focus more on your actual work. Everyone wins.
MAT RENTAL SERVICES
MATTER MORE!
There’s no way to avoid tracking dirt and dust in from outdoors. There is, however, a solution to keep it from spreading throughout the building. With the Lindstrom Mat Service, the right mats in the right places keep dirt and dust at bay, while ensuring the client’s floors remain beautifully clean. What’s more, Lindstrom is happy to help you find the best possible mat solution and frequency of replacement. This means that your building, and its floors, stay cleaner for longer. Add reduced cleaning costs to that and you can see why mats matter. The service of renting and maintaining workwear, uniforms, mats and rubber scrapers is an efficient and cost-effective solution
When weighing up options for the cleaning of company premises, it is best to keep a few facts in mind. On average, 80% of the dirt found within premises is carried in through the front doors. Also, an average of 70% of the costs of cleaning premises is spent on floors. When installed correctly, Lindstrom Mat Services enable significant savings on cleaning costs and also increase the comfort and attractiveness of your premises in various ways.
The right mats have a major impact on an environment’s ambience. They can add just the right touch to interior design, guide employees and visitors in the right direction, and strengthen your brand’s image – all while providing comfort and better acoustics.
Mats stop the dirt and moisture that cause accidents, making your floors safer for the people who walk on them. Plus, ergonomic mats are a must for increasing comfort and well-being during standing work.
Lindstrom’s service for renting and maintaining mats and rubber scrapers is an efficient and cost-effective solution. The main features of the service are cleanliness, comfort, safety and interior design – from the front door to the workplace. With a diverse service of renting and maintaining tracks and mats, service users leave a great impression on their customers at all times, thanks to the impeccable appearance and cleanliness of their premises. Our Mat Services work wonders with your workplace!
www.lindstromgroup.com/rs/ korisnickiservis@lindstromgroup.com +381 63 333 165
NEDA LAZENDIĆ, COUNTRY MANAGER, WV-INTERNATIONAL SERBIA
We Need New Power Plants
In the last 50 years, there has not been enough investment in the energy sector, which definitely cannot and must not rely on thermal power plants. According to data from the Ministry of Mining and Energy, the goal is to provide 5 gigawatts of electricity from solar and wind energy by 2030
Serbia has great potential to generate electricity from the wind and the sun, so the construction of new power plants that use these renewable energy sources could improve the situation a lot ~ explains Mrs Lazendić , while revealing the dynamics of the construction and commissioning of new wind power plants.
Serbia today imports electricity. Did we get into this situation because we are not utilising our capacities? - The thermal power plants that make up about 70% of the production capacity in the energy mix of the Republic of Serbia are more than 30 years old, and we can expect that their failures will become more frequent, and maintenance will become more difficult. So, it is clear that we cannot base the future development of the energy sector on these capacities, but rather we must turn to the construction of new installations for the production of electricity, energy efficiency and saving electricity in industry and in households. Investors have already recognised South Banat as a good location for the construction of wind power plants, while the south and southeast of the country are suitable for solar power.
Do you believe that green electricity from wind farms Alibunar 1 and 2 can be on the grid as early as 2024? - The construction of wind farms Alibunar 1 and 2, with a planned total installed capacity of 168MW, is a priority both for the local team and for the entire team of the Emergy company that joined the development of these projects in 2021. I am proud that, with our joint efforts, we have managed to secure all the necessary permits, we are in the process of securing financing, the majority of contractors have been chosen through transparent procedures, as have suppliers of wind turbines. Construction is planned for the beginning of the construction season in 2023, and the delivery of green energy to the grid is planned for the end of 2024.
At the same time, we will continue the development of the Banat 1-5 wind power complex located in South Banat, with a planned total installed capacity of 570MW. They are at various stages of development, and we plan to connect them to the grid successively between 2025 and 2027. The development project of our first solar power plant in Žablje, with a planned installed capacity of 80MW, is in preparation of planning and technical documentation and is also one of the business priorities for the coming period.
How much does the support of an experienced investor such as Emergy, the Norwegian Embassy in Belgrade and the Nordic Business Alliance mean to you in realising your goals? - I am grateful for all the knowhow, expertise and experience I gain every day with my colleagues from Emergy. They are specialised in developing electricity markets and I am glad that they recognised Serbia as a reliable partner for the realisation of an impressive portfolio. Support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway in Belgrade, headed by H E Jørn Eugene Gjelstad and his team, has been present since the very beginning of this partnership, and the Nordic Business Alliance promotes the very values that are our trademark: sustainability, the Green Agenda, and environmental protection. I am especially looking forward to the Western Balkans Renewable Energy Conference, where the representative of Emergy from Norway will share his impressions of the implementation of Norwegian energy standards in Serbia.
MILAN JEVREMOVIĆ, LOCAL BUSINESS AREA MANAGER, ABB MOTION BUSINESS
Savings Represent The Most Efficient Energy Resource
Even before outbreak of the current energy crisis, company ABB was already paying plenty of attention to new solutions that enable the intelligent use of energy resources that are currently available
It is not enough today to merely increase energy capacities; the world must turn towards improving energy efficiency - stresses ABB Motion Local Business Area Manager Milan Jevremović, while revealing the ways in which Serbia and the world could ensure a stable supply of electricity.
How do you, at ABB, view the current energy crisis? Do you have any new, innovative solutions that could help? - The biggest and cheapest energy resource that the world has is the potential to make savings, i.e., the ability to use existing resources and capacities in an efficient manner. Research shows that improving energy efficiency could perhaps save more than 10 per cent of all electricity consumed.
The innovative solutions that ABB offers enable available resources to be used intelligently while at the same time reducing the CO2 footprint. As an example, it is known that using coal of a consistent quality results in better combustion in furnaces, increased efficiency and reduced emissions of harmful gases. That’s why company EPS [Elektroprivreda Srbije], together with ABB’s engineering team, carried out the project “Monitoring and management of coal quality” for the needs of the Nikola Tesla Thermal Power Plant. Testifying that it isn’t necessary to work to completely eradicate fossil fuels is the fact that some developed European countries are considering restarting coalbased electricity production. It wouldn’t be wise for Serbia to abandon this energy source, of which it has ample supplies, until it secures new resources or until we build some new hydropotentials. ABB’s new and innovative solutions enable the reducing of the CO2 footprint and the intelligent use of available resources
While we’re on the subject of hydropotentials, a question that imposes itself is whether we would be helped by another project like the Bajina Bašta Reversible Hydropower Plant. - Investing in additional hydropotential is a good solution for our country, which is why EPS is already working on that in a big way. Plans are being developed for new reversible hydropower plants that are more useful than standard impoundment or run-of-river power plants, because they allow energy to be stored and used when required by the system. In this way, RHP Bajina Bašta is very helpful to our energy system. The project to improve the work of this reversible power plant, which ABB participated in to a significant extent, contributed to the entire plant working even more efficiently, to it having increased operational readiness and to it being able to provide additional megawatts. ABB used new technologies to help more efficiently use the potential of RHP Bajina Bašta and extract additional energy from existing resources.
Almost all socially responsible companies are striving to make their operations more energy efficient, and ABB is here to help in this aspect. In which ways do you do so? - We have been dealing with this issue for 15 / 20 years, and the idea of our “Energy Efficiency Movement” campaign is to create among people an awareness of the importance of energy efficiency. Our aim is for everyone – governments, state institutions, responsible companies, universities and individuals – to agree that our shared goal is to reduce negative environmental impacts through the use of modern technologies. Considering that around 45 per cent of the world’s total energy consumption comprises electric motors and that the number of electric motors is set to double by 2040, we identify great potential for savings in this area. The EU is introducing new standards to prevent the use of electric motors/drives and devices that are not energy efficient. No one will impose that regulation on Serbia, as it is not an EU member state, but – given current prices of electricity – a large number of companies that operate in Serbia recognise the potential to make savings and are deciding to invest in more energy efficient drives.
PETAR BELOKAPIĆ, DIRECTOR, MEDICON
Safe Support To Patients
The Medicon company has been taking care of numerous patients for 40 years, in cooperation with health centres in Serbia and the region. In the beginning, they were focused exclusively on the dialysis field, while the business expansion into the transfusion field came ten years later
The first man of Medicon speaks for CorD magazine about the decades-long cooperation with the Swedish company Gambro, which is now part of the Baxter corporation, about respect for Swedish standards in business and life, work ethics, meeting deadlines, and the attitude towards patients and doctors.
Did your company focus on hemodialysis and transfusion from the beginning? - Medicon has been present on our market for exactly four decades. Already during the first years of operation, we focused exclusively on dialysis, representing a famous Swedish manufacturer in this field. The basic criterion for representation was the quality of products and services, with the aim of providing support to patients whose life depends on these procedures. We started dealing with transfusion when the same manufacturer began expanding their research and development into this area of medicine, especially in collecting and processing stem cells and other blood components, as well as improving the quality, safety and efficiency of blood in transfusion. Even today, our work is focused exclusively on these two areas.
What did you take from the Swedes in business, besides their The trust that our users have in us is the motive and acknowledgement that we are still on the right track as a reliable partner in our market
work ethic, desire to improve, strict adherence to deadlines...? - This company was and continues to be a pioneer in finding innovative solutions for chronic and acute renal insufficiency, including water quality, and it has always had patient safety as the first and basic criterion. Product quality, constant quality control and reliability in providing support to patients and health workers in this area to preserve the quality of life of patients, have always been imperative in our way of thinking and in the functioning of our business. Swedish standards in business and life in general, including work ethics and strict adherence to deadlines, are very close to the sensibility and principles we cherish within our company. The trust that our users have in us is the motive and acknowledgement that we are still on the right track as a reliable partner in our market.
Medicon is part of a large family of Swedish companies operating in Serbia. Do you think that you can contribute to the development of Serbian society with your knowledge and experience, products, innovations, principles and values? - I believe that it is very important that our community actively works on the development and sustainability of Serbian society. The community of Swedish and Nordic companies in Serbia can enrich our society with its specificities by exchanging knowledge and networking. The synergy of our experiences in business in various fields, and the principles we bring from our business origin countries can significantly contribute on that progress path.
We have been maintaining close relations with the community of Swedish companies in this market for decades and we try to be active participants in various projects, not only in the areas that are directly related to our field of work, but also in others, such as culture. An example is a ten-year cooperation with a mentoring programme that deals with personal and professional development of future leaders in culture, which is rooted in the Swedish tradition of mentoring. This is the right way to contribute to the development of Serbian society.
JOHN GLAZEBROOK, PROGRAMME MANAGER, SWEDEN-FUNDED EISP2 PROGRAMME, BROOKS HANNAS & PARTNERS
Reduce Waste Wherever Possible
Thanks to joint Serbian, EU and Swedish efforts, Serbia’s national objectives and standards are being aligned with those expected across most of Europe. Sweden has played a key role in helping Serbia turn strategies and plans into practise
SERBIA, SWEDEN AND EU COOPERATION FOR ODVAJAMO PROJECT. SREM-MAČVA REGIONAL WM CENTRE, MAY 2022. SOURCE_EISP2
Could waste management in Serbia be at a historical turning point? - Years of research, planning and development have provided the basis for largescale investment in the Serbian waste management sector. Waste infrastructure projects have been financed and are start26 Nordic Countries & Serbia 2022
ing to be implemented across the country. Sweden has been Serbia’s partner in many of these steps and remains here to support the work ahead.
What’s in place and what still needs to be done? - We have come a long way… Serbia’s waste policy framework is nearing completion. The strategies, plans and programmes that define ‘WHAT’ needs to be done for Serbia to have a modern waste management system have been developed over the last six years.
Thanks to joint Serbian, EU and Swedish efforts, Serbia’s national objectives and standards are being aligned with those expected across most of Europe. Serbia now has a national Waste Management Programme (2022-2031) and Action Plan, as well as formal plans to meet standards in areas like Industrial Emissions, Landfills and Biodegradable Waste.
There’s also been planning at the local level in Serbia, supported by Swedish expertise. The Municipality of Čajetina and public utility company ‘Zlatibor’ have been assisted by the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities and the Swedish Association for Local Authorities and Regions in planning improvements across the entire range of municipal waste services.
In order for these plans to become a reality, it’s necessary to be honest about the current situation. Almost half of Serbia’s municipal waste continues to end up in unsanitary dump sites. Photos regularly appear on social media showing waste dumped in rivers, dumpsites on fire and overflowing waste bins. With this legacy, progress has to be tangibly demonstrated in order for it to be credible. This means recording improvements on Instagram, Facebook or other sites in order for them to become ‘real’.
How will Serbia’s waste management system improve? - Massive investment in waste infrastructure, such as sanitary landfills, cleaner trucks, bins and treatment facilities, are a large part of the solution. It was the same for other EU Candidate Countries. However, infrastructure alone cannot deliver the required new standards. Legislation must make it clearer where responsibilities to make the necessary changes lie, to invest, operate, inspect, enforce and communicate.
Three years ago, over 80% of Serbia’s municipal waste ended up being dumped in non-sanitary landfills, while that total is now just less than 50%. Serbia already has projects financed to reduce this unsanitary disposal to less than 20%, but we have to go further, for two reasons: 1. Many of these actions are not sufficiently visible by ordinary citizens; 2. Sanitary landfilling is no longer enough. In my experience, Serbs are aware of the global environmental crisis and are aware of better standards, like recycling, in EU countries.
Sweden has played a key role in helping Serbia turn the strategies and plans (on paper) into practise (in reality). For example, in 2015, in cooperation with the Serbian Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Čačak City Administration, Swedish funds were used to construct a waste transfer station in Čačak. This facility provided the ministry with a practical example of how 30,000 tons a year of both recyclable and residual waste could be transferred and transported separately. It also enabled Čačak to close its old city dumpsite.
Serbia’s waste management will develop through the building of public services, layer upon layer. Investments and waste sector reform must keep advancing to the next level. At a minimum, all citizens should have access to full collection coverage and sanitary landfilling. Preparation for recycling, green waste and food waste treatment, special waste streams and hazardous waste collection, remediation of contaminated sites and more will follow. This is ‘HOW’ Serbia’s soil, water and air will become less polluted by waste.
Could you tell us more about the Odvajamo recycling project? - The ‘Odvajamo’ Project is the first largescale example of this progressive approach. Cooperation between the Serbian Ministry of Environmental Protection, 17 local authorities across Serbia, the EU and Sweden is providing citizens with over 90,000 wastebins and containers, 26 refuse collection vehicles, a communication campaign and investments by national and local authorities.
The separation of waste at ‘source’, by those who generate the waste in households and small businesses, is an essential step for the recycling of paper, plastics, metal and glass. Achieving just 10% high quality separation out of the 215,000 tons of municipal waste collected a year
in these local authorities would add over 20,000 tons of secondary material to the economy. More recycling means less waste going to landfill, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, more material for Serbia’s recycling industry and more job opportunities.
The Odvajamo [We Separate] project is not an isolated event. Sweden’s pilot project in Arilje, implemented four years prior, built the experience of applying these standards under Serbian conditions. Research on European experience and consultation with local and national policymakers ensured the plans were realistic.
The quality of the initial collections has been as good as most EU countries would expect, with over 90% clean material. All participating municipalities are expected to have launched their new services by March 2023. Operating separated waste systems will not always be easy. Like many modern climate or waste actions, the new system requires people to change their behaviour, which can prove difficult. There must be trust and cooperation between citizens and local authorities. The cost of waste management will inevitably increase; sadly, nothing is as cheap in the short-term as throwing waste into a dumpsite or a river. The benefits will become apparent over time. I have not heard of anyone in another country, or in Arilje, who would go back to the old ways.
Every Serbian citizen should expect to be provided with separate collection services (which is stipulated under Serbian law) and each citizen should be ready to do their part by putting the correct materials into the correct bins. The experience of these 18 pioneering municipalities will form the basis of normal, modern waste management in the years to come.
What’s next for waste management in Serbia? - Firstly, to reduce waste wherever possible. Then to build a waste management system that improves continuously. Every type of waste needs to find its proper place.
Major new investments in waste management have been announced by the Serbian Government and international partners, to be implemented over the next seven years in the regions of Novi Sad, Sombor, Nova Varoš, Užice, Valjevo/ Ub, Kraljevo, Niš, Pančevo and Kragujevac. With the cooperation of citizens and international partners like Sweden, better waste management will soon be visible nationwide across Serbia. Being visible is not a sign that the plans are complete, but it does prove that they have started being implemented.
SWEDEN-FUNDED ARILJE SOURCE SEPARATION
SCHEME. OPERATING SINCE 2016. SOURCE_EISP2
Global Pillar Of Energy Security
One of the ways to achieve Vision 2030, the comprehensive programme that will make the Nordic region the world’s most sustainable and integrated by 2030, is via renewable energy, which is an area where Norway is a champion
Norway is the world’s seventh largest hydropower nation – and the largest in Europe. Some 98 per cent of electricity produced in Norway comes from renewable energy sources. However, even though hydropower is dominant, Norwegian companies are pioneering technologies in other areas, including solar power, floating offshore wind and energy storage. Over the last decade, wind power has become an increasing part of Norwegian power production. For now, wind still represents only a small part of the total output, but the number of wind turbines is increasing year-on-year. 28 Nordic Countries & Serbia 2022
Norway’s hydropower resources have given it industrial development, wealth creation, light and heating for more than a hundred years. Norway is today a global pillar of energy security, with its ample reserves of oil and gas produced in an environmentally responsible manner. The country is a significant and reliable international supplier, exporting close to 90% of its energy production.
The country has updated its already ambitious climate targets with plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90-95% of 1990 levels by 2050, excluding carbon sinks. The country’s robust carbon pricing system, under which 85% of domestic emissions are either covered by the European Union Emissions Trading System or are subject to a carbon tax, provides a solid foundation for delivering on this target. And yet, the remaining reductions will be more complex, challenging and costly, notably in transport and industry.
Specifically, Norway is well placed to decarbonise a wide range of sectors through technologies like electric vehicles, hydrogen, and carbon capture, utilisation and storage. Norway is already a leader in carbon capture, and its impressive Longship project, which encompasses two full-scale
capture facilities and one storage facility in the North Sea, will help to further advance this technology for the world.
Indeed, climate change entails a need to continuously adapt to climate change in order to prevent unwanted incidents that may endanger human life and negatively impact key infrastructure and societal functions. From an international perspective, Norway is well equipped to handle the direct effects of climate change. The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) has instruments that, separately or in combination, are suitable to reach the necessary climate adaptation within NVE’s areas of responsibility.
The knowledge base has been improved through updated hydrological projections and flood analyses, as well as through work related to the new version of Klima i Norge 2100 (Climate in Norway 2100) for the Norwegian Centre for Climate Services (NCCS).
Recently, the Government of Norway has launched the Green Industrial Initiative that aims to make the country a green industrial and energy giant based on its natural resources, knowledge environments,industrial expertise and historical advantages. The strategy is tasked with helping accelerate the transition, create jobs throughout the country, strengthen investment on the mainland, increase exports and cut greenhouse gas emissions.
The Norwegian industrial sector is already based on clean and reasonably priced renewable energy, and industrial companies that manage to develop and utilise high-tech solutions in many areas. However, the government acknowledges that green industrial investments require access to suitable areas and infrastructure, raw materials and, not least, capital and labour. The right competences, as well as a well-functioning capital market and tax system, are thus also essential for growth and restructuring. That’s why the government made a commitment to pursue a comprehensive policy towards business, industry, energy, climate and the environment that is efficient, results-oriented and, in aggregate, contributes to NVE ambitions related to green transition.
The Government has identified seven areas that will be prioritised under the scope of the Green Industrial Initiative. These are value chains for offshore wind, batteries, hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, the processing industry, the maritime industry, and forestry and the timber industry, as well as other bioeconomy sectors. These areas are considered key to work on developing an emission-free energy system and society, which provides opportunities for sustainable production in the future, and with expected high future market demand.
It was additionally concluded that faster transition and development require closer
Along these lines, and under the auspices of the project Nordic Green - Solutions for Serbia 2022/2023, an interesting event will be organised on 15th November at Science and Technology Park Belgrade. This event will see representatives of cutting-edge Norwegian companies and authorities discuss possibilities for cooperation with Serbian companies, start-ups and state institutions.
The event we will focus on renewable energy, the application of the latest technologies in energy systems and storage solutions, as well as other relevant topics, such as balancing the power market, improving secondary legislation, technology
development and public-private partnership for innovation. The event will provide insight into best practices on accelerating the Green Agenda through renewable energy.
Faster transition and the development of the Green Industrial Initiative require closer interaction between business and the authorities, as well as strengthened industrial partnerships with other countries
Better Preparation For Future Challenges
Finnish providers of sustainable manufacturing solutions can support Serbian manufacturers in increasing both their productivity and efficiency, while also accelerating the green transition
Finland is among the world’s most digitally advanced countries, while connectivity and data utilisation are among the key value adding characteristics of Finnish solutions. Here Toni Mattila, head of Sustainable Manufacturing at Business Finland, the country’s national innovation funding and trade promotion agency, shares his views.
What are the current trends of the manufacturing sector, both in Europe and globally? - Over recent years, many global challenges have confronted manufacturing industries. Included among them are the COVID-19 30 Nordic Countries & Serbia 2022
pandemic, the blocking of the Suez Canal, natural disasters like floods, wildfires and droughts caused by climate change, but also the war in Ukraine, all of which have shed light on the vulnerability of supply chains, while at the same time creating a need for greener and more energy efficient solutions. One of the key takeaways of these crises is that we need to develop more resilient supply systems, especially in Europe, and to make sure that all European countries participate in the re-rationalisation of supply chains. Although some parts are still manufactured more efficiently elsewhere, companies should critically evaluate the extent to which the production of critical parts should be relocated closer in order to improve resilience, and redundancy sourcing developed for them. Globalisation has undoubtedly brought many benefits, but it has also rendered supply chains vulnerable. We need to be better prepared to face similar future challenges and shocks.
What can Serbia’s manufacturing sector learn from its Finnish counterpart? - As is the case for Serbia, Finland’s manufacturing sector is also very important for its national economy. A third of Finland’s GDP and 50% of its exports currently come from manufacturing industries. Finnish manufacturing industries encompass products in a wide range of sizes and include everything from highly miniaturised wearable electronics all the way to large cruise ships. And between these extremes lies a very important sector of manufacturing for Finland, namely mobile work machines. Finland hosts a few dozen manufacturers of mobile work machines in farming, forestry, port logistics and mining, to name just a few examples. Due to their dependency on foreign markets, Finnish manufacturers have been tackling the challenge of international competitiveness for decades and have thus been pressured into finding ways to maintain their competitiveness. Particular challenges for Finland include the fact that it is a high labour-cost environment and a geographically isolated country.
Finland currently ranks as the European Union’s most digitally advanced country, according to the EU’s Digital Economy and Society Index. Digitisation is therefore also
a distinct feature of Finnish manufacturing. Many Finnish smart manufacturing solutions have been founded on connectivity, meaning that manufacturing equipment and devices are connected and often remotely operable. Data from the manufacturing process is thereby constantly available to be utilised for the benefit of manufacturing and industrial processes. The mobile work machines sector, for example, is characterised by medium volumes and high levels of customer specific tailoring. Challenges related to such manufacturing have led to the creation of a specific group of highly advanced solution providers that are capable of providing productivity improvement solutions particularly to such ‘high mix, low volume’ manufacturing. The Serbian manufacturing industry might face similar challenges of international competitiveness and productivity in the future, and therefore closer collaboration with Finnish manufacturing industries could provide mutual opportunities.
Finnish manufacturers are today increasingly developing a further competitive advantage from the green transition. Challenges related to environmental sustainability and the green transition of manufacturing industries are shared by all industries globally and, thus, close collaboration on this front provides additional opportunities for collaboration between Serbian and Finnish manufacturing industries.
Alongside manufacturing, the food industry is also growing in Serbia. Could Serbia also take advantage of some lessons learnt from the Finnish food industry? - Finland is known for its pure and high-quality food production. This is derived equally from pure nature and strict legislation of food sanitary and safety regulations in Finland. One outcome of this is highly developed solutions in cold chain assurance to make sure food products remain fresh throughout the logistics chain, all the way to the consumers. Representing part of this are technologies to monitor temperatures across the entire logistics chain. Another aspect is to scan and monitor food production processes to make sure that food does not include unwanted ingredients, substances or particles.
Which Finnish solutions could benefit companies in Serbia? - As noted above, Finnish manufacturing industries have tackled productivity challenges in the environment that is specific to Finland and those same companies are today working actively to find ways to improve their environmental friendliness and create business value from it. This ‘tackling of challenges’ has produced many solutions that are today available commercially. Energy efficiency, which is a very topical and acute challenge for European industries in particular, is a concrete theme for collaboration. Finland’s cold climate, especially during the winters, has compelled Finnish companies to find innovative solutions around energy efficiency. For example,
industrial processes that produce large amounts of waste heat (such as steel mills or data centres) have developed methods to recover that excess heat and sell it to heating companies, which in turn use it to heat homes and other facilities. Energy efficiency has developed into a business sector in its own right, where there are multiple companies with core expertise in finding energy efficiencies and thereby also saving on the costs of their clients’ industrial operations. Another excellent opportunity is industrial digitisation. For example, industrial digital twins and business value from data. Some specific examples of Finnish solutions that could support the manufacturing sector in Serbia include: Granlund, which specialises in improving productivity to promote digitisation and new energy solutions for various industries; Wapice, which digitises clients’ business processes from the beginning to the end of the production chain; KPA Unicon, which provides boiler and heat recovery solutions; and Verderon, which uses multiple
data sources to calculate environmental impact on a daily basis.
By working closely with the Embassy of Finland in Belgrade, we, at Business Finland, are looking forward to discussing more with Serbian industry, and to supporting the joint European approach to creating more efficient and environmentally sustainable manufacturing value chains.
Leading The Way To The Farms Of Tomorrow
Denmark has been a forerunner in the development of new tools and techniques for boosting food and agricultural production in a sustainable way. This tradition of innovation is closely intertwined with the Danish collaborative culture that dates back to the first dairy cooperatives of the mid19th century. The sector today serves as a role model for technological innovation and resource efficiency, as well as high production yields. Consequently, Denmark is today a major exporter of technology that supports the green transition of the global food value chain.
Danish farmers employ precision agriculture to minimise their environmental footprint, while food manufacturers increasingly embrace digital solutions, automation and advanced predictive maintenance tools.
As large-scale consumers of water and energy, the food sector and agriculture industry are pushing for technological smart solutions in order to reduce consumption and recycle wastewater and heat. Livestock manure and food production side streams have consequently become feedstock for
Denmark’s growing production of biogas – an energy source that is gradually replacing fossil fuels as part of the renewable energy mix. As such, Denmark’s experience is sought-after by many countries that are seeking to develop high-tech and climate-smart agriculture. The increasing demands on agricultural productivity – born of a combination of rising income, population growth, objectives to meet nutritional requirements, biodiversity protection and climate change mitigation – are fuelling the need for the more efficient agricultural techniques deployed by Danish farmers.
A Long with other Nordic countries — Sweden, Finland and Norway — Denmark is seeking solutions to reduce CO2 emissions and tackle the challenges of climate change.
Nonetheless, the country is managing to maintain its position as a leader in pork production, which soared to 13.2 million pigs in 2020, the highest figure in 10 years. This is, once again, a result of the cutting-edge technologies along the production line, which were recently presented in Belgrade. Approximately 90 per cent of pigs produced in Denmark are exported, rendering this sector essential to the Danish economy and the country’s balance of trade. Danish pigs are exported to more than 140 countries, with the largest markets by volume being Germany, the UK, Poland, China, Japan, Italy, Russia and Sweden. The Danish pig industry is among the world’s leaders in areas like breeding, quality, food safety, animal welfare and traceability. Indeed, Danish producers are committed to leading the way in finding sustainable solutions to produce meat in a more environmentally friendly way.
Along the same lines, in October 2021, the Danish government reached a broad agreement to push for the green transformation of agriculture, with the aim of reducing agriculture’s carbon footprint and pesticide use, while focusing on biodiversity and new technologies.
Denmark’s proclaimed goal of reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 55 to 65 per cent by 2030 would represent a reduction of 6.1 to 8 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents (a measurement used to compare the impact on global warming of other greenhouse gases, such as methane).
The climate agreement includes the largest investment in plant-based research and development by handing $90 million available, for five years, to farmers who produce plant-based foods.
Danish companies and start-ups are currently working to replace traditional meat products, such as bacon, hot-dogs, sausages and spreads, with plant-based alternatives. This effort is backed by Danish universities and research centres that are working on innovations related to the production of plant-based food products.
According to the Danish government, plant-based foods are set to become a “central element in the green transition”. The plan aims to establish clear targets for the production and sale of plant-based products, while this agreement makes Denmark the world’s first country to boost plant-based products.
Indeed, the Danish government and society have taken on a huge task, given that emission reduction is mainly associated with large reductions in meat production. The main focus so far has been on targeted mitigation policies or the deployment of smart technology. This is in line with public opinion, which doesn’t support the placing of limitations on meat production.
While livestock farming and its contributions to emissions are receiving increased attention, Danish multinational dairy cooperatives are also taking major
steps to develop advanced farming solutions. Denmark thus serves as a testbed for exploring green farming solutions and improving agriculture and its impact on both nature and climate by exploring regenerative dairy farming.
The longstanding tradition of public-private partnerships in Denmark is an important driver of innovation and development in sustainable dairy farming.
Furthermore, organic farms are encouraged to measure their soil carbon content and register practises that promote biodiversity. The data garnered will play a key role in guiding the right future actions of dairy farmers.
IVA PETROVIĆ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NORDIC BUSINESS ALLIANCE
Focus On Sustainable & Inclusive Growth
The period ahead represents an opportunity for Serbia and the Nordic countries to create new models of cooperation, upholding the principles of resilient and just economies and societies. The successful resumption of ties is full on, and we look forward to future possibilities
The pandemic certainly made a significant impact on the work of the Nordic Business Alliance. However, at the same time, it amplified the importance of solidarity, insists Nordic Business Alliance Executive Director Iva Petrović. “I am proud to say that Nordic embassies and businesses in Serbia were leading the charge. Significant donations and technical assistance were provided to Serbia during these turbulent times, which exemplify the strength of the ties between Serbia and Nordic countries.”
Today, when COVID-19 in becoming endemic around much of the world, all eyes are turned towards sustainable and inclusive growth. “This inclusive growth model reconciles dynamic growth with equality and social peace. It is designed to benefit all stakeholders (and the environment) and, as a result, improve living standards, reduce inequality, and narrow social divides,” says Petrovic.
What are the most important tools at the disposal of the NBA for fostering this kind of cooperation? - The Nordic Business Alliance works closely with the four Nordic embassies in Serbia to build stronger business relations between the countries. We do this through joint projects, initiatives and a wide range of activities, including conferences, roundtables, networking events and public diplomacy. A horizontal and nimble organisational structure allows us to respond quickly to topical issues and keeps us relevant to our members and stakeholders. Our members are esteemed leaders in their respective industries and we aim, synergistically, thorough out network, to deliver best practices with the goal of improving the business climate in Serbia. To this end, we also collaborate with international development organisations to partner on projects in which Nordic experts and institutions can contribute with their valuable knowledge and experience.
We also see increased interest in regional connectivity. Serbia is becoming a regional hub from which many companies manage their businesses in neighbouring countries. New market entrants from Nordic countries often see the NBA as gateway to future regional growth. It is therefore no coincidence that, in March this year, we adopted a new Statutory act that now positions the Nordic Business Alliance as a regional association, opening doors to new members from Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina and North Macedonia.
The circular economy, environmental protection and innovations are among the major parts
REGIONALISATION
New market entrants from Nordic countries often see the Nordic Business Alliance as a gateway to future regional growth
PARTNERSHIPS
Green transition is of paramount importance, and the Serbian government has shown great interest in partnering with Nordic countries in this process
COLLABORTION
We look forward to continuing our active participation in the Serbian Government’s Coordination Body for Healthcare System Digitalisation, where great progress has already been made
of your new strategy. How well does this strategy resonate with the government’s current focus on innovation, biotechnology and green transition? - We work closely with government stakeholders to further agendas for these important topics. Green transition is of paramount importance, and the government has shown great interest in partnering with Nordic countries in this process. One example is the project Nordic Green – Solutions for Serbia, which is funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers and represents a continuation of the Circular Economy Project launched in 2021, with the intention of achieving greater business and government cooperation in areas such as sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, waste separation & recycling, and greener business and industrial processes.
When it comes to innovation, it is very exciting to witness the launch of the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Serbia (C4IR Serbia), which is a collaboration between the Government of Serbia and the World Economic Forum. The hallmark of the Nordic Business Alliance is that it is only with joint, focused efforts, built around public-private partnership, that we can achieve a meaningful and sustainable impact. C4IR Serbia is a great example of this – bringing together stakeholders from government, business and academia to accelerate the deployment of emerging technologies. And biotechnology and artificial intelligence for healthcare are two areas where Nordics can certainly help. We look forward to joint projects and initiatives in the coming years.
One of the areas in which Nordic companies have cooperated the most with the Serbian government and business institutions is the area of e-government. However, the 5G network that enables digital transformation and full digital inclusion, creating conditions to increase productivity, is not yet a reality in Serbia. How does this influence the prospects of further cooperation between Serbia and the Nordic countries and businesses? - The pandemic has been an inflection point in the digital maturity of governments. While initial efforts to accelerate digital transformation have yielded dividends, governments will need to continue the momentum. This means that agencies should adopt a cohesive approach to modernising their digital capabilities, and connectivity is a prerequisite for that. Although significant progress has been made in Serbia, network challenges still exist, especially when it comes to rural areas, and particularly in southern parts of the country.
Whether you’re a country leader or a local official, your aim should be to bring increased satisfaction to your constituents – both businesses and citizens. Can 5G enable that? Yes, absolutely, 5G is needed for full digital inclusion. It helps preserve the way of life away from urban cities, increases productivity and sustainability, and is key to Industry 4.0.
However, aside from the connectivity and access that come with 5G, there are other priorities for the optimisation and digitisation of e-services. A digital mindset – moving away from “doing digital” to “becoming digital” – is among them. At the heart of this digital transformation is moving away from ad hoc applications of digital to designing and implementing digital technologies that are deeply embedded in an organisation’s DNA. COVID-19 propelled many governments, including the Government of Serbia, into this next stage of digital transformation with e-health services related
to testing, vaccination and digital green certification, among others. We look forward to continuing our active participation in the Serbian Government’s Coordination Body for Healthcare System Digitalisation. Great progress has been made, and we should build on this momentum to extend the scope of e-health services, including the unified electronic patient health card and telemedicine.
Apart from important business ties, the NBA places a focus on sharing specific values: social responsibility, solidarity, sustainability, transparency, inclusion, care for the environment and innovation. In the hectic world that we currently live in, is there enough space for these values to be nurtured? - I think that, in the not-so-distant future, these values will be prerequisites for any business strategy.
The hallmark of the Nordic Business Alliance is that it is only with joint, focused efforts, built around publicprivate partnerships, that we can achieve a meaningful and sustainable impact. The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Serbia is a great example of this
And, thankfully, businesses increasingly understand that they are no longer “nice-to-have” peripheral activities, but rather integral parts of their business models. Many years ago, we referred to them as “Nordic values”, but today they are universally accepted global principles for sustainable economic growth and just societies.
NASSER BOURITA, MOROCCAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AFRICAN COOPERATION AND MOROCCAN EXPATRIATES High Time For New Milestones
I consider the commemoration of this Jubilee as an invaluable opportunity to lay down bridges of dialogue, communication and exchange through numerous means that include business, art, history, cinema and music ~ H.E. Nasser Bourita
At a time when the world is going through unprecedented transformations, complex challenges and multidimensional risks, there are also unique opportunities ahead of us. As a committed global partner of Serbia, Morocco wishes to move forward side by side to take advantage of this situation in order to embark on a much more promising path of mutual prosperity.
On 1st March, 2022, the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Serbia celebrated the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Belgrade and Rabat. To commemorate this special milestone, then Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Selaković and myself agreed, during his visit last year, to designate the year 2022 as the “Year of Morocco in Serbia and the Year of Serbia in Morocco”.
Since our bilateral relations have always placed people at the centre of its agenda and at the heart of its achievements, I consider the commemoration of this jubilee as an invaluable opportunity to lay down bridges of dialogue, communication and exchange through numerous means that include business, art, history, cinema and music. I believe that human relations are the main link to connect our two geo-strategically important states, and thereby better linking Africa to the Western Balkans.
The two nations, equally strong in the face of adversity, which have gone through key moments hand-in-hand, such as the 1st Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement in Belgrade in 1961, and two peoples united in the defence of their respective national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The solid bond that unites us is not only the expression of a deep relationship rooted in history, but also the primary attribute of the credibility and reliability that both our states enjoy within the international society and within our bilateral relations. At the end of the day, Morocco and Serbia, despite being separated by geography, share a common core of values that aligns our visions and welds our external action.
On the principals of mutual respect, common interest, and a shared informed vision, we have come a long way in further deepening our relations in many respects, especially in the most heartfelt and structural aspects. The friendship that binds our two nations has not been overlooked. His Majesty King Mohammed VI has personally cited Serbia amongst the inner circle of the Kingdom’s friends. It is, for us, the most significant signal of the excellence of those relations.
Looking ahead, I am utterly convinced that we can achieve more. This jubilee shoulders the responsibility of our like-minded governments to provide the adequate content to meet the expectations of our two Heads of States and peoples. To this end, the time has come to jointly explore the opportunity for a fully vested strategic partnership. A partnership that can equip us with the necessary means to respond to the ongoing transformations and take advantage of the immense opportunities that lie ahead. A framework that structures the workflow that our two diplomatic bodies, our public institutions and our governments can use as a springboard to reach the political and economic goals we want for our relationship.
Moroccan-Serbian cooperation has proven to be in line with the flow of history. It is high time to set new milestones and elevate our cooperation to an unprecedented level amid the unprecedented challenges of recent times
IVICA DAČIĆ, SERBIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS Traditional Friends, Partners For The Future
The Republic of Serbia and the Kingdom of Morocco are bound by decades of sincere friendship. We are very proud of the unbreakable historical ties we have with the Kingdom of Morocco, a country with which we are commemorating 65 years of diplomatic relations this year. On the occasion of this important anniversary, a number of events have been organised throughout the year within the scope of the programme "Serbia in Morocco and Morocco in Serbia”
Our citizens had the opportunity to enjoy the rich cultural and artistic programme prepared by our Moroccan friends, while Serbia successfully presented its history, culture and art in several Moroccan cities. I am convinced that this event, as well as other projects, will contribute to bringing our friendly peoples even closer together.
This anniversary year is an opportunity to affirm our shared commitment to developing cooperation in all fields, for which both Belgrade and Rabat have shown a high level of readiness. We have a rich history of togetherness, dating back to the early days of the Non-Aligned Movement, and therefore it is incumbent upon us to deepen our political contacts and cultural cooperation in the period ahead, and especially the economic exchange for which there is huge untapped potential. In this regard, we will support in particular the work being done by the Serbia-Morocco Business Council, led by the chambers of commerce of our countries, and it is our desire for it to become a bridge strengthening economic cooperation.
Serbia is strongly committed to continuing its successful harmonisation with Morocco in international organisations, in the spirit of friendship and mutual trust.
This is also a good opportunity to reaffirm my gratitude to the Kingdom of Morocco for its continuous support to the preserving of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Serbia, as well as for the principled position maintained by Morocco in international organisations.
It is with great pleasure that I recall the meetings I’ve had to date with high-level officials of Morocco, both in my capacity as Minister of Foreign Affairs and as Speaker of the National Assembly, and I particularly look forward to continuing my cooperation with Minister Nasser Bourita, who I consider as both my own friend and a friend of our people.
MOHAMED MEHDI BENSAID, MOROCCAN MINISTER OF YOUTH, CULTURE AND COMMUNICATION Joint Moroccan-Serbian Youth Programmes Required
Cooperation between Morocco and Serbia flourishes more with every passing day. The two countries have understood the importance of building cultural bridges to bring people, and therefore countries, together.
As of today, Morocco and Serbia have developed strong cooperation in different fields of culture: cultural heritage, archives, arts, music, choreography and visual arts.
Increasing the axis of this cooperation and partnership provides a strong basis to create synergy between the different stakeholders.
Morocco and Serbia enjoy strong bilateral relations; the assessment of the celebration commemorating the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations is more than positive. In the field of culture, Serbia has become an important partner, especially when it comes to exchanging expertise between institutions, but also through increasing participation in cultural events and happenings organised by both countries.
It is a known fact that cultural diplomacy is an important vector, as it provides an opportunity for countries to showcase the richness of their culture on the international stage, and allows peoples to be brought together. It conquers the heart of every country: its citizens.
Apart from cooperation in other important fields, Morocco and Serbia have placed cultural cooperation under the spotlight, which has played a major role in strengthening relations between the two countries and enhancing our longstanding friendship.
The organisation of Moroccan events in Serbia, such as the Moroccan Film Festival at the Yugoslav Cinematheque Film Archives and the Forum of Moroccan Artisans in Novi Sad, as well as participation in the Belgrade Book Fair, allows Morocco to share and make known its culture on a different horizon, providing a chance to share experiences and visions. It also provides an opportunity for the people to discover what both countries have in common, be that through literature, film or even music, as art and culture are universal languages.
As Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, it is my belief that it is very important to offer different cultural and artistic programmes to the Moroccan youth, as an opportunity for them to showcase their own creativity and innovative minds. Whether at a national or international level, we have to continuously encourage them to participate in such programmes and events.
The Ministry has a large network of youth centres (Maisons de jeunes) nationwide across Morocco. This infrastructure has been made to hold different activities related to education, the arts or even sport. This entails many young Moroccans being part of this large network and having direct access to these activities. The role of these youth centres is to develop talents, offer fun experiences and shape these young people in becoming responsible and well-balanced adults. The ministry can take advantage of this landscape to promote the youth’s participation in local, national and international events, in order to offer different perspectives and horizons to boost their sense of creativity and innovation.
On the other hand, Morocco and Serbia have to jointly create youth exchange programmes, to help increase their openness to the world. Through these cultural programmes, targeting different artistic and cultural fields, both countries will offer diverse experiences open to the youth of both countries.
In this regard, I am looking forward to next year receiving my Serbian counterpart, Mrs Maja Gojković, in Rabat to discuss ways and means to reinforce our cooperation in cultural fields, such as the protection of cultural heritage and the cinematography industry. The Republic of Serbia and the Kingdom of Morocco share a longstanding friendship and I am sure that our relations will only grow closer in the future.
The organisation of Moroccan events in Serbia, such as the Moroccan Film Festival at the Yugoslav Cinematheque Film Archives and the Forum of Moroccan Artisans in Novi Sad, as well as participation in the Belgrade Book Fair, allows Morocco to share and make known its culture on a different horizon, providing a chance to share experiences and visions
MAJA GOJKOVIĆ, SERBIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION Jubilee Year Of Successful Cultural Cooperation
Iwould describe cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco in the field of culture as having been good in general from the outset, with a clear upward trend. This level of cooperation is primarily reflected in the bilateral documents signed between the two countries in the last decade covering the fields of culture, higher education, scientific research, education, professional training, communications, youth and sports.
The fact that the dialogue between Serbia and Morocco has particularly intensified this year, when we are celebrating 65 years of diplomatic ties, indicates the importance our two countries attach to strengthening our bilateral ties, nurturing friendly relations and promoting understanding between the two peoples. In this sense, we greatly appreciate the support and clear position of the Kingdom of Morocco in preserving Serbia’s cultural, historical and religious heritage in Kosovo, which is exceptionally important to Serbia.
It has been well recognised that cultural cooperation is a pillar of international relations. Thanks to the very active embassies and ministries of culture on both sides, the “Year of Morocco in Serbia” and “Year of Serbia in Morocco” programmes were organised to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the establishing of diplomatic relations between our two countries. This significant anniversary provided additional impetus to the development of cultural cooperation and the exchange of experiences in the field of culture and art in both countries.
In addition to several events initiated by the Embassy of Morocco in Serbia, I would like to highlight two events at which Serbia presented itself in Morocco. The first is the exhibition Two faces of the Pirot Rug, organised by the Ethnographic Museum of Belgrade and presented at the Dar Si Said National Museum of Weaving and Carpets in Marrakech (169 rugs), which confirmed the similarity of elements of our cultures and intangible cultural heritage. The Roads of the Roman Emperors, a joint exhibition of the Archaeological Institute of the Serbian Academy of Science and Arts and Viminacium Archaeological Park, is currently in Rabat and will soon move to Tangier. Both exhibitions were implemented in cooperation with the National Foundation of Museums of the Kingdom of Morocco.
Preparations are underway for an official visit to the Kingdom of Morocco by a delegation of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia, which is planned for early 2023, when agreements are to be signed covering the field of cultural heritage protection and cooperation in the field of film and audio-visual activities.
The Republic of Serbia, as a country that is deeply invested in global trends and the agenda for international cultural cooperation, is also fully dedicated to developing cultural cooperation with the Kingdom of Morocco on a multilateral plain. As an illustration, a very important event will be held in Rabat during the coming weeks that relates to intangible cultural heritage, which is a topic of growing interest worldwide.
I would also point out that the Serbian public most often receives opportunities to get acquainted with the culture of Morocco through the activities of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Serbia, such as translations of the works of Moroccan writers into the Serbian language. The Moroccan Film Days event, held at the Yugoslav Cinematheque Film Archives, introduced the local public to Moroccan cinematography, as well as to Moroccan music and gastronomy and traditional Moroccan crafts.
Last, but certainly not least, the Embassy of Morocco regularly organises programmes within the framework of Francophonie Month in the Republic of Serbia, which has been part of the international organisation of La Francophonie since 2006 and has been an affiliated member since 2018. As the clear political will exists for Serbia to soon become a full member, we see an extended friendly hand in Morocco.
Given that we are approaching the end of 2022, we have a realistic basis to declare this year one of the most successful to date within the framework of cooperation in the field of culture.
Morocco is a country that captivates with colour and sound, with its rich history and long tradition of the written word that resonates far and wide. In the coming period, the Republic of Serbia will continue to be committed to enhancing cultural cooperation with the Kingdom of Morocco in various fields, but also to strengthening our bilateral relations in general.
H.E. MOHAMMED AMINE BELHAJ, AMBASSADOR OF THE KINGDOM OF MOROCCO TO THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA Shared Principles And Values
The creation of a success story will inspire entrepreneurs from both countries to invest and create win-win partnerships ~ H.E. Mohammed Amine Belhaj.
It was in March this year that Rabat and Belgrade formally commemorated the 65th anniversary of the establishing of their diplomatic relations. How did your embassy celebrate this jubilee? Indeed, 2022 was a special year in the history of our bilateral relations, as we celebrated our long-lasting friendship, and the historical bonds uniting our peoples, in both Serbia and Morocco.
In this regard, the Embassy organised numerous activities of an artistic, cultural and economic nature to celebrate this joyous episode in our history, with the aim of introducing to our Serbian friends the aforementioned aspects of the Moroccan identity.
The culmination of this commemoration will take place on 9th December, through a “TRIPLE CONCERTO” concert performed by talented Moroccan pianist Dina Bensaid, accompanied by two gifted young Musicians playing Violin and Cello, at Madlenianum Opera & Theatre.
I want to seize this opportunity to thank all our Moroccan and Serbian partners, for without their support and engagement we couldn’t have made this celebration the remarkable success that it has been.
At the political level, how would you evaluate relations between Morocco and Serbia? Relations between our countries are witnessing exceptional momentum at the political level, given that both the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Serbia believe in a set of principles and values, in particular respect for the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of United Nations member states.
Based on this common understanding, our friendly nations mutually support each other on the international scene. The position of the Kingdom of Morocco towards the Kosovo issue is a principled stance. My country does not support separatism and stands against all attempts to threaten the national unity and integrity of states. Hence, Morocco considers Kosovo a part of Serbia. At the same time, Morocco supports and encourages the political dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina led by Brussels, in order to find a permanent peaceful settlement to this issue.
On the other hand, the Republic of Serbia considers the Moroccan initiative of advanced autonomy for its southern provinces as a good solution to this artificial conflict, considering that it meets all the criteria set by the United Nations Security Council resolutions since 2007.
Thus, to summarise, I believe there is a clear will from our respective leaderships to further develop our bilateral relations and transform them into a strategic partnership based on mutual respect and deep-rooted friendship.
You have been representing your country in Serbia for more than five years. In your opinion, what areas of cooperation still need to be developed? Speaking frankly, I believe that we still have a long way to go when it comes to economic cooperation. I think that both our countries offer huge potential and benefits that are yet to be explored.
I always say that the Moroccan and Serbian economies are complementary rather than competitive, and the commercial exchange between our countries should grow substantially if it is to truly reflect our excellent bilateral relations at the political level.
I was very happy to see that the commercial exchange between our countries quadrupled in 2020, reaching an all-time record of 743,31 Million Dirhams (approx. €70 million). Regardless of how much this number is below the aspirations of both our leaders, I believe that the dynamic is positive and that we must build on it by further encouraging initiatives and actions aimed at stimulating networking between our business communities and, more importantly, through the creation of a success story that will inspire entrepreneurs from both countries to invest and create win-win partnerships.
I am therefore looking forward to the holding of the 3rd session of the Joint Economic Commission in Belgrade, and the 1st session of the Moroccan-Serbian Business Council, in order to start progressing on this matter, and to present a powerful indication of the strong will of our respective governments to boost economic cooperation between our countries.
ADEL EL FAKIR, DIRECTOR OF THE MOROCCAN NATIONAL TOURISM OFFICE Focused On Establishing Direct Flights
The Moroccan National Tourism Office unveiled its new international brand “Morocco - Kingdom of Light", which represents the cornerstone of the promotional campaign that Morocco is targeting and which is dedicated to international tourism, both on traditional and emerging markets
We launched a new communication platform that reveals the wealth that the Kingdom of Morocco has to offer: Morocco is much more than a destination to visit: it is a country that lives through its arts and crafts, its living culture, its gastronomy, its creativity and its human values - says Director of the Moroccan National Tourism Office Adel El Fakir, speaking in this interview for CorD Magazine.
In your opinion, how does the “Morocco - Kingdom of light” branding contribute to strengthening the trendy image of your country among Serbian tourists? “Morocco – Kingdom of Light” is a powerful promise that positions Morocco among the world’s most coveted tourist destinations, which reinforces its repute and its attractiveness.
The campaign constitutes a turning point in the communication of the destination. It breathes new life into it and strengthens its reputation with the international public, particularly the new generations of travellers, young tourists, more dynamic, more connected, and in constant demand for the unexpected and new discoveries. We are convinced that this will also have a great impact on Serbian tourists.
How could the Moroccan National Tourism Office work to attract more Serbian tourists to Morocco? The Serbian tourist market is an emerging market that represents a lot of potential for Morocco. Our country welcomed more than 5,000 visitors from Serbia in 2019. We aim to increase this figure by
The Serbian tourism market is an emerging market for Morocco that represents a lot of potential. Our country welcomed more than 5,000 visitors from Serbia in 2019. We aim to increase this number by undertaking a series of actions to establish the Morocco brand and highlight the Kingdom’s tourism and cultural assets in Serbia
undertaking a series of actions to establish the Morocco brand and highlighting the Kingdom’s tourism and cultural assets in Serbia. We have, for example, participated in the Moroccan culture and craft week organised in Serbia, and in the Belgrade Tourism Fair. We have also developed synergies with the Moroccan Embassy in Serbia, through participation in cultural and promotional activities held in the Serbian city of Novi Sad.
At the same time, the Moroccan National Tourism Office is working with Serbian tourism operators to establish offers to increase sales of the Moroccan destination. We are also working to improve air connectivity between the two countries, as well as the scheduling of charter flights to Morocco.
Does the Moroccan National Tourism Office intend to organise tourism prospecting missions in the Balkan region, including Serbia in particular, in the near future? And when can we expect direct flights from Serbia to Morocco? The Balkan region is a promising market for Moroccan tourism, and one that the Moroccan National Tourism Office will continue to explore in order to promote the Moroccan brand. We will launch many training and promotional actions with sales networks in 2023, in order to enhance the programming of the Moroccan destination by travel prescribers. We will also participate, over the next few months, in the main tourism fairs in the region, both in B2B and B2C segments.
In terms of communication, the Moroccan National Tourism Office will also target opinion leaders in an effort to generate content about Morocco and the various tourism potentials offered by our country.
In terms of air connectivity, we are focusing on the establishing of a direct air connection between Serbia and Morocco, in order to increase the number of tourists. I can already tell you that negotiations are underway with several companies.
ALI SEDDIKI, GENERAL DIRECTOR OF THE MOROCCAN AGENCY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF INVESTMENTS AND EXPORTS, AMDIE Room To Create Further Opportunities
There is a good dynamic of the trade exchange between our two countries, which has tripled during the last few years, says General Director of the Moroccan Agency for the Development of Investments and Exports Ali Seddiki, speaking for CorD Magazine
However, he continues, “having said that, there is room for further opportunities, given the trade agreements Morocco has with more than 50 countries, including West African countries and the U.S., and Serbia’s close relations with the countries of the Balkans and within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union.
In your opinion as director general of the Moroccan Investment and Export Development Agency, what are the appropriate ways to further promote economic relations between Morocco and Serbia? Defining a joint roadmap, creating networking opportunities between business communities and economic institutions, supporting better knowledge of each countries’ sectors, competitive assets and business environment are ways to push economic relations to an enhanced level. Trade fairs, virtual or physical B2B and B2G meetings, conferences, and jointly prepared visits are appropriate tools to create the necessary connections to foster the emergence of opportunities between our two countries.
Such initiatives already take place with the support of AMDIE whenever possible, like the conferences jointly organised by the chambers of commerce of the Casablanca Settat Region in Morocco and Vojvodina Province in Serbia, but we want to do more.
With a view to the concluding of an MoU between AMDIE and the Serbian Development Agency, what is the impact of this mechanism on the strengthening of economic ties between the two countries? Precisely to go a step further, AMDIE and the Serbian Development Agency have discussed an MoU establishing a formal framework for organising events that will improve business ties and mutual knowledge in the interests of increasing mutual trade and investment flows. The MoU aims to facilitate the participation of representatives of the two countries in conferences, seminars, business forums, symposiums, as well as the organisation of any event or action of common interest; it promotes training sessions and exchanges of experience, as well as business meetings and business visits.
What are the means deployed by AMDIE to attract more Serbian investors? In this regard, does AMDIE plan to organise a Roadshow in Serbia in the near future? Over the past 22 years, under the visionary leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco has massively invested to make the most of its assets and build a competitive low carbon production platform relying on world class infrastructure and cost-competitive renewable energies, as well as on a qualified and committed talent pool.
Thanks to free trade agreements signed with more than 50 countries, Morocco has established a geostrategic platform that offers access to more than 1.5 billion consumers in the U.S., Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
As a result, exports have doubled within a decade, and Morocco is now considered to be a primary, geo-strategically placed location to invest in and export to the world.
From Serbian investors’ perspective, Morocco is also a gateway to Africa, offering a business-friendly environment. Serbian companies can count on AMDIE to explore new markets.
To further support investments, Morocco is in the process of adopting a new charter for investment. It aims to reinforce Morocco’s incentives for all types of investors and businesses – including small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as larger groups.
Furthermore, AMDIE’s team remains at the disposal of any investor seeking information, connection, support, and follow-up on their project. We see great potential in working together with our Serbian counterpart and look forward to planning a dedicated tour to showcase investment and export opportunities.
EL MAHDI ARRIFI, GENERAL DIRECTOR OF THE MOROCCAN AGENCY FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT, ADA Highlighting Investment Opportunities
The Novi Sad International Agricultural Fair, the most important event for farmers at the level of Southeast Europe, was an opportunity to highlight the various investment opportunities that abound in Morocco
The new Green Generation Strategy 20202030 should enable Moroccan agriculture to become much more efficient and double the sector’s share in the Kingdom’s GDP, says ADA General Director El Mahdi Arrifi, speaking for CorD Magazine.
Under the reign of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco has undertaken several initiatives to promote the agricultural sector, notably the Green Generation Strategy 2020-2030. In your opinion, will this strategy make it possible to direct agriculture towards export? The Green Generation 2020-2030 Strategy, launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI on 13th February 2020, aims to consolidate the achievements made under the Green Morocco Plan through the adoption of a new vision and the implementation of modern means in the service of the agricultural sector. This strategy has placed the human element at the centre of its priorities, with the aim of promoting the emergence of a new generation of the agricultural middle class. The Green Morocco Plan has transformed agriculture into an engine of modern, competitive and inclusive economic and social development. This plan has led to remarkable growth in agricultural production and exports. Indeed, Moroccan agricultural exports reached a value of nearly four billion euros during 2019, i.e., 2.8 times the value recorded in 2009 (€1.4 billion). In terms of volume, agricultural exports reached around 2.3 million tons in 2019, an increase of 64% compared to 2009 (t1.4 million). Thanks to the Green Morocco Plan, Morocco has positioned itself among the world’s leading exporters of various agricultural products. For instance, the country is now the world’s number one exporter of capers and argan oil, the world’s third biggest exporter of canned olives and small citrus fruits, and the fourth biggest exporter of tomatoes.
The new Green Generation 2020-2030 Strategy should enable Moroccan agriculture to become much more efficient. The main objective remains to double the sector’s share in the Kingdom’s GDP, which currently stands at 12.3%. There is also a question of alleviating the trade balance by exporting more products with high added value: the value of agricultural exports must thus increase from 3.4 billion euros in 2018 to 6 billion in 2030.
The Year of Morocco in Serbia was marked by Morocco’s first ever participation in the Novi Sad International Agricultural Fair. How would you rate this participation and was it useful in terms of networking? Indeed, the Agency for Agricultural Development (ADA), with the support of the Moroccan Embassy in Belgrade, organised Moroccan participation in the 89th edition of the Novi Sad International Agricultural Fair, which was held from 21st to 27th May 2022, through the establishment of an institutional pavilion of 80m². We had the honour of receiving, during the inauguration of this important event, the visit of their excellencies Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
The main objective of our participation was to promote investment and the business climate in the agricultural sector in Morocco, while highlighting required data that might be of interest to the Serbian audience and showcasing typical Moroccan products.
On the side-lines of this Fair, ADA hosted, in the presence of His Excellency the Ambassador of Morocco in Belgrade, an economic conference on investment opportunities in the agricultural sector in Morocco as part of the Green Generation Strategy.
In terms of networking, ADA organised B2B meetings throughout the duration of the Fair with institutions, companies and Serbian investors operating in the agricultural sector and interested in investing in Morocco.
This most important agricultural event at the level of Southeast Europe was an opportunity to highlight the various investment opportunities that abound in Morocco and that can entice investors from Balkan countries.
TARIK SLAIKI, PRESIDENT OF THE MOROCCAN PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION Belgrade Book Fair As A Platform For Moroccan Writers
As a person with a literary and artistic background, and as a player in the field of the culture economy (publisher), I usually find myself unable to rid my mind of the “images” I formed through my readings of the literature, philosophies and arts of a specific country or region. When I read The Bridge on the Drina many years ago, before the idea of visiting Belgrade had even crossed my mind, I was already wandering - through this novel - the cities, worlds and cultures of Serbian society without having met or had a personal relationship with any of its people. This is what happens to me, in my visits to many world capitals, from the Far East to beyond the Atlantic Ocean. Even when I discover that the image I have formed in my thoughts, through literary worlds, doesn’t reflect the reality, life or geography of spaces in these locations, I can never rid myself of the initial impressions I’d previously built in my head.
Herein lies the power of text, when it migrates to culturally different societies, playing a decisive role, negatively or positively, in “creating” a certain image of a cultural group. In fact, my meetings with quite a large number of Serbian writers, creators and even ordinary people have deepened my belief that the “cultural economy”, through its creativity, has made our communication smoother, warmer, more human and very fruitful. That’s because culture – especially in its scholarly and literary aspects – leads to human values dominating the communication process, and driving everyone - despite all differences and backgrounds - to search for points of agreement, rather than disagreement, and pushes us to contribute to building bridges of communication.
All of these reflections lead me to discuss my recent participation in the Belgrade International Book Fair, during which I had the chance to address the Serbian public through a literary conference and convey mainly two points.
The first was to introduce to those in front me the fact that there is an authentic Moroccan “literature, philosophy, poetry and formation”, and that the Moroccan identity is characterised by openness to all global intellectual and artistic stripes, though without losing its own privacy and uniqueness.
The second issue can be summed up in the words of one of the attendees, who literally said, “Your intervention made me interested in learning more about Morocco, so that I could visit it.” I think that “culture has its politics” and it has its technical mechanisms that can play a major role in forming an “image” or rebuilding a relationship.
I truly believe that we should be freed of the traditional concept of fairs, as well as cultural promotion, because in addition to promoting books, we should search for mechanisms for cultural cross-fertilisation and build bridges of dialogue with cultural actors, writers and artists. I think that this trend has become a necessity, especially for Morocco, which has a genuine cultural and artistic impetus that only needs a good promotion!
I am convinced that the exchange of visits, through artistic and literary courses, and lectures, as well as the translation of artistic and literary works, remains urgent, particularly in the absence of an important accumulation between our two countries at this level.
Based on my personal experience, and by attending two editions of the Belgrade International Book Fair, I can confirm that this Book Fair should be turned into a platform for Morocco to build a strong and effective link between the Moroccan creator and the Serbian reader.
I would like to conclude by expressing my firm conviction that today’s wish will become a reality tomorrow, and I can even state with confidence that a bridge over the river of our two cultures has been built, and people will soon begin to cross it!
NOUHAILA BOUSSAQ, BACHELOR STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE FACULTY OF ORGANIZATIONAL SCIENCES, DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY
ADNANE BOUHTOURI, SECOND-YEAR MEDICAL STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE FACULTY OF MEDICINE
Wonderful Student Life in Serbia
“As a student from Morocco, I can state that Serbia is not a popular place to go abroad to study, but I have found that it can be the best option for a variety of reasons. I was one of four students from the Kingdom of Morocco chosen to receive this fully funded scholarship and I am so excited to pursue my bachelor's studies here” ~ Nouhaila Boussaq
The scholarship organisers first met us at Nikola Tesla Airport, assisted us with everything and took us to the Radojka Lakić Student Dormitories on Avala. We were given free accommodation and three meals every day. Furthermore, we received four months of intensive Serbian language courses from very appreciated professors at the Literature Faculty of the University of Belgrade. After passing the language exam, we received free translation to Serbian and recognition for our documents from the Agency of Qualification. We momentarily moved to the Student Dormitories in the city centre, where we enjoyed comfortable and good-quality rooms, as well as free food and health insurance. I am thankful for the support to my educational journey from this generous scholarship. It helped provide the push and motivation I needed to move forward with a positive attitude.
Besides the high quality of education and the recognition of Serbian degrees in many other countries, Serbia is an interesting and affordable country to pursue your studies in as an international student. I had the best student life experience in Serbia. I had access to a lot of social, extracurricular and fun activities in my university campus. Serbian cuisine is quite varied, since it’s a combination of the Greek and Turkish ones, so it’s very delicious. Like every student, I place a lot of value on having fun, and Serbians are well known for throwing great parties, especially in Belgrade. Another fact is that people are very friendly and welcoming, and I’ve met many people here who’ve had a positive influence on who I am today. Overall, I enjoyed every moment in Serbia through festivals, museums, galleries and parties, while admiring the architecture and the beauty of this Eastern European country.
Thank you once again for such an amazing opportunity for me. This first step that I made towards my dreams would not have been possible without the generosity of the “World in Serbia” Scholarship.
Discovering The World In Serbia
Iam Adnane Bouhtouri from the Kingdom of Morocco, a second-year medical student of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Belgrade, one of the biggest and oldest public universities in Serbia, ranked among the world’s 500 best universities. I am so proud and lucky to be among the students benefiting from the opportunities provided by the World in Serbia programme. This Scholarship offers all the necessary educational needs for an international student to finish Faculty with lots of professional skills, despite the difficulties of the system and language barriers, since we study with the Serbian language. I’m also so fascinated by Serbia’s Nature and especially Belgrade, which is known for its romantic atmosphere, its nightlife, and its inhabitants, who made me feel welcome despite coming from a different culture. It’s also easy to make friends in Belgrade, as the majority of youngsters are curious to discover new cultures, thoughts and foreign languages.
IMANE BELMKADDEM, FASHION DESIGNER I Left Part Of My Heart In Serbia
As a Moroccan fashion designer who participated in the celebration of the Year of Morocco in Serbia, Imane Belmkaddem had the opportunity to represent Morocco through different collections that each have a distinct history and significance
I’ve been to Serbia for a second time, the first time I was in Novi Sad and then I visited Belgrade. I am still charmed, impressed and emotionally filled by the love and care I have received. It is at the same time a privilege and also a responsibility that I bear deeply and cautiously, to show what is best about my country and to represent my culture with dignity, highlighting its beauty, its strength, its riches, and its diversity. I was able to accomplish this journey and create these collections with the assistance of my mother, the painter Fatima el Hajjaji, who I thank warmly for this wonderful collaboration - says Imane Belmkadden, speaking for CorD Magazine.
How did the Serbian public interact with the different shows dedicated to the Moroccan Caftan and other designs that you organised during your participation in Ethno Fest Belgrade? “The Serbian public, and especially the Ethnology festival’s audience, was just FANTASTIC. Very diverse, with exceptionally sophisticated taste. I was delighted to hear the compliments and
The Serbian public, and especially the Ethnology festival’s audience, was just FANTASTIC. Very diverse, with exceptionally sophisticated taste. I was delighted to hear the compliments and perceptions of the public after the show
perceptions of the public after the show. I was particularly touched by the beautiful words of Madame Tamara Vučić, the first lady of Serbia, who expressed her fascination and esteem for our Moroccan fashion, culture and heritage. I was happy because the audience, which was inquisitive, informed and cultured, truly enjoyed and understood every piece! That was one of the greatest experiences I’ve had, and I’m extremely pleased when the messages I want to convey through every collection, by combining art, fashion, culture and heritage, reach hearts and minds easily.
DINA BENSAID, PIANIST Great Honour To Represent Morocco
“I cherish special memories of my last visits to Belgrade. Every time I’m there, I receive a warm welcome, experience a real connection with the audience and, most importantly, I enjoy playing in front of the Serbian public” ~ Dina Bensaid
On each of my visits to Belgrade, I wanted to tell a story through my concerts, which will also be the case for the closing concert of the “Year of Morocco in Serbia”, scheduled for 9th December!
“It is my great honour to close this year’s celebration of the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Belgrade and Rabat, and to participate in this symbolic link bringing the two countries together. I am sincerely moved that I am trusted to represent Morocco again through, in my opinion, the universal art that is classical music, which begins where the power of words ceases.
“I wanted, for this occasion, to put together a grandiose musical programme, with a musical trio, combining piano, violin and cello, providing the perfect balance between instrumental virtuosity and powerful sounds.
“I am proud and happy to play in Belgrade alongside two artists with a particular history, in emblematic works of the chamber music repertoire: Abdessamad Alassali, cellist of the Moroccan Philharmonic Orchestra, who comes from the sociocultural programme Mazaya that I work on in Rabat. It’s a programme offering socio-professional integration to young people who have dropped out of school and come from underprivileged backgrounds. Abdessamad is currently a professor not only within this programme, but also at the International Schools of Music and Dance of the cities of Casablanca and Rabat in Morocco. Music gave him a taste of victory and a second chance; Mohammed El Hachoumi, who will be playing the violin, is also one of the mainstays of the Mazaya Programme, having formed an entire promotion of violinists.
“To say a word about the chosen trio, we wanted to tell you an epic story through Dumky by Dvořák, a very special work that relates the thoughts of a hero who looks back on his adventures, sometimes with great joy, sometimes with nostalgia. It is a work with a lot of character, almost exuberant at times, and of an extreme sensitivity that we wanted to share it with the public.
“I hope that many of you will come and share with us these exceptional musical moments, the culmination of a jubilee year that’s been rich in events celebrating the friendship between our two countries.”
1st March 2022 Joint stamps issued by Morocco’s Barid Al Maghrib and Post of Serbia mark the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Serbia, illustrating the Mohammed VI Bridge in Rabat and Žeželj Bridge in Novi Sad.
9th March 2022 Concert of the Chalaban Band in Novi Sad during the period of Morocco’s participation in the events of the Novi Sad - European Capital of Culture programme . 14 Morocco 2022
15th-17th April 2022 Moroccan Film Festival featuring five films, organised by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Serbia in collaboration with the Moroccan Cinematographic Centre, the Serbian Ministry of Culture and the Yugoslav Cinematheque Film Archives.
12th-13th May 2022 Institutional meeting held between operators working in the field of crafts from Morocco and the province of Vojvodina, as well as an exhibition of Moroccan handicrafts organised in Novi Sad by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Serbia, in collaboration with la Maison de l’Artisan, the Chamber of Crafts of Casablanca-Settat and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vojvodina.
20th-23rd May 2022 Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán visit the Moroccan Stand at the Novi Sad International Agricultural Fair. The Agricultural Development Agency of Morocco, which ensured the first ever participation of the Kingdom in this fair with a stand, held numerous meetings with Serbian and international partners with the aim of promoting Morocco as a prime investment destination in the field of agriculture.
26th May 2022 Literary Conference of Tahar Ben Jelloun, a Moroccan writer and member of the Goncourt Academy, entitled “Let’s follow in the footsteps of Tahar BEN JELLOUN”, organised by the Embassy the Kingdom of Morocco in Belgrade and held at the Museum of African Art in Belgrade. 7th-8th October 2022 Moroccan participation in the international folklore festival Ethno Fest Belgrade, as a guest country in focus, with the intention of showcasing its diversity and richness. Talented Moroccan designer Imane Belmkaddem unveiled her collection of Moroccan Caftans and other clothes designed exclusively for this occasion, which was highly appreciated by the Serbian public who attended the event in great numbers.
19th October 2022 An exhibition entitled “Belgrade – Rabat: 65 years of diplomatic relations, 1957-2022” was organised by the Yugoslav Archives in cooperation with the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Serbia and with the support of the Serbian ministries of foreign affairs and culture.
We’re Returning To The Essence Of The “European Path”
The circumstances, and therefore also the challenges in which the European integration process unfolds in Serbia and around our entire region, have never been more demanding and complex over the past few decades. The reason lies least of all in the change to the methodology of membership negotiations. There are few generations that have witnessed major and historic changes during their lifetime. Since the end of the Cold War, when we were silent observers, our generation is now on route to witnessing another change of epochal proportions. This time around, we have an opportunity to contribute to navigating such changes as painlessly as possible. Changes to the economic, social and security map of Europe impact on 6 Serbian Strategy 2023 Success in the European integration process cannot today be measured on the basis of major strides towards membership, or the opening of clusters that’s incomprehensible to citizens. The time has come for us to get back to the basics of European integration, and the most important reason we embarked on the “European path”. The reason are the benefits and improvements for our people according to the benchmarks of European regulations and standards
the goals that we set being more realistic, and even more existential. We find ourselves at the end of a year in which energy security will not be assessed purely on the basis of success in the costly diversification of sources of energy supplies, but rather by securing primary energy sources to enable the functioning of our economy and the satisfying of the basic needs of our citizens. And the European integration process is no exception either. Success in the European integration process cannot today be measured on the basis of major strides towards membership, or the opening of clusters that’s incomprehensible to citizens. The time has come for us to get back to the basics of European integration, and the most important reason we embarked on the “European path”. The reason are the benefits and improvements for our people according to the benchmarks of European regulations and standards.
What is most important to us?
First and foremost, advancing the rule of law. This is a priority of this government and it is our task to achieve all the benchmarks of the accession process as soon as possible, primarily in order for our citizens to see that implementing planned reforms secures a significantly higher level of legal security for all of us, as well as greater trust in public institutions. On the other hand, it is also important for our European partners to see the decisiveness of all branches of government for Serbia to be more functional and stable.
In cooperation with the Venice Commission, work has continued on the drafting of judicial and prosecutorial laws that are expected to be adopted at the beginning of next year, in accordance with the deadlines stipulated by amendments to the Constitution. The autonomy of the judiciary and the independence of the public prosecution will this be strengthened. These changes, according to which the selecting of judges and prosecutors will no longer be under the jurisdiction of the National Assembly, but rather will be the responsibility of the High Council of the Judiciary and the High Council of the Prosecution, will further contribute to justice being more accessible to all citizens of Serbia, and thus also contribute to improving the standing of judicial professions in society.
These changes to the judicial system will impact on more effectively combatting corruption. The next important document that we are starting work on is the drafting of the new Strategy for the fight against corruption, which will be adopted during the first half of next year.
The most important factor for the third important issue in this area, freedom of the media, is certainly the continuation of work on amendments to the Law on Public Information and Media and the Law on Electronic Media. These regulations should secure a favourable
environment for freedom to access information, the flow of ideas and opinions, and the realising of the public interest, which will lead to an orderly and rich media market. Likewise, it will also result in the implementation of more transparent and fairer co-financing of media content in the public interest, as well as increasing transparency in media ownership and advertising, while strengthening the independence of the media regulator.
In terms of visa liberalisation, work will continue on further alignment with the EU’s lists of third countries that require a visa, particularly those deemed as posing a risk of irregular migration, for the sake of the security of the EU, but above all for the security of Serbia. In parallel with that, we will work on an important segment of strengthening regional cooperation in the struggle to combat migrant trafficking.
When it comes to financial support from the EU, we are especially grateful to the European Union that it managed to find a way – even under the conditions of a serious energy crisis across Europe, and in addition to regular support for the implementation of reforms in the domain of energy – to also approve an additional urgent budget aid grant amounting to 165 million euros. We will use that money to mitigate the negative consequences of the crisis on citizens and the economy, particularly on small and medium-sized enterprises.
We also had an opportunity to hear the willingness of the EU to designate additional funds of 500 million euros for the implementation of priority infrastructure projects in the region, and we expect with great optimism that decisions will be made as early as the Summit of Heads of State and Government in early December enabling us to start implementing projects that we’ve prepared to finance with EU grants.
For the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans, a decision was made back in August to provide grants amounting to more than 220 million euros to ensure the implementation of projects in the areas of transport, energy and digital connectivity, as well to improve healthcare infrastructure. We expect new decisions to be brought by the end of this year that actually mean that we will further develop our roads, energy and environmental facilities, which are of huge importance to our sustainable development and connectivity with our neighbours.
This is also an opportunity for me to mention another important segment of the accession
WITH H.E. MR. EMANUELE GIAUFRET, HEAD OF EU DELEGATION TO SERBIA
We are especially grateful to the European Union that it managed to find a way – even under the conditions of a serious energy crisis across Europe, and in addition to regular support for the implementation of reforms in the domain of energy – to also approve an additional urgent budget aid grant amounting to 165 million euros. We will use that money to mitigate the negative consequences of the crisis on citizens and the economy, particularly on small and medium-sized enterprises
process, and that is the segment represented by cross-border and transnational cooperation programmes, which Serbia also participates in under the multiannual financial framework 20212027. These ten cooperation programmes with neighbours Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia are supplemented by transnational cooperation programmes for the Adriatic-Ionian and Danube regions, as well as the interregional cooperation programme among cities (URBACT). Through all these programmes, over the course of the next seven years, users from Serbia and the other participating countries will have at their disposal almost 400 million euros – these funds will be used to connect people, work together on development and thus improve understanding and coexistence.
In order for us to observe the scope of the results of these programmes, I will remind you that 1,366 projects with a total value of over 400 million euros have been implemented to date, which included the participation of as many as 1,660 institutions and organisations from local communities in Serbia. That’s how, for example, we reached a total of 878 kilometres of constructed or modernised roads, pedestrian walkways or cycle lanes, financed more than 180,000 units of various equipment that’s used, among others, in hospitals, schools, museums etc. More than 67,000 people have received training for various additional skills, while more than 220 facilities have been reconstructed or constructed in local communities on both sides of the border. What is important to us is that the European Commission has approved almost all programmes for the next stage, some of which have already started being implemented, and the first public calls to submit project proposals are currently underway for Romania-Serbia programmes and the transnational programme for the Danube region.
These actually represent just a selection of the elements confirming that European Union accession is a process that has many aspects that are important to the daily life of citizens, which is why it’s particularly important for us to improve communication on the significance and benefits of Serbia’s EU membership. Civil society, and all citizens of Serbia, have an open invitation to help us in this task, in order for everyone to better understand what the European integration process actually means. Serbian Strategy 2023 7
Common Energy Future
Cooperation with the EU in the area of energy is important independently of the energy crisis. It was important prior to the crisis and will still be important when the crisis abates
Photo: Nebojša Babić At the recent summit of Western Balkan countries, held within the scope of the Berlin Process, the EU promised assistance to the region worth a billion euros, which represents a continuation of the process of shaping our common energy future. That’s why we first requested that Serbian Mining and Energy Minister Dubravka Đedović comment on the importance of this announcement for Serbia.
“The costs paid by the state to purchase electricity and energy products over recent months, under conditions of record prices on the stock exchanges, are extremely high, and any financial support that makes it easier for us to endure this winter is important for Serbia. We are grateful that the EU, even under the conditions of a worldwide energy crisis, recognised the importance of supporting the Western Balkan countries. That support is important not only when it comes to dealing with short-term rises in costs, but also when it comes to continuing to provide support to projects that will boost our energy security over the long term, as is the case with diversification of gas supplies,” says Minister Đedović.
EU support during this period is important because it shows solidarity with candidate countries that aren’t yet EU members, but that are on the road to European integration, adds the minister.
“With the signing of the Sofia Declaration on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, Serbia, together with the region’s other countries, has accepted to work together with the EU to achieve European targets in the domain of climate change, which is a serious challenge for us,” explains our interlocutor. “Countries enter the energy transition process from different positions, in the sense of their energy mix, the potential economic and social costs associated with the transition process, as well as unequal opportunities to access European funds. Among other things, countries that aren’t EU member states are at a disadvantage compared to EU countries that have similar levels of coal in their energy mix when it comes to the kind of support they can receive through European funds. That’s why adequate support from the EU and financial institutions – for the implementation of targets in the areas of climate, energy and energy transition – is important not only for
PARTNERSHIP
We are grateful that the EU, even under the conditions of a worldwide energy crisis, recognised the importance of supporting the Western Balkan countries
Serbia, but also for the other countries of our region, in order for this transition to be financially sustainable and socially equitable.
What are the implications of this process of building a common energy future when it comes to Serbia’s sources of energy supplies and the country’s energy independence? - The energy crisis has caused problems that have extended beyond the scope of the energy sector and individual member states, which is why many of the measures implemented during the previous period were adopted at the EU level. Moreover, in crisis situations, energy security doesn’t depend only on what each country can do for itself, but rather also depends on cooperation with other countries to a large extent, and on the existence of infrastructure that enables the transport of energy and energy products. That’s why one of Serbia’s main responses to the energy crisis, apart from strengthening its own capacities and increasing its reserves of all energy sources, has been to connect with other countries and participate in initiatives that can ensure our increased energy security.
Hungary is supplied with Russian gas via Serbia, as a transit country, and part of our gas reserves have recently been held in storage facilities in that country, which provides Serbia with additional security in more easily traversing the winter period. It is also planned to begin construction of an oil pipeline to Hungary, with which we will also ensure the greater security of crude oil supplies. Public company EPS, together with Elektroprivreda Republika Srpska [Bosnia-Herzegovina], is building the Buk Bijela hydroelectric power station, which will bring an additional capacity of 115 MW to our power system. With EU support, a gas interconnector is being built with Bulgaria, which will enable gas from Azerbaijan and the region of the Caspian Sea to reach Serbia, as well as gas from the LNG terminal in Greece, while we are also planning to build a gas interconnector with North Macedonia. TRANSITION
The road to green transition is a long-term commitment of Serbia and the reality is that we will increase the share of renewables in the energy mix over the coming decades COOPERATION
One of Serbia’s main responses to the energy crisis, apart from strengthening its own capacities and increasing its reserves of all energy sources, has been to connect with other countries
These projects are all important to increasing Serbia’s energy security and strengthening its resilience against possible supply disruptions, but also to strengthening our country’s role in the broader context of ensuring energy security across the region. from thermal power plants, i.e., almost two-thirds of our energy is currently produced from coal. We unequivocally need to decarbonise our energy system, because that’s the only way it can be sustainable over the long term. The decarbonisation plan must be realistic and
When it comes to the implementation of targets in the areas of climate, energy and energy transition, adequate support from the EU and financial institutions is important not only for Serbia, but also for the other countries of our region, in order for this transition to be financially sustainable and socially equitable
Despite strong challenges, the EU is sticking to the stance that there is no alternative to Green Transition. How capable is Serbia, which in the sphere of energy is still dependent on coal to a large extent, of conducting this transition at such a sensitive economic juncture? - The road to green transition is a long-term commitment of Serbia and the reality is that we will increase the share of renewables in the energy mix over the coming decades. However, we must be aware that our basic energy comes sustainable, in order for Serbia to preserve its energy stability at all times. Wind and solar energy are important from the perspective of environmental protection and potential capacities that can be built, but we must take into account that this production is variable, and that the needs of consumption are constant.
That’s why priority projects in the field of electricity generation include the construction of reversible hydroelectric power plants Bistrica and Đerdap 3, which also serve as Serbian Strategy 2023 9
energy storage facilities. The construction of new capacities should also be harmonised with the development of the power transmission and distribution network, in order for the development of the energy sector to be sustainable, efficient and economical, and for this all to result in us having a higher degree of energy security and safety.
We currently have more than 500 MW of energy generated by renewable sources. The plan is to launch long-delayed auctions next year, which will secure a new 400 MW of electricity from Renewables in our system. We are simultaneously working to improve the regulatory framework, so that over the medium term the network will be able to receive eight times the current capacity. One important question is whether this RES-generated electricity will be exported, or whether the new capacities will contribute to electricity being beneficial to citizens and the economy. I believe we will find a model that’s in the best interest of citizens, but that is also sustainable for investors.
The process of improving energy efficiency is unfolding in parallel, through various projects that have received financial assistance from the state, including a programme of subsidies for households to replace windows and doors, improve insulation and install solar panels. Under the auspices of the National Programme for the Energy Rehabilitation of Residential Buildings, Family Houses and Apartments, subsidies were secured for approximately 25,000 households, with the Ministry of Mining and Energy, together with local self-government units, allocating 2.66 billion dinars. In cooperation with the World Bank and the EBRD, conditions have been secured for the continuation of this project, with which more than 100,000 households will be covered.
You stated recently that, thanks to its mineral resources, Serbia will be an important country in the period ahead, on both the European and world markets of rare minerals. What does that mean in practical terms? - Serbia is a country that is extremely rich in mineral resources, in comparison to its size, including those mineral resources defined by the European Union as being critical. That list, which since 2020 has contained a total of 30 raw materials and minerals, includes mineral raw materials and materials that are able to meet the needs of new, environmentally friendly technologies 10 Serbian Strategy 2023
Photo: Nebojša Babić
aimed at developing renewable energy sources, storing electricity and new “smart” technologies that are important for economic development both today and in the future.
I believe it is a great advantage for Serbia that it has at its disposal some of those critical raw materials, which also includes lithium – a substance that’s unevenly distributed around the world and possessed by only a few countries. When you have potential, you also have possibilities to consider whether you will take advantage of that potential and in what way, while considering the opinions of everyone – from experts to ordinary citizens – and having all the relevant information, including studies, analyses and experiences from around the world. I believe that the least we can do when it comes to the mineral wealth of our country, which also belongs to future generations, is to know precisely what we have available and what our potential is like when it comes to mining. Our reserves of lithium, or lithium carbonate that can be obtained through the processing of ore, amount to 10% of the world’s needs or 60% of the needs of the EU. If we were to utilise the entire value chain in production, we could produce around a million electric vehicles, which would mean more than 10 billion euros for our GDP. That’s the responsibility we’re talking about, but protecting biodiversity, the quality of human life and the environment are also our responsibilities.
In your opinion, what is essential for these kinds of major mining endeavours to be carried out with full adherence to high environmental standards? - The state’s task is to work in cooperation with the mining profession to enable us to utilise the wealth that we have in a rational, responsible and efficient way, preserving nature and taking care of the community. A lot has changed in mining, in terms of the technologies that are used and enable much better control and the reducing of risks to the environment caused by mining. Mining plays an irreplaceable role, not only when it comes to its contribution to GDP and the huge number of people working in mining companies, but also in the broader context of energy independence and further economic and business development. In this sense, the key point containing the greatest possibility to influence the situation is for mining activities to be carried out in a sustainable way. Our goal should not only be to preserve mining, but rather to enable further development and modernisation, in which one of the most important things is to constantly raise requirements and criteria when it comes to environmental impact. The lithium issue is politicised to the extent that we forget to dive down to the essence of the problem, and that is whether we can exploit it while adhering to all environmental standards. An environmental impact assessment study hasn’t even been done yet; we haven’t even started dealing with that, because the project has been halted. Geological research is important because it shows just what mineral raw materials we have and in what quantities, but that’s just the first in a series of steps and conditions that must be fulfilled in order to achieve the exploitation of a resource from confirmed reserves. It is precisely due to the fact that these are such sensitive decisions that we must be open to dialogue, at the very least, to hearing all the facts, checking out the studies and world experiences, and first and foremost to hearing the opinion of experts from the profession, which is the most authoritative in this case.
Growing With NIS And Learning From NIS
We have signed a contract for the reconstruction of the complete oil and gas terminal in the city of Niš, which is the largest reconstruction project of storage facilities owned by NIS - announces Energotehna’s Emil Sovilj proudly.
When you established Energotehna, your primary focus was on the construction of gas pipelines, with the work subsequently diversifying over time. How is the company organised today? - The base of Energotehna has always been the construction of energy facilities. We are today much more recognised as a company that’s able to offer a complete solution to problems when it comes to the implementation of those kinds of projects. With the obtaining of a license for the construction in the oil and gas industry storage facilities, which is issued by the Ministry of Construction, we expanded our activities to include civil works. We are still active in the energy sector, but the projects are now much larger and more demanding. And the 12 Serbian Strategy 2023 Energotehna is a domestic Serbian company that provides services and engineering solutions for the construction and mechanical industries. According to the company’s CEO, their success is due to flexibility, learning, professionalism, dedication, and relations towards employees, partners and clients
company has been developing in accordance with new requirements.
Working with and for NIS enabled you to gain valuable experience in the construction of industrial facilities. Does this mean that you are today able to completely design and build storage tanks for oil, petroleum derivatives and LPG, and does NIS remain an important investor for you? - Gazprom, as the majority owner of NIS, is our biggest energy company and our biggest partner, alongside which we grow and learn. We were awarded in 2018 as the best works contractor at Gazprom in three out of four blocks within the NIS. We have just signed a contract for the reconstruction of the complete oil and gas terminal in the city of Niš, which is the largest reconstruction project of storage facilities owned by NIS and implies civil and mechanical works with the delivery of materials. This project was requested with a completion deadline of November 2023.
The new Government of Serbia recently announced the reform of the energy sector, which will include investments of 12 billion dinars. What should this reform bring us; will it reduce energy dependence? - We are a market that will always be energy dependent, but we can use that dependence to our advantage, provided we are clever enough. The sooner we grasp the fact that all the surrounding economies are dependent on energy sources, and that they lack their own capacities to satisfy those needs, we We should enable neighbouring countries to diversify their energy portfolio through Serbia. We will thereby also become more energy independent, as we will have the possibility of procuring energy products from several sources. If we produce energy ourselves, which is good, that will still be just one supplier (ourselves). But if we have many potential suppliers, we will increase the security of supply and reduce the purchasing price for energy, because we will be able to choose from whom we buy. In accordance with that, I believe that 12 billion should be partly spent on storage facilities, partly on transport and partly on production. We will consequently always have a choice of directions to procure energy
will realise that the winner isn’t the one who possesses the capacity to satisfy their own needs, but rather the one who is essential to others meeting their needs. By adopting the stance that we are a transit country – in terms of the transit of people, goods and energy – we will gain a good strategic position and become essential to both the East and the West. It is precisely in light of this fact that I believe an emphasis should be placed on the development of transport and storage capacities.
Only Reforms Can Overcome Crisis
During this time when one global crisis is followed by the next, it is extremely important to select those reforms that will help preserve economic growth, jobs and steps that move the society closer to European integration. We discussed this issue with NALED Executive Director Violeta Jovanović.
What are, from your perspective, the most important topics that you’re dealing with today and to what extent has the current economic and political situation impacted on the order of priorities? - Digitisation is one of the topics that inevitably weaves its way through different segments of our activities, and the pandemic has additionally 14 Serbian Strategy 2023
highlighted its importance and effectiveness, first and foremost in the providing of public services to citizens and the economy. In that sense, the development of digital infrastructure and the popularisation of electronic services, the modernisation of healthcare and municipal services – through the introduction of advanced digital solutions – are activities that have been in our focus for a number of years and which we are working on with dedication in order to create opportunities for new economic activities, reductions in costs and improving the efficiency of the work of the public and the administration with the aim of accelerating development.
Rising inflation and reduced economic activity put pressure on legal business operations and prompt businesses to flee to the zone of the grey economy, so we are continuing the systemic fight against the grey economy that began in 2014 by now providing support to the government in this undertaking through our work on the proposal of a new programme to combat the grey economy and an accompanying action plan. We expect the adoption of this programme to be one of the first activities of the new government, as that’s a key strategic document in securing fair and equal market conditions.
At this time when environmental topics are gaining ever more significance and attracting increasing public attention, environmental protection and sustainable development represent an unavoidable sphere of our interest. Testimony to this is also provided by the fact that providing support for the implementation of the Green Agenda is one of the key reform priorities for the next three years. The collecting and recycling of various waste streams – such as batteries, light bulbs, glass and other packaging, food waste – and the implementation of smart deposit systems are projects with which we want to contribute
Major changes and turmoil at the planetary level, such as the COVID pandemic, war in Ukraine, ever-present inflation, but also global environmental problems, are challenges with effects that could be mitigated or overcome through priority reforms that NALED is actively working on implementing and will be engaged in during the following period
EURO INTEGRATION
The European Union represents an inexhaustible source of best practices in practically all areas that are of importance to the operations of NALED, which we also endeavour to apply in the domestic environment PROSUMERS
We want to improve the way independent energy producers, so-called prosumers, are taxed, in order to increase interest in turning to cleaner sources among citizens and businesses COOPERATION
In an ever-more competitive race to attract investment, it is necessary for us to think about our region in the way investors see it, and that is as one market
to the establishing of sustainable systems for the collection and reuse of materials, as well as the establishment of a circular economy in our country.
In an ever-more competitive race to attract investment, it is necessary for us to think about our region in the way investors see it, and that is as one market. That’s also why it’s important for us to work as much as possible to create a level playing field for doing business and on the procedures encountered by investors. The network for a business friendly environment (BFC SEE), which brings together six economies of our region, deserves the credit for having harmonised and improved conditions for doing business in more than 100 local governments that have passed, or are going through, the process of securing business friendly certification for their towns and municipalities.
We are witnessing progress being slowly achieved, particularly within the framework of the Berlin Process, on the construction of a single regional market. In this context, what is the role of NALED’s platform for a favourable business environment (BFE)? - The Platform for a Favourable Business Environment (BFE) relies primarily on the successful results of the existing BFC SEE network, which has provided a significant contribution to improving the business environment in the municipalities of the countries participating in the network: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. Apart from this, the network has encouraged the exchange of high-quality reform solutions, such as the issuance of electronic building permits and simplified registration procedures for seasonal workers, the improvement of inspection oversight and digital fiscalization. We intend to draw on these successful results through the future platform that we’re working on in cooperation with GIZ and partner institutions from the region, thereby ensuring a quality dialogue and the exchange of knowhow on the
By establishing a common regional standard for a business friendly environment, our desire is to secure improved living and work conditions for the 20 million citizens and 1,150,000 businesses in these lands
implementation of reform processes in the six economies of the Western Balkans, with the aim of encouraging economic development, the hiring of workers and faster integration into the European Union. This platform will be based on three pillars: encouraging local economic development; improving the business environment; and promoting partnerships and a public-private dialogue.
You are also focused on work in the domain of renewable energy sources and support for the development of innovation and the digital economy. To what extent can these sectors contribute today to the growth of the social product, which will be pretty modest this year?
- Innovations are undoubtedly a very important driver of the economy and society as a whole. The countries that allocate significant funds for the development of innovation, and where work is constantly being done to improve the innovation ecosystem, have the highest GDP growth. When it comes to Serbia, our innovation ecosystem is developing at a good speed, the state has recognised its importance, just like the ministries and funds that invest increasingly in innovative businesses, but also large companies like Philip Morris, which has recognised the potential and decided to support the start-up community and innovators, through the StarTech project, by providing more than three million dollars in grants and support to improve the regulatory framework Serbian Strategy 2023 15
for innovation. We also call on other private companies to follow this example. The best indicator of the level of development we’ve reached when it comes to innovation is the Global Innovation Index, according to which Serbia is ranked in 55th place among 132 countries. There is room for improvement, primarily in the area of cooperation between science and business, private sector investments in research and development, access to alternative sources of funding, as well as in the area of the development of clusters. When we deal with it in an authentic way, we can expect the knowledge economy to come to represent one of our greatest development potentials. On the topic of renewable energy sources, important things have been launched. NALED contributed to the work of the Ministry of Mining and Energy on the adoption of the legal framework governing this area, as well as the important regulation on the balance of responsibility, on which active work was done during this year and which represents a prerequisite to be able to conclude the financial structure for numerous projects in the field of renewables.
As of 1st January 2023, eAgrar will be launched, which you worked on developing together with the Ministry of Agriculture. What will this great stride forward in digitisation mean for the agricultural sector? - This is an electronic platform that will enable more than 400,000 farmsteads to register and submit applications for subsidies online. This kind of practise brings numerous benefits, both to farmers and the state authorities that are responsible for these issues. The registration method to date required farmers to set aside their own time and collect more than 90 pieces of data in 10 different documents, with 70% of that information being superfluous, such as proof of land ownership, as that information already exists in the databases of various state bodies. Moreover, they were also required to pay fees for various statements and certificates worth two million euros annually. With the help of eAgrar, the pre-existing procedure will be shortened as much as fourfold, while the costs of application will be reduced by 80%.
We have already noted that the global economic situation is increasingly difficult and that this will certainly also be reflected 16 Serbian Strategy 2023
in Serbia. Would the fiscal unburdening of earnings help the economy in the situation in which we currently find ourselves? - Reducing taxes and contributions on salaries is one of the recommendations that has appeared in NALED’s Grey Book for the longest time. We believe that such a measure would contribute significantly to reducing the volume of the grey economy and stimulate employers to engage workers through legal channels. Judging by this year’s survey of the stances of businesses with regard to the grey economy, most businesspeople (49%) cited high taxes and contributions as the biggest problem they face and the key reason tax obligations are avoided. We have conducted analysis of the taxation system that we will soon present to the public, and we will propose possible directions of reform that would benefit both employees and employers. It is primarily necessary to focus on tax reliefs for the lowest salaries and the minimum earnings, which is earned in Serbia by between 350,000 and 400,000 people and is highly taxed compared to other countries – this expenditure last year amounted to 18,200 dinars on “minimum earnings” of 32,000 dinars, or around 57%. More significant changes to the taxation model are needed to further unburden taxpayers. One of the possible solutions is to increase the non-taxable part of the salary at the level of minimum earnings, reforming healthcare contributions, while there are other potential solutions on the table that should be considered.
When it comes to considering the reform of contributions, NALED also proposes the possibility of abolishing healthcare contributions and switching to the financing of healthcare from universal taxes.
You are among the pioneers of public-private dialogue. Is there enough of that kind of dialogue today, when it is necessary to wisely choose the moves that will enable the preserving of economic activity? - The fact that NALED internally brings together all three sectors of society – private, public and civil – that have been working together for years on the improving of the business environment and the implementing of reforms in various areas, indicates unequivocally that such a dialogue exists and has continuity. It is also certain that there should be more of it and that it should be of a higher quality. The conclusion is that it functions significantly more successfully when the institutions sit opposite an interlocutor that takes the form of an association that expertly represents the interested public, and not the interests of individuals.
Some forms of public-private dialogue have improved significantly compared to previous years, as is shown by the Regulatory Index of Serbia, which analyses comprehensively the manner and quality of adopting regulations. According to the latest data available for 2021/2022, public hearings were held for more than 90% of laws that are important to the functioning of the economy, there has been a reduction in the share of laws that are adopted under urgent procedures to only 6%, while three quarters of ministries satisfy criteria in terms of the informing of the public about their work. However, further room for improvement certainly exists.
Trains Are Once Again The Pride Of Serbia
At Srbija Voz, the vision and strategy of passenger relations is based on three pillars. The first is punctuality, the second is the attitude of train crews towards passengers, and the third is communication with passengers in real time. Srbija Voz is making the biggest changes in organizational and personnel strengthening, but also in changing the corporate culture
Our goal is to create a modern and efficient operator with transparent operations and high standards of passenger care - announces Director Ivan Bulajić and points out that this is the only way they can be ready for the entry of the private sector into the market, which will happen sooner or later.
Can we say that Serbia is one of the leaders today in terms of investment in railways? - There are two criteria by which no country in the region can be compared to Serbia. The first is the total value of projects in the stage of preparing documentation and executing works in relation to GDP, which in our case is an incredible 8%, and the second criterion is the average age of passenger trains. Srbija Voz is particularly proud of the fact that 70% of trains in national traffic are under 10 years old, which is considered new in the railways. With the delivery of 18 new Swiss Stadler Flirt trains next year, that percentage will be even better. Both of these criteria put us at the very top in the region.
The strategic goal of Srbija Voz’s operations is the return of as many passengers as possible, with constant improvement of services. Is that how to change the image of the railways? - Passenger expectations have changed in the last decade perhaps more than in the entire previous century. At Srbija Voz, we base our vision and strategy of relations with passengers on three pillars. The first is punctuality, the second is the attitude of train crews towards passengers, and the third is communication with passengers in real time.
In the past few months, we have done a lot of work on improving the user experience. We announced the public procurement of new uniforms for crews of top design and provided them with training in cooperation with Air Serbia. However, perhaps the biggest changes we are making are in digital communication. We have set ourselves a high standard that every service information must be published on the site within 15 minutes on a 24/7 basis, and that we have no more than 10% of unanswered calls to our call centre.
More than half of our passengers already buy tickets using the Srbija Voz mobile application. The application has almost 100,000 registered users and is just behind booking. com in popularity in the travel category. We are really proud of this success.
The future arrived in Serbia with the first high-speed train. How does that future look to you today? - The commissioning of the first high-speed line of 200 km/h Belgrade - Novi Sad was truly a huge technological leap for the railway and a completely new standard of service for our passengers. From March until today, almost two million passengers opted for this mode of transport between the two cities, but there is still a lot of work ahead of us. In the next two years, we shall get ready to open the remaining part of that line to Budapest, and through Hungary we will be able to connect with Austria and Germany.
On the other hand, the condition of locomotives and carriages on the Bar line is completely unsatisfactory. The age of this part of the fleet is between 20 and 40 years. That is why we have included in the plan for 2023 the procurement of eight new locomotives and 20 sleeping cars for speeds of 200 km/h, which will drastically raise the standard of travel to Montenegro.
We are making our biggest changes in the organizational and personnel strengthening of Srbija Voz and in changing the corporate culture. Serbian Strategy 2023 17
The New Shine Of Traditional Brand
Comel was established in 1990, and since 2015 it has been continuing the long-standing tradition of manufacturing and overhauling power transformers under the Minel Transformers brand. For Comel, this acquisition marked the opening of new business horizons
Many years of experience and impeccable technical expertise in the production and overhaul of transformers have secured us a leading position among partners and customers around the world. We are proud that we managed to save that precious brand ~ says CEO Zoran Milutinović.
Comel doo Belgrade has decades of tradition in electrical equipment, but it has also continued the tradition of the internationally-known Minel Transformers brand. How did that happen? - Comel was founded in 1990, and in the beginning it was only engaged in the sale of products and the provision of services in the power industry. Through responsible behavior in the entire business and company values oriented towards the fulfillment of sustainable development goals, we have achieved successful cooperation with many global corporations over several decades. This tells of the wide selection of products that we were able to offer our clients at any time. 18 Serbian Strategy 2023
Our story with power transformers began in 2013 through cooperation with the local Minel Transformers factory, which has been known as one of the world leaders in its field since 1960. They managed to continue production and successfully deliver their products even during the conflict of the 90s, but in 2015, after a long and difficult period, Minel was forced into bankruptcy. The once busy production facilities fell silent after more than half a century of continuous work, the machines stopped, and the factory was about to close...
Nevertheless, efforts to maintain production by our company and the factory managers paid off. Comel signed a contract on production cooperation, which made it possible to restart the plant in bankruptcy proceedings. That year, we took over the complete production programme, equipment, technology and expert staff of Minel transformers.
After that, our real struggle began to maintain the domestic brand and restore confidence in the continuation of the long-standing tradition.
The experience and impeccable technical expertise in the production and overhaul of power transformers has provided Minel with a leading position among partners and customers around the world, and we have managed to save that precious brand. In December 2020, with the end of bankruptcy and the final purchase, Minel continued life as Comel Transformers.
Was the return to the market difficult or easier than you expected? - With a complete team of experts, workers and management, production continued
where it left off. Comel Transformers is proud to continue delivering reliable products and creating engineering solutions that meet the challenges of current and future business. We are proud of the tradition of guaranteed quality, but our goal is to introduce innovations in technological processes, compliance with EU directives and monitoring new trends in pollution reduction and environmental protection.
For Comel, this acquisition marked the opening of new business horizons, because the production of energy transformers opened a completely different dimension to our business. We worked intensively on relations with foreign customers and the return of the factory to the world market.
Why do you see December 2020 as a turning point? - After a five-year period of business in difficult conditions due to bankruptcy proceedings, most of the production was stabilised and the Minel brand fully became the part of the production of the company Comel Transformers. After the official purchase of the factory in December 2020, we started investing in infrastructure, equipment and the development of modern production processes.
Our team was joined by new experts and managers who were brought in to restore the company’s status as a leader on the power transformer market. It was a sign to the entire region and former customers around the world that traditional quality has returned with a new shine. In less than two years, we completed a complete reconstruction of the production hall, replaced the most important machines and installed a selfconsumption solar power plant.
What are you producing today? - Over the past sixty years, the factory has produced and delivered more than 2,000 new power transformers of various voltage levels. Minel’s transformers have reached the most remote parts of the world, countries of Asia, Africa and the American continent.
Today, our main production line consists of oil transformers for distribution and transmission networks, with nominal voltages up to 220kV and nominal powers up to 250MVA. We design and manufacture all our transformers according to customer
We managed to save a precious Serbian brand that came out of a period of stagnation as Comel Transformers
requirements, international standards and EU directives. Besides the production of new transformers, overhauls are an important part of our programme. Also, assembling, testing and commissioning at the place of installation are an integral part of our offer and mean we must fulfil all of our customers’ requirements.
You also mentioned overhaul... Is it a particularly important part of your business? - Transformers are a vital part of any energy system, so it is necessary to ensure reliability and efficiency in their operation even in unforeseen situations. In this sense, we can perform regular maintenance as well as capital repairs of energy transformers of any global manufacturer. Our overhaul team is professionally trained and supported by many years of experience and the necessary resources to service all types of breakdowns on transformers of voltage up to 410 kV and power up to 725 MVA. This part of the programme includes diagnostics and monitoring, preventive and regular maintenance, delivery of spare parts and professional support from our engineers. In our high-voltage laboratory, we can perform all routine, type and special tests for all new transformers and for overhauled ones. In this way we provide our customers with security in terms of the reliability and energy efficiency of our transformers.
Although this year was marked by the economic crisis and the war in Ukraine, Comel managed to realise all its planned projects... - The economic crisis certainly brought difficulties that we all faced, especially with regard to the procurement of raw materials and equipment. Nevertheless, we have aligned our long-term goals with these challenges and we will go on... Since the beginning of the crisis, apart from projects on the Serbian market, we have implemented solutions for several large projects important for energy networks in Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Montenegro, as well as three large projects in the EU, more precisely in Latvia and Romania. We think the coming period will be more demanding in terms of adapting to new business conditions, but we are determined in our efforts that fulfilling the sustainable development goals is our most important task. Serbian Strategy 2023 19
Rubbish Is An Urban Mine
Former pioneers, and today's leaders in the field of recycling, they operate through two recycling companies - one for electrical and electronic waste and the other for industrial waste. These two differ widely in terms of the complete organization of work, output and input
Based on his decades of experience, the owner of Jugo Impex thinks that 2023 will be a very difficult year, that as a society we should strive for energy independence and invest in systems that will be able to use all forms of energy - solar, wind energy, and energy from waste
You have been involved in recycling since 1994, and E-recycling began in 2010. How did that happen? - Besides being a recycling industry, Jugo Impex is also a manufacturing industry. We have closed a part of the circle of the circular economy by making our own products from recycled materials that we sell on the mar20 Serbian Strategy 2023
ket. Jugo Impex is a completely market-oriented company that is influenced by the metal stock exchange and everything else that happens in our business of recycling.
E-recycling was created in such a way that the input is constantly known, but for its operation it needs a high education level in society, and for everyone who participates in it. It cannot work just with market forces, because its process is extremely expensive and the output cannot cover all the costs of operation and disposal of electrical and electronic waste. Like everywhere in the world, laws have been introduced in our country according to which consumers pay for the recycling of all electrical devices that become waste after use.
These are two different concepts of recycling and it is impossible to put both companies under the same roof, which is why it was best to separate them, which turned out to be correct.
How do you become a leader in the recycling industry of Serbia? By constantly acquiring new knowledge, continuously investing in technology and introducing state-of-the-art equipment? - Leader in the recycling industry is not a title you give yourself, but your work and environment put you there. Our goal was never to become leaders, but we do our work to the best and highest quality that we can. We felt that we had to work non-stop, to adopt new technologies, to produce machines ourselves, to find new markets... When you do that for ten or twenty years, you get into a position where others recognize you as a leader.
In our part of the world, not even a fraction of the potential of the recycling industry has been used. How many “green jobs”, those that protect the planet, can recyclers open in each of the countries of the Balkan region? - In this part of the Balkans where we are, recycling is partly a consequence of the problem of environmental pollution, water, air and land. Awareness is slowly growing, but we are still far from realistically planning environmental protection as most of us would like. We need synergy of the entire society and the setting of the right values for goals. Realistically, we waste a lot of energy that we need, we do not collect waste or put it in the right place. After so many years
of introducing recycling systems, special waste streams, we have reached the status where there are raw materials and the next step should be to use them to create new products. A major problem is the slow and long procedures in the administration for obtaining the necessary documentation for working with waste and raw materials, which is one of the problems that hinders development in the entire Balkans.
The economic environment is improving, investments are being made in infrastructure, factories and plants are opening, which brings improvement for your industry. What do you expect from the state? - As I said, the main problem for us is the speed of administration, adapting to standards and understanding the recycling industry. Many regulations have been passed, but they are poorly implemented. It is good that many manufacturers have set up business, which has increased the capacity of the recycling industry. This has greatly increased the volume of raw materials on the market, and therefore accelerated the investment cycle in the recycling industry and increased gross income. I repeat, the administration must work faster and better at every level in our country. We have no right towards our country to inhibit any development in the industry. For everything bad we have sanctions, also where it is easy to close things, but it is difficult to create something new.
How can we help people understand that by recycling waste, the planet can be made a better place to live, that nature is restored to balance, that future generations learn to value the resources they have? - As time goes on and as we increasingly use natural resources in terms of minerals and metals, we shall come to a situation where they no longer exist. The basic source of all these elements will be urban mines, i.e. waste. We have to take it seriously and not wait for it to happen without being ready to use our resources. For people to understand where we are going and what we are doing, we must primarily regain confidence in ourselves as a society, and at the same
If benefits were given for the removal of finely recycled waste, and double or triple the charge for poorly recycled waste, we would learn the rules
time create a synergy of everything we know, think and want.
If municipal waste was not collected for two months in a neighborhood of residential houses, many people would understand what waste is. Or if you gave benefits for finely recycled waste, on the price or somehow differently, and charged double or triple for badly recycled waste, we would learn the rules and come to the right values, which are necessary for us in every part of life.
How many employees do you have at Jugoimpex, and how many of them are in E-recycling? Are you planning to expand your capacity and hire new people? - Jugo Impex has about 100 employees, and E reciklaža has 240. Employment plans are always present, we constantly invest in technological development and we try to make our outputs 100% pure raw materials, which is the goal of a real recycling industry. An increase in capacity and something new is possible in 2023 if the market for metals and recycled materials that we produce partially stabilizes.
How much do negative global developments affect recyclers and your company’s plans? What are your expectations for 2023? - Everything that is happening in the world, the crisis that occurred partly because of the war in Ukraine, and partly because of the increase in interest rates, affects all of us by losing value in every way. I don’t expect big changes in 2023, I think it will be difficult, more difficult than 2022. I’d be happy to be wrong, but with the current interest rates, you can’t get long-term loans easily, it’s hard to maintain a constant income to service everything.
I am of the opinion that 2023 will be a very difficult year where we will all have to change our habits and development strategy in the coming period. I would like us as a society to start striving for energy independence and to invest in systems that will be able to use all solar energy, all energy from wind and waste in one system. This is necessary for us, because if we don’t do it, we will face serious disruptions in the energy sector in the future, which will greatly affect liquidity and cause high prices of our products. Serbian Strategy 2023 21
