August 2023, Issue No. 226

we make moments

Švajcarski standardi na obroncima Fruške gore

Švajcarski standardi na obroncima Fruške gore

EDITOR IN CHIEF: Neda Lukić n.lukic@aim.rs

DESIGN:

Slađan Radosavljević Zoran Perović design@aim.rs

COPY EDITOR: Mark Pullen

TRANSLATION & EDITING: PULLEN EDITORIAL HALIFAX

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56 CHILL OUT

CONTRIBUTORS: Ljubica Gojgić, Zoran Panović, Radmila Stanković, Maja Vukadinović, Mirjana Jovanović, Miša Brkić, Rob Dugdale, Steve MacKenzie, Zorica Todorović Mirković, Sonja Ćirić, Miloš Belčević

PHOTOS: Zoran Petrović

SALES MANAGERS: Biljana Dević b.devic@aim.rs Mihailo Čučković m.cuckovic@aim.rs

OFFICE MANAGER: Svetlana Petrović s.petrovic@aim.rs

FINANCE: Dragana Skrobonja finance@aim.rs

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Maja Vidaković m.vidakovic@aim.rs

DIRECTOR: Ana Novčić a.novcic@cordmagazine.com

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“CorD does not criticise or critique. We are a place where people can inspire and be inspired by others”

Reputation is More Important Than Ever

Slaviša Orlović Ph.D. Professor at the Faculty of Political Science, author of the book Nadziranje demokratije [Monitoring Democracy]

The media and journalism reached their peak in the 1970s and ’80s. However, the first three decades of the 21st century have confirmed that media companies are in the hands of those who hold economic and political power. The media scene and journalism face numerous challenges. Commercialisation has led to the easing of journalism standards. In the struggle for market share, the crucial difference between what is in the “public interest” and what “interests the public” has been forgotten. Commercial success is based on the cheap production of soft news. The media is increasingly superficial and destructive, led by the logic that “only bad news sells well”. The line between information and entertainment is be-

nalism”, in which the most important stories appear after the fact.

ing increasingly blurred. Media presentation inevitably strives to cater to the taste of a wider audience, utilising all tried and tested forms of entertainment – talk shows, celebrity status, amusement, infotainment – to make presentations more interesting and hold the attention. The gauge is circulation and people meters. Professional journalism opened the door to the huge industry of public relations, which could hardly wait to flood journalists with material about PR clients. The media not only reflects reality, but also constructs it. They don’t only report from events, but also create events. There is ever more “retroactive jour-

During this time of electronic media dominance, primarily television, but also the internet, visualisation has been reinforced and led to a visual culture. We are today preoccupied by an abundance of screens: televisions, computers, tablets and smart phones. The civilisation of the book has been replaced by the civilisation of the image. Newspapers are leafed through, print publications are leafed through on television, as are TV channels – by remote control. The emergence of the internet created new optimism over the revival of journalism, but those expectations proved unrealistic. News is produced more easily, spread faster and distributed more cheaply. The internet is all surface and no depth. The internet snatched the economic base of journalism and became a competitor to advertising. The border between producers and end users of information has now become more fluid. Citizen journalism and the possibility for citizens and audiences to participate in the process of informing and reporting is leading to mass amateurisation. The old media represented a means of controlling the authorities, while the (new) social media have become an instrument for monitoring citizens. Media outlets no longer aim to inform us, but rather strive to control us. Social media has led to a “surveillance paradigm” – with citizens monitored for

economic, political and security purposes. With the help of microchips, processors, cameras and algorithms, data is processed to show what we’ve paid for and where (via payment cards), where we’ve travelled (Google maps), with whom we’ve communicated (Facebook, Viber, WhatsApp), who we’ve shot photos and videos with (Instagram, YouTube). Social media is the realisation of the dystopian future in which we’re living. Reputation is more important than ever. The more important reputation becomes, the more it is subject to attack. The media knows how to both create and destroy reputations. Sensationalism and tabloidisation are additionally killing journalism. It has been forgotten that spoken and written words also carry responsibility. New media have led to new occupations. We now have Twitter-politicians, blog-analysts, Facebook-activists, Google-journalists, Wikipedia-intellectuals, YouTubers and other influencers.

If something doesn’t appear in the media it’s as though it never happened. And that doesn’t mean that it happened in the way it is portrayed in the media. With the evolution of the media, information has become disinformation and news has become fake news, while the truth has become post-truth. Full freedom to be informed is “guaranteed only to media owners”. If we recognise and diagnose what’s happening, we are on the right road to deciding what to do.

The media knows how to both create and destroy reputations. Sensationalism and tabloidisation are additionally killing journalism. It has been forgotten that spoken and written words also carry responsibility

The old media represented a means of controlling the authorities, while the (new) social media have become an instrument for monitoring citizens

Catching the EU Enlargement Wave

We are ready to start finalising our EU accession, with an absolute focus on the results of the reforms that represent the essence of that process ~ Tanja Miščević

Tanja Miščević

European Integration Minister of Serbia

Photos: Tanjug

The views of Serbian citizens regarding the European Union have gone through various phases over many years, from enthusiastic embracing to angry rejection of the notion of membership in this alliance of European nations. According to a recent survey conducted by Demostat, an equal number of citizens support and reject EU membership. Under such circumstances, the Serbian press and media were electrified by European Integration Minister Tanja Miščević’s statement that was interpreted by the public as an announcement that Serbia could be ready to join the European Union by 2025. In this interview for CorD Magazine, Miščević explains the steps that the Government of Serbia intends to take and addresses speculation circulating in diplomatic circles around the opening of a new window of opportunity for EU membership, in parallel with preparations to launch the process of sending aid to Ukraine once the war comes to an end.

You recently made a very optimistic observation that Serbia could accede to the EU by 2025. Does this mean that Serbia could fulfil all the requirements of the EU aquis by then or that the will also exists in the EU to dedicate systematic efforts to expanding the Union – a will that hasn’t had a significant presence in previous years?

I presented that which we’re currently working on, and that’s the drafting of the new Programme for harmonisation with EU law – we are currently working on a revision of it and 2025 is defined as the year when we’ll be prepared to implement the systemic rules, which we’ve also been doing until now, but they’ve changed and been innovated in the meantime, plus the ones that we’ve yet to align. That’s not the year of our membership, and I’ve never even calculated it as such, because that’s not dependent on us, rather that’s the year that our institutions have estimated –after two decades of experience – as being the year when it would be possible for us to be ready for membership.

When you made this statement in your discussions with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gabriel Escobar, U.S. House of Representatives members Thomas Keen and Robert Aderholt, and other interlocutors from the States, did you receive any indication that such a development of the situation could be possible?

gress can really be made on that front over the next three years?

The U.S. strongly supports our European integration process and helps us to reach the required standards, particularly in the areas of the rule of law, the development of democratic institutions and the development of the business environment. But the U.S. is not an EU member and we didn’t even broach the topic of our membership and possible entry date. We certainly discussed the fact that there is very clearly new momentum for enlargement of the Union that Serbia should utilise.

According to one Tanjug report, you see constant amendments to the European legislative framework as one of the obstacles. However, judging by accession progress reports, that certainly wasn’t one of the main obstacles, rather the primary obstacle is relatively slow progress on some of the most important chapters, Cluster 1 in particular. How much pro-

Serbia’s journey to the European Union has lasted for 20 years. And just as we’ve changed throughout that time, so has the European Union. We’ve changed in such a way that we’re also now ready to start finalising our EU accession, with an absolute focus on the results of the reforms that form the essence of that process. All the regulations, firstly systemic ones, that we amend and implement in order to harmonise with the EU, we primarily introduce because they are good for our citizens, economy and society. Those key laws are the backbone of the accession process and when we round off that work, the progress will be very great. That is the case, for instance, with regulations in the area of the rule of law. Constitutional reform in the area of the judiciary, with the adoption of judicial laws, serve to additionally strengthen the independence of judges and prosecutors, providing the legal certainty and economic stability that’s brought by such an organised judicial system. This is a direct benefit for us all, but it indirectly also leads to increased investments in the Serbian economy, higher employment, increased living standards. It is now up to the judiciary to show that it works in the interest of citizens and to be more efficient than it was previously.

Another systemic issue is the struggle to combat corruption, and the political will in Serbia is clear and such that this Government’s aim is to adopt the National Strategy for the Struggle Against Corruption for the 2023-2028 period, with a clear action plan covering everything that needs to be done. Serbia also has a functional system in the area of protecting and promoting fundamental rights, human and minority rights and freedoms, which is largely harmonised with the EU acquis, international and European standards and best practices.

Turning to the new laws governing public information and media, and electronic media, they should secure a favourable environment for freedom of information, the flow of ideas and opin-

We discussed with U.S. officials the fact that there is very clearly new momentum for enlargement of the EU that Serbia should utilise

EURO INTEGRATION

The Western Balkans mustn’t be overlooked or remain on the periphery of EU integration, because we are seeing right now how essential it is to have a strong and united Europe

ions, and the realisation of the public interest. Some tangible aims of those new regulations will include the implementation of the more transparent and fairer co-financing of media content that’s in the public interest, as well as increasing transparency on media ownership and advertising, and strengthening the independence of the media regulator.

None of these reforms are in their infancy, but rather represent a continuation of what Serbia has already been doing for two decades. What is new is that these reforms should now have clear instruments that form the basis to assess the way they’re being implemented.

Many consider that the failure of the countries of the Western Balkans to take advantage of the opportunity to impose the issue of their own EU accession when Europe is interested in possibly admitting Ukraine and Moldova would consign our region to the historical periphery. Is there any basis for such speculation?

Serbia is a country that’s negotiating its membership and we have advanced quite a long way on integration with the EU. There are numerous areas where we’re already harmonised fully with European law and practice. We’ve also implemented the entire reform process in the area of the rule of law in such a way that it has been praised by international institutions, including the European Commission and EU member states. The Western Balkans simply mustn’t be overlooked or “remain on the periphery” because of the interests of the EU itself, because in recent days we’ve been witnessing just how important it is to have a strong and united Europe.

How do you view the strengthening of links between the EU and Ser-

ESTIMATES

I’ve never even calculated 2025 as the year of our membership, because that’s not dependent on us, rather that’s when our institutions estimate it would be possible for us to be ready for membership

bia and the other countries of the Western Balkans beyond the scope of the aquis, i.e., through the connecting of transport routes, the Green Deal and other policies. Do you see it as a long-desired rapprochement, or as an economic connection that will remain at a political distance, without the accepting of the Western Balkans as a new group of EU members?

The strengthening of connections between the EU and Serbia, as well as with the other countries of the Western Balkans, undoubtedly has a positive impact on the region and brings significant advantages. This connection is unfolding on several tracks, in different areas, through numerous processes, initiatives and instruments. One of the instruments, along with the IPA, through which the EU improves the regional approach to solving challenges is the Western Balkans Investment Framework [WBIF], which financially enables the preparing and implementing of strategically relevant projects in the fields of transport, energy, environmental protection and social infrastructure.

This entire framework of financial, legal and political cooperation is easier to understand when we address the domain of tangible examples. A first good example is the reconstruction and construction of the

CONNECTIVITY

Strengthening connections between the EU and Serbia, and the other Western Balkan countries, undoubtedly has a positive impact on the region and brings significant advantages

Belgrade-Niš railway, the Niš-Dimitrovgrad railway and the Niš-Brestovac railway, with which we will raise the level of railway safety, quality, reliability and availability, as well as the competitiveness of rail transport, but also better connections between our railway system and those of Hungary, Bulgaria and North Macedonia.

Then there’s the construction of Highway E-80, Niš-Pločnik, which represents the first section of the planned Niš-Merdare Highway, with which we will achieve better regional connectivity, save time on travelling and operating costs, increase traffic safety and impact favourably on economic development in an otherwise underdeveloped area. There is also the large project to construct the Serbia-Bulgaria gas interconnector, which will connect the gas networks of Serbia and Bulgaria and thus enable the diversification of energy sources in Serbia and around the Western Balkan region. For us, for Serbia, that means a more secure and stable supply from various gas network systems.

There’s also work on the Trans-Balkan Electricity Corridor, on transmission line interconnectivity between Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro, which will upgrade the network of existing transmission lines and thus reduce supply interruptions and network losses to a minimum, while simultaneously increasing the stability and reliability of supply.

The time has also come for the very significant and long-planned project Removal of Sunken Vessels, section Prahovo, Danube, which will remove 21 sunken World War II vessels from this waterway, widen the navigable channel and remove the threat of unexploded ordnance, thus improving the navigability of the Danube.

The financial, legal and political framework of cooperation in the Western Balkans and with the EU is easier to understand through tangible examples of the construction of networks of roadways, railways and waterways

Serbia’s journey to the European Union has lasted for 20 years. And just as we’ve changed throughout that time, so has the European Union

Striving to Clarify Misunderstandings Together

H. E. Archbishop Santo Gangemi

Apostolic Nuncio (Vatican Ambassador) of the Holy See to the Republic of Serbia

By Jelena Jorgačević

It was just a few months ago that Archbishop Santo Gangemi arrived in Serbia to take on his new post as Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to Serbia. Originally from Messina, Italy, Archbishop Santo Gangemi has previously served in various countries, including the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Mali and El Salvador. Currently resident in Belgrade, his wealth of knowledge and experience provides more than enough reason for an in-depth interview.

The numerous topics we discussed include the position of the Catholic Church in Serbia, diplomatic relations between Serbia and the Vatican, as well as the potential role of churches and religious communities in achieving peace in Ukraine. We additionally touched upon the call for reforms within the Catholic Church.

What initially crossed your mind when you first found out that you would be coming to Serbia, and what have your impressions been since arriving?

― First, a warm greeting to all CorD readers. The appointment in Serbia was a surprise! I didn’t expect to be changed from El Salvador, nor to come to a part of Europe that is unknown to me, though at the same time I had no valid reasons to refuse such an assignment, so I accepted.

There is no doubt that it is always pleasant for a European to return to Europe after an absence of many years. Therefore, discovering Belgrade is like rediscovering this historic part of the old European continent; it is rediscovering, in a certain sense through a

relations between Serbia and the Holy See date back to 1920; they were interrupted in 1952 and normalised in 1970

fraternal embrace, this crossroads of peoples and cultures, thinking of the junction of its history, through which the East has approached the West since ancient times. This is a country with lights and shadows, like all human realities, but, above all, with its desire to live, grow and keep up with the times.

What is your opinion regarding the position of the Catholic Church in Serbia and its relations with the majority Serbian Orthodox Church?

― I am gradually getting to know the reality of the Catholic Church in Ser-

bia. A first meeting took place on 11th December, on the occasion of the beginning of the pastoral ministry of His Grace Archbishop László Nemet as Metropolitan Archbishop of Belgrade, and then, last 25th January, I went to Subotica for the feast of the Patron of the Diocese. Again, I spent the days of the Easter Triduum in Subotica and touched with my own hands the religious vitality of that city and that diocese. Brief and circumstantial contacts allowed me to experience the enthusiasm of a community that does not complain about being a minority, nor does it feel marginalised, even though it has to face many problems. I am pleased to see it solicitous in the pastoral, social and ecumenical fields and committed to the synodal path, thus giving priority to the request of Pope Francis. I also find the relationship with the Orthodox Church very constructive. For my part, the meeting with His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije was a moment of grace and emotion. After the initial pleasantries, and after bringing

“There is an element that I consider important in relations between the Church and states – that of never allowing oneself to be overwhelmed by pessimism or to think that one is always right. Rather, it is a relation of together trying to clarify misunderstandings. I think this is the work of diplomacy” ~ Archbishop Santo Gangemi

Discovering Belgrade is like rediscovering this historic part of the old European continent; it is rediscovering, in a certain sense through a fraternal embrace, this crossroads of peoples and cultures

Diplomatic

the fraternal greetings of Pope Francis, an intense exchange of views followed, during which the will to continue on the path of dialogue and understanding was emphasised. I am personally convinced that, on the ecumenical level, due to its long history, the Serbian Orthodox Church can offer much.

What priorities have you set for yourself during your tenure in Serbia? What do you want to work on in particular?

― The Motu Proprio Sollicitudo omnium Ecclesiarum of 24th June 1969, and cannas 362 and 363 of the Code of Canon Law, illustrate and regulate the task of the Pope’s Legates (Nuncios), to whom “is entrusted the office of permanently representing the Roman Pontiff himself with particular Churches or even with States and Public Authorities to which they have been sent”. These few lines contain the entire service of the Nuncio, who strives, in this way, to become, where he is, the face, the voice, the hand of the Holy Father; in short, he is a bridge between the Holy Father and the State, as well as a bridge between the Holy Father and the particular Church.

We’re fast approaching the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council (2025), which has long been seen as an opportunity to bring together the various Christian churches. Given that this great celebration is now just two years away, and that a tragic war is still raging in Europe, do you think we will even be in a position to take advantage of this opportunity, and, if so, how?

― The anniversary of the first Ecumenical Council, the Council of Nicaea in 325, is undoubtedly a milestone to look back on and from which to draw inspiration to continue to mend the rift that occurred in the Church in the centuries that followed that important event. There is no doubt that its preparation is clouded by the news of war. A conflict that confronts two Christian peoples, two Christian civ-

Christians cannot deviate from the teaching of the Gospel: to be peaceful and peacemakers... I don’t believe there is a formula, but certainly a commitment to let oneself be guided by the Spirit who, in unexpected ways, makes one find suitable words and gestures.

ilisations. Nicaea also offers today’s world a message that is not obsolete: ideas may oppose each other, but understanding deserves every effort and commitment.

Could churches and religious communities contribute to the achieving of peace in Ukraine, and, if so, in which way? How do you see the role of the Roman Catholic Church and Pope Francis in this regard?

― I am fully convinced that religious faiths can play an important role in bringing an end to this terrible conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Everyone is aware of Pope Francis’s calls for peace, and also of his full willingness to create a roundtable for dialogue. Of course, the role of the Catholic Church is limited by the acceptance of mediation by the conflicting parties and, above all, by the full willingness to follow up on the agreements reached.

What role do Christian have to play during times of war?

― It is not easy to answer this question, or rather the answer is so easy in the light of Gospel teaching, but so difficult when it comes to putting it

I am fully convinced that religious faiths can play an important role in bringing an end to this terrible conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Everyone is aware of Pope Francis’s calls for peace

into practice. Christians cannot deviate from the teaching that comes to them from the Gospel: to be peaceful and peacemakers. It is more difficult to understand how. I do not believe that there is a pre-established formula, but certainly a commitment to let oneself be guided by the Spirit who, in unexpected ways, makes one find suitable words and gestures. In any case, it is clear that, for the Christian, war is always a failure and never a conquest.

You were born and raised in Italy, while you’ve lived in countries with completely different traditions. What’s your view regarding good and healthy relations between the Church and the State? In which fields should they act together and what boundaries should never be crossed? Where do you see the greatest temptations?

― The years of my diplomatic service have taken me to work in different countries with different sensitivities in Church-State relations. In all of them, however, I seemed to perceive a common denominator: the State looks at the Church with attention and interest. Why is this so? Perhaps because the Church has always shown itself to be more inclined to what unites than to what divides; using an evangelical image, I would say that the Church is always careful not to let the flickering flame die out. There is an element that I then consider important in relations between the Church and states – that of never allowing oneself to be overwhelmed by pessimism or to think that one is always right. Rather, it is a relation of together trying to clarify misunderstandings. I think this is the work of diplomacy.

Diplomatic relations between Serbia and the Vatican were established more than a century ago. How do you see the current juncture and the future of those relations?

― Diplomatic relations between Serbia and the Holy See date back to 1920; they were interrupted in 1952 and normalisation returned only 18 years

later, on 13th August 1970, with the appointment of two respective Diplomatic Representatives - Ambassador and Nuncio. The history of this century of relations is undoubtedly an interesting story with many facets, and a few lines are not enough to summarise it. The presentation of the Letters of Credence, on 12th December 2022, gave me the opportunity to have

to continuing and, as far as possible, consolidating.

There are vocal calls for the reform of the Roman Catholic Church in certain countries, for example in Germany, while Rome generally responds to such calls with restraint, to put it mildly. What is the higher view on that, does the Roman Catholic Church need to be reformed and, if so, how?

a brief meeting with the President of the Republic and the political and military figures accompanying him. Beyond the purely ceremonial aspect, it was an opportunity to take stock, albeit briefly, of the good bilateral relations between the Holy See and Serbia, which have been established in past years and which I will be committed

― Instances of reform in the Church are nothing new; I have no doubt that the verb ‘to reform’ has been the most overused of all time. What does a reform consist of and how can it be realised? The answer to this question can only be given if one has a clear idea of what the Church is: a human and divine reality! It is founded by Christ, who entrusted men (apostles and their successors) with the task of carrying it forward, to the ends of the earth. It is clear, in this sense, that there is a foundation that cannot be changed and elements that instead need to be ‘modernised’ for a greater understanding of its being, bearing in mind that such modernisation in no way means distancing or misrepresenting the Gospel doctrine or the perennial tradition of the Church. Now, in my humble opinion, we seem to be witnessing a distorted understanding of this reality, applying exclusively human categories to it. Hence the misunderstanding of reform at any cost, thus aligning it with purely earthly realities. One question remains open, and it is always difficult to answer: are these calls for reform made in good faith? The truthful answer to this question can certainly pave the way for a reform that helps us to understand the mystery of the Church more fully, but without distancing her from the will of her Founder and enabling her, as the Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, reminds us, to “...overcome with patience and love her internal and external afflictions and difficulties and to reveal to the world, faithfully, even if under shadows, the mystery of the Lord” (8:307).

The anniversary of the first Ecumenical Council is undoubtedly a milestone to look back on and from which to draw inspiration to continue to mend the rift that occurred in the Church in the centuries that followed that important event

July 4th Declared–Hottest Day Globally

World temperature records have been broken for a second day in a row, data suggests, as experts issued a warning that this year’s warmest days are still to come – and the warmest days ever recorded. The average global air temperature was 17.18C on Tuesday, 4th July according to data collated by the US National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). However, the hottest day on record was in 2016, during the last El Niño global weather event, when the global average temperature reached 16.92C. The World Meteorological Organization, the UN’s weather body, confirmed El Niño had returned. Experts predicted that combined with the increased heat from anthropogenic global heating, it would lead to more record-breaking temperatures. As temperatures hit record highs in the Mediterranean, Balkan countries such as Serbia, Turkey, and Greece are also feeling the heat.

Spanish National Elections

Spain appears to be heading for political gridlock after inconclusive national elections left parties on all sides without a clear path to forging a new government. The conservative Popular Party won the elections, but fell short of its hopes of scoring a much bigger victory and forcing the removal of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Instead, the party led by candidate Alberto Núñez Feijóo performed below the expectations of most campaign polls. Even though Sánchez’s Socialists finished in second place, they and their allied parties celebrated the outcome as a victory since their combined forces gained slightly more seats than the PP and the far-right.

Washington Sanctions Vulin

Director of Serbia’s Security and Information Agency (BIA), Aleksandar Vulin, has been added to the sanctions list of the U.S. As announced by the United States Treasury Department, the sanctions were imposed after Vulin was involved in corruption affairs. It is further stated that these corrupt affairs advance his political agendas and personal interests at the expense of peace and stability in the Western Balkans.

“Propaganda is to a democracy what the bludgeon is to a totalitarian state”

Noam Chomsky

American professor linguist and political activist

Pedro Sánchez’

Several Dead in Powerful Balkan Storms

A powerful storm hit the Balkans with strong winds and heavy rain on Wednesday 19th July, killing several people in Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Slovenia and injuring dozens, as resported by police and local media outlets. The storm was the second in two days to sweep over the region following a string of extremely hot and dry days. Elsewhere in Europe, a continuing heatwave caused wildfires and public health alerts. The storm roared through Serbia. battering Belgrade, Novi Sad, Valjevo, Niš and Kraljevo with heavy winds and rain. Novi Sad suffered the most, with dozens of trees falling, damaging cars, private property and infrastructure.

Inflation in Europe Falls To 6.1%

Inflation in Europe has dropped to 6.1%, but some experts warn that consumers won’t immediately see a difference on shop shelves. Europe’s inflation rate took a positive turn with a significant drop to 6.1%, but consumers are yet to see real relief in what they pay for food and other necessities. The annual figure in May eased from 7% in April for the 20 countries that use the euro, the European Union’s statistical agency Eurostat said. Inflation in Germany, France and Italy - the three largest economies to use the currency - fell by 6.1%, 5.1% and 7.6%, respectively. The annual inflation rate in Serbia stood at 14.8% in May 2023, following 15.1% in April and easing from a record high of 16.2% in March.

Serbia Elected Host Country of Specialised Expo 2027

Member States of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) today elected Serbia as the host country of Specialised Expo 2027 under the theme “Play for Humanity: Sport and Music for All”. Specialised Expos are designed to respond to a precise challenge facing humanity and may take place in the interval between two World Expos and will last up to three months in a limited exhibition area not exceeding 25 hectares. The most recent Specialised Expo was Expo in 2017 Astana, which took place in the capital of Kazakhstan under the theme “Future Energy” and received almost four million visitors.

“Democracy is not just the right to vote; it is the right to live in dignity”

Naomi Klein Canadian journalist, syndicated columnist and documentary filmmaker

On a Thin, Hot Wire

Despite inflationary pressure easing and encouraging FDI inflows, the complexity of the global political and economic crisis, which also is spilling over onto Serbia, doesn’t leave much room for optimism. Under such conditions, those shaping public policy require much more wisdom, tact and understanding of social circumstances than under normal conditions

conomic growth in Serbia is this year expected to reach a maximum of two per cent, as a result of a more stringent monetary and fiscal policy, high inflation, weak foreign demand and unfavourable conditions internationally for borrowing.

Given these challenges and the need to boost economic growth and confront the current situation, what measures could the government consider? We posed this question to our economist interlocutors and received an array of very nuanced answers.

Bojan Stanić Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Serbia Assistant Director, Sector for Strategic Analysis, Services and Internationalisation

Improvement Won’t Come Quickly

It is projected that Serbia’s economic growth for this year will fall to two per cent of GDP due to a more stringent monetary and fiscal policy, high inflation, weak foreign demand and unfavourable conditions internationally for borrowing. Given these challenges, what measures could the government consider to boost economic growth and deal with the current situation?

First and foremost, the population shouldn’t be excessively weighed down by the burden of inflation, particularly given the fact that the drop in purchas-

there is less left for daily personal consumption, which leads to domestic demand falling further.

It is extremely important for the Government to protect macroeconomic stability, which forms the basis of the country’s credit rating, while it is crucial to ensure the continued arrival of foreign direct investments, which should be directed more towards areas that provide higher added value.

When it comes to the population’s standard of living, we have several negative indicators that testify to the pressure on the population, and those are the decline in the real purchasing power among the majority of the population, falling retail turnover and increased unemployment, which now totals 10.1%.

We hope this crisis will not deepen and that Serbia, like other European countries, will have higher growth rates in the coming years than has been the case this year, but it is essential for this growth to be at least 3% annually in order for the population to feel an improvement.

ing power is felt the most among the part of the population that has below-average earnings, which also happens to be the majority of the total population. Just take into account the fact that approximately twothirds of GDP is spent on household consumption.

Individual analysts consider it necessary to allow inflationary pressure to abate of its own accord, i.e., for the benchmark interest rate not to be raised too much, which would also be felt the most among the aforementioned segment of the population. And now you have a situation in which many of those who’ve been overburdened with increased obligations to repay mortgages are making that obligation their priority, and consequently

What could the best- and worst-case scenarios that we face look like? As things stand now, the best scenario would be the realising of the forecast of the National Bank of Serbia, according to which inflation will half by the end of 2023, thus amounting to around 8%, and will return to the target of around 3% by the end of next year.

It would be very bad if the cancelling of the agreement on the export of Ukrainian grain, as well as a potentially harsher winter, lead to the renewed intensifying of inflationary pressures, which would also be imported to Serbia and would disrupt efforts aimed at curbing inflation and additionally impact negatively on the purchasing power of the population, while also reflecting negatively on other macroeconomic indicators.

We hope this crisis will not deepen and that Serbia, like other European countries, will have higher growth rates in the coming years than has been the case this year, but it is essential for this growth to be at least 3% annually in order for the population to feel an improvement

I

The cancelling of the agreement on the export of Ukrainian grain, as well as a potentially harsher winter, could lead to the renewed intensifying of inflationary pressures, which would also be imported to Serbia

Branimir Jovanović Economist at the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies

Not the Right Time to Save

GDP growth stats don’t mean much in these kinds of crises, because the majority of people are living worse than before in spite of GDP growing. Considering that prices are continuing to rise in Serbia, it is highly likely that the wave of protests that started recently could become even bigger from the coming autumn, particularly if the government fails to raise salaries and pensions

Our institute’s projections are that Serbia’s economic growth will probably be even lower, no more than 1.5%. The country’s GDP even fell in the first quarter of this year compared to the previous quarter, which happened for two main reasons. The first is that inflation was excessively high, at close to 15%, which reduces purchasing power and thus also household consumption. The second reason is weak government spending, which additionally slowed down the economy. The government needs to address these two things in order to stimulate the economy. It firstly needs to increase its spending, as it did during 2020, at the start of the pandemic. And it secondly needs to raise all types of income that it has an impact on – such as public sector wages, pensions and social assistance –in order to encourage consumer spending.

When it comes to living standards, it should be noted that this crisis is specific in that it doesn’t impact all people in the same way. Rising prices mean higher living costs for some, but higher profits for others. Of course, the first group has far more members and they include almost everyone who lives from their work, and that accounts for 95% of people. That’s why GDP growth stats don’t mean much in these kinds of crises, because the majority of people are living worse than they were before despite GDP growing. That creates dissatisfaction that can easily turn into protests, which we are even seeing in countries that are known for their socialist qualities, like France. Considering that prices are continuing to rise in Serbia, it is highly likely that the wave of protests that started recently could become even bigger from the coming autumn, particularly if the government fails to raise salaries and pensions.

As for foreign investments, these protests don’t mean much to them, as they do not disrupt their operations. Geopolitical issues are much more important to them, first and foremost whether Serbia is moving towards the EU or the East. There were numerous dilemmas in this regard with the outbreak of the war in Ukraine last year, which is why we saw a decline in foreign investments from the EU. It seems to be becoming clearer this year that Serbia still wants to take the road to the EU, which is why foreign investments recorded growth of more than 50% in the first five months of this year. When it comes to the end of this year and next year, the best-case scenario is for people’s earnings to increase, for the state to intensify its spending in order to stimulate

the economy, for doubts about Serbia’s European path to be overcome and thus foreign investments to increase, and for reforms to be implemented in order to support domestic investment. In such a case, economic growth could reach 3% by as early as next year. The worst-case scenario would be for the state to start saving and fail to increase salaries and social transfers, for a standstill in EU integration to be reached and for no reforms to be implemented. In such a case, Serbia would face economic stagnation, with growth of around 1%.

It wouldn’t be good for the state to decide to start saving and fail to increase salaries and social transfers, for EU integration to reach a standstill and for reforms to be abandoned, as that would undoubtedly lead to stagnation

Failure to Provide Better Conditions Causes Workers to Depart

TThe Serbian economy isn’t currently in a very rosy situation, because we are increasingly feeling the consequences of high inflation, rising interest rates on bank loans and credits, and the undervaluing of the euro compared to the dinar. Further aggravating the situation is the drop in demand on the domestic market, which occurred as a result of inflation and more expensive retail borrowing. The number of export-oriented companies recording operational losses due to the aforementioned four factors has doubled since the beginning of this year. A fifth factor also exists, and that is that state-owned and public companies have increased delays in paying their debts to the private sector for goods and services since autumn last year. This is particularly prevalent among large state-owned enterprises and the biggest public enterprises in the City of Belgrade.

Considering everything mentioned, the government would have to introduce rigorous savings measures and direct funds collected from taxes and other fiscal revenues towards capital investments, and to conduct the efficient implementation of those investments, put a halt to all unfavourable credits raised from foreign banks and countries that have high interest rates and try – through efficient organisation and the formulating of capital infrastructure, energy, environmental and other projects – to secure the financing of those projects from international financial institutions that enable the most favourable conditions.

It is likewise necessary for the state to create the conditions and speed up preparations to further reduce the overall burden on employees’ earnings, because high demand

for workers from more economically developed European countries means that domestic companies aren’t in a position to retain the workforce that they’ve trained and that is relocating to those countries. There they are offered significantly higher earnings and often better working conditions, especially in EU countries, where there is greater respect for the rights of employees.

It is urgent that we reduce our wage burden to the level of Bulgaria, because higher taxes and contributions mean that our employers are unable to raise the salaries of employees sufficiently under conditions of very high inflation while simultaneously remaining competitive on the European market

A lot of factors could be added to this, but bear in mind that apart from digitalisation, which is being discussed on all fronts, Serbia lacks the de-bureaucratisation of institutions, an independent, professional and effective judiciary and a higher level of protection for private property, as well as further reform of the education system and an increase in the volume of professional internships for students at colleges and secondary schools.

Apart from digitalisation, Serbia lacks the de-bureaucratisation of institutions, an independent judiciary and a higher level of protection for private property, as well as further reform of the education system

Dragoljub Rajić Director, Rail Cluster for Southeast Europe

It is urgent that we reduce our wage burden to the level of Bulgaria, because higher taxes and contributions mean that our employers are unable to raise the salaries of employees sufficiently under conditions of very high inflation while simultaneously remaining competitive on the European market

Nebojša Savić Ph.D., FEFA University

Investments are Crucial to Long-Term Recovery

It is vital for Serbia to preserve the attractiveness of its business environment in order to secure further FDI inflows.

constantly high investment rates of 25% of GDP and more

The growth slowdown in Serbia, to around 2%, is the result of external circumstances related, on the one hand, to the war in Ukraine and, on the other, to the nature of the world economy’s recovery following the pandemic. In this framework, rising inflation came as a result of very complex movements in the world economy and the pumping of huge monetary infusions both during and after the pandemic. Measures aimed at curbing inflation move in the direction of slowing growth. Serbia should continue with agreed measures, both monetary and fiscal, to halt inflation. The entire world is fighting inflation, Serbia included, and inflation in Serbia now is on a downward trajectory and by year’s end should reach single digits, around 8%.

It is very important for the GDP growth rate to be maintained at 2% or more this year, because we would thereby avoid entering the zone of recession that’s confronting most of the world’s developed countries. Under such complex international geopolitical circumstances, it is crucial to devise cautious and well-balanced economic policy measures that yield results in terms of reducing inflation, on the one hand, while maintaining the economy in the zone of positive growth of 2% and more, on the other. When it comes to increasing the growth rate in the future, it would be very advantageous to improve the operations of public companies, particularly in the electricity industry, and to reduce corruption.

We should add to this the fact that it is vital for Serbia to maintain the attractiveness of the business environment in order to secure two things: firstly, the

continued enticing of FDI, which is very important because it ensures the influx of new technology, but also the growth of employment rates and export performance; but it is secondly also necessary to open a channel to intensify domestic private investments in order for Serbia to achieve constantly high investment rates of 25% of GDP and more.

When it comes to future prospects, it should be stated that measures taken in Serbia in an effort to combat inflation, as in the rest of the world, serve in the direction of halting inflation. Raising benchmark interest rates, as a basic market mechanism for curbing infla-

tion, yields its results. It is very important to be patient and steadfast when it comes to measures, because monetary policy measures have a delayed impact, usually by around 12 months. This means that this much time is needed, with anchored inflationary expectations, to curb inflation. The process that’s been initiated to reduce inflation in Serbia should return the annual inflation rate to around 8% by December of this year, while it will return to the target framework, i.e., below 4.5%, during the second half of 2024.

When it comes to increasing the growth rate in the future, it would be very advantageous to improve the operations of public companies, particularly in the electricity industry, and to reduce corruption

It is simultaneously also necessary to open a channel to intensify domestic private investments in order for Serbia to achieve

Together for a Sustainable Future

UNOPS is leading a new joint United Nations intervention in Serbia that aims to enhance local governance, social inclusion and environmental protection. Along with launching the Swiss-funded Joint UN Programme “PRO - Local Governance for People and Nature”, which is being supported by the Government of Serbia and implemented by several UN agencies, UNOPS is working across the Western Balkans to support countries in enhancing local development, social cohesion, rule of law and the environment on their EU accession path

Michela Telatin Ph.D., UNOPS Serbia Multi-Country Office Director

This is a continuation of the UNOPS commitment to improving quality of life for Serbian citizens and addressing key issues, such as local governance, social inclusion and protection, environmental sustainability and community empowerment - emphasises UNOPS Serbia Multi-Country Office Director Michela Telatin.

During this ongoing global crisis that is placing a higher burden on more vulnerable communities, could you explain how UNOPS – through its latest collaboration with the Swiss Government – is addressing these issues in local communities?

In the face of global crises, our collaborative efforts have focused on strengthening the resilience of more vulnerable communities. Over the next four years, the new Swiss-funded Programme will provide technical assistance, capacity building and grant support for projects and various initiatives of local self-governments and civil society organisations to support vulnerable populations from 99 eligible cities and municipalities in Šumadija and Western, Eastern and Southern Serbia.

Through sustainable and inclusive interventions, we will contribute to improving local governance to enhance access to essential public services, including social protection, healthcare and education, while also promoting dialogue on environmental protection and empowering youth participation in the Green Agenda within local communities.

The Programme “PRO - Local Governance for People and Nature” benefits from our best practices after many years of contributing to these sectors. It is therefore able to offer a more complex and multi-faceted tangible impact on the wellbeing and prosperity of the Serbian population.

The new programme entails collaboration among several UN agencies on three key topics: local governance, social inclusion, and envi -

ronmental protection. What benefits does this close cooperation bring; and who will be the main beneficiaries?

UNOPS, which has been traditionally engaged on local governance and social cohesion for over a decade, is now joining forces with UNFPA, UNICEF and UNEP to ensure the pooling of diverse expertise and resources in addressing complex challenges. This new setup will, together with the engagement of the UN Resident Coordinator, ensure a holistic and comprehensive approach to implementation of the programme, and also facilitate access to wider networks, amplifying the potential impact of our initiatives.

The key areas of support have also been identified in conversations with local stakeholders, who are also direct users of support: local self-governments, centres for social welfare,

How many partners are currently collaborating with your organisation; and what other major UNOPS programmes and initiatives are there in Serbia?

UNOPS is currently implementing five projects in Serbia, with the funding and in support of the European Union, Switzerland, the European In -

As an office that’s also in charge of UNOPS operations in Montenegro, North Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, how do your expertise and capacities align with the needs and opportunities presented through regional cooperation?

primary healthcare centres, preschool institutions and schools, as well as civil society organisations. The main beneficiaries of the programme will be citizens of all participating cities and municipalities, especially those from groups that have been left behind, with a focus on people with disabilities, Roma, children and families, youth and the elderly.

vestment Bank, UNHCR and the Government of Serbia. Along with the international actors funding the projects, our partners are the relevant Serbian government ministries responsible for the areas we work in, local self-governments, and national institutions.

The most prominent initiatives in Serbia include contributing to the creation of more balanced socio-economic development through the Programme EU PRO Plus and providing sustainable social housing solutions, accompanied with active inclusion measures for the most vulnerable population through the EU SHAI programme. We are also providing procurement support within the EU for the Rule of Law project, as well as technical advisory services for reconstructing clinical centres.

Along with our expertise, experience and capacities, I would single out one important trait of our approach: we are present at the local level not only through the implementation of our activities, but also through local offices in Niš, Novi Pazar and Vranje. Whereas all our projects contribute to global and national agendas, such as Serbia’s EU integration path, as well as the achieving of the Sustainable Development Goals and targets set nationally, we also strive to be close to the communities, to collaborate with them, and to translate their needs into viable projects that bring solutions.

The region is very diverse, but – at the same time – the countries are quite similar in terms of development priorities and challenges. Thanks to the experience we’ve acquired over more than 20 years of working in the Western Balkans, for and with local communities, we now have a comprehensive understanding of what citizens and local authorities need and aspire to, and how best to support them.

In North Macedonia, we have just launched a new project: EU for Clean Air, while we are continuing work on remediating one of the country’s most contaminated hot spots - the OHIS landfill, and continuing to provide support to the country’s EU accession and its negotiation process through a pool of experts that work directly with national institutions. In Montenegro, we are launching interventions supporting the sector of the rule of law and fundamental rights, together with the EU, while expanding our local level support through the assessing of school infrastructure. I’ve just returned from a mission to Bosnia-Herzegovina, where discussions are underway on how UNOPS can support the country by offering its expertise in project management, infrastructure, procurement, HR and financial management.

The purpose of UNOPS is to help people in building better lives and to help countries in achieving sustainable development. We believe that this purpose can find a new value in supporting transnational projects and regional cooperation in the Western Balkans, and we remain keen to explore the opportunities, partnerships and initiatives that will make the countries and the people stronger together.

The purpose of UNOPS is to help people in building better lives and to help countries in achieving sustainable development

New social housing building constructed in Šabac within the EU SHAI

PLACEMENTS & POSTINGS

H.E. Edward Ferguson, new UK Ambassador to Serbia

Edward Ferguson graduated with First Class Honours in Classics in 2001. Joining the Graduate Fast Stream of the UK Ministry of Defence, he managed a programme to consolidate the MOD estate in Greater London and redevelop RAF Northolt from 2004 to 2006, serving as Political Advisor to a British Battlegroup in Iraq, after which he was tasked with the strategic management of the UK’s bilateral defence relations with the U.S., Canada and Western Europe. He worked as Private Secretary to three Defence Secretaries from 2007 to 2009, then, in 2009, as Head of Afghanistan and Pakistan Policy. He served as Head of Defence Strategy and Priorities from 2011 to 2014, when - in 2013 – he graduated from the LSE and Political Science with an MSc with Distinction in Strategy and Diplomacy. An Honorary Fellow of Exeter University’s Strategy and Security Institute, he was UK Ambassador to Bosnia-Herzegovina from 2014-’18. From 20182022 he served as Minister Counsellor for Defence at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C.

H.E. Akira Imamura, new Ambassador of Japan to Serbia

Akira Imamura joined the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1984. Among his foreign postings, he has served in Moscow three times, but also in Washington, D.C., Canberra, London and Ottawa. He held the position of Director of the Central and Southeast Europe Division of the Japanese MFA from 2003 to 2006, when he was responsible for Japan’s relations with the Western Balkan countries and also had an opportunity to visit Belgrade. He was appointed Japanese Consul-General in the Russian city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in 2015. Ambassador Imamura served as Ambassador of Japan to Georgia, until May 2023. A fluent speaker of both English and Russian, his interests include history and art and he has also translated Solomon Volkov’s book A History of 20th Century Russian Culture (2019).

H.E. Aleksandar Vranješ, new Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Serbia

Aleksandar Vranješ completed his BA in Communication Sciences at Banja Luka College from 2001-’05, before beginning his postgraduate studies at the University of Belgrade Faculty of Political Science in 2005, earning his his Ph.D. in 2017. Taking on the role of teaching associate at the University of Banja Luka Faculty of Philosophy in 2008-’09, he served at the same institution from 2009-’18, before being appointed its Vice-Dean for Education (2010-’14), Vice-Dean for Scientific Research (2018-’19) and Assistant Professor of Political Communication (2018-present). He served as Political Affairs Advisor to the Office of the President of Republika Srpska from 2013-’18. and from 2019 to 2023, as Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Croatia.

H.E. Andreas Photiou, New ambassador of Cyprus to Serbia

Andreas Photiou earned his BA in Business Administration from the University of Cardiff and also holds a BE-MA in European Studies from Belgium’s Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. His first foreign posting (2003 to 2007) was at the Embassy/Permanent Mission of Cyprus to Vienna, after which he served – from 2007 to 2011 – at Cyprus’s Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels. Returning home to Cyprus, he served as Head of the EU Department at the MFA from 2011 to 2013, before returning to Brussels from 2013 to 2018, working on EU Enlargement - Turkey, Serbia, Montenegro – and the Cyprus settlement process at the Permanent Representation of Cyprus to the EU. After heading the EU-Turkey Department at the MFA from 2018 to 2022, he became Director of the Office of the Permanent Secretary.

H.E. Mohammed M. A. Al Namoura, new Ambassador of Palestine to Serbia

Mohammed M. A. Al Namoura completed his basic schooling at Tariq Ben Ziyad High School in Hebron, before moving to the then Yugoslavia (Serbia), to complete his higher education at the University of Niš, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Safety Engineering Degree in 1993 and his Master’s Degree n 1999. He is being President of the General Union of Palestinian Students (GUPS), former Yugoslavia branch, from 1992-‘99. He became Membership Committee Head of the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Al Fatah) in 2009 – a position he still holds – before becoming a member of the Political Committee of the Revolutionary Council Al Fatah in 2016 and a member of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Palestine National Council, PLO, in 2018. Ambassador Al Namoura is married. He speaks English to a proficient level and is fluent in Serbian.

Born 1959 in Rio de Janeiro, professor Ivanka Popović studied at the University of Maryland in the U.S. and at the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy of the University of Belgrade, earning a Doctorate in Chemical Engineering from the latter. A former Rector of the University of Belgrade and professor at the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, prior to being appointed rector, she served as Vice-Rector for Research (2012-2015) and Vice-Rector for International and Inter-University Cooperation (2015-2018) at the University of Belgrade. She also previously presided over the Serbian Rectors’ Conference (20182021), the Danube Rectors’ Conference and the Rectors’ Forum of Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans. Ivanka is currently Honorary President of the Danube Rectors Conference.

Born and raised in the Austrian city of Villach, Amadeus Faltheiner grew up at the crossroads of the three different cultures of the Alpe-Adria region. After completing his basic education at the artistic branch of High School in Austria, he graduated in Law at the University of Vienna, with a specialisation in European Law obtained at the College of Europe in Bruges. He had several work experience placements at Vienna-based notary and law firms before serving, from October 2017 to March 2018, as a legal officer at the Austrian Financial Market Authority. Joining the Austrian Foreign Service – at the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs in Vienna, he served in the department for Visa, Border, Residence and Asylum Affairs; Migration; and Combating trafficking in human beings from April 2018 to January 2019. After participating in EU visa tasks during the Austrian EU Presidency, he was assigned to the Austrian Embassy in Brasilia from February to July 2019, then returned to the Protocol Department in Vienna (Aug 2019 – Aug 2020). Prior to his arrival in Belgrade for his latest posting, he spent three years as a Political Officer at the Austrian Embassy in Rome.

Ivanka Popović new Vice-President of the European University Association (EUA)

Amadeus Faltheiner new Director of the Austrian Cultural Forum Belgrade

Business Dialogue

LEADERS’ MEETING POINT

VIOLETA BELANOVIĆ General Manager at Sekopak

SVETOSLAV ATANASOV General Manager at Coca-Cola HBC Serbia and Montenegro

BRANKO ILIĆ Managing Director at Eviden d.o.o. Beograd

Initiators of Positive Change

Violeta Belanović General Manager at Sekopak

Violeta Belanović began her career as an auditor at the two largest auditing firms, before continuing as a director of finance for multinational companies. She developed an interest in finances from an early age, and she finds it soothing to observe work through numbers. With her work and vision, she has raised the visibility of Sekopak, and the management of packaging waste, to an enviable level

With Sekopak’s help, as much as 830,000 tons of packaging waste has been recycled to date, while in the last year alone this company contributed to savings on CO 2 of more than 93,000 tons. Sekopak has held the market leadership position for seven years already, which is why we discussed the development of the company and its continued growth in its leadership role with Sekopak General Manager Violeta Belanović, who is this August commemorating 10 years in the position of GM.

It was immediately after graduating from university that you launched your career at Ernst & Young, before moving on to Deloitte. As an expert in the auditing field and a finance director, you gained a wealth of experience at some of the largest domestic and multinational compa-

nies. How significant did that prove to be as your career progressed?

My love of finances already emerged at the end of primary school. It was then that I realised that it is easiest for me to express myself with the help of numbers, to understand them, which is very specific for that age. That is still the case today. I enjoy studying and overviewing the balance sheet; that unburdens me.

As an auditor and director of finance, I was more dedicated to numbers, to internal proce-

dures, to the functioning of the company from within, while the position of general manager implied greater communication with clients, collectors, the media and the state. That was new for me and a great challenge, but I had a clear vision of where Sekopak could be, which has been an important driver of my advancement as a director, but also for the advancement of Sekopak.

I still feel positive nervousness when it comes to my responsibility at the company.

I see Sekopak as a leader of positive change in the packaging waste management industry. I consider that we’ve proven that through our work to date, but I still see room to improve. This motivates me to continue working at Sekopak and to put into effect that which I believe in

This is an indication that, even after 10 years in the job, I care not only about Sekopak, but also about advancing the system of packaging waste management in Serbia.

Prior to taking on the position of general manager at Sekopak, you served as the company’s director of finances for two and a half years. What were your biggest lessons when switching to the new position?

When I received the opportunity to lead the company, I knew how to improve Sekopak’s operations and where the company needed to be; what we should do when it comes to customers, suppliers and relations with the state. I was familiar with the company from the inside and decided to make cuts and turn around the business in order to elevate Sekopak to the leadership position it now occupies. We’ve been the number one operator in Serbia for seven years already, which makes me very proud. We are recognisable, visible, and have the trust of our associates, but also of citizens.

Encouraged by the good results achieved to date, could you tell us about your plans for the upcoming period; how you envisage the recycling market in Serbia and Sekopak’s role?

Sekopak, as a packaging waste operator, justifies the targets for recycling set on behalf of companies by the state. Our goal over the next five years is to collect 50% of packaging waste from primary selection – first and foremost from citizens, but also from the HoReCa and retail sectors. I would like Serbian citizens to develop awareness regarding re-

a higher level and turn to smart recycling, but also how we can maximally facilitate the primary selection process for citizens. It was with this goal in mind that we installed the first recycling machine in Serbia, and we have them today in Kragujevac, Belgrade, Novi Sad, Aranđelovac, Niš and Zrenjanin.

Sekopak also installed the first partition dam to protect against packaging waste back

at Sekopak and to put into effect that which I believe in.

Sekopak was founded by the industry, while most major corporations opted for Sekopak to be their packaging waste management operator. How have you developed and grown alongside your associates?

Sekopak’s founders are serious multinational companies (A&P, Apatin Brewery, Ball Packaging Europe, confectionery company Bambi, Carlsberg Srbija, Coca-Cola HBC, Fresh&Co, Knjaz Miloš and Tetra Pak), that came here to stay and to set up a functional system. The goal for them isn’t merely to collect their packaging and submit it for recycling, rather they want to contribute to the community. I’m happy that our clients and founders are aware of their social and environmental

cycling and for primary selection to become routine. We are working on this persistently, implementing projects and education in cities nationwide across Serbia, installing infrastructure to separate packaging waste and bringing innovations to the industry.

We are continuously looking for ways that we can raise the existing infrastructure to

in 2017, when no one was even mentioning dams on rivers. You can now see similar dams being installed everywhere in Europe.

I see Sekopak as a leader of positive change in the packaging waste management industry. I consider that we’ve proven that through our work to date, but I still see room to improve. This motivates me to continue working

responsibility and that they have been influencing positive change in society over the last 10 years, together with Sekopak. These companies have, through their demands, contributed to Sekopak being where it is today. We have grown together, complemented each other, learned from one another.

We outdid ourselves this year in the context of the projects and events that we work on. The small school of recycling, Vlasina’s even purer love, Recycling for a cleaner Aranđelovac, Plus for the planet, Recycle Smartly, Education is important - recycle! These are just a few of the projects that we’ve worked on this year.

The entire Sekopak team is developing through this dynamic industry and the demands of our clients. We presented our entire network of associates in Serbia and everything we’ve done over the last 10 years at the CO2 conference that we organised in April. I’m extremely proud of who supports us, who stands behind us, the trust that the state places in us as a company with huge experience and knowhow in the field of packaging waste management.

Our goal over the next five years is to collect 50% of packaging waste from primary selection – first and foremost from citizens, but also from the HoReCa and retail sectors

After 10 years in the job, I care not only about Sekopak, but also about advancing the system of packaging waste management in Serbia

Business Dialogue

Power China, AVR Solar Park Start Construction of Solar Power Plant in Smederevo

The foundation stone for the construction of the new Saraorci solar power plant, with a capacity of 9.95 MW, was laid in Smederevo, and the electricity is intended for the domestic market, which is enough to supply about 2,500 households, the Ministry of Mining and Energy announced. Minister of Mining and Energy, Dubravka Đedović, who attended the start of the works with Chinese Ambassador H.E. Chen Bo and representatives of the companies implementing the project, Chinese PowerChina and German AVR Solar Park, said that the built capacities in Serbia are currently far below the potential, although a total of 157 solar power plants with a capacity of 23.3 MW operate.

AFI City Zmaj Opening Ceremony

In the spirit of that which it represents: a modern and innovative business complex of the future, AFI City Zmaj – a new, spacious business park designed to cater for young and dynamic companies and developed to meet all the needs of its future tenants – has been officially opened, with several hundred of the most prominent members of the city’s business community and the media in attendance. With its new project on the site of the former Zmaj factory, AFI Europe Serbia – as one of the pre-eminent investors in the real estate market of Belgrade and the region – once again confirms that it possesses the knowledge, strength and expertise required to rejuvenate neglected locations and place them prominently on the map as new landmarks of Belgrade, as it has done with the Skyline residential and commercial complex, the Business Garden office building and business park Airport City, the city within a city.

NBS: Foreign Exchange Reserves Amount To Record 22.58 Billion Euros

Gross foreign exchange reserves of the National Bank of Serbia (NBS) at the end of June this year amounted to 22 billion and 585 million euros, which is a monthly record since 2000, the NBS announced. The announcement states that in June, the gross foreign exchange reserves were increased by 496.8 million euros. This level of foreign exchange reserves ensures the coverage of the M1 money supply of 180 per cent and six months of imports of goods and services, which is twice the standard. The NBS notes that the increase in gross foreign exchange reserves in June is the result of interventions on the domestic foreign exchange market through the net purchase of foreign currency (an inflow of EUR 315 million), as well as the usual slightly higher inflow at the end of the quarter based on the allocation of mandatory foreign exchange reserves of banks in the net amount of EUR 259.1 million.

“We are among the most important partners in the production of private labels”

Ljubomir Babić CEO, Fun&Fit Company, Delta Holding

Serbia, U.S. Trade: Big Boom in Services Trade

In total trade between Serbia and the U.S., the exchange of services - less burdened by the distance of the market - is gaining ever more importance, reaching 1.33 billion dollars last year. America has been the top export market for Serbian services for the past two years, ahead of Germany, Great Britain and Switzerland. In contrast to merchandise trade, marked by a constant deficit on the Serbian side, Serbia has a surplus in the exchange of services, which in 2022 exceeded a billion dollars. Most of the income from the export of services on the American market - 55 per cent - was achieved through the export of telecommunication, computer and information services, of which slightly more than half are computer, i.e. programming services.

Serbia and FAO Sign Agreement on Cooperation

By 2025, the agricultural and food sector in Serbia should be more sustainable, innovative and inclusive, and improve the management of natural resources. The goals are foreseen by the agreement between Serbia and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on key areas of cooperation. The agreement was signed in Budapest by Nabil Gangi, Deputy Regional Representative of FAO and Jelena Tanasković, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia. According to the FAO announcement, achieving common goals will contribute to Serbia’s agriculture sector becoming more competitive and strengthen the overall contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. “In the past 80 years, since its foundation, FAO has shown that it is a committed partner in transforming the food and agriculture sector,” said Nabil Gangi.

Coca-Cola HBC Serbia Empowers Owners of Small Shops

Coke Academy, a specialised academy realised for its customers by Coca-Cola HBC Serbia, was held for the third time. This edition of Coke Academy was dedicated to owners of small shops, which, according to research agencies, accounted for about 40 per cent of total sales in the consumer goods industry in Serbia in 2022. “Small shops in Serbia are relevant on the market and represent important customers. In the challenging times we all live in, we believe that one of the greatest added values that we, as a large company, can provide to our partners is listening to their needs and continuous learning and knowledge exchange. We launched the Coke Academy last year, but we quickly realised that we want it to be a permanent form of support for our customers, who are always our priority,” said Marija Trivanović, manager for capacity development in the sales sector at Coca-Cola HBC Serbia.

“Serbia still ranks third in the world for plum production, while it is second in Europe for the production of quince”

Tijana Škorić Tomić Co-founder And CEO of Gorda

We’re Continuing to Stride Towards Sustainability

Svetoslav Atanasov

General Manager at Coca-Cola HBC Serbia and Montenegro

The legitimacy of a responsible company has long required more than merely successful financial results. Coca-Cola HBC Serbia and Montenegro is a company that has been devoted to harmonising its business goals with those of the community for many years.

We spoke with the company’s general manager, Svetoslav Atanasov, about the new responsibilities that such an approach places on company managers and the specific activities of Coca-Cola HBC Serbia and Montenegro in this domain.

“Technological development and digitalisation, macroeconomic changes and geopolitical events are shaping our economies and societies, and such changes also make operational changes unavoidable. Consumers expect environmental responsibility now more than ever before. Employees expect their company to have values with which they can identify. With the changing expectations of stakeholders, the management perspective is also undergoing change,” says Atanasov.

With an awareness that businesses can only be successful in successful communities, the Coca-Cola HBC Serbia and Montenegro spotlight is directed towards sustainability in all aspects of its operations.

“This is a process that demands that we acquire new knowledge and skills, recalibrate our priorities and commit ourselves to initiate, together

with our partners, the desired changes,” explains our interlocutor. “We are entering an era of empathetic and inspirational leaders who manage their

teams by empowering them to learn and work together.”

In which ways does your company strive to achieve sustainable goals?

At the level of the Coca-Cola HBC Group, we have our defined Mission Sustainability 2025, the goals of which are aligned with the United Nations’ SDGs. We view sustainability as an all-encompassing process in which changes start from the procurement of raw materials, via the production and packaging of products, through our operations, cooperation with customers and relations with employees, all the way to that which we communicate with end consumers. The established goals aren’t just a dead letter, but rather we regularly monitor their realisation and report on them transparently through our annual Sustainability Report.

We recently presented the jubilee 10th annual report, and I would like to highlight a few results: over the last 15 years, we have reduced water consumption by around 54% and energy use by 59% per litre of beverage produced in. We continued reducing CO2 emissions over the course of 2022, through various investments in production, projects and activities, with the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2040.

I’m proud of the results achieved and the fact that – together with our customers, suppliers, the industry and community – we are moving in

Our attention is directed towards sustainability in all aspects of our operations, because we know that businesses only thrive in successful communities. This demands the acquiring of new knowledge, changing priorities and collaborating with partners to achieve desired changes

In accordance with our Mission Sustainability 2025, the goals of which are aligned with the United Nations’ SDGs, over the last 15 years we’ve reduced water consumption by around 54% and energy use by 59% per litre of beverage produced

the same direction. We are aware that there’s still a long road ahead of us, but we are continuing to advance full steam ahead along the road to sustainability.

What would you identify as being crucial to achieving results and a sustainable future?

Partnerships play a key role in transforming towards a better society with improved prospects, particularly when we share responsibility for the common good.

We need innovative, alternative and courageous approaches to solving social problems, which we can only achieve with the strength of the collective.

Everything that we do to improve the sustainability of the planet is done for the sake of future generations. How does your company support young people and their desire to change the world for the better?

Young people are our greatest source of inspiration. They constantly challenge the status quo, and it is actually young people who have the power to change organisations from within, and we support them strongly on that road. We’ve just recently welcomed the 11th generation of interns to the unique Coke Summership summer internship programme. They always bring special energy to our company and I look forward greatly to this programme, because experience tells us that a significant number of interns

will become part of our team following their internship.

To commemorate our 25 years of doing business in Serbia, we awarded valuable scholarships to a total of 25 talented youngsters nationwide. I had the pleasure of meeting them and believe me when I say that they are the generation that will change the world for the better!

Via the multiyear national “Coca-Cola Youth Empowered” programme, we have to date – through training and education – empowered over 10,000

water in the municipality of Kučevo, we entered a new era of business and growth, strengthening the local character of our comprehensive 24/7 portfolio. However, we didn’t just open a bottling plant. We also created some new prospects for the local community as a whole, with new jobs and new opportunities.

This investment was worth around five million euros in the first year, and more than 50 people were hired at the new bottling plant. We are proud when we have an opportunity to encourage the development of the domestic economy in this way. This is the Coca-Cola system’s fifth major investment in less than two decades. This shows that we are a reliable partner to the economy of Serbia, where we operate responsibly and with continuous investments in the community and the market.

To conclude, how do you see the future in the context of the challenge of inflation and the growth slowdown of previous years?

Despite the delicate economic environment, we – as the Coca-Cola system in Serbia and company Bambi – created 360 million euros of added value for the national economy in 2021, or 0.7% of Serbia’s national GDP. Through the taxes that we pay directly and the tax revenues that are generated through our value chain, we generated one per cent of Serbia’s total tax revenue. And all that comes from just one successful system.

young people in Serbia with knowledge and skills. We are continuing this initiative, which is recognised as one of the most enduring projects for the support of young people.

You opened a new bottling plant in the municipality of Kučevo last year, thereby creating new jobs in a municipality where every job means a lot. What is the place of this investment in your broader plans for market growth and development?\

With last year’s opening of the bottling plant for Rosa Homolje sparkling

In challenging times, we launched the Coke Academy, as our unique support programme for customers - both big and small, like small retail outlets. We share our knowledge and experience, because we want to successfully navigate – together with our customers – the waves of all the changes that are coming our way. I believe that investing in people – our employees, but also our associates and partners – together with investing in sustainable business, is the best response to all the scenarios that the future is bringing our way.

With last year’s opening of the bottling plant for Rosa Homolje sparkling water in the municipality of Kučevo, we entered a new era of business and growth, strengthening the local character of our comprehensive 24/7 portfolio

Business Dialogue

Rama: Even the Berlin Process Benefited from Open Balkan

The Open Balkan initiative has brought only good things to the region, said Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, insisting that Prime Minister Albin Kurti in Pristina was wrong not to participate in the initiative. “Look at the trade between countries and remember that what is done cannot be undone. Even the Berlin Process benefited from the Open Balkan initiative,” said Rama at a joint press conference with North Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovačevski during his visit to Skopje. Speaking about the Berlin Process, which Albania will preside over in October, Rama said it is now clearer than ever that the EU needs us, just as we need it.

European Commission Launched €2.1 Billion Investment Package for WB

The European Commission has launched a new financial package to support 14 investment flagships in transport, energy, environment, human capital and private sector support in the Western Balkans, worth a total of €2.1 billion. This is the fifth investment package under the EU’s Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans. Projects have been prepared in close cooperation with Western Balkan partners and international financial institutions to accelerate the European Union prospects of the region. EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, said: “With this new investment package, we are sending a loud and clear message to our Western Balkans partners: their future is within the EU.

Vienna Institute: Montenegro’s Economy Will Have Highest Growth in The Region

Montenegro’s economy will have the region’s highest growth this year, at 3.5 per cent, forecasts the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, as reported by RTCG. According to the Vienna Institute forecast, Montenegro’s economy will be ahead of Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia. Montenegrin Economic Development and Tourism Minister Goran Đurović even went a step further, stating that the growth of the Montenegrin economy will be among the highest in Europe. “According to the latest forecasts, the growth of the Montenegrin economy will be among the highest in Europe.”

“With this new investment package, we are sending a message to our WB partners: their future is within the EU”

Olivér Várhelyi EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

Kovačevski: Open Balkan Yields Results

The single electronic toll collection between North Macedonia and Serbia is the best confirmation that the Open Balkan initiative is yielding results, said North Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovačevski. “If we look at the research, the Open Balkan initiative has huge support and has produced results in just three months. Serbian and Macedonian engineers have created a solution for a single electronic toll collection,” Kovačevski said. He said the increased trade exchange affirms the Open Balkan initiative, which has a bright future. “We also dealt with the exchange of experts and professionals; we are working on overcoming obstacles to the recognition of diplomas”.

Change of Highway Tolls Between Serbia and Croatia

Toll road collection between Serbia and Croatia will be integrated in September, as announced by the Government of Serbia following the signing of a Memorandum on Business Cooperation between “Roads of Serbia” and “Croatian Motorways”. This document will enable the collection of highway tolls through the two countries. “At the start of July, we began the integrated billing process between Serbia and North Macedonia, and we already have fantastic results. More than 12,000 reconfigurations, and every day we have about 1,000 passengers who perform reconfiguration. From September, we will also have that with Croatia, so all those with Serbian tags can pass the ramps in Croatia without any problems, said Minister Goran Vesić.

New Croatian Law to Stop Shops Working on Sundays

A new trade law has come into effect in Croatia, and according to it shops will be closed on most Sundays, and traders can choose 16 weeks of the year during which they will be open. According to the law, the trader determines the working hours of sales facilities from Monday to Saturday, for a total duration of up to 90 hours per week, which he distributes independently. Exceptions are sales facilities at railway and bus stations, airports and ports, ferries and gas stations, as well as in hospitals, hotels, cultural and religious institutions and museums. Also, on Sundays, shops can open inside marinas, campsites, farms and protected nature areas following special regulations.

“It is impossible to imagine the future of the EU without the membership of the countries of the WB, Ukraine and Moldova”

Ursula von der Leyen President of the European Commission

AI Pioneers in Serbia

Branko Ilić Managing Director at Eviden d.o.o. Beograd

Apart from wanting to be recognised as a desirable digital partner, the company’s aim is for its clients, employees and partners to see it as a responsible, modern and agile company, which is what Eviden Serbia actually is. That’s why it continues to boldly approach technological challenges and the trends that are dictated by global and local circumstances.

When a company is split up, the result is usually two weaker companies. However, that hasn’t been the case with you. With what kind of vision are you moving forward?

One of the largest carve-out processes in the IT industry was announced a year ago and launched in April this year, and it resulted in the creation of a new company under the name Eviden. The aim is for Eviden to be – as the French origin of the word suggests – the ’obvious’ choice in sustainable digital transformations based on real data and new technologies. I always like to emphasise that the most important resource of our company is people, their expertise and their spirit.

You and your colleagues have been shown a unique opportunity for you to be an important part of the development of the company that will operate under the name Eviden. Which areas of the IT industry will be in your focus? Are you ready for this challenge?

With the new name, we are continuing to operate in areas that reflect our origins, so

- as Eviden - we are also providing services in the field of digital transformation, Cloud, Advanced computing, Application Modernisation Services, SAP, Cybersecurity and Big Data solutions. We have been the leading SAP partner in Serbia for many years and we are proudly continuing to develop ex-

pertise in this area, with a special focus on SAP Cloud services. Oracle Cloud, ServiceNOW and AppD are some of the strategic vendor solutions that we are successfully developing and placing on our market.

Digital transformation is creating ever-greater challenges, while the expectations of clients are also increasing constantly. How will this new phase of your digital expansion look?

In today’s unpredictable economy that’s characterised by disruptive changes and great competition, expanding the portfolio and market appears to be the only path to success. We spent the previous period working on the development of new solutions and services. Alongside the strategic long-term partnership with SAP and the focus on Cloud services, but also the strategic initiative that we have with global partners, we are constantly pushing the boundaries and following the signs given to us by the local market, and apart from that we are also looking to the near future that has already arrived in the EU and the U.S. Serious steps already exist in terms of adopting the required knowledge and expertise, but also opportunities for sales in new technologies, such as the application of the services of key global hyperscalers AWS, Microsoft Azure, Oracle and artificial intelligence in various industrial branches.

When it comes to AI, I must mention the fact that we are a true pioneer in this segment when it comes to Serbia. Specifically, Eviden delivered a national AI platform for the Republic of Serbia in the form of an infrastructure-software platform (HPC) that’s intended exclusively for this purpose.

Separation within French IT giant Atos led to the emergence of two powerful entities: Atos and Eviden. Under a new name, the company is continuing to operate in areas that reflect its origins, with increased robustness, enthusiasm and an extended portfolio

We have been the leading SAP partner in Serbia for many years and we are proudly continuing to develop expertise in this area, with a special focus on SAP Cloud services

Business Dialogue

Goldman Sachs: India Will be the Second-Largest Economy in the World by 2075.

India will become the second-largest economy in the world by 2075 and economically surpass not only Japan and Germany but also the United States, according to the latest forecast by Goldman Sachs. Currently, India is the fifth-largest economy in the world, behind Germany, Japan, China, and the United States. The authors of the forecast believe that population growth, advancements in innovation and technology, increased capital investments, and rising worker productivity will be crucial for India’s rise to the second position, behind China.

Germany Passes Law to Attract Skilled Migrant Workers

While other countries are trying to restrict migration, the German parliament has passed a radical new law to attract migrant workers to Germany. That means less red tape and lower hurdles for migrant workers from outside the European Union. A Canada-style points-based system will take into account age, skills, qualifications and any link to Germany. Criteria will be lowered for salary, educational level and German language ability.

Robots Say They Have No Plans to Steal Jobs or Rebel Against Humans

Robots have no plans to steal the jobs of humans or rebel against their creators, but would like to make the world their playground, nine of the most advanced humanoid robots have told an artificial intelligence summit in Geneva. In what was described as “the world’s first human-robot press conference”, one robot, Sophia, said humanoid robots had the potential to lead with “a greater level of efficiency and effectiveness than human leaders” but that “effective synergy” came when humans and AI worked together.

Everyone has the need for AI now. It is up to others to work out where they are going to make a contribution.

Ian Buck General Manager, NVIDIA

China Announces Steps to Boost Sales of Cars and Electronics

Chinese authorities announced measures intended to help boost sales of automobiles and electronics with the goal of shoring up a sluggish economy, but the steps failed to impress investors who have been clamoring for stronger stimulus. Regions will be encouraged to increase annual car purchase quotas and efforts will be made to support sales of second-hand vehicles, said a statement on automobile consumption published by 13 government agencies including state planner National Development and Reform Commission.

UK Joins Asia’s Trade Club

The UK has signed a deal to join a trade pact with several countries in Asia and the Pacific, including Japan and Australia. The name of this pact - CPTPP - is an unwieldy mouthful, but it’s also a new club of 500 million people the UK will be able to access. The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a trade agreement between 11 nations: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

Brazilian Firm Plans to Build Electric Flying Taxi Factory

Brazilian plane maker Embraer says a new factory will be built near Sao Paulo to produce electric flying taxis which it hopes will take to the skies from 2026. The aircraft, to be made by its subsidiary Eve, will resemble a small helicopter with enough space for up to six customers. It is envisaged a trip will cost $50-$100 (£39-£78) per person. Eve says it already has orders for almost 3,000 air taxis.It hopes to assemble a prototype this year. U.S. regulators recently released a timeline for air taxis to be flying there as early as 2025.

AI can provide unbiased data while humans can provide the emotional intelligence and creativity to make the best decisions. Together, we can achieve great things.

Sophie The Robot

From Racing Cockpit to Executive Armchair, The Tale of Toto Wolff

When he launched his motorsport career back in 1992, competing as a driver in the lowly Austrian Formula Ford Championship, Toto Wolff surely couldn’t have imagined that he would one day become an F1 legend, the billionaire ‘team principal’ and CEO of the Mercedes Formula 1 team

Fifty-one-year-old Torger Christian Wolff, aka Toto Wolff, is an Austrian billionaire motorsport executive and former racing driver who has come a long way from his humble beginnings in the sport, when he competed in the Austrian and German Formula Ford championships from 1992 to 1994, the pinnacle of which was his 1994 category win in the Nürburgring 24 Hours touring car and GT endurance race.

Born in Vienna in 1972 to a Polish mother and a Romanian father, Wolff grew up in the city, where he attended the French Lycée of Vienna, a prestigious French school in Vienna’s Alsergrund district. After the death of his father when he was just 15, the young Toto perhaps turned all his attention to driving and motorsports.

Following his early successes on the racetrack, Wolff founded his first investment company - Marchfifteen –which unsurprisingly focused on an area of great interest to motorsport: early-stage technology investments. One of the company’s key investment avenues has been in company HWA, which has been listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since 2007 and is responsible for developing and racing Mercedes-Benz racing cars for the German Touring Car Championship and Mercedes-Benz Formula 3 engines.

Back on the track, Wolff finished 6th overall in the N-GT category in the 2002 FIA GT Championship, before transferring to the Italian GT Championship in 2003 and the FIA GT Championship in 2004, teaming up with fellow driver Karl Wendlinger. Runner-up in the 2006 Austrian Rally Championship and winner of the 2006 Dubai 24 Hour, Wolff took the lap record at the Nürburgring in 2009, driving a Porsche RSR, and has also served as an instructor at the Walter Lechner Racing School.

It is perhaps his enduring and diverse career as a driver that provided Wolff with the prowess, knowledge

and experience required to head the super successful Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team.

He married former Scottish karting ace and racing driver Susie Stoddart (now Wolff) in 2011, and his wife has also gone on to record great successes off the track, as she is the current MD of the F1 Academy.

And Toto isn’t just an ace behind the wheel and in business, he’s also something of a polyglot – fluent in

German, English, French, Italian and Polish – and has some enviable academic achievements to his name. For instance, in May 2021 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Cranfield University for his services to Motorsport and in November of the same year was appointed an associate fellow at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School for two years, tasked with transferring from the racetracks to the lecture

I make no difference between the driver and every other employee in the company

Toto Wolff with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell

Photo: Facebook

/ Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team

hall his understanding of high-performance culture, team leadership and personal effectiveness.

His leadership of the MercedesAMG Petronas F1 Team was even the subject of a 2022 Harvard Business School case study and Wolff was subsequently also named an executive fellow at Harvard Business School, a role in which he will serve as guest lecturer alongside Professor Anita Elberse, who authored the aforementioned case study.

“It’s really difficult to find a team that has won what is effectively a world championship eight times in a row,” said Elberse.

Toto’s solid work on the track, but more importantly excellent business choices off it, led him to be in a position to launch his career as an F1 executive in 2009 by acquiring a 15% stake in the Williams F1 team. However, he was soon compelled to sell his Williams shares after agreeing to become Mercedes-Benz’s head of motorsport in 2013. He thus became a shareholder and executive director of Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains, taking on the responsibility for developing and managing the Mercedes’ engine programme and spearheading projects on Mercedes power units, and in the process gaining invaluable knowledge of MercedesBenz motorsport activities.

It was then, in 2013, that this Austrian former endurance racing driver and tech investor became team principal of the Mercedes-Benz AMG Petronus F1 team, prompting then Mercedes-Benz chairman Dieter Zetsche to say at the time, “As an entrepreneur, investor and motorsport manager, Toto Wolff has proven that this sport runs in his blood; at the same time, he is also well aware of the economic necessities of the business.”

And it is no coincidence that 2013 was also the year British driver Lewis Hamilton turned his back on Brit-

organisations and sports teams that “have nothing of that” but are nonetheless successful.

Mercedes currently ranks second in the 2023 F1 constructors’ standings, immediately behind the Red Bull team.

When asked about his preferred method for resolving situations that go awry, Toto was direct and concise: “I’m responsible for hiring and development, and developing the right people. So, I should be empowering.” Admitting that most people’s instinctive response is to point the finger of blame at someone else when something goes wrong, he explains that in most cases it’s actually the process that’s failed, not the person... “And I think that is very important to actually remind yourself ... we blame the problem; we don’t blame the person.” He also warns that leaders need to be selective and know when to intervene, despite often being control freaks by nature. “My experience is that people that run organisations are in a way control freaks, it’s very difficult for them to let go. So, for me, the notion of a functional control freak is someone who knows everything that’s going on, but doesn’t interfere in everything that’s going on... and who gets that balance right.”

Indeed, Toto admits that striking the right balance isn’t always easy. “I’m an emotional person, I’m very passionate about the sport.”

ish team McLaren and signed with Mercedes.

“I will give up a world championship any day of the week in order to keep my integrity. I think that’s how we operate,” he said, before adding that a win-at-all-costs attitude should be consigned to the past.

“We need to have a degree of loyalty and integrity. And if you don’t, then your success is going to be shortlived,” insisted Wolff, before admitting that there are seemingly some

When it comes to managing his team and getting the best out of them, Toto stresses the importance of not giving drivers special treatment compared to other team members. “I really like to interact with high performance people, superstars. And I have 2,500 of them. I make no difference between the driver and every other employee in the company,” he said.

“And if you’re able to channel that in the right way, you have an organisation and a successful team. A superstar team rather than a team of superstars,” he said, before admitting “I stole that sentence, I think from an Instagram post.”

I’m responsible for hiring and development, and developing the right people. So, I should be empowering

Toto Wolff and his wife Susie Wolff

Both Digital and Physical

Today’s world is characterised by the widespread application

digital

work of machines in 50 years; will we all live on a universal basic income secured by robots, or does the future contain at least a little humanity?

I’m endeavouring to find answers in real time to these questions, and similar ones that arise from them, in my academic work and business practices. The broad education that I’ve received – encompassing two basic educational profiles, two master’s dissertations defended, a multidisciplinary doctoral thesis, as well as a large number of completed online education courses, amongst which I always proudly highlight the education I was extremely grateful to receive from Professor Donald Kagan of Yale University – enables me in my business practices to constant -

important perspective, primarily for youngsters, to familiarise themselves with the world of patience and thoroughness, where observing a small square of paper potentially brings a much greater sense of excitement and usefulness than the quick solutions and ostensible sense of power that digital technologies offer us, often unintentionally, but very effectively and efficiently.

In this sense, postage stamps bear an incredible resemblance to the printed book, but also many other expressions of human creativity that require time and provide enduring benefits to those who have sufficient will, patience and knowledge to enjoy them. In the hope that I will succeed in finding even more allies who will help me – at least to some extent and for

Dr Adam Sofronijević Ph.D. Director of WU “Srbijamarka”, Post of Serbia

An ever-increasing number of intellectual jobs can today beautomated and entrusted to machines. This phenomenon has far-reaching ramifications thar still ultimately unclear. Will human labour be completely replaced by the

ly point out that the contemporary world isn’t divided by the border between the digital and the traditional, but rather by an approach to the problems of phenomena that change that world completely.

After having spent 18 years at the University Library in Belgrade, mostly working on innovative, new jobs that have resulted, among other things, in more than ten projects of national importance in the field of digitising cultural heritage, in March 2021 I transferred most of my working time to the Serbian post office, Post of Serbia, where I began managing the section responsible for philately. Postage stamps, as a medium of national remembrance and a tool for diplomatic activities – to mention just two of their many roles – provide an

some time – to direct the inexorable and for now predominantly impulsive march of digital transformation and convince as many people as possible to study not only the characteristics of new digital technologies, but rather also the value of traditional media for conveying knowledge and artistic expression, in order for us to be able to collectively, as a society, utilise the advantages of both worlds and avoid their dark sides to the greatest possible extent. I’m determined to persevere on this path, despite the easily promised speed that most of us accept almost as easily – here I’m alluding to the title of a thirty-five-year-old book, because not giving up despite everything is perhaps the quality that makes us human most of all.

I’m determined to persevere on this path, despite the easily promised speed that most of us accept almost as easily – here I’m alluding to the title of a thirty-five-year-old book, because not giving up despite everything is perhaps the quality that makes us human most of all

of

technologies that enable the automating of intellectual jobs. At the essence of these changes is the shifting of the boundaries of what we understand as creative

Pablo Picasso and

in H is Women Life

Pablo Picasso, perhaps the most influential and recognisable painter of the 20th century, is well known for his tumultuous (or even abusive) relationships.

FERNANDE OLIVIER

The first of Picasso’s muses was Fernande Olivier, who was also his first long-time partner. She is depicted in many pieces from his “rose period.” The painter met this striking beauty in Paris and was smitten by her red hair and gorgeous eyes. As the years passed, however, Picasso became very possessive of Olivier, and in the end, she had no choice but to leave him.

Although he had many lovers throughout his life, only eight of them became his muses – the women we can still admire in his paintings today.

What is the real story behind Pablo Picasso and his complicated relationship with women?

EVA GOUEL

The second of his muses was Eva Gouel (Marcelle Humbert) who was one of Fernande’s friends. Once she and Picasso became a couple, they stayed together for three years. Gouel is often called the “queen of his Cubist works.” Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with tuberculosis, and Picasso quickly began an affair with another woman.

OLGA KHOKHLOVA

Following Gouel’s death, the painter left France and moved to Italy, falling in love with Olga Khokhlova, a Russian ballerina. She was his first wife and, interestingly, disliked his Cubist style. She demanded to be painted in a completely different way.

ABOVE: Pablo Picasso and Olga Khokhlova, 1919.

LEFT: Eva Gouel

RIGHT: Pablo Picasso, Woman with Yellow Hat (Jacqueline), 1961, private collection

RIGHT: Marie-Thérèse Walter with a dog

BELOW: Fernande Olivier

The couple had a son, Paulo, who inspired Picasso to begin a series of paintings entitled Maternité. Due to Picasso’s flirtatious character and his refusal to stop having extra-marital affairs, his wife suffered from a breakdown. In the end, she left with their son and moved to the south of France.

Olga Khokhlova was Picasso’s first wife and, interestingly, disliked his Cubist style

MARIE-THÉRÈSE WALTER

The fourth of Picasso’s muses was Marie-Thérèse Walter, who only at 17 got pregnant with the artist while he was still married to Khokhlova. Walter was 29 years younger than Picasso and was easily manipulated by him. They had a daughter named Maya but they eventually grew apart because of the artist’s unfaithful ways.

DORA MAAR

The woman he began having an affair with while still with Marie-Thérèse

LEFT: Picasso and Francoise Gilot, Golfe-Juan, France , 1948.

RIGHT: Dora Maar in 1936.

RIGHT: Picasso, Woman with Child, 1921, Art Institute of Chicago

Walter was Dora Maar. She had similar passions to him. She was a photographer and a Surrealist painter herself. Maar was present while Picasso created his masterpiece Guernica. She suffered a mental breakdown after finding out about his affair with his next mistress Françoise Gilot in 1945. Maar once said to Picasso, “as an artist you may be extraordinary, but morally speaking you are worthless.”

FRANÇOISE GILOT

With Françoise Gilot, a 21-year-old aspiring painter and law student, he had two children named Claude and Paloma. She was deeply in love with the painter, but even that ardor was not strong enough to survive his difficult behavior. She could not stand his abuse and philandering and left him in 1953. In 1964, she published

Dora Maar was present while Picasso created his masterpiece Guernica

Pablo Picasso, Portrait of Fernande Olivier, 1909, Städel Museum, Frankfurt, Germany.

her memoirs called Life with Picasso and moved to New York.

GENEVIEVE LAPORTE

As he had a preference for much younger women, while still with Gilot, he became involved in another affair with 24-year-old Genevieve Laporte, who also ended their relationship in 1953. In 2005, she auctioned 20 drawings of herself by Pablo Picasso.

LEFT: Françoise Gilot and Picasso in Vallauris, France, circa 1952.

LEFT: Pablo, Jacqueline Roque, and Lump, 1957.

RIGHT: Pablo, The Dream, 1932, private collection

RIGHT: Pablo, Head of Woman (Dora Maar), 1939,

JACQUELINE ROQUE

In 1961, the painter married again at the age of 79. His 27-year-old bride was Jacqueline Roque.

Roque was his last muse and appeared in more than 400 of his paintings and ceramics. The artist died in 1973, with Roque by his side. She died 13 years later by suicide. Fact often left out in art history is that Pablo Picasso was highly influenced by women in his life, whom he loved – but also mistreated and betrayed. At the end of the day, the question is: how should we evaluate him? As a great artist that he indeed was? Or as an extremely unfaithful partner? The choice is yours.

dailyartmagazine.com

Jacqueline Roque was his last muse and appeared in more than 400 of his paintings and ceramics

He has maintained an active presence on the art scene for a full six decades, while his oeuvre represents a special chapter in Post-war art. His works have been around the world more times than he’s left Belgrade. A recipient of the most prestigious art awards, he is one of the most sought-after painters among gallery owners and collectors. He has spent the last ten years managing the Gallery of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, and his extremely interesting current exhibition, entitled Zrno žita [Grain of Wheat], is on display at Belgrade’s Zepter Gallery until 10th September

Man is Limited by Every Ideology

Dušan Otašević, Artist, member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts

By Radmila Stanković

Dušan Otašević (83) explains simply and succinctly why he chose the motif of a grain of wheat and developed it in various techniques – from collage, via terracotta, to paintings in a combined technique of three-dimensional installations.

“A grain of wheat carries within it both dying and the shifting of life cycles. A seed dies when it is sown, but from it emerges new life.”

The imagination and originality of this artist in his works is only equalled by his appeal as a precious interlocutor and reliable witness to events that have shaped the cultural map of Serbia. He was born in Belgrade just a few months prior to World War II reaching these lands, which condemned his parents to great struggles raising him. Fear of bombing compelled them to flee the city with the infant Dušan and find shelter in the surrounding villages, struggling to survive. Dušan’s mother was born, as Ana Krunoslava, in the Croatian city of Slavonski Brod.

“When she married my father, Milan, in 1938, the wedding took place in a church, as was the custom in the then Kingdom of Yugoslavia, and – as a Catholic – she’d had to convert. She also changed her first name and was married as Slavka. Never in my child-

hood was a question posed as to who belonged to which religion or nationality. Right up until the 1990s, I didn’t know the national identities of some of my friends. And we all know what happened in the ‘90s and the results of all that counting of blood cells.”

Dušan was an only child for ten years, until the arrival of his brother. He had a harmonious, pleasant and happy childhood. His parents got on well until the end of their lives and the family functioned well. He remembers socialising meaningfully with his

who had a great sense for art. She stopped working after I was born, but she continued using her skills throughout her life. I remember how, in the miserable years after the war, she would turn over the collars and cuffs of mine and my father’s shirts. That was a special ability to turn over the frayed edges of the collar and cuffs, place them on the inside and you end up with a shirt looking like new that you can continue to wear. She had a ‘singer’ sewing machine that she did that on, and I later used that same machine for one of my works. She also had tailoring patterns, and many years later I found on one of them one of the sketches I’d done as a child, which I exhibited at an exhibition as my first work.

parents, playing a kind of game that brought them pleasure.

“We liked to draw and we drew each other, drew animals… My mother drew beautifully, but father not so much. I remember the two of us laughing at his drawings. I saw the first reproductions in the magazine Graphic Review that my father used to bring home. For the possibilities of that time, they were extremely high-quality reproductions. Mother was a tailor for women’s lingerie

My father was also a craftsman, a typographer, which today is also a forgotten profession. His job was oriented towards the printing of books and our house was full of books. There are valuable examples from the library of the Serbian Literary Association that I still have today, because he brought home every book he worked on. That was a time when books were read and I grew up on books. If there hadn’t been books, I don’t know what I would have done as a boy and a young man during the summer holidays. I still use literature in my work to this day.”

In order to develop an understanding for Otašević’s work, it is necessary to know that he ventured into the waters of painting while he was still a student of the Academy of Fine Arts, during the years when the world scene was dominated by a movement with a somewhat forgotten name: pop-art.

“It was a new outlook with new expressive possibilities and I leaned into it somehow naturally. It was dear to me as a liberated form of expression, in contrast to what museum exhibits then represented. Pop-art was similar to what I’d loved as a child. They were wonderful works by typographers in numerous shops, particularly in Balkanska Street, advertisements for craft workshops, barbershops, hairdressers, when these advertisements were

Never in my childhood was a question posed as to who belonged to which religion or nationality

With Ljubomir Muci Drašković

painted by anonymous… let’s call them artists. There were scenes linked to the profession and I always found that interesting. Just like the ‘cookbooks’ hanging in kitchens. When I started to paint, I tried, as far as I could, to connect that naïve expression with the realisation of a top artist. My artistic preoccupation was represented by that combination of something that wasn’t even acknowledged as an art form, but that nonetheless existed, and the recognised art of those years.”

Dušan’s father was tolerant in his relations with people, tolerant in his relationship towards faith, nation, everything different, and this artist’s entire life and all his actions show that he inherited that tolerance to a great extent.

“The understanding that he had is clear to me in my memory, particularly today, when everything is moving more towards closing up, towards some narrowing, which is calamitous for an artist, but also for the life of man as a whole. I said long ago that it is very important for a person to open the windows and doors of their studio, because something must enter from the outside. If you just close yourself off in your own world, that’s not good. It’s useful up to a level, but it doesn’t have a great future. My father had another good quality – he wasn’t bitter over injustices or adversity that would befall him. Let’s just say that prior to the war, he’d had a house that served for renting out. When the new government confiscated that house after the war, he took it relatively calmly and that never caused him to instil either hatred or rage in me, as a child.”

That breadth of perspective and sense of freedom formed the basis of Dušan’s upbringing in the home. After completing his sixth year of ‘gymnasium’ high school, he knew that he would deal with painting, and his father, who recalled the poor bohemian painters, thought that it would be a better idea for him to enrol in an academy of applied arts instead of an art school. He calculated that it would

provide him with a more secure occupation. Dušan heeded his advice, but failed to pass the entrance exam. It was a year later that he applied for the Academy of Fine Arts, and did so with the great support of his mother, who was full of understanding for his choice, and was accepted.

During his studies, and even subsequently, Dušan hung out with his colleagues, but mostly socialised with people from other professions, especially writers and directors. They shared a common language. He had his first solo exhibition while he was still a student, in 1965, at Atelje 212. He graduated a year later. It was also while he was a student that he met famous artist Leonid Šejka (1932-1970), one of the founders of the art group Mediala.

“We met in the reading room of the Academy of Fine Arts. He spoke about his views on art, about the idea behind Mediala, and he later also wrote the book A Treatise on Painting. That was very interesting and important to me at the time. It was also during my studies that I met the interesting Peđa Ristić, an architect who we called Peđa Jesus and who built a tree house on the Sava. I also had precious acquaintances with writer Boro Ćosić and his wife Lola Vlatković, film director Ljubomir ‘Muci’ Draškić and his wife Maja Čučković, painter Stojan Ćelić and his wife Ivana Simeunović Ćelić, and later we also socialised as families. I was delighted, but also slightly scared, when Muca offered me my first chance to work on set design for Bora Ćosić’s play My Family’s Role in the World Revolution, which he directed at Atelje 212. He was easy to develop an understanding with because he knew exactly what he wanted and what it was possible to implement on stage.”

Interestingly, it was back then, in early 1971, that Otašević first made a model representing the apartment that was the setting for Ćosić’s play. And that model served to shape the

Recall just how much of a percentage had been allocated for culture when Nada Popović Perišić was minister? If I’m not mistaken, it was four per cent of the total budget, while today it isn’t even one per cent

With his wife Mira

scenography for the stage. Many years later, Muci’s daughter, Iva Draškić Vićanovič, today’s dean of the Faculty of Philology in Belgrade, testified that at some point that model had been found in the apartment of her parents, with her mother having played one of the nasty characters in that play. “It was my most favourite toy,” admitted Iva.

CorD’s interlocuter explains that friends were recognised according to the structure of their personality, in the way they understood one another without many words. He had friendships that lasted decades and only ended when that friend died.

“I have never been a member of any party. Throughout my life, I’ve tried to avoid succumbing to any ideology, because a person is limited by every ideology. By accepting one ideology, a person condemns those who ascribe to another, because they think it’s worse than their own ideology. I would say that was my lack of interest in the ruling ideology, but also among most of my friends. We were united by our artistic work, by the desire for each of us to achieve something in our work, or more precisely to show the best of our ability. I today recall pleasant socialising, content rich and meaningful.”

The time of the single-party system of the former country is today often spoken of as a time of the “firm hand”, in which the League of Communists decided on everything and questioned everything. As aware as he was about the mistakes and bad moves of Tito’s government, Otašević insists that “uneducated and unprofessional people didn’t reach leadership positions”. And he cites an example:

“Even after Broz, during the time of Slobodan Milošević, more care was

ter her. And it didn’t cross anyone’s mind to contest her for being part of the then ruling party.”

On the other hand, many artists didn’t fear showing a kind of deviation from the ruling ideology with their works during the time of the socialist Yugoslavia. And our interlocutor was among them.

taken over culture than is the case today. Recall just how much of a percentage had been allocated for culture when Nada Popović Perišić was minister? If I’m not mistaken, it was four per cent of the total budget, while today it isn’t even one per cent. I have no doubt that this high percentage was also a result of the knowledge and skills of Minister Popović-Perišić herself, who was capable of fighting for a better position for culture, much more than the ministers that came af-

“I had several works, one of which spent a long time in the exhibition of the Museum of Contemporary Art and it’s called Druže Tito ljubičice bela... [Comrade Tito white violet]. Of course, it clearly wasn’t in honour of Broz. But back then, in the second half of the 1960s, it wasn’t advisable to make fun of ruling attitudes and personalities. That work was large, 5x3 metres, and I created it for the first solo exhibition of the newly admitted members of ULUS [The Association of Fine Artists of Serbia], which was held at the Cvijeta Zuzorić Art Pavilion. They rejected me, the explanation being that the work was abnormally large, which is not collegial with regard to other exhibitors. I think that was an incomprehensible justification. Two or three years later, I exhibited that work at the university’s Kolarac Gallery. It all went without any consequences, but also without any reactions. I had other similar works with the figure

The current president of Serbia hasn’t visited SANU once. And that is a kind of sign and signal from that side. Restraint – I would say that it is mutual

LEFT: With his Parents

RIGHT: With Vladimir Veličković and Miodrag B. Protić

of Lenin or ‘Mao Tse-Tung Swims in Communism’, and I was never called in for talks or reprimanded for those works. However, on the other hand, I never received a studio, unlike the majority of my colleagues, and I never went on a single study trip; and I didn’t get a job that I was more qualified for than the colleague who got it, but he had a party membership card and I didn’t.”

Dušan’s status was, and remains, that of a ‘free artist’, which implied great freedom and even greater financial insecurity. He created his own studio, in the attic of his father’s house, where he still resides to this day. He didn’t belong to any institution until 20 years ago, when he became a member of the most significant national institution: the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, SANU. He has been successfully serving as the administrator of the SANU Gallery for more than ten years. He is among those academics whose word is highly respected, although he rarely advertises that fact. Tactical and restrained, he supported the positive changes initiated by Vladimir Kostić in his capacity as SANU president until recently, but he has a hard time understanding the fact that nearly four decades after the Memorandum marked the work of this house, its shadow still looms over SANU.

“Meetings and discussions on this topic were organised at the Academy, and I’d thought that it was a topic that had long since been dealt with. For some reason, that topic is still rolled out today. I never understood the actual aim of those manipulations and always appeal for the need to be restrained, not to allow the use of the Memorandum for the purposes of everyday politics. The Academy is an institution that’s comprised of individuals who have their own views. Simultaneously, the Academy is an institution in which new members are chosen according to clearly established rules, and here it isn’t possible for some godfather to get you into SANU – at least I know of no such case. But I do know that the cere-

monial sessions commemorating SANU Day, which numerous guests and the state leadership, headed by the President of Serbia, are invited to attend, have only been attended by presidents Boris Tadić and Tomislav Nikolić since I’ve been at SANU. The current president of Serbia hasn’t been once. And that is a kind of sign and signal from that side. Restraint – I would say that it is mutual.

Dušan Otašević spent almost half a century married to Mira Otašević, who departed in 2019. An exceptionally interesting and talented individual, she graduated in literature and dramaturgy and worked as an editor at Television Belgrade. With her novel Gorgone [The Gorgons], Mira Otašević, who went by the nickname of Miruška, was shortlisted for the 2017 NIN Award. Together they have a son, Uroš, and a grandson.

“The Academy is a conservative institution in accordance with its organisational structure, but in recent years it has been taking steps towards opening up. I don’t think it should be avant-garde, but it must have an appreciation for reality. If film has existed as an art form for 100 years, isn’t it time to open up the possibility for a top film director to become a SANU academic?”

“We didn’t succeed in celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary because Mira passed away that year. She left suddenly; there was no illness to prepare me for it. We had a good life together, and it’s very fortunate to live with someone all your life and to have understanding for one another and to be able to discuss what you do for a living. I created the exhibition that’s currently running at the Zepter Gallery in loving memory of Mira. I promised her during her lifetime that I would make it, but I never got around to it. When Mira went to that better place, as they say, I prescribed working therapy for myself and I think she would be happy with what I did.”

Even after Broz, during the time of Slobodan Milošević, more care was taken over culture than is the case today

Chill Out

WHY DENMARK HAVE TWO OFFICIAL NATIONAL ANTHEMS?

Denmark is one of only two countries in the world which has two official national anthems, of equal status, ‘Der er et yndigt land’ which translates to English as ‘There is a lovely country’, is the civil national anthem of Denmark, and the one most commonly heard at sports matches. ‘Kong Christian stod ved højen mast’ is the other official song is ‘Kong Christian stod ved højen mast’, the unofficial royal anthem of the Kingdom of Denmark which has equal status to ‘Der er et yndigt land’. As a national and royal anthem, it tends to be heard on military and royal occasions.

“HAPPY RIDE” ON THE IBAR RIVER

The 33rd “Happy Ride” on River Ibar was organised in Kraljevo. It is undoubtedly the oldest and most fun descent on the waters of Serbia. From the medieval town of Maglic to Kraljevo, on the 25 km course of the Ibar, over 20,000 skiers in a good mood participated in the most cheerful procession on the waters of Serbia! “Happy Ride” is an all-day manifestation of a sports-recreational, ecological, tourist and cultural-entertainment character whose participants are active for a total of 12 hours. In the organisation of Kayak Club IBAR, with the help of the City of Kraljevo, there were over 20,000 participants this year. The Ibar River abounds in natural trails for whitewater kayaking and canoeing competitions.

CARLOS

ALCARAZ

BECOMES YOUNGEST WIMBLEDON WINNER

Alcaraz defeated seven-time champion Djokovic in a five-set epic to claim his maiden Wimbledon title and second Grand Slam. In the historic match, Alcaraz became the youngest Wimbledon men’s champion since Boris Becker in 1985. The 20-year-old from Spain triumphed 1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4. Djokovic had not lost a match on Centre Court in over 10 years dating back to 2103 when he was defeated by Britain’s Andy Murray.

THOUSANDS TAKE PART IN FIRST RUNNING OF THE BULLS IN SPAIN

Thousands of thrill seekers took part in the first, out of eight, running of the bulls at the San Fermín festival in the northern Spanish city of Pamplona. Several runners took knocks and hard falls in the 8 a.m. event but no one was gored by the beasts, a frequent feature of the spectacle. The festival attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists. Nearly 1.7 million people visited Pamplona for the celebrations last year. In the run, six bulls guided by six tame oxen charged along a route through Pamplona’s streets for around two minutes and 30 seconds before reaching the bull ring.

76 DAYS AND COUNTING UNDERWATER, U.S. PROFESSOR BREAKS WORLD RECORD

Joseph Dituri, a 55-year-old professor at the University of South Florida, broke the world record for longest time living underwater — and he plans to stay put for an extra three weeks. The aquanaut has been lodging 30 feet below in a lagoon in Key Largo, Fla., for about 77 days, as of Tuesday — surpassing the previous record of 73 days set by two Tennessee educators in 2014.

KURT COBAIN’S BROKEN GUITAR SELLS FOR NEARLY $600,000

Kurt Cobain’s black Fender Stratocaster is covered in scratches and chipped wood. The names of Cobain and his former band, Nirvana, are misspelled. And the guitar itself, which was once smashed and put back together, is no longer playable. But the broken guitar was sold at Julien’s Auctions for a whopping $596,000 — nearly 10 times more than the opening price — showing that the adoration for the rock icon is alive and well nearly 30 years after he died.

Gallery Dept Printed Two-Tone Twill and Mesh Trucker Cap

LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BOYS

The latest collections from TOM FORD, Loro Piana and more make summer dressing feel like a breeze. We’ve picked a few of our favourite pieces

Devoto Rectangular-Frame Acetate and Silver-Tone Sunglasses

Gallery Dept

Psychology Ed Paint-Splattered Printed Cotton-Jersey T-Shirt

Loro Piana

Camp-Collar Slub Linen Shirt

Slim-Fit Cashmere and Silk-Blend Polo Shirt

VISVIM

Skagway LeatherTrimmed LeopardPrint Corduroy Sneakers

Pleated StraightLeg Lyocell Drawstring Shorts

Jacques Marie Mage

Tom Ford Buckley Full-Grain Leather Belt Bag

Tom Ford

Tom Ford

Logo-Embroidered Storm System® Baby Cashmere Baseball Cap

Micheal Camp-Collar Striped Lyocell Shirt

Mr P. Straight-Leg Cotton-Twill Cargo Shorts

Straight-Leg Cotton and LinenBlend Cargo Shorts

Sea-Pacific Walk Braided Leather Slides

Mr P. Garment-Dyed Cotton Overshirt

Gallery Dept. Logan Denim Vest

Gallery Dept

Ricky Straight-Leg Distressed Cotton-Twill Shorts

Mr P. David Cross-Grain Leather and Suede Sandals

Loro Piana

Loro Piana

Tom Ford

Mr P.

Loro Piana

I PASSED LEVAČ, I CROSSED ŠUMADIJA

3-6 August, Rekovec

A festival of authentic folk arts and crafts from Levač, Šumadija and the Morava River Basin(Pomoravlje), set inside the Kalenić Monastery. It includes: exhibitions of painting and folk arts and crafts, contests in the preparation of traditional dishes, traditional sports contests, as well as competitions for the young woman with the longest braids and the young man with the longest moustache.

TESNJAR EVENINGS

4-11 August, Valjevo

Literary evenings and concerts showcasing traditional songs and dance, theater productions, fashion shows, and exhibitions of agricultural products from the Valjevo region.

Literary evenings and concerts showcasing traditional songs and dance, theater productions, fashion shows, and exhibitions of agricultural products from the Valjevo region.

BLUEBERRY DAYS

4-6 August, Mt. Kopaonik

Educational, competitive and recreational event related to picking, growing and processing both wild and cultivated blueberries. The event was founded in 2013 with the aim of promoting blueberries as a Crna Trava brand and a meeting place for blueberry producers and buyers. Farms with their wild and tame blueberry products participate in the event.

LOVEFEST

3-5 August, Vrnjačka banja

Lovefest is a unique cultural platform from Vrnjacka Banja, Serbia, aiming to promote music, art and urban culture of youth. Activities of the Lovefest are focused on actions that contribute to the development of equality, solidarity and tolerance among people with an emphasis on projects that are of a humanitarian, social, environmental, educational and entertaining character.

GOING POSTAL

Terry

Pratchett

A beautiful new hardback edition of the classic Discworld novel. Moist von Lipwig is a con artist and a fraud and a man faced with a life choice: be hanged, or put AnkhMorpork’s ailing postal service back on its feet. It was a tough decision. But he’s got to see that the mail gets through, come rain, hail, sleet, dogs, the Post Office Workers Friendly and Benevolent Society, the evil chairman of the Grand Trunk Semaphore Company, and a midnight killer.Getting a date with Adora Bell Dearheart would be nice, too.

2.186 RSD

CONFESSIONS OF AN ECONOMIC HIT MAN

John Perkins

Extensively updated, this edition features twelve new chapters, including a new introduction, preface, and study guide. The book brings the story of economic hit men (EHMs) up-to-date and focuses on China’s EHM strategy. EHMs are highly paid professionals who use development loans to cheat countries around the globe out of trillions of dollars and force them to serve US interests. Former economic hit man John Perkins gives an insider view into this system.

2.429 RSD

TALK LIKE TED

Carmine Gallo

With a new introduction from the author, discover the secrets to a perfect TED Talk and learn how to deliver an exceptional presentation with Carmine Gallo’s Talk Like TED. TED Talks have redefined the elements of a successful presentation and become the gold standard for public speaking around the world. And yet the techniques that top TED speakers use are the same ones that will make any presentation more dynamic, fire up any team, and give anyone the confidence to overcome their fear of public speaking. Ideas are the true currency of the twenty-first century, and Talk Like TED gives readers a way to create presentations around the ideas that matter most to them.

1.619 RSD

THE SECRET HISTORY

Donna Tartt

Truly deserving of the accolade Modern Classic, Donna Tartt’s bestseller The Secret History is a remarkable achievement - both compelling and elegant, dramatic and playful. Under the influence of their charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at an elite New England college discover a way of thinking and living that is a world away from the humdrum existence of their contemporaries. But when they go beyond the boundaries of morality, their lives are changed profoundly and forever. The Secret History is a story of two parts; the chain of events that led to the death of a classmate - and what happened next.

1.336 RSD

LEADERS EAT LAST

Simon Sinek

Leadership is not a rank, it is a responsibility. Leadership is not about being in charge, it is about taking care of those in your charge. When we take care of our people, our people will take care of us. They will help see that our cause becomes a reality. In Leaders Eat Last, Simon Sinek, internationally bestselling author of Start With Why, investigates these great leaders from Marine Corps Officers, who don’t just sacrifice their place at the table but often their own comfort and even their lives for those in their care, to the heads of big business and government - each putting aside their own interests to protect their teams.

1.417 RSD

IN MINUTES

Clodagh McKenna

Clodagh McKenna’s brand-new title is inspired by how much time you have in your busy life and is packed with flavourful, speedy recipes that you can cook from start to finish in 10, 20 or 30 minutes. Destined to become the most useful book in your kitchen, In Minutes is filled with 80 recipes that will soon be weekly staples, from Warm Lentil Salad with Goat’s Cheese to Spring Garden Gnocchi and Chicken Katsu Ramen. Clodagh is the master of accessible cooking that looks good and makes you feel good. She is obsessed with simple recipes that encourage you to cook from scratch most nights of the week. Speed and simplicity are key.

2.447 RSD

Faces & Places

NBA Summer Vibes Event

28/6/2023

Nordic Business Alliance (NBA), headed by its executive director Iva Petrovic, held an event at Legat Petra Lubarde. Members and partners of the NBA had an opportunity to network, catch up, relax before the summer break, and learn about the works of renowned artist Petar Lubards by taking a guided tour of his collection. In attendance were also members of the Embassies of Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.

U.S. Independence Day Marked

30/6/2023

With a traditional reception at the residence of Ambassador H.E. Christopher Hill, the Embassy of the United States marked Independence Day, the national holiday of the USA. Ambassador Hill and Deputy Ambassador John Ginkel and their wives received

guests and the reception was attended by the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, ministers in the Government of Serbia, representatives of religious communities and the diplomatic corps. At the beginning of the ceremony, US Marines ceremoniously handed over the US flag to Ambassador Hill, followed by the US and Serbian national anthems, which marked 142 years of diplomatic relations at the beginning of February.

Prime Ministers of Netherlands and Luxembourg Visit Serbia

3/7/2023

Prime Minister of Serbia Ana Brnabic welcomed Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte and Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport. Rutte and Bettel meet with the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, at the Palace of Serbia. “We are concerned about the growing tensions between Serbia and Kosovo, as well as the violence against civilians, journalists, and the EU and NATO missions in Kosovo,” Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said, stressing that both sides must take steps towards de-escalation and then normalisation in the dialogue under the auspices of the EU. “I wish that in the coming days and weeks, thanks to this visit, we will see some progress in de-escalation, and I hope we will not talk about pressures,” PM Bettel pointed out.

Opening of Exhibition Dedicated to Rossi and Mihajlovic

6/7/2023

At the Museum of Applied Arts in Belgrade, the Ambassador of Italy in Serbia, H.E. Luca Gori, opened the exhibition “In memory of Paolo Rossi and Sinisa Mihajlovic”, dedicated to the two recently deceased football champions. The event was attended by, in addition to the Minister of Culture Maja Gojkovic and the Director of the Museum Biljana Jotic, also Paolo Rossi’s wife Federica Cappelletti, and Sinisa Mihajlovic’s brother Drazen. The exhibition, which includes memorabilia, jerseys and iconic photographs of the careers of the two footballers, was promoted by World Camp International together with the Embassy of Italy in Serbia and the Italian Institute of Culture in Belgrade, with the sponsorship of FIFA, CONI and FIGC and the support of Banca Intesa and Generali Assicurazioni.

Faces & Places

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen Visits Serbia

12/7/2023

The histories of Israel and Serbia are connected in many ways, marked by enormous suffering but also by perseverance, said Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen during his visit to Serbia. “In the darkest days of the Holocaust, Jews and Serbs were together, facing unimaginable persecutions, as victims of the most brutal forces of evil,” said Cohen. After laying a wreath at the monument to those who died in the Nazi camp Staro Sajmište, he emphasised that the memory of thousands of Jews, Serbs and Roma who experienced unimaginable horrors and made the greatest sacrifice is preserved in that holy place.

WEF Members Visit Serbia

12/7/2023

During the visit to Belgrade, the World Economic Forum members attended a meeting with the AI team of the Office for IT and eGovernment about the Forum’s new initiative – AI Governance Alliance. Later they had the opportunity to meet with the IT and Entrepreneurship team Director in the Office of the PM of Nenad Paunovic, EMBA, who presented them with the new bioeconomy hub in Serbia, the BIO4 campus. Great discussions were started, and new collaborations are expected yet to come.

2nd Korea-Serbia Information Access Centre Opening Ceremony

12/7/2023

The Information Access Center is a representative cooperation project of the Republic of Korea in the sector of information and communication technologies aimed at developing countries. In his welcoming speech, Ambassador H.E. Lee Jeong assessed that the opening of the second information access centre in Serbia is a symbol of close relations between the two countries, express-

Embassy of Egypt Hosts Reception on the Occasion of Revolution Day

13/7/2023

Ambassador of Egypt to Serbia H.E. Bassel Salah hosted a reception on Revolution Day, the national holiday of Egypt, commemorating 115 years of relations between Serbia and Egypt. The ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister of Serbia Ana Brnabić, and the Speaker of the Parliament Vladimir Orlić, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps, among others, the ambassadors of the USA, Russia, Turkey, France and Italy. Ambassador Salah expressed his pleasure that the dignitaries at the meeting are celebrating the anniversary of the magnificent revolution that changed the way of life in Egypt and initiated drastic changes in all fields.

ing the hope that another centre of this type will contribute to the strengthening of citizens’ IT skills and the digitisation of society, which is one of the main tasks of the Government of Serbia. The opening was attended by the State Secretary in the Ministry of State Administration and Local Self-Government, Čedomir Rakić, the Mayor of the City of Nis, Dragana Sotirovski, and the VP of the Korean Information Society Agency, Lee Jae Ho.

Faces & Places

BSCC Holds Briefing Event

13/7/2023

The British Serbian Chamber of Commerce (BSCC) organised a briefing event in Belgrade with All Party Parliamentary Group for Serbia (APPG) Delegation: Jackie Doyle-Price MP (Head of Delegation and Serbia APPG Chair), Matthew Offord MP, Wayne David MP, Tan Dhesi MP and Lord Rennard. More than 50 companies – members, partners, and associates of the BSCC had the opportunity to hear first-hand about the improving business relations between the UK and Serbia, opportunities for further development in different sectors, and a positive outlook on the future trade and business between the two countries. At the same time, the BSCC members had the chance to present success stories from different sectors in Serbia and what it has to offer.

French Ambassador Holds Reception to Commemorate Bastille Day

14/7/2023

“Belgrade is one of the few foreign cities that was awarded the Legion of Honor,” said French Ambassador Pierre Cauchard after he laid a wreath at the Monument of Gratitude to France on the occasion of France’s national holiday, Bastille Day. Before hosting hundreds of guests at the traditional reception in honour of Bastille Day, he noted that this day is also a tribute to those who work daily to develop and expand friendship between Serbia and France. At the reception, the July issue of CorD Magazine was presented, in which a section is dedicated to the cooperation between France and Serbia. France’s national holiday is celebrated in memory of the demolition of the Bastille prison on 14 July 1789, which was one of the turning points in the French Revolution.

Cooperation Potential

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Neda Lukić n.lukic@aim.rs

DESIGN Slađan Radosavljević Zoran Perović design@aim.rs

PHOTOS Zoran Petrović COPY EDITOR Mark Pullen

06 H.E. URS SCHMID Swiss Ambassador

PROJECT MANAGERS Biljana Dević b.devic@aim.rs Mihailo Čučković m.cuckovic@aim.rs

OFFICE MANAGER Svetlana Petrović s.petrovic@aim.rs

FINANCE Dragana Skrobonja finance@aim.rs

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Maja Vidaković m.vidakovic@aim.rs

DIRECTOR Ana Novčić a.novcic@cordmagazine.com

17 MILENA GAJOVIĆ SHRESTHA General Manager, SR Technics Services Engine Business Leader Maintains Leadership

PRINTING Rotografika d.o.o. Segedinski put

72, Subotica

Mišić

international team leader of the ACT project Gorana Radovanović, adviser on the ACT project Aleksander Grunauer, international Team leader MED, Accountable local finances and citizen participation

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28

30

Executive

of the

27 DRAGAN GAVRILOVIĆ General Manager, SIKA Sika Serbia Absolute Leader 22 SIMO VULETA Managing Director at Prodyna, SSCC Board Member Focused on Growth and Innovation

23 STEVICA ČARAPIĆ

MSC Regional Managing Director (Serbia/Montenegro/North Macedonia)

Connecting the Region with Global Ports

DR MATTHIAS FUNK

Managing Director at gategroup Services d.o.o. Belgrade Innovation is the Driving Force

OLEG STEFANOVIĆ Managing Director, Produkt Bg Inženjering Transferring Knowledge and Technology is Key to Success

ANA GRUJOVIĆ

Director

Swiss-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, SSCC Rapid Economic Growth is Based on Innovation

29 MARJANA DAVIDOVIĆ General Manager at Nestlé Adriatic Support for Regenerative Agriculture

Unlocking Full Potential For Cooperation

The flourishing trade between Serbia and Switzerland demonstrates the strength and mutual benefits of the two countries’ bilateral ties, presenting promising opportunities for deeper cooperation and sustained economic growth

Serbia recently became Switzerland’s 4th largest partner, boasting a total trade volume of 1.2 billion euros and a surplus of 151.6 million euros on the Serbian side. These figures are truly remarkable and illustrate the strong bilateral relationship between the two countries, while also highlighting the potential for further progress.

This success can be primarily attributed to Serbia’s rapid growth in the ICT sector, which represents its fastest-growing industry. By seamlessly integrating into global ICT value chains and capitalising on the software outsourcing boom, Serbia has established a robust international presence. Serbian IT companies have gained a reputation for delivering top-quality services, thanks to their high-

Harnessing Swiss expertise in the realm of dual vocational education offers a promising route to foster economic growth and prosperity

ly skilled IT specialists and cost-effectiveness.

However, in order to ensure continued economic growth and prosperity, and to strengthen collaboration with Swiss business partners, it is essential for Serbia to address crucial challenges and unlock its full potential.

Firstly, there is a need to tackle the shortage of skilled labour. While Serbia boasts a robust education system, it is necessary to align it more closely with the needs of the labour market. Surveyed Swiss companies operating in Serbia have stressed the importance of creat-

ing a workforce that drives productivity growth and fosters economic development.

Secondly, a persistent youth unemployment rate of 26.5% remains a concern. Targeted policies are required to provide young people with a proper education and enable their swift entry into the labour market, thus contributing to economic growth.

Furthermore, increasing labour force participation is a challenging task in an economy that’s experiencing comparatively low activity compared to the OECD average. Encouraging more people to actively participate in the labour market, which can serve to boost productivity and fuel economic growth, requires measures like improving labour market flexibility and enhancing job matching mechanisms.

Additionally, Serbia’s stagnating productivity – at both the level of labour and within SMEs – influences wage growth and the appeal of the domestic labour market to young Serbs. Encouraging innovation, investing in research and development and supporting SMEs can revitalise productivity and stimulate economic growth.

In an effort to address these challenges, Swiss development support encompasses assistance to Serbia’s governance, economic and environmental sectors. Moreover, collaboration on dual vocational education has proven vital in terms of aligning workforce training with the needs of the market, leading to enhanced labour and company productivity, higher salaries and addressing the key driver of emigration: a lack of economic opportunity. Leveraging Swiss expertise in this collaboration presents a promising pathway to overcome these challenges and pave the way to further economic growth and prosperity.

Serbia Needs a More Productive Workforce

The Swiss-Serbian Chamber of Commerce’s recent Business Climate Survey highlighted labour force quality and skill shortages as being among the top challenges for businesses operating in Serbia. An insufficient number of graduates and a dearth of experience have been identified as significant impediments ~ Urs Schmid

The economic partnership between Switzerland and Serbia is intensifying in various areas. Switzerland has become Serbia’s 4th largest partner in trade in services. Thanks to the ICT sector, Serbia records a surplus of 151.6 million euros in the trade in services. Rail sector giant Stadler is boosting its cooperation with Kragujevac, while company Etampa has launched the production of parts for the auto industry at its factory in Kruševac. “We remain committed to positively influencing Serbia’s governance, economic and environmental sectors,” says Ambassador Urs Schmid in this interview for CorD Magazine.

Your Excellency, given that half of your tenure in Serbia has already elapsed, what could you say about the current state of bilateral relations between Switzerland and Serbia?

I am pleased to note that relations between our two nations are experiencing a steady and encouraging progression.

Our economic ties have grown substantially over the past few years. Since 2018, our bilateral trade has almost doubled and stood at 804 million CHF in 2022. This notable increase is indicative of the robustness and resilience of our economic partnership, even in the face of global challenges.

This shared commitment was demonstrated during the successful Joint Economic Commission that took place in June in Bern. The official talks were followed by a visit to a wastewater treatment plant, where the Serbian delegation, comprising representatives of different Ministries, was able to glean some useful information to take back for Serbia’s wastewater treatment projects.

Earlier this year, Swiss State Secretary of Foreign Affairs Livia Leu hosted her counterpart, State Secretary Goran Aleksić, for a round of regular political consultations. Security in the Western Balkans and the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue were important aspects of the discussion, as were our joint efforts in the areas of police cooperation and migration, as well as Serbia’s regional and EU integration processes.

Serving in this dynamic context is a pleasure, and I eagerly anticipate the continued enhancement of our bilateral relations during the remainder of my tenure.

How is implementation progressing when it comes to the Swiss programme of cooperation with Serbia for the 2022-2025 period, during which you’ve envisaged, among other things, support for local government and civil society in employment projects, economic development and adapting to climate change?

COOPERATION

Shared commitment was demonstrated during the successful Joint Economic Commission that took place in June in Bern

COMMITMENT

We remain committed to positively influencing Serbia’s governance, economic and environmental sectors

REGULATIONS

By adapting its current skill development policies and regulations, Serbia can cultivate a more productive workforce to meet the demands of businesses

Approaching the midpoint of our current cooperation programme with Serbia, the Swiss Embassy team has made substantial strides, working side-by-side with our Serbian counterparts and aligning our efforts with Serbia’s strategic priorities. This includes bolstering local governance and renewing partnerships with government institutions, civil society organisations and the private sector. We have significantly boosted our engagement in economic growth, with notable initiatives like the “SME Hub” programme enhancing local enterprise development and job creation. In climate change efforts, we continue our longstanding support for energy transition, with a focus on efficiency and renewable sources, and we have become a key contributor to Serbia’s “Green Agenda” programme. We remain committed to positively influencing Serbia’s governance, economic and environmental sectors.

It was announced recently that Swiss company Stadler will engage in railway production in Kragujevac, which is a significant development in the process of revitalising Serbian railways. Could you speak about this collaboration?

We have indeed seen the development of successful collaboration between Swiss company Stadler Rail and Serbian Railways. The execution of the high-speed train project in just six months from its inception in April 2021 to the “roll-in” of the first train in October is testament to the diligent efforts of Serbian partners and the impeccable performance of Stadler Rail. The company is currently exploring potential partnerships with

Mind Group in Kragujevac, focusing on railway component production and train manufacturing.

Serbia has recognised the strategic importance of rail transport and has been investing heavily in the revitalisation of its railway infrastructure. In this endeavour, Swiss companies are emerging as trusted partners.

Swiss company Etampa recently opened a factory in Kruševac to produce parts for the automotive industry, though it was announced at the same time that the factory is struggling to find adequate workers. To what extent is the Swiss business community in Serbia facing problems related to the lack of qualified workers?

The Swiss-Serbian Chamber of Commerce’s recent Business Climate Survey highlighted that labour force quality and skill shortages are among the top challenges for businesses operating in Serbia. An insufficient number of graduates and a dearth of experience have been identified as significant impediments.

Serbia’s economy has seen marked improvements, transforming the labour market and employment indicators. A thriving economy depends on a skilled workforce that’s capable of adapting to a technologically evolving market and driving productivity growth. Although Serbia boasts a robust education system, there is room for improvement in terms of matching education to the needs of the labour market. By adapting its current skill development policies and regulations, Serbia can cultivate a more productive workforce to meet the demands of businesses and foster economic growth.

The Dual Education concept, which has received strong Swiss support, was supposed to be one of the best ways to overcome this problem. Is this concept proving better at solving the problem of skilled labour in Serbia or enabling the even quicker departure of workers from the country?

Despite improvements in job creation and a decline in unemployment, Serbia’s youth unemployment remains high, at 26.5%, and labour force participation is low compared to the OECD average. Productivity is stagnating, both at the labour level and within SMEs, restricting wage growth and, consequently, the domestic labour market’s appeal to the Serbian youth.

This situation emphasises the potential value of dual vocational education. By training a labour force to meet market needs, both labour productivity and company productivity can be boosted, leading to higher salaries and mitigating one of the main drivers of emigration. Therefore, Switzerland, in collaboration with the Serbian Govern-

ment and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is investing heavily in dual vocational education, utilising specific Swiss expertise. However, the effects of these efforts will only be seen in the mid- to long-term, because a shift in approach needs to take place and this necessarily takes time.

You announced late last year that Serbia has been recognised as a net exporter of IT services to Switzerland, with the value of that exchange having even exceeded the value of the goods trade between the two countries. What makes these Serbian companies recognisable in Switzerland?

When it comes to trade in services, it is impressive to note that Switzerland has become Serbia’s 4th largest partner, with a total trade volume of 1.2 billion euros and a surplus of 151.6 million euros in Serbia’s favour. This is largely due to the Serbian ICT sector, as the country’s fastest-growing industry. Serbia has successfully integrated into global ICT value chains and has benefited from the continuous boom in software outsourcing. Serbian IT companies are recognised in Switzer-

Serving in this dynamic context is a pleasure, and I eagerly anticipate the continued enhancement of our bilateral relations during the remainder of my tenure

Serbian IT companies are recognised in Switzerland and elsewhere for the quality services provided by highly skilled IT specialists and relatively low production costs

land and elsewhere for the quality services provided by highly skilled IT specialists and relatively low production costs. Language skills are another remarkable advantage. It certainly pays off that foreign language learning is compulsory from the first year of primary school in Serbia.

A recent referendum in Switzerland led to the adopting of a law on climate change. When it comes to climate change, how much can such moves at the single country level contribute to shifting consciousness and policies at the global level?

On 18th June, 59.1% of Swiss voters accepted the Climate and Innovation Act, making it the first country to vote for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This law is not just about protecting the environment, as it also holds long-term economic benefits. The shift to renewables also spurs innovation and job creation.

As an Alpine country, Switzerland is particularly hard hit by climate change. Earlier climate protection efforts have already resulted in an 18% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2021.

Tackling climate change certainly requires global collaboration, as highlighted by the Paris Agreement, which Switzerland supports. But I am also convinced that early moves at the single country level will pay off in economic terms and provide good reasons to follow suit.

Since 2018, our bilateral trade has almost doubled and stood at 804 million CHF in 2022

Switzerland has become Serbia’s 4th largest partner, with a total trade volume of 1.2 billion euros

On 18th June, 59.1% of Swiss voters accepted the Climate and Innovation Act

Successes That Should Be Repeated

SSCC member companies are extremely satisfied that digitalisation and e-government have gained great importance within the scope of the Government of the Republic of Serbia’s structural reform measures, and they expect similar advances when it comes to the Green Agenda

The majority of countries –Serbia included – are currently confronted by inflation problems that lead to a slowdown in economic growth. However, members of the Swiss-Serbian Chamber of Commerce are on the whole optimistic regarding their operations in Serbia. Also testifying to this is the research survey entitled “Questionnaire on the business climate in Serbia in 2023”, which was conducted by the Swiss-Serbian Chamber of Commerce among its member companies in April 2023. The majority of respondent companies (71.43%) rated the Serbian business climate as satisfactory. When it comes to comparing business conditions year-on-year, 53.57% of surveyed members companies believe that conditions will remain unchanged compared to 2022, explains SSCC President Majo Micović.

This survey’s results also show that most companies expect further changes to the business climate in the areas of the efficiency of public institutions and administrations, the enforcement of legislation and on the ensuring of legal certainty and stability.

In the opinion of the expert public, but also the IMF, Serbia should devote more attention to structural reforms. From the perspective of the SSCC, in which areas has good progress been made on regulatory reforms and where do you see room for further advances?

Within the framework of structural reform measures, the Government of the Republic of Serbia recognised the impor-

DIALOGUE

it is essential to secure the joint and coordinated work of all participants in the green transformation of the economy, and here maintaining a regular dialogue between the state and business is particularly important

tance of digitalisation and the development of e-government, which has contributed significantly to development in this area over the past few years. The results of the aforementioned SSCC survey show that our member companies are satisfied with the development of e-banking (85.71% of surveyed companies), e-government (78.57% of surveyed companies) and e-procurement (71.43% of surveyed companies). Priority positions in the area of digitalisation are occupied by artificial intelligence, cyber-security and biotechnology.

However, alongside the digital transformation of the economy, it is also essential to carry out the green transformation of the economy, and I expect the Green Agenda of the Republic of Serbia to enable local companies to develop sustainable business models, but also to apply innovative solutions with the aim of boosting their competitiveness, both on the domestic and world markets. Green transition not only requires the use of new technologies, but also additional employee training and advancing the capacity of companies to carry our research & development. These are the reasons why it is essential to secure the joint and coordinated work of all participants in the implementation of the green transformation of the economy, among which I would stress the importance of maintaining regular dialogue between the state and the business sector.

Your Chamber has its own digital taskforce, in the form of the SSCC Working Group on Digitalisation. Which topics are in the focus of this group and how do you see the development of the digitalisation process in Serbia?

The first meeting of the SSCC Working Group on Digitalisation was held in June, on the premises of company Roche d.o.o. The following topics were in the focus of

SECURITY

Cyber-security shouldn’t be viewed as an option, but rather as an indispensable part of the digital transformation plan of every company and organisation

INVESTMENT

It is necessary to continue investment in scientific and research work, and on the implementation of new technologies, particularly in the fields of agriculture and healthcare

well as the need to invest further in the digital transformation of enterprises.

Further meetings of the Working Group on Digitalisation are planned for this September and October, which will enable us to gather more information on the experiences and challenges confronting our member companies in the area of digitalisation.

Swiss companies are among the leading investors in Serbia in the area of IT, while successful Swiss companies attach great importance to improving the security of information systems and technologies. Based on your contacts with companies, what level would you say awareness of this is at in our country?

Cyber-attacks are ever more complex and frequent, and awareness of the necessity to protect sensitive data among companies is growing year-on-year.

Practice has shown that the largest number of cyber-attacks are enabled due to human error and carelessness. It is thus essential to raise awareness among employees in various positions in order to prevent human error that could endanger the entire information system, even if the latest, cutting-edge technologies are used for protection.

discussions: cyber-security as an important segment of the operations of every company and organisation; the use of artificial intelligence in daily operations (Chat GTP) and the need to further improve the legislative framework as it pertains to artificial intelligence; the need for further investment in scientific and research work and on the introduction of new technologies, particularly in the fields of agriculture and healthcare; as

Company Sky Express, whose operations I’m responsible for, is this year in a position to offer a unique platform for educating employees in various positions on safe behaviour in the digital environment.

This platform differs from others that are available on the market in that it was created as a result of collaboration with cyber-security experts, professional educators and psychologists specialised in the field of behavioural analytics. It is easy to use, available in the Serbian language and adapted to each user individually, all with the aim of encouraging

SSCC member companies would like to see progress in the areas of the efficiency of public institutions and administrations, the enforcement of legislation and on the ensuring of legal certainty and stability

the safe behaviour of users in the digital world. It is implemented over the long term, in continuity, and becomes part of the daily routine during work.

We can only minimise the risk of cyber-attacks if a company’s entire team is educated in an adequate way.

Considering that cyber-security represents an extremely specific branch of the IT industry, I would direct companies and organisations towards technology experts who are able to help them protect one of the most valuable resources in their company: digital data. Cyber-security shouldn’t be viewed as an option, but rather as an indispensable part of the digital transformation plan of every company and organisation.

Cyber-security is an essential topic. In your opinion, what will be the biggest challenges in this area in 2024?

The biggest challenge in the area of cyber-security for years has been the shortage of trained and experienced personnel. And judging on the basis of

analyses and indicators, this trend will also continue in 2024, with a tendency for demand to increase.

The response to this challenge has also gradually crystallised and is represented by the offer of specialised cyber-security services (MSSP - Managed Security Services Provider), based on suitable tools and the best experts and engineers. Users are thereby able to significantly reduce the risk of threats, or even eliminate them completely. by engaging specialised cyber-security services.

Simply by comparing the financial and material resources required to establish an internal security programme, with the additional problem of a lack of human resources and with the cost of specialised cyber-security services, we reach an extremely favourable cost-benefit ratio that these services yield, and that do so from the very start of use of the service. Companies thereby ensure their operational continuity, as well as ensuring that their operations are aligned with regulations.

Bolstering Local Governance in Serbia

This programme, which is being jointly implemented by UN agencies in Serbia – UNOPS, UNICEF, UNFPA and UNEP – in cooperation with the Government of Serbia, is supported financially by the Government of Switzerland.

The Programme has been designed to enable continuous contributions from new partners, including from the private sector, while it also aims to inspire the business community to participate in Programme activities and thus contrib-

ute – through the enhancement of good governance, social inclusion and environmental protection – to the sustainable development of local communities across Serbia. This includes supporting local initiatives that contribute to a healthier and cleaner environment, the modernisation and digitalisation of public services, as well as interventions that will benefit informal waste collectors whose income is impacted by the construction of regional recycling centres.

The Joint UN Programme

“PRO - Local Governance for People and Nature” has begun implementing activities that will contribute to improving citizens’ quality of life in 99 eligible towns and municipalities in the regions of Šumadija and Western, Eastern and Southern Serbia

85.71% of surveyed SSCC members are satisfied with the development of e-banking, 78.57% with e-government and 71.43% with e-procurement

Prevention Protects Health and Budgets

Innovative pharmaceutical company Novartis, which is headquartered in Switzerland and has a global presence encompassing more than 140 countries, has appointed Nikola Stojković as the new managing director of its representative office for Serbia and Montenegro

Our aim is to improve access to innovative therapies for patients, through support in strengthening the local health ecosystem, public-private partnerships and bringing solutions in cooperation with all interested parties in the healthcare sector ~ announces Mr Stojković.

In which areas in Serbia do you see your company’s greatest contribution? Alongside a broad portfolio of medicines in numerous therapy areas, we see our most significant contribution in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, oncology, hematology and autoimmune diseases. When we observe cardiovascu -

to heart attacks and ischemic strokes - showed total estimated annual costs to the state, for approximately 1.1 million people, exceeding 18 billion dinars, which accounts for five per cent of the total budget of the RFZO [The National Health Insurance Fund of the Republic of Serbia]. This study also showed that focused public health policy could save almost five billion dinars annually. We should thus seek a solution to reducing mortality and costs in prevention. That’s why we provide strong support to the initiative for adoption of a national programme for the prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease through the effective correction of dyslipidemia in Serbia, which unifies the efforts of the Ministry of Health, prominent cardiologists and endocrinologists, as well as patient associations. This in -

to increase efficacy, support innovation and improve the way we develop and deliver our medicines. They help patients better monitor and manage their disease through tools like medication reminders, the simpler or automated measuring of disease symptoms, faster sharing of information or online consultation with a doctor. For decision-makers, the good availibilty of information of data can contribute to the better planning and allocating of resources in order to reduce costs and improve the quality of care, while digitalised data collection can help in the advanced collection of risk factors and quicker responses to prevent disease.

lar diseases alone, the leading cause of death in Serbia and worldwide, we have to consider their worrying effect on society as a whole and the fact that as much as 16% of total healthcare costs in 2017 (exceeding RSD 32 billion) were spent on circulatory system diseases.

One recent study on the burden of high levels of LDL cholesterol in Serbia, which is among the main causes of atherosclerosis - that, in turn, leads

itiative is harmonised with the WHO’s 25x25 global action plan, which targets a 25 per cent reduction in premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases and other non-communicable diseases by 2025.

Where do you see modern technology’s contribution in healthcare? Modern technologies and advanced approaches to data management enable us

The pharmaceutical industry is at the forefront of advances in digital health and the introduction of technology to healthcare systems. In these endeavours, we rely on cooperation and partnerships with, beside key decission makers in healthcare system, the Embassy of Switzerland, the Swiss Chamber of Commerce, professional associations etc. Considering that one of the biggest obstacles to improving health is the possibility for quality care to encompass all patients who need it, the improved access to innovative therapies with simple, cost-effective technological solutions that are available on devices like mobile phones can help in overcoming these barriers.

We see our most significant contribution in the treatment of diseases that are the greatest burden for society - cardiovascular diseases, oncology, hematology and autoimmune diseases

Two Decades of Swiss Support

The Swiss Government has for many years been supporting the Standing Conference of Towns and MunicipalitiesNational Association of Local Authorities in Serbia (SCTM) in developing and advancing local government in the Republic of Serbia, thus contributing strongly to the creation of modern local governments able to provide efficient public services for citizens and businesses. Cooperation between the Swiss Government and the SCTM has been ongoing since 2005 and implemented through multiple projects, via which Serbians towns and municipalities, and the SCTM itself, have receivedeither directly or indirectly - financial support totalling almost 13 million euros.

Over previous years, collaboration between the Swiss Cooperation Office and the SCTM has focused on strengthening the mechanisms of local democracy, i.e., on the inclusion of citizens in decision-making processes at the local

tral authorities, Switzerland also - from 2010 to 2022 - provided support for the SCTM to strengthen its organisation institutionally. Thanks largely to this support, the SCTM has built itself up to become a modern association of local authorities and a centre for supporting the development of local government units in Serbia.

“The longstanding institutional support of the Swiss Government has pro-

are either being implemented currently or await local governments in the future.

Cooperation has continued in 2023 –the year marking the 70th anniversary of the establishing of the SCTM – with the launch of the “Partnership for Good Local Government” programme, which will run until year’s end 2026. This programme contributes directly to achieving the strategic goals of Swiss support to the Republic of Serbia and the goals of the Strategic Plan of the SCTM, implementing important systemic reforms, advancing the decentralisation of public administration, strengthening the applying of principles of good governance in the work of local governments and improving the quality and availability of services provided by local governments to citizens and the economy.

level, on the reform of administrative procedures aimed at creating better conditions to attract investment and develop the business environment, strengthening the capacities of municipalities and towns to apply principles of good governance, as well as numerous other topics that have marked the last two decades of local government development.

In recognising the SCTM as a partner that approaches the development of local government strategically and facilitates the cooperation between local and cen-

vided a key contribution to improving the ability of the organisation to effectively formulate, represent and advocate for the interests of the local self-governments, but also to contribute continuously to strengthening local capacities in all areas that are under the jurisdiction of local government,” considers SCTM Secretary General Nikola Tarbuk, as well as noting that, thanks to this support, the organisation is today recognised as an active participant and driver of the most significant reform processes in Serbia that

In Switzerland, Serbia’s local governments and the SCTM have found an important partner that understands and recognises the challenges confronting towns and municipalities and that provides continuous support to the development of local government units in Serbia. The results achieved to date through this cooperation between Switzerland and the SCTM show that it is possible and achievable to implement changes that lead to the development of local democracy and the creation of modern, professional and efficient local governments.

Results achieved to date through cooperation between Switzerland and the SCTM show that it is possible and achievable to implement changes that lead to the development of local democracy and the creation of modern, professional and efficient local governments

Towards a Better Prepared and More Competitive Serbia

Dynamic business environments and constant global challenges require countries and economies be alert and continuously seek out ways to improve their business environment and prospects. On its road to becoming a society of democratic values, as well as to achieving a stronger economic position on the market, Serbia has had the stable support of the Swiss Government. Through numerous initiatives, Switzerland has implemented good business practices locally, including the “Education to Employment” project that’s focused on youth employment and stands out with its success and results

For a full eight years, this successful Swiss-Serbian project has been investing actively in the youth, enhancing their capabilities to better position themselves on the labour market through an exceptionally well-developed system of career guidance and counselling, as well as through training in work-based learning with a known employer. Via this programme, nearly 27,000 young people have so far been empowered, with more than 250 companies engaged in the project. More than 1,600 programme participants have successfully completed work-based learning training, 77% of whom have succeeded in landing their first job. By applying modern technologies, such as VR simulations of work operations in the training process, as well as establishing a strong bond between educational institutions and the business sector and business connections, the project has had a positive impact on

the youth employment climate by offering an exceptionally valuable advantage to them: a career opportunity.

Having recognised depopulation, migration and the lack of a qualified workforce as ongoing challenges across the region, with support of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Serbia and the Chamber Investment Forum of the Western Balkans (WB6), the “Education to Employment” project has taken a step further and initiated the organisation of the regional conference entitled “Relevance of Work-Based Learning (WBL) and Social Inclusion for the WB6’s Economic Development”. By bringing together representatives of successful businesses from the six economies, businesspeople from various sectors received the opportunity to share their perspectives on the challenges they encounter and identify common goals they should strive towards. Exchanges of expertise and ideas on formal and non-formal education,

as well as conditions for establishing an inclusive working environment, have created new cooperation prospects, the aim of which is for the entire region to enter the European market better prepared and more competitive.

A constructive discussion among conference participants and panellists was complemented by a VR welding simulation, which was presented publicly for the first time.

In a constantly evolving world that brings new challenges that don’t recognise borders, regional cooperation and youth opportunities are becoming key factors in creating a successful and sustainable future. The “Education to Employment” project, which is supported by the Swiss Government, represents an inspiring example of how investing in knowhow, work-based learning and a fairer and more inclusive environment generates results and is recognised and appreciated.

Engine Business Leader Maintains Leadership

One of the largest independent technical employers in the aviation sector, this Swiss company has over 2,200 highly qualified employees worldwide and is renowned for its continuous investments in equipment and people, but also for its major investments and new partnerships

spite the growth of the company. The main focus of the engine business and support functions is on the reduction and optimisation of energy consumption in engine testing. At the same time, we invest in a circular economy - together with OEMs, our company continuously introduces new repair capabilities to avoid scrap and resources for the production of new parts.

In April, SR Technics partnered with Kuehne+Nagel and Atlas Air for Sustainable Engine Alliance, members of which aim to reduce their collective environmental impact by building networks for sustainable engine supply ecosystems and offer a portfolio of sustainable services.

SR Technics Services in Serbia provides administrative, financial and technical support services, with the aim of supporting the company’s further growth in all business segments at the global level.

Are there any current or upcoming contracts and projects that would represent an important step forward?

Our company’s target is to double our business over the next five years. We are building infrastructure in Zurich, opening new production facilities and increasing our workforce by around 500 people within the next few years, in order to extend our capabilities for maintenance, repair and overhaul services for the GTF and LEAP engines.

In 2022, SR Technics also partnered with Pratt & Whitney and joined the GTF MRO network, while in April this year we took another new step towards the reac-

tivation of our second test cell at Zurich Airport, and in June we signed a five-year agreement with Safran Aircraft Engines for SR Technics to provide quick-turn maintenance offload support to LEAP-1A engines. With the new LEAP-1A product, we have now taken a decisive step forward in the portfolio of our engine business.

Does improving sustainability occupy an important place in your operations?

Environmental protection is a strategic pillar of SR Technics’ organisation and service portfolio. By extending engine life cycle and delivering best-in-class on-wing performance, SR Technics contributes to the optimised use of resources for its customers and limits the environmental impact of airline operations. We include our employees in this mission.

On the other hand, SR Technics set its global target to reduce absolute CO2 emissions by 2025 from the 2019 baseline de-

Has SR Technics Services Serbia justified the quality epithet attributed to the company worldwide?

The company in Belgrade has around 290 employees supporting the core business, with a growth tendency. In Serbia, we gather a top professional team that’s driven by a passion to acquire new knowledge and that operates daily, in the spirit of teamwork, to improve the level of efficiency and standardisation of our business processes.

The greatest value of SR Technics is our employees. Through various benefits, such as flexible form of work, a tenure incentive scheme, private health insurance etc., we try to ensure that each individual feels good and maintains a balance between their private and business life. We pay special attention to the training of our employees and achieve this through a personal development plan, as well as through other courses that contribute to constant investments in the growth of our employees.

Valuable Swiss Support to Serbia

Helvetas has been present in Serbia since 2015 and currently implements several very important projects while working on a new strategy that will enable it to maintain a strong local presence in Serbia and the region in the coming period

Both the ACT and MED projects deal with citizen participation, though they use different approaches. One works directly with citizens, while the other works through cooperation with local governments. However, they certainly cooperate mutually, exchanging experiences and good practices, and strive to convey the Swiss culture of active citizen participation to Serbia.

Helvetas is an international non-governmental organisation with Swiss roots that has been contributing to transformative changes in Southeast Europe since the early 1990s.

Currently, in addition to two projects (ACT – For an active civil society together, and MED – Accountable Public Finance and Citizen Participation Programme) that are being financed by the Swiss Government, Helvetas also works together with partners on the implementation of the Organic Trade for Development project, supported by SECO, Reconomy, supported by Swedish Government, and the Landscape Fire Management Regional project in the Western Balkans, which deals with climate change and is also funded by the Swiss Government.

ceived them positively. More than forty per cent of Serbian citizens today recognise the effects of their work and believe that they protect the public interest and fight for social change.

ACT – FOR AN ACTIVE CIVIL SOCIETY TOGETHER

The project “ACT- For an active civil society together” is a four-year project supported by the Swiss Government and implemented by Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation and Civic Initiatives

from Belgrade. ACT was launched in September 2019. Its first phase will be completed this September and preparations are underway for the next fouryear phase.

The largest number of civil society organisations in Serbia started their work more than thirty years ago, and until ten years ago only a third of citizens per-

“Despite these positive changes, the general level of engagement of citizens in their communities is still low. At the local level, 15% of citizens participate in some form of decision-making, while at the national level it is only 4%. The initial idea behind launching the ACT project was to make civil society organisations operating throughout Serbia more sustainable and more responsible, thereby empowering and motivating citizens to participate more in the decision-making process, especially at the local level. That’s why, in addition to financial support for the implementation of their initiatives, we also provided them with entire capacity building packages of education and mentorship by excellent experts in the field of communications, public advocacy and citizen mobilisation,” says Snežana Mišić Mihajlović, international team leader of the ACT project at Helvetas Serbia.

During the four years of project implementation, close to 200 civil society organisations from 60 towns and cit-

Snežana Mišić Mihajlović, international team leader of the ACT project, Helvetas Serbia

ies across Serbia were supported, with more than 100,000 citizens benefiting directly from the supported projects and initiatives.

“These organisations engaged citizens in public dialogue, participatory decision-making and advocacy, and several initiated cooperation with local authorities on issues of public importance. Significant changes have been achieved, such as the amendment of the regulations on the representation of women in local communities and the introduction of the green chair at the local level. At the national level, for the first time, women aged over 45 were recognised in the Gender Equality Strategy as being a more difficult to employ category, and the Youth Strategy envisages the development of youth responsible budgeting. Many of them can today more legitimately represent citizens and better mobilise people, while they are also able to express their needs and be heard by the authorities,” concludes Gorana Radovanović, adviser on the ACT project at Helvetas Serbia.

MED - ACCOUNTABLE LOCAL FINANCES AND CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PROGRAMME

Helvetas believes that social cohesion is crucial to creating a strong society, promoting unity, interconnectedness and a shared identity. This cohesion fosters trust, support and stronger relationships, fostering economic prosperity and promoting collaboration, innovation and collective progress.

This is why Helvetas responded positively to the elevated demand of the Government of Serbia to implement the Swiss supported MED Programme in over 60 local governments across Serbia. MED fosters the social contract between citizens and local governments by promoting efficient taxation on the governments revenue side and participatory decision making on the expenditure side.

Within the scope of the MED Programme, which is supported by the Gov-

ernment of Switzerland, technical assistance and financial support have been provided to local governments accross Serbia that are committed to supporting projects proposed by citizens through special budget allocations. Almost a million euros was allocated for these projects, 60% of which was allocated from the local budgets of municipalities and cities, with 40% co-financed by the Swiss Government. A total of 149 projects were submitted, proposed by informal groups of citizens comprising a total of 2,858 families who have settled their property tax obligations.

“In the area of improving local public finances in the MED Programme, the Swiss Government finances the hiring of additional associates to work in local tax administrations, for which funds of 480,000 CHF have been pro -

vided and more than 100 people have been hired to date. In the previous period, local governments supported by the Programme managed to increase the total collection of their own-source revenues by 30%, thereby securing additional funds to finance local priorities from their budgets. Considering that these are important local services, the Swiss Government also helps both the improvement and development of digital services in this segment, with the aim of facilitating the availability of public services to citizens,” says Alexander Grunauer, team leader at MED, Accountable local finances and citizen participation.

With its MED Programme, Helvetas is a partner of Serbia in its efforts to construct a strong society that combines social cohesion, citizen participation, collective decision-making, efficient and transparent taxation, and economic prosperity. By nurturing these interconnected aspects, Serbia can create an environment where individuals thrive, communities prosper and a collective sense of wellbeing is achieved.

Helvetas believes social cohesion is crucial for a strong society, promoting unity, interconnectedness and a shared identity

Gorana Radovanović, adviser on the ACT project, Helvetas Serbia

Aleksander Grunauer, international Team leader MED, Accountable local finances and citizen participation, Helvetas Serbia

Time Travel in Müstair Valley

Müstair lies at the farthest corner of Eastern Switzerland. Its mild climate, unspoilt nature, cultural landscapes, 1,300-year-old monastery and numerous possible activities, make Müstair a very attractive holiday resort.

Focused on Growth and Innovation

Over its initial decade of operations, PRODYNA has faced numerous challenges and undergone significant upgrades, showcasing extensive experience in IT consulting. Thanks to team spirit and the dedication of its employees, partners and clients, PRODYNA has managed to achieve its goals and leave a positive impression on the market

has been one of growth, learning and inspiration, and we eagerly anticipate the opportunities that lie ahead.

We happily look to the future, which will certainly bring us more loyal clients with new and challenging projects, enabling us and our employees to grow together ~ announces PRODYNA MD Simo Vuleta.

We would like to start this interview by congratulating you on the company’s 10th birthday and wishing you much success in the decades ahead. Did you manage to fulfil the plans you set out with for this first decade of operations?

Thank you very much for the congratulations. This really is a special moment for us, because 10 years of operations, dedication and effort is not just

The name PRODYNA is a lexical blend of PROfessional and DYNAmic. Has your name tracked your journey to success?

The name PRODYNA is more than symbolic, because we constantly strive to provide professional services that satisfy our clients’ specific needs and challenges. By remaining dynamic, we are able to adapt quickly to evolving market trends and the preferences of clients, which ensures that our solutions remain superior and relevant.

Our name represents the way we relate to our customers, but it also defines our internal culture. We nurture a working environment that enables our employees to advance professionally and

Absolutely, our determination to offer every client the best solution has truly been one of the key reasons behind our broad portfolio of services and rich experience. We essentially believe that our success has been connected closely to the success of our clients. Such a customer-centric approach has been the driving force behind our growth and has made it possible for us to establish a wide array of services.

a number, but rather a symbol of success and continuous progress. We are proud of our achievements to date, but that won’t prevent us from endeavouring to make even more. Our vision remains focused on continuous growth, innovation and providing our clients with unparalleled value.

The first decade of our operations was outstanding, but we are ready to do even more in the period ahead. The journey

personally. By embracing dynamic work, we encourage lifelong learning, growth and the development of skills, thus enabling our team members to take on challenges with agility and expertise.

Your determination to provide every client with the best solution is beyond question. Is that one of the reasons you can boast of having a broad portfolio of services and rich experience?

Our commitment to providing each client with the best solution means that we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all approaches. We allocate time to develop an understanding of the unique needs and challenges of every individual client, adapting our services to suit their specific requirements. It is this personalised approach that has earned us the reputation that we enjoy, while it has also resulted in a diverse portfolio of successful projects. We have amassed a wealth of experience in adapting to changing technologies, market trends and client preferences, and our desire to take on new challenges shows that we are learning and expanding our expertise constantly. By consistently providing outstanding solutions and exceeding expectations, we have built strong and enduring partnerships with our clients, who return to us with new projects, but also recommend us to their partners.

We have amassed a wealth of experience in adapting to changing technologies, market trends and client preferences

Connecting the Region with Global Ports

The journey of Mediterranean Shipping Company, MSC, began more than half a century ago, with a fleet consisting of a single vessel. The company has since grown to become a world leader in shipping and logistics, able to offer best-in-class transport solutions, optimal transport routes to anywhere in the world and a portfolio of solutions to support customers’ supply chains at every stage

The Serbian market provides significant potential to strengthen our company’s position locally and regionally, and we will continue to improve our services by listening to customers and investing in the key business areas needed to optimise their supply chains, says MSC’s regional MD Stevica Čarapić.

MSC is well known globally, but we would like to know what the regional office’s journey has looked like since it opened back in 2005?

MSC started with just one vessel, while today it carries approximately 22.5 million TEU annually through its network of 675 offices in 155 countries, calling at 520 global ports. Opening our regional office covering Serbia, North Macedonia and Montenegro was an important strategic decision. Despite challenging beginnings, we have managed to position our company as the logistics leader on the Serbian and regional markets, thanks to constant support from our headquarters and our local team of dedicated professionals. Our services include a wide range of transport solutions for both imports and exports, with global port coverage, as well as pick-up and delivery, which is crucial in landlocked countries like Serbia and North Macedonia.

The world has faced numerous challenges over the past three years, with the logistics industry among the hardest hit. What was your response to the crisis?

As a response to increased demand, MSC invested in its equipment and fleet, attempting to minimise the impact of global congestion caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Locally, MSC Serbia concentrated on providing the best possible service for customers via its local office and regional intermodal links. We also invested in our reefer container capacity in order to serve the increased demand for fruits from the Serbian region.

The MSC service covers all ports of the region – Rijeka, Koper, Bar, Ploče, Thessaloniki, while part of the cargo is transported via Italian and North European ports, due to their direct services to the U.S. and Canada, and we can of-

fer the best possible transport solution from/to Serbia at any time.

The past three years have also highlighted the importance of digitalisation, and at MSC we are continuously investing in developing new digital tools and technologies to provide customers with easy-to-use, flexible and reliable online shipping management solutions. Our transport and digital solutions are also tailored to help customers decarbonise their supply chains.

You are known on the market for your personal approach to every client, regardless of their scope of business. Is this something you’re proud of?

Yes, we insist on a personal approach to every client, and our goal is to build long-term partnerships with our customers. We are constantly listening to their needs and planning our activities accordingly. As an example, take the support we are providing to clients with temperature sensitive goods, as I mentioned earlier. Our reefer container experts are always at their disposal and we conduct regular reefer education sessions, where fruit and vegetable exporters learn about proper packing, loading, temperature and ventilation settings to ensure sensitive cargo remains fresh from pick-up to delivery.

Our personalised approach provides a single point of contact for our customers’ supply chains - whether that’s moving their goods, helping with their customs clearance or providing our Peace of Mind insurance Solutions.

Innovation is the Driving Force

Headquartered in Zurich, gategroup delivers operational excellence through the most extensive catering network in the aviation industry, catering ca. 3,3 million flights for 300+ global aviation customers and serving more than 520 million passengers in 2022 from over 200 operating units in over 60 countries across all continents

The process from Board Approval of the concept in May 2019 to company registration in Serbia took only two months, with operations launched just three and a half months later. The company has experienced growth of partly over 100 new employees in one year, advancing from 20 employees on the first day to over 300 employees today. And gategroup isn’t planning to stop there.

Your company has spent decades as a leading global player in airline catering, retail and hospitality products and services. You serve hundreds of millions of passengers worldwide each year. Thank you for highlighting our company’s long-standing presence and leading position on the global market for airline catering, retail, and hospitality products and services. Indeed, gategroup is the global leader in airline catering, retail-on-board

course of 2022, the company rehired more than 5,000 employees, bringing its workforce back to 90% of its pre-COVID numbers. We ramped up all our operating units and nearly doubled in size compared to 2021, recording revenues of CHF 3.9 billion and increasing our EBITDA by 65.5% to CHF 100.1 million.

Innovation is the driving force behind progress and growth in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape. By embracing innovation, we continuously seek new and improved ways to deliver products, services and solutions to our customers. This mindset enables us to stay ahead of the competition, meet changing customer needs and explore untapped markets.

For example, deSter, one of our four gategroup family members, is a leading provider of innovative food packaging and serviceware concepts to the aviation and food service industries. By combining over 40 years of industry experience with

erences and anticipating their expectations. By constantly seeking feedback and engaging with our customers, we gain valuable insights that help us shape our products, services and experiences to meet and exceed their expectations;

• Continuous Improvement: we believe in an iterative approach to improvement. We are constantly analysing customer feedback, monitoring industry trends and evaluating our performance. This allows us to identify areas requiring enhancement and make necessary adjustments to ensure we are consistently delivering high-quality experiences. By embracing a culture of continuous improvement, we can adapt and evolve in line with our passengers’ changing needs.

and hospitality products and services. In 2022, gategroup achieved CHF 3.9 billion in revenues generated by more than 38,000 employees worldwide.

Over the years, we have honed our expertise, expanded our operations and developed strong partnerships to meet the diverse needs of passengers across the globe. Our leading position in airline catering, retail, and hospitality products and services is a result of our industry expertise, global reach, commitment to quality and safety, innovation, sustainability efforts, customer focus and strong partnerships. We strive to exceed passenger expectations and contribute to a seamless and memorable travel experience for millions of passengers worldwide.

What role is played by innovation and advanced technological solutions in your company’s positive business results, but also your good reputation?

I appreciate that you acknowledge our positive business results and the good reputation of our company. During the

a passion for design and service trends, we deliver bespoke, customer-centric and impactful innovations.

Through dedicated research and close collaboration with our customers, we keep our finger on the pulse of today’s market. We are thereby able to deliver functional and attractive products that don’t only deliver on today’s requirements, but also anticipate the needs of tomorrow.

Your business philosophy is very simple in that you always prioritise the passenger – though this doesn’t necessarily mean that meeting their expectations is easy. But you nonetheless succeed in doing so... How?

Meeting customer expectations is indeed a challenging task, but we strive to succeed by following a few key principles:

• Customer-Centric Approach: we place the passenger at the centre of everything we do. This means actively listening to their needs, understanding their pref-

• Collaboration and Partnerships: we recognise that meeting passenger expectations requires collaboration not only within our organisation, but also with external partners. We work closely with our suppliers, vendors and other stakeholders to ensure a seamless end-to-end experience. By building strong partnerships, we can leverage collective expertise and resources to deliver exceptional value to our passengers.

Gategroup Services established its Belgrade operations in 2019 as SSC of the group with global positions in Finances, IT, Legal & Compliance, Administration etc. Are you satisfied with the results achieved over the previous four years? Extremely satisfied! I still cannot believe how fast everything went. From Board Approval of the concept in May 2019 to company registration in Serbia took only two months, and we launched operations just three and a half months later, on 1st November 2019. We’ve experienced growth of partly over 100 new employees in one year, progressing from 20 employees on the first day to the over 300 employees that we have today. And we’re not planning to stop there.

But what were the reasons for our fast growth and positive results? Of course, the fact that gategroup acquired SkyChefs from Lufthansa and consolidated our Shared Services landscape in 2021 was a significant contributor. A major role was

By combining over 40 years of industry experience with a passion for design and service trends, gategroup delivers bespoke, customer-centric and impactful innovations

also played by the insourcing of our IT services, which we have been providing since 2022 from our Belgrade office. However, I think the biggest contributor to our success is the excellent service we provide to our customers in 15 countries across Europe.

We have been creating a regional talent pool and I am proud to be able to say that we are providing employees with the opportunity to develop personally and improve their career prospects within the SSC, but also beyond its boundaries.

Is it true that, when times are at their toughest, everything depends on a good

team, organisational culture, the motivation of employees etc.?

That’s correct – as we were confronted by one of the biggest crises in our industry just a few months after SSC was established, we were unable to develop our strategy in the way we’d planned. We were then focused mostly on non-material benefits that we could offer our employees (working time flexibility, working from home etc.) and being flexible with all the “small things” that can make employees happy. During those times, employees had to work even closer together, support each other and communicate

We’ve ramped up all our operating units and nearly doubled in size compared to 2021, recording revenues of CHF 3.9

billion and increasing our EBITDA by 65.5% to CHF 100.1 million

openly to find innovative solutions, adapt to changing circumstances and overcome obstacles. And today the company still benefits from the organisational culture that was established during those times and its positive team spirit.

While we’re on the topic of challenges, what forms the basis of your future plans? After the enormous growth that we’ve experienced year-on-year since our office was opened, our goal for 2023 is to focus more on improving our current processes, our visibility on the market, building long term relationships and keeping our employees motivated. We are also trying to share good practices and the experience we gained with other parts of our

business. On the other hand, investment in advanced technology and embracing advanced technological solutions is essential to remain competitive and to satisfy evolving customer expectations. We continue to evaluate the potential value of artificial intelligence and machine learning as a tool for automating internal and customer-centric processes, such as accounts payable/accounts receivable management, permanent inventory and predictive analytics. In addition, we are monitoring advances in data mining that can create opportunities to further customise final customer experiences.

By embracing innovation, we continuously seek out new and improved ways to deliver products, services and solutions to our customers

Sika Serbia –Absolute Leader

A pioneering spirit, teamwork and commitment comprise the essence of the Sika brand and Sika as a company, while innovation is among the core values that have formed the basis of this company’s operations for more than 110 years. That’s the Sika recipe for success

Since 2015, Sika has opened 44 new factories and completed 25 acquisitions, including its acquiring of MBCC Group, one of the world’s leading suppliers of construction chemicals. Here Sika General Manager Dragan Gavrilović explains how important this news is for the company, but also for the industry as a whole.

What is your recipe to carve out a leadership position in global business and on each individual market?

We’ve built our corporate culture in such a way that it is positive for both our business and our employees. We endeavour to ensure that innovation is one of the core values on which we base our business and build better, more sustainable and different solutions in the construction industry. The courage to engage in experiments and push the boundaries of development, and daring to be the first in innovative solutions, deserve the credit for our epithet as a pioneer. And none of this would have been

possible without the dedication of our experts and the collaborative teamwork that our company nurtures and encourages. In this era of rapid and major technological change and innovation that changes our lives, habits, needs and expectations on a daily basis, companies must be even more adaptable, flexible and innovative in preserving their market positions, but we believe that high-quality people, as a key resource, as well as consistency in the implementation of our mission, contribute to us

building and maintaining our leadership position on numerous markets worldwide.

You are known for your acquisitions. How does this most recent one differ from the norm?

Permanent growth and development are imperatives for us in business, and as such the acquisition of successful, reputed companies with established operations on certain markets certainly enables us to develop and improve our operations on certain markets or in certain market segments. Making the acquisition of the MBCC Group different and more challenging for us is its global character. With this acquisition, apart from strengthening Sika’s personnel, knowhow, expertise and product range, our company also received an opportunity to join forces with the MBCC group to contribute to the even higher quality provision of services and experiences to our clients and partners. From 2nd May 2023, Sika and the MBCC group have joined forces worldwide, including in Serbia, with Master Builders Solutions d.o.o. having become part of Sika Serbia, and we believe that we will complement each other perfectly on this joint business venture and provide an even better contribution to satisfying all the demands and needs of the market and consumers.

Is the ecological dimension of sustainable development an important aspect of your business?

We are aware of our environmental impact and that’s why we always research new technologies that will help us reduce the negative environmental impact of construction projects. We work tirelessly and with dedication to developing solutions and producing construction materials that support sustainability and environmental protection, or that are eco-friendly, energy efficient and sustainable over the long term. We believe that sustainability is the path to the future and preserving our planet for future generations, and that we have a responsibility to take steps along that path. We encourage everyone to take small steps towards sustainability – from recycling and saving energy, to supporting local environmental initiatives, because together we can all build a better and more sustainable future.

The courage to engage in experiments and push the boundaries of development, and daring to be the first in innovative solutions, deserve the credit for our epithet as a pioneer

Transferring Knowledge and Technology is Key to Success

Produkt BG Inženjering is a domestic Serbian company which has, thanks to its partnership with a Swiss giant, achieved average annual growth of 25 per cent and an annual turnover of five million euros over the last eight years

New perspectives and potentials opened up with the signing of a contract with civil engineering company Mageba on the licensed production of bearings and expansion joints for bridges, as well as a contract on the distribution of other products in the Mageba range.

The beginnings of your company date all the way back to year 1991, while a new period of your operations is linked to 2015, when you formed a partnership with Swiss company Mageba. You have a long road behind you, a long but successful one...

Produkt BG Inženjering emerged out of the restructuring of the “Produkt” business cooperative, which dealt, among other things, with the production and installation of products for bridges, primarily bridge bearings, expansion joints, drains and steel structures.

We were already narrowly specialised in these products prior to the partnership, and we participated actively in the construction and restoration of bridges in the country and around the region. That contributed massively to us gaining the trust of an important partner and taking a big stride forward.

Thanks to this, our employees have access to the latest technologies, as well as an opportunity to use solutions and experiences arising from the most demanding projects on the planet. I can now state unreservedly that the transfer of knowledge and technology is the key to our success; that we are the first and leading company in Serbia specialised in the production and

distribution of all types of bearings and expansion joints for bridges, while we are also the only domestic manufacturer certified according to the highest standards.

It wasn’t easy for you to harmonise with the standards of Swiss quality, but that is no longer an issue. Are you fully adapted?

With five of its own production plants and 20 affiliated ones, of which we are one, Mageba is a successful global player in the industry, with core values based specifically on quality and commitment. Its products are included in more than 25,000 bridges worldwide.

This all shows what a giant it is, so it’s no wonder that we needed almost two years to raise our processes to Mageba standards. With their assistance and our own tenacity, we went through many certification processes and now regularly place our products on the demanding EU markets. All technological processes, employees, as

well as equipment and materials, are subjected to standardised procedures, with compliance and consistency controlled quarterly by Germany’s stringent MPA institute from Stuttgart. Harmonisation is really no longer an issue, as everything is now in order and these controls unfold without disrupting production processes. We export as much as 70 per cent of our production and can boast of the fact that 80% of all Mageba products ordered in the region today are produced at our factory in Serbia. We thereby not only raise our own quality and productivity, but at the same time “power” both our suppliers and subcontractors.

In the year when you signed the contract with Mageba, your turnover totalled around a million euros. How is it today? Our annual turnover today totals five million euros. We cannot be dissatisfied, on the contrary, we have grown by an annual average of more than 25% over the last seven years. This is exceptionally fast growth for a small company, and it was achieved thanks to the fact that we invested in both production capacity and personnel. Our plant for the final assembly of products covers 800m2, and that is followed by the plant for anti-corrosion protection encompassing 500m2, as well as the 300m2 plant for processing semi-finished products. We’ve also expanded the yard to more than 3,000 square metres of open workspace.

I’m particularly proud of our team, which today comprises 42 employees, well-trained and high-quality people, including seven highly specialised engineers. They constantly complete training programmes, so the quality of our products and services remains at an expected high level.

Support for Regenerative Agriculture

Within the scope of the Nestlé corporation, Serbia became the first country in the region – back in 2021 – to start applying the practices of regenerative agriculture, with the aim of reducing the agriculture sector’s negative impact on the environment

Our vision is to source 20% of key raw materials from regenerative sources by 2025 and by as much as 50% by 2030” ~ they say at this famous Swiss company with a name that’s synonymous with quality.

What is regenerative agriculture and how are the benefits of sustainable agricultural practices reflected? Trends in agriculture have for many years been oriented towards increasing yields, while there has been a lack of thought about the kind of impact it has on the soil and other natural resources. As a result, agriculture has become a worse polluter than the energy sector, with harmful gas emissions of as much as 24%. Regenerative agriculture is oriented towards increasing the proportion of organic matter and retaining moisture in the soil, thus protecting biodiversity and preserving the environment. Key practices include cover cropping, the use of organic fertilisers, afforestation, as well as the application of precision agriculture with the use of drones – all of which has a positive impact on reducing emissions of harmful gases that contribute to climate change. The fact that the soil retains large amounts of organic matter also reduces its erosion and loss of moisture. And because it implies less fuel and fertiliser consumption, as well as the engaging of fewer people, the concept also yields positive economic effects.

How do you, as a company, contribute to the building of a sustainable food industry?

The principles of regenerative agriculture have been implemented in our country since the year before last, when the programme included the largest producers of vegetables for our product Začin C, and this year we expanded the network of suppliers to include local sunflower growers. We provide strong support to local sup-

dried vegetables by adhering to the principles of regenerative agriculture, recently – thanks to a partnership with Victoriaoil from Šid – this programme has been expanded to also include local growers of sunflowers, which will be processed into oil at the Victoriaoil plants. In the fields of Raca d.o.o. from Kumane, Borac AD from Šurjan and Agroprodukt d.o.o. from Bumbarevo Brdo, we already have cultivated sunflowers that were planted and

pliers of raw materials that are essential to our production operations, both through financial investment and through examples of good practice that are applied successfully worldwide. Our vision is to transform Serbia into a hub of regenerative agriculture and to improve our country’s export potential. We are striving for 20% of key raw materials to come from regenerative sources by 2025, and as much as 50% by 2030.

Who are your partners and what are all the products you’ll make using oil from regenerative sources?

After Geneza from Kanjiža and Telek Paprika from Martonoš, which produce

processed using the strip-till technique, which implies minimal tillage with the aim of preserving the health of the soil by retaining a high proportion of organic matter.

Those quantities are enough to produce around 750 tons of sunflower oil, which can be used to produce around 3.4 million units of Thomy mayonnaise and sauces. This means that, from as early as this November, we will be able to use part of the raw materials obtained according to sustainable principles to make these products, and our future plan is for the entire production of the Thomy portfolio to be based on sunflower oil from regenerative sources.

We provide strong support to local suppliers of raw materials that are essential to our production operations, both through financial investment and through examples of good practice

Rapid Economic Growth is Based on Innovation

The utilising of new technologies, the strengthening of links between the education system, research work and industry, which is at the essence of creating a strong startup ecosystem, as well as the operations of the ICT sector, represent some of the most important topics for exchanging experiences at the gatherings of SSCC members

There are numerous member companies of the Swiss-Serbian Chamber of Commerce operating in the IT sector, such as Zühlke Engineering, Merkle, Prodyna, Sky Express, Codetribe and InterVenture, among others. This naturally ensures their great interest in bringing the areas of digitalisation, IT and artificial intelligence into the thematic focus of the Chamber, says SSCC Executive Director Ana Grujović in this interview.

Statistics actually show that, in the area of trade in services, Switzerland is Serbia’s 4th biggest partner in terms of the total volume of exchange, with ICT services providing a significant contribution to that total. This is why the SSCC established its Working Group on Digitalisation, which held its first meeting this June. “During discussions with member companies, artificial intelligence proved to be a hot topic, both in the aspect of legal regulations and its use for conducting daily business activities,” says Grujović.

Alongside this initiative, May 2023 also saw the staging of a seminar on the topic of Human Resources and legal difficulties confronting the IT sector, which was organised in cooperation with SSCC member company TSG Law office. “This event enabled participants to discover more about the challenges confronting IT companies in Serbia as a result of the latest global events that are being increasingly reflected in our market, including the implications of using Chat GTP for the way work is done and employees are motivated,” says Grujović. Finally, during the June webinar, “The SSCC’s partner from Zurich, the Switzerland-Central Europe Chamber of Commerce (SEC), presented ways companies can increase productivity with a suitable corporate strategy on the use of artificial intelligence,” explains our interlocutor.

What are the “eternal topics” and in which areas are companies’ new interests?

Due to the topical nature of individual themes, certain events will become regular in the plan of SSCC activities. One

We are also continuing the series of webinars on the topic of cyber-security in cooperation with member company Sky Express, which aims to ensure the protection and security of company information.

The new interests of companies are in the field of green transition: the struggle to combat climate change, decarbonisation, the use of renewable energy sources, the applying of new and sustainable technologies in business operations, protection of the natural environment etc. Among the invaluable experiences of Swiss companies, I would single out company ABB, a technological leader in the field of electrification and automation, which enables a more sustainable future with

When it comes to the Chamber’s activities, they are implemented regularly in collaboration with member companies, colleagues from other bilateral chambers and business associations, as well as with institutional partners from Switzerland. I would emphasise in particular the importance of the gatherings of SSCC members that provide new member companies with opportunities to present their business activities and fortify their connections with the business community of the Swiss-Serbian Chamber. Among the most recent companies to become SSCC members I would mention gategroup, Nicoll Curtin and the Winsedswiss Education Group.

From the perspective of the need to advance the business climate in Serbia, what do your members single out as the most important issues requiring discussion with public policymakers? Legal certainty is crucial. All investors need to feel that sense of certainty, both potential investors and those already present on the domestic market. The results of the SSCC survey on the business climate showed that the majority of surveyed companies expect further changes when it comes to the efficiency of the work of public institutions, administration and the application of legislation, as well as in the area of ensuring legal certainty.

such case is the working lunch under the heading “Start-up ecosystem in Switzerland - key success factors”, which was organised last October in cooperation with SSCC member company Holycode. The key success factors for the ecosystem that were cited at the time include the capacity for innovation and adaptation, which is put into practice every day by start-up companies that are often at the very forefront of innovation. Interconnectivity between higher education institutions, research work and industry is supporting the development of an innovative and dynamic start-up ecosystem in Switzerland. We are planning another working lunch for this year that will address the topic of Swiss experiences in the fields of fintech, medtech and ICT, with guest lecturers from Switzerland.

the efficient use of resources, as well as Nestlé’s regenerative agriculture initiative, which aims to preserve and maintain agricultural land.

Has the slowdown in economic growth, both globally and locally, impacted on the number of inquiries that you receive from potential Swiss investors and the general activities of the SSCC?

Periods of economic growth slowdowns are nothing new; those are periods when companies consider, among other things, conquering new international markets. I would cite one example from the machining and metal processing sector: this February’s official opening of the Kruševac factory of Swiss company Etampa.

The area of CSR has been changing dynamically over recent years, with an increasing number of topics in the focus of companies’ concern – from the green economy, to labour rights and human rights. To what extent is this area in the focus of CCSS activities and the informing of members?

Business has a broad influence in society and is also able to contribute to advancing human rights in various ways. The ways companies can positively influence human rights is becoming a high priority topic. That’s also the reason SSCC member companies are invited to participate in the Swiss Forum “Economy and Human Rights”, which is to be held in Bern on 18th October 2023 and is being jointly organised by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. (FDFA).

There are many SSCC member companies operating in the IT sector, and thus digitalisation continues to represent an area of great interest to them

Switzerland is Serbia’s 4th biggest partner in the area of trade in services, with ICT services providing a significant contribution

Eventful Year

So far, 2023 has proved to be an eventful year for the Swiss-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, filled with numerous exciting gatherings, workshops and achievements, while the SSCC has also managed to introduce two new special membership packages.

JULY 2023

SSCC SUMMER BUSINESS COCKTAIL PARTY

This year’s SSCC Summer Business Cocktail Party was hosted by IT security company Sky Express and brought together around 50 guests. It was held, as is tradition, at Belgrade Waterfront’s La Cucina restaurant.

Speaking on this occasion, SSCC guest of honour H.E. Ambassador Urs Schmid presented the main conclusions of the 11th session of the Swiss-Serbian Joint Economic Commission, which was held in Bern on 7th June.

SSCC President Majo Mićović announced the association’s upcoming activities, including the expansion of the SSCC network with the addition of institutional partners in Switzerland, meetings of the SSCC Working Group on Digitalisation, as well as the results of the recent survey of the local business climate. He also noted that the SSCC had, based on his initiative, helped in the establishing of the Swiss-Montenegrin Chamber of Commerce.

JUNE 2023

FIRST MEETING OF SSCC WORKING GROUP ON DIGITALISATION

The first meeting of the SSCC Working Group on Digitalisation was held on 13th June 2023, on the premises of member company Roche d.o.o. The main topics of discussion addressed by participants included artificial intelligence and its current regulatory framework, cyber-security and data protection, investment in R&D and new technologies, particularly in the fields of agriculture and the healthcare system, and the digital transformation of companies. The next meetings have been scheduled for autumn 2023.

SSCC Vice-President and Roche d.o.o. General Manager Ana Govedarica, with SSCC President and Sky Express d.o.o General Manager Majo Mićović

MAY 2023

WORKING

BREAKFAST: HR & LEGAL CHALLENGES IN THE IT SECTOR

May’s SSCC Working Breakfast on HR & the legal challenges facing the IT sector was organised in cooperation with SSCC member company TSG Law office and gave participants an opportunity to find out about the current challenges confronting IT companies in Serbia due to the latest global events that are being increasingly reflected on our market. The very dynamic discussion held during this working breakfast led to an additional event on this topic being held in June 2023.

APRIL 2023

SPEED BUSINESS MEETING

A Speed Business Meeting held on 24th April included the participation of members of six bilateral business associations: the Swiss-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, the British-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, the Slovenian Business Club, the Croatian Business Club, the Hellenic Business Association of Serbia and the Belgian-Serbian Business Association. The event brought together over 70 representatives of member companies from various business sectors. During 10 eight-minute “one-on-one” meetings, the participants had the opportunity to quickly and efficiently present their companies to potential partners, exchange information and consider opportunities to cooperate more closely.

APRIL 2023

SSCC MEMBERS’ REUNION

The SSCC Members’ Reunion was hosted by member company Zuehlke Engineering and included presentations by companies Zuehlke Engineering, Winsedswiss Education Group and Nicoll Curtin. The official section of the event was followed by a networking cocktail reception that gave SSCC members an opportunity to exchange business ideas and explore potential business partnerships.

Ivana Stefanović, TSG partner and attorney at law, and Dušan Jovanović, Head of HR at sa.global

Nebojša Ristin, Country Lead Head of Digital Experience, Zuehlke Engineering d.o.o.

MARCH 2023

SEC SWISS IMPULSE SESSIONS WEBINARS

A webinar entitled ‘Metaverse, Virtual Worlds, NFTs & Communities’ was held in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce Switzerland – Central Europe (SEC) and included guest lecturer Robert Iken, founder of Morrow Ventures from Jung von Matt, one of the leading advertising agencies in Europe. SEC was founded as a non-profit organisation in Zurich in 1999 and has since grown to include 17 countries from the region of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).

MARCH 2023

CYBER SECURITY TRAINING INTENDED FOR ALL EMPLOYEES

In cooperation with SSCC member company Sky Express d.o.o., a webinar entitled ‘Cyber security training intended for all employees’ was held in March 2023. Companies suffer their most serious data breaches due to a lack of adequate employee training. This webinar offered a free-of-charge opportunity to upgrade the cyber-security knowledge of all employees and prevent companies from being subjected to cyber-attacks.

APRIL 2023

SSCC BUSINESS CLIMATE SURVEY 2023

The SSCC Business Climate Survey in Serbia 2023 was conducted among the members of the Swiss-Serbian Chamber of Commerce in April. The results of the survey are intended to provide insight into the SSCC business community’s confidence in the Serbian market and an understanding of the main challenges they face and concerns they have. Most of the survey respondents (71.43%) rated the current business climate in Serbia as satisfactory. They also expect conditions for doing business in Serbia to remain unchanged compared to last year, according to a majority of surveyed companies drawn from the SSCC business community. More specifically, 17.86% expect the business environment in Serbia to improve in 2023 compared to 2022, while 53.57% of respondents believe it will remain the same as in 2022. The results also showed that the majority of surveyed companies expect to see further improvements to the business environment in the following areas: public institution efficiency and administrative procedures, law enforcement, and ensuring legal security and stability.

With regard to the development of digitalisation in Serbia, surveyed respondents assessed e-banking as the most satisfactory area and e-procurement as the least satisfactory. Finally, a majority of surveyed companies expressed satisfaction with SSCC’s work with regard to its plan of activities, communication and transparency.

UPCOMING: OCTOBER 2023

SWISS FORUM “BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS”, BERN, SWITZERLAND

The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, SECO, and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, FDFA, in collaboration with the UN Global Compact Network Switzerland & Liechtenstein, are organising the Swiss Forum “Business and Human Rights”, which will take place in Bern, Switzerland, on Wednesday 18th October, 2023. The Forum aims to promote good practices and raise awareness of human rights due diligence among Swiss companies. The Forum will provide information on current legal requirements and the expectations of the Federal Council, as well as offering a unique opportunity for companies to exchange good practices. Representatives of business, leaders from different sectors, policymakers, academics and civil society experts are invited to discuss, debate and present their approaches to pressing human rights issues.

FEBRUARY 2023

SSCC GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2023

On the occasion of the SSCC General Assembly 2023, SSCC President Majo Mićović presented an overview of Swiss-Serbian economic relations. The achievements of the association in 2022, plan of activities for 2023 and financial reports were all presented to members and adopted unanimously by the SSCC Assembly.

UPCOMING:

NEW:

OCTOBER 2023

SSCC GOLD AND PREMIUM MEMBERS 2023

The SSCC has introduced two new special membership packages: SSCC Gold member package, and SSCC Premium member package. Both packages offer the possibility for increased corporate visibility, together with many other options for promoting member companies!

Strong Partner with Precious Experience

Switzerland, which has been ranked world champion according to the Global Innovation Index for 12 consecutive years and which tops the list of the world’s most competitive countries, represents the best role model for Serbia and the best example that the most innovative economies are also the most competitive, and that investment in research & development, knowledge and innovation, and linking those investments to the economy, represents one of the main pillars of market success and sustainable development

There are ever-more high-tech Swiss companies operating on the Serbian market and ever-more Swiss investments in Serbia, which have now exceeded a value of two billion euros. A significant output has been achieved in the fast-growing

mutual trade in services, along with significantly more modest results in the goods exchange. Great opportunities exist to strengthen both investment and trade cooperation, but also to exploit Switzerland’s huge experience – that’s invaluable to Serbia – as the world’s most inno-

vative economy in almost all areas – from high-tech production and research & development, via sustainable tourism, to education.

These few exhaustively listed statements could contain the most succinct assessment of the state and potential of Serbian-Swiss bilateral economic cooperation.

According to the statistics of the Business Registers Agency for July 2023, there are 542 companies with majority Swiss capital operating in Serbia, while the latest estimates are that they employ more than 12,000 people. Firms are established in Serbia by major Swiss multinational companies, but increasingly also by smaller companies, which serves to confirm the attractiveness, reliability and predictability of conditions for investing and doing business on the Serbian market, but also the mature nature of bilateral cooperation and relations.

We are seeing year-on-year growth in the investments of companies that have been operating here successfully for years and are expanding their capacities, as well as among new investors. Accord-

ing to the National Bank of Serbia, the country has received almost 800 million euros of Swiss investment over the past two years alone (€664 million in 2021 and €130 million in 2022), and thus today Switzerland ranks 6th on the list of the largest investments in Serbia by country, with total net investments between 2010 and 2022 exceeding 2.1 billion euros.

Swiss companies have invested and operate in a wide range of economic areas – from manufacturing to various service sectors. The Development Agency of Serbia’s list of the largest Swiss investors in Serbia is topped by companies from the food industry: Nestle, with its two factories in Surčin, and Barry Callebaut, which opened a chocolate factory in Novi Sad in late 2021. Also investing in this industry in Serbia is Kelvin’s Potato/Kelvin Flex... Investments in the chemicals and construction industries have been made by Holcim, followed by Sika AG, Emilio Stecher and Bionex. Regent Lighting has invested in production of industrial lighting and, interestingly, is also the largest exporter from Serbia to Switzerland, while ESB Pellets and Daccomet AG (the parent company of Standard Furniture Serbia) have invested in the wood and furniture industry. Waste management company Yunirisk has invested its capital in waste collection and recycling, while Tara GRP has entered the plastics and rubber industry and company Etampa has invested in the metal processing industry, i.e., in the production of auto parts.

The Swiss companies that have been operating successfully in Serbia’s pharmaceutical industry for years are Roche, Novartis and Pharma Swiss. Roche has even become a partner of the future BIO4 campus and will participate in the development of so-called ‘precision medicine’ for the treatment of oncology patients. Company MET Renewables is operating in the energy sector, dealing with electricity generation and trade. Major investments in the real estate sector are being announced by Swiss company Serbia Prime Site One AG.

Apart from traditional manufacturing sectors, over recent years ever more Swiss companies have been establishing firms and investing in various segments of the service sector: from transport and logistics, via tourism and hospitality, to media, communications and consulting. They’ve mostly been in the IT sector and related high technologies in recent years. With the digital transformation of business, an area in which Serbia is the regional leader, and with the growing potential and results of the Serbian ICT sector, the greatest strength of which is represented by people - top engineers and IT experts with industry specific knowledge in the areas of energy, healthcare, biotechnology, telecommunications etc. - and with the strengthening of scien-

Serbia last year exported services to Switzerland worth 687.4 million euros, while revenue generated from the export of services to Switzerland in the first four months of this year totalled €378.5 million

tific and technological infrastructure and the introduction of a research & development incentive package, Serbia is becoming one of the most attractive destinations for Swiss IT companies and other high-tech corporations. As many as a 100 IT companies with majority Swiss capital are already operating in Serbia’s IT sector.

These facts also serve to explain the great increase in the trade in services between Serbia and Switzerland, which reached almost 1.2 billion euros last year, positioning Switzerland as Serbia’s 4 th country partner in the overall exchange of services and the 4th most popular destination for the export of Serbian services. Serbia last year exported services to Switzerland worth 687.4 million euros, while revenue generated from the export of services to Switzerland in the first four months of this year (totalling €378.5 million) exceeded the value of goods exported to the Swiss market throughout the whole of last year.

In stark contrast to the fast-growing trade in services that is seeing Serbia record a surplus, the goods exchange –which is objectively modest on both sides and has a deficit on the Serbian side despite the close proximity of the market and the Free Trade Agreement that Serbia has signed with the EFTA countries, among which Switzerland is Serbia’s most important partner – has not yet managed to reach the billion-euro mark. Despite the past decade having seen the tri-

Swiss market and goods with a value of 568.4 million euros imported from Switzerland to Serbia. These figures ranked Switzerland as Serbia’s 26th trade partner – in terms of total exchange and Serbian exports – and as the 21st import destination for Serbian goods worldwide. If we excluded the procurements of Serbian railways from the Stadler company, the volume of exchange and percentage increase would be even lower.

The Swiss market, unfortunately, remains one of the Western European mar-

products, non-ferrous metals, aluminium and copper products, machine parts and accessories.

pling of trade between Serbia and Switzerland, and Serbian exports to the Swiss market, and imports to Serbia from Switzerland having increased 3.5-fold, and despite the exchange increasing 46.6 per cent compared to the previous year (Serbian exports to Switzerland by 20% and imports from Switzerland by 60%), the two economies ended 2022 with a rather weak performance given the potential: ending the year with 786.3 million euros in mutual trade, including just 217.9 million euros worth of goods exported to the

kets that Serbian exporters have yet to penetrate seriously, though plenty of room exists to improve their performance. Analyses indicate that the greatest opportunities to increase sales on the Swiss market are enjoyed by manufacturers of food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products that are made from natural ingredients, textiles and furniture, or the wood industry as a whole (their export potential is also strengthened through the support of Swiss development assistance programmes), but also plastic and rubber

It has been assessed mutually that the economies of the two countries possess all the prerequisites to advance their cooperation: thanks to the complementarity of possibilities and needs, mutual trade could be higher and more balanced, while investment activities and overall economic relations could be more successful and of a higher quality. Apart from the service sector, primarily in the areas of ICT and tourism, the greatest room to improve trade and investment cooperation – through new investments, joint ventures and production cooperation – is also enjoyed by companies operating in the food, pharmaceuticals, mechanical engineering, furniture, plastics and textile sectors. Significant opportunities for cooperation also exist in the energy sector, particularly in the segment of renewable energy sources and environmental protection, infrastructure, transport, construction etc. New opportunities for Swiss investors and Serbian suppliers are arising with the emergence of nearshoring processes that are seeing European companies relocate operations closer to home.

Although the volume and advancement of economic cooperation is ultimately measured in terms of numbersthe level of exchange, volume of investment, company profits - Swiss develop-

New opportunities for Swiss investors and Serbian suppliers are arising with the emergence of nearshoring processes that are seeing European companies relocate operations closer to home

ment assistance is particularly important to Serbia, and includes massive support in establishing and developing dual vocational education, which is continuing with a new project that’s being launched this year. Swiss experience in the areas of innovation, research & development, and new technologies, such as biotechnology,

is precious to Serbia. Switzerland, which has been ranked as the world champion according to the Global Innovation Index for 12 consecutive years and which tops the list of the world’s most competitive countries, is the best role model for Serbia and the best example that the economies that are the most innovative are also the

most competitive, and that investment in research & development, knowledge and innovation, and linking them to the economy, represents one of the main pillars of the national economy and the competitiveness of individual companies, in terms of market success and sustainable development.

Devoted to your safety

Securiton d.o.o., Alarm and Security Systems

Swiss development assistance is particularly important to Serbia, and includes massive support in establishing and developing dual vocational education, which is continuing with a new project that’s being launched this year

Castle of Chillon in Villeneuv

Must-Visit Cultural Destinations in Switzerland

The country’s towns and cities are home to great museums and galleries, atmospheric old quarters and spectacular citadels, says Tim

Cumming

Switzerland is home to so much more than awe-inspiring mountains, such as Bern’s Unesco World Heritage-listed Old Town. Near Basel, the Fondation Beyeler is hailed as Switzerland’s greatest gallery with its collection of modern and tribal art. Modern architecture buffs can explore Le Corbusier’s colourful Zurich villa, while Lausanne’s Plateforme 10 has taken a whole district of the city and dedicated it exclusively to art.  Museums don’t get much better than the Swiss National Museum, its collections divided between a late 19th-century fairytale castle and a new Minimalist masterpiece of a building. And if Chillon castle near Montreux doesn’t bring out the inner medieval knight in shining armour, then try nurturing your inner Harry Potter instead at the extraordinary Abbey Library of St Gall.

CASTLE CHILLON, LAKE GENEVA REGION

He may have been mad, bad and dangerous to know, but Lord Byron helped put Chillon on the map with his epic Prisoner of Chillon poem, written in 1816 after he and Shelley took a boat out on to Lake Geneva before torrential rain led them to stop at this remarkable castle built on rock and overhanging the waters of the lake. Dating from the 12th century, its 25 buildings and three courtyards encompass parade halls, 14th-century wall paintings, the subterranean vaults that inspired Byron, a bedroom preserved in its original form, and the Café Byron, its large bay windows overlooking the castle, a perfect spot for penning an immortal verse or two of your own.

THE OLD TOWN, BERN

Encircled by the Aare River, Bern’s old town dates back to the 12th century, and its 6km of medieval arcades and handsome 18th-century limestone buildings are perfect for a luxurious day of leisurely strolling. A Unesco World Heritage site since 1983, its renaissance fountain and stunning late gothic cathedral are highlights – you can climb the tower for magnificent views of Switzerland’s capital and the snow-capped Bernese Oberland beyond.

Don’t miss the 13 th -century Zytgloggeturm tower and its 15 th-century astronomical clock. And don’t be deterred by the fact that it was once a prison for fallen women “guilty of consorting with clerics”...

FONDATION BEYELER, BASEL

Art Basel is one of the world’s leading art fairs, but art lovers shouldn’t miss out on visiting Riehen, near Basel, to view Hildy and Ernst Beyeler’s world-class collection of tribal and modern art. Ernst was Europe’s leading post-war art dealer, and the Beyelers opened their museum in the grounds of the Villa Berower in 1997.

It is open every day of the year, with a calendar of shows including Rodin and Goya for 2021, and its permanent collection encompasses outstanding works by Picasso, Monet, Matisse and more, with plenty of activities, ranging from meditations in front of Monet to live music to walking tours, art breakfasts and workshops.

LE CORBUSIER, ZURICH

One of the most famous of modernist architects, Swiss native Le Corbusier’s colourful glassand-steel Pavilion overlooking Lake Zurich was his last great project, finished two years after his death, in 1967, and only recently renovated back to its original glory, and repopulated it with reproductions of his original tree-trunk furniture designs and giant light sculptures. It is a fascinat-

ing and unique building – Le Corbusier designed everything including the door knobs – and today it houses a range of exhibitions focusing on the architect’s life and work.

SWISS NATIONAL MUSEUM, ZURICH

Zurich keeps the flame of Swiss history and culture alight at its National Museum in the Old City

Set in the town of St Gallen, the Abbey is one of the world’s oldest working libraries, dating back to the 8th century, when the Abbey of St Gall first opened its doors

Castle Chillon, Lake Geneva Region

Riehen Fondation Beyeler, Basel

Abbey Library of St Gallen

District, set beside the River Limmat and the lovely, regenerated Park Platzspitz. The museum’s permanent collections and temporary exhibitions are divided between a late 19th-century French-style chateau and contemporary minimalist building beside it, the former exploring the country’s history from its earliest archaeology through major collections of gothic art, and the latter, opened in 2016, housing contemporary exhibitions.

PLATEFORME 10, LAUSANNE

Plateforme 10 is a visionary project that brings together the Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts (MCBA), the Elysée Museum of Photography, the Museum of Contemporary Design and Applied Arts (MUDAC), and two renowned art

TOTAL WORK OF ART

foundations.

Encompassing a whole district of Lausanne, near the railway station, visitors will be able to experience fine art, photography, design, textile arts, as well as auditoriums, dining spaces, artist residencies, boutiques and bookshops.

The “Gesamtkunstwerk” – or “total work of art” – by Le Corbusier, completed in 1967, is a real architectural masterpiece. The last building constructed by the great SwissFrench architect, designer, and artist is the only of his buildings to be entirely made from glass and steel

ABBEY LIBRARY OF ST GALL, ST GALLEN

Set in the town of St Gallen, the Abbey is one of the world’s oldest working libraries, dating back to the 8 th century, when the Abbey of St Gall first opened its doors. A Unesco World Heritage Site, the lavishly elaborate rococo library you enter today dates from the 18th century and, with its magical atmosphere and stunning examples of artistry and craftsmanship on display all around you, this fantastical place makes for an awe-inspiring experience.

Encircled by the Aare River, Bern’s old town dates back to the 12th century, and its 6km of medieval arcades and handsome 18th-century limestone buildings are perfect for a luxurious day of leisurely strolling

Plateforme 10, Lausanne

Swiss National Museum, Zurich

Skyline with old-town landmarks, Bern

GLE average fuel consumption: 7.6 - 8.7l/100 km, CO₂ emission (average) 199.0 - 229.0 g/km.

GLE Coupé average fuel consumption: 7.5 - 8.4l/100 km, CO₂ emission (average) 197.0 - 220.0 g/km. Air pollutant emissions from traffic vastly contribute to overall air quality deterioration, especially in the case of above-average concentration of ground-level ozone, PM10 particles, PM2,5 particles and nitrogen-oxide. Stated figures represent determined “WLTP CO2 figures” pursuant to Article 2, No. 3, of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1153. Fuel consumption figures have been calculated on this basis.