CorD Magazine No.151

SUSTAINABLE BALANCE OF MUTUAL INTERESTS

CHRONICLER OF OUR FLAWS

HARD WORK,CURIOSITY, PERSISTENCE

political caricaturist

Managing Director of Philip Morris International for Southeast Europe

PREDRAG KORAKSIĆ CORAX

H.E. ATTILA PINTÉR

MAY ’17 / ISSUE No. 151

www.cordmagazine.com

Ambassador of Hungary to Serbia

JELENA PAVLOVIĆ

interviews opinions news comments events PRICE 300 RSD THE CASE OF “AGROKOR”

Background Of Regional Partocracy FOOD AND DRINK

Matching Summer Wine & Food CorD CHARITY MASTERS

Marathon Runners Warm Up Belgrade

REBECCA MACDONALD EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF JUST ENERGY GROUP INC

Business And I Have

GROWN TOGETHER

E XC L U S I V E

ISSN1451-7833

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COVER TANJA JAKOBI

Background Of REGIONAL PARTOCRACY PAGE 6

May 2017

What kind of relationship exists between the students currently marching through the streets of Serbian cities with banners reading “We won’t be cheap labour” and the case of Croatian economic giant Agrorokor, whose troubles are shaking the region? Both serve to demonstrate the structure of the local economies, in which market favourites are produced by the Partocracy

CONTENTS

08

BUSINESS AND I HAVE GROWN TOGETHER

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Rebecca MacDonald, Executive Chairman of the Board of Just Energy Group Inc

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SUSTAINABLE BALANCE OF MUTUAL INTERESTS

HARD WORK, CURIOSITY, PERSISTENCE Jelena Pavlović, Managing Director of Philip Morris International for Southeast Europe

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TRENDS TO EXPECT THIS YEAR Art Market: Prediction for 2017

H.E. Attila Pintér, Ambassador of Hungary to Serbia

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FACES & PLACES

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GLOBAL DIARY

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MARATHON RUNNERS WARM UP BELGRADE

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS 2017

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CHRONICLER OF OUR FLAWS

30th Belgrade Marathon

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MATCHING SUMMER WINE & FOOD

Predrag Koraksić Corax, Political caricaturist

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Lidija Carević, Sommelier

Maja Vukadinović: 10th BELDOCS FESTIVAL

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FESTIVAL FOR DOCUMENTARY LOVERS

GREEK BAILOUT PACKAGE MOVES FORWARD Economy: Bjarke Smith-Meyer

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CHILL OUT

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CULTURE CALENDAR

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AFTER WORK

EDITOR: Ana Novčić a.novcic@aim.rs ART DIRECTOR: Jasmina Laković j.lakovic@aim.rs CONTRIBUTORS: Rob Dugdale, Maja Vukadinović, Mirjana Jovanović, Ljubica Gojgić, Miša Brkić, Radmila Stanković, Steve MacKenzie, Zorica Todorović Mirković, Sonja Ćirić EDITORIAL MANAGER: Neda Lukić n.lukic@aim.rs PHOTOS: Zoran Petrović COPY EDITOR: Mark Pullen TRANSLATION AND EDITING Halifax Translation Services office@halifax-translation.com PROJECT MANAGERS: Biljana Dević, b.devic@aim.rs Aleksandra Ebilji, a.ebilji@aim.rs Nataša Trifunović, n.trifunovic@aim.rs Vesna Vukajlović, v.vukajlovic@aim.rs Nevena Đurković, n.djurkovic@aim.rs OFFICE MANAGER: Svetlana Petrović s.petrovic@aim.rs FINANCIAL MANAGER: Dragana Skrobonja d.skrobonja@aim.rs EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Maja Vidaković m.vidakovic@aim.rs GENERAL MANAGER: Ivan Novčić i.novcic@aim.rs PRINTING: Rotografika d.o.o.

Segedinski put 72, Subotica CorD is published by: alliance international media Makenzijeva 67, 11111 Belgrade 17, PAK 126909, Serbia Phone: +(381 11) 2450 508 Fax: +(381 11) 2450 122 E-mail: cordeditorial@cma.rs www.cordmagazine.com www.allianceinternationalmedia.com ISSN no: 1451-7833 All rights reserved alliance international media 2017

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COMMENT: THE CASE OF “AGROKOR”

Background Of Regional Partocracy

What kind of relationship exists between the students currently marching through the streets of Serbian cities with banners reading “We won’t be cheap labour” and the case of Croatian economic giant Agrorokor, whose troubles are shaking the region? Both serve to demonstrate the structure of the local economies, in which market favourites are produced by the Partocracy TANJA JAKOBI

W

ho could be shocked by the fact that Agrokor is debts, which are estimated as being in the billions of euros. a giant with glass knees? This has been known Not all local capitalists in the region are simply fraudfor a long time by anyone who has followed sters whose only skill boils down to forging close ties with the company’s rating and the dizzying pace of the ruling political parties. Some of them have in the meanits borrowing. Agrokor began living on credit even before time, especially since they started facing foreign competithe company decided to swallow Slovenia’s Mercator at any tion, done a lot to modernise and improve the efficiency of cost. Today many analysts believe that it was precisely this their operations. But the environment of the countries in last major and expensive acquisition that felled this busi- which they have operated, and where they operate today, ness conglomerate. While this is true to a certain extent, is hardly any better than at the start of transition - charthe logic of Agrikor’s rise and fall is embedded in the very acterised by weak rule of law and consequently weak instifoundations of its creation. tutions, bureaucracy, a lack of transparency and endemic Agrokor, like many other slightly smaller conglomer- corruption. Such a system discourages genuine entrepreates of domestic capitalists, developed during troubled neurs, ideas that might acquire confirmation of their value times of transition in which the former state capital of ex- on a regulated market, and which redirects (almost) all inYugoslav republics was stuffed into the tellectual abilities of entrepreneurs toIt is unlikely the private pockets of the favourites in the wards seeking misconceptions that lead new states that emerged out of the ruins through the echelons of power. This is a Agrokor case will of the former shared country. Initially all path that turns one (businessmen) and represent a lesson for the other (politicians) into rent seekers. local tycoons grew within the borders of the regional political In the blank space between, the momentheir own country. Some immersed themselves completely in criminal waters, tum is lost for fast-growing giants to gain elite as long as they while others sank and rose depending on high quality middle and top management have room to place how adept they were at guessing future that would be better able than the foundthe burden for political winners. Those who were even ers to conduct the accumulated volume more skilled managed over time to grow of business and put a full-stop before the the actions of their so much that they acquired serious nebubble bursts. political favourites gotiation (and blackmailing) power – exThe space for paying and collecting on the backs of their pressed primarily through the number of rent was created, of course, at the exworkers they employed, are not through pense of the weaker – small producers, own citizens their tax contributions to the community. suppliers and farmers – who never reThis power of theirs also saw politicians who would other- ceived their claims from small and large “agrokors”. Each wise hold them to account converted into collaborators, to of these occasions led to the demise of potentially healthy their mutual benefit. The brightest blooming among them, economic players who would, in any healthy economy based such as Agrokor, also became “truncheons” in regional po- on sound market principles, represent not only engines of litical disputes – who will control whose economy? Today economic development, but also creators of new jobs. that battle between Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and BosniaHowever the Agrokor case unfolds, it is unlikely to repreHerzegovina, in which Agrokor is one of the biggest employ- sent a lesson for the regional political elite and their “agroers, continues with mutual attempt at outmanoeuvring, to kors”, as long as they have room to place the burden for the see which state will transfer the least to its taxpayers, and cost of such behaviour on the backs of their own citizens which Croatian conglomerate has the largest amount of and their life choices. ■ 6 |

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B y R A DM I L A STA N KOV I Ć P h o t o ZO R A N P ETROV I Ć

INTERVIEW

Business And I Have

GROWN TOGETHER REBECCA MACDONALD

EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF JUST ENERGY GROUP INC

Rebecca MacDonald has been the most successful businesswoman in Canada seven times over. First she had a private business which she sold, then she sold the second one as well, and now she has a public enterprise. In her line of business – and that’s energy – she’s the biggest in Canada today, though her business is much bigger in the United States, due to the size of the American market

EXCLUSIVE

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olite and elegant, confident and precise, simple and feminine, Rebecca MacDonald with her appearance and bearing is the epitome of a successful businesswoman who has sold electricity and natural gas and built an empire that employs nearly 4,000 people. Thanks to the results she’s achieved, she was declared the most successful businesswoman in Canada seven times, until the rules were changed to allow other women to inch closer to her. In her own words, she’s a Canadian with Serbian origins. In her head she’s Canadian, she works like a Canadian, and when she comes to Belgrade she’s a foreigner.

In addition to many things she has learned and applies in her work, she is pleased that she has learned to control her ego, which is a great victory. That is why today she says that winners are those who can rein in their ego. In this sense, she is also a winner.

MANAGER

POLITICIANS

PEOPLE

Being a woman manager is an advantage and I always behaved as a woman doing the job of a manager

Politicians aren’t in business and they don’t do business. When this line is crossed, the entire country faces a problem

I love my people, I come from that nation, but we’re not united and we don’t know how to fight for a common idea, a common cause

which isn’t the case now. Now we have migrants from Asia and Africa Born Ubavka Mitić in Sarajevo, she completed the First Belgrade to do the jobs Europeans don’t want. Those people unfortunately need Grammar School in what was then the capital of Yugoslavia. She had a more time to adjust to the culture of life that we have in Europe.” good family upbringing from her father Miloš, an electrical engineer, and The education, working habits and views that she brought with her her mother Ljubica, a successful executive manager at the National Bank from the former Yugoslavia were in fact Rebecca’s assets in her new life in in Sarajevo who quit her career after the birth of her daughter. Ljubica Canada. She arrived as an undergraduate student, but in the new country wanted her daughter to be a medical doctor who could one day become this was an excellent education that provided her with insight into the a hospital director, but Ubavka wanted to be a journalist. As a student she made the difficult decision to leave home. She wanted to go to America, but couldn’t get a visa. She went to Canada instead, because she had someone there who could help her stay in the country legally.

She didn’t speak the language, but she was diligent and able to pick it up quickly, aware that everything depended on her alone.

When she married Pearson MacDonald, a dashing Canadian and sixth generation Scot, she took up Rebecca as her middle name, knowing that her mother loved it because of the novel by Daphne du Maurier. Rebecca had a son and a daughter and lived rather modestly with her husband until one day she showed an interest in business. Many have falsely assumed that Rebecca simply continued her husband’s business after his tragic death, but the truth is that Pearson had a small business and later joined Rebecca’s after she had earned her first million dollars. He worked in his wife’s company for a year and a half, until his death.

“It seems to me that I’m the Serbian woman who has shaken Canada more than anyone else when world: “Everything I had learned in YugoI knew nothing about it comes to business. I have never said I couldn’t business and had to learn slavia gave me an advantage in Canada. It do something. For me the glass is always half full, was that broad education that provided me everything on my own. never half empty.” with the best chance of success.”

For me, business was the What kept her going in those first years after The first thing Rebecca learned from arriving in Canada? What was it like to be a migrant her husband was that anything can be lesson of life. Over time, then and what is it like now? sold.

And the first job she had was gas business created me, and “What kept me going was the decision I had made distribution. Mr MacDonald, who had his I created business to come to Canada and the fact that never ever did I own little business, was shocked, to put it think about the past again. I told myself there was mildly, when his wife told him she’d like no going back, that I’d either swim or drown. I got competitiveness to start her own business too. His fierce objection was followed by her and ambition from my mother and I never took no for an answer. For fierce smashing of glasses, plates and anything else she could break, me, ‘no’ is really ‘maybe’.” but she got what she wanted: next day she got her first phone line, Today, she says, Canada is more open to migrants than it was when a desk and a chair in his office. She set out on a path of uncertainty she first arrived in the country: and many difficulties. Today she feels that her success story is at “Every year we have to import 300,000 people, because if we don’t the same time proof of the American or Canadian dream come true: import them, our birth rate goes down. My husband was the eleventh “When I launched my small business, I never had it in my head that child in the family, my daughter was the 54th grandchild to my late I had to have a big business. As a matter of fact I had nothing, because I started the business with no big bucks. And when you have nothing, mother-in-law. Sadly, Canadian families are now very small. I think that you can gamble because you’ve got nothing to lose. Later, everything Canada’s immigration policy is wrong, that we’re importing people we went in a logical order. Mind you, I knew nothing about business and shouldn’t import. When I came there, people were arriving from Europe, M AY

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and expand her line of work. Technology has brought about an incredible transformation of the world, including the gas industry, and this woman’s idea – as she so vividly and concisely puts it – is “to be in each and every basement and control everything that’s in the basement.”

Electricity is very cheap in North America, but very expensive in Europe, which is why these two have such different stances towards energy, she says for CorD, explaining: “I’m in an industry that is indispensable in the 21st century – water, food and energy. Whatever the economy, you can’t live without these three, I’m in a branch that protects me from recession. Yet I never forget that Nikola Tesla used to say that energy is free, which didn’t suit Edison or anyone else for that matter. The future of energy is to have each individual controlling their own energy production, because energy is everywhere around us. This definitely won’t happen during my lifetime, but it certainly will happen.”

This successful woman also confirms the unwritten rule that businesspeople are close to the government, and the more successful they are, the closer they are to the top echelons of government.

However, she strongly distances herself here: “Politicians aren’t in business and they don’t do business. When this line is crossed, the entire country faces a problem. It’s businesspeople who create and sustain the economy, they are the ones who can explain to the people in the government what is good for the economy and what isn’t, and what laws are needed for growth and development. People in the government live in their own world of politics that has nothing to do with reality, and businesspeople can suggest to them a certain way of thinking which also implies making some practical moves.

As a woman, I stand Canada seven times; when asked if this I spend a lot of time with politicians and I don’t firmly on my feet, or on was because she behaved like a man at expect them to give me everything I ask, but I do work or because being a woman manager expect them to hear me out, and not to make stupid my heels, to be precise, had its advantages, this frail but spirited and I’m absolutely aware decisions when they have already been forewarned. woman says: President Obama was an absolute idealist who didn’t of who I was and who “Being a woman manager is an advantake reality into account and he brought America to I am today. In my a halt. America stood still for eight years because tage and I always behaved as a woman doing the job of a manager. I didn’t get wardrobe I still have the of what he did, because of Obama. In Canada, you have socialism, not capitalism, although no one into business to be a man, I got into it dress I wore when I will ever admit that.” as a woman and I remain a woman toarrived from Belgrade and Rebecca’s business empire stretches over day. Women have excellent advantages, landed in Canada. People Canada, America, England and Germany, while they’re strong from their very birth and they don’t need to pretend to be men at often confuse their values she also plans to expand to Japan. There are no business ties with Serbia, or with the Serbian all. As a woman, I stand firmly on my and when they earn diaspora anywhere in the world. feet, or on my heels, to be precise, and money they think they’ve “While she was still alive, my mother always I’m absolutely aware of who I was and become something kept trying to recommend someone I could hire, who I am today. In my wardrobe I still and as a rule these people were always executives have the dress I wore when I arrived special from Sarajevo or Belgrade. I could hardly believe from Belgrade and landed in Canada. just how many executives we used to have. We love to boast our titles, People often confuse their values and when they earn money they you know. In Canada no one asks you what you were or what you think they’ve become something special.” are now; they’re only interested in what you can do. In this sense, For the last eight years, the glory days of the gas industry have been we’re such snobs, with absolutely no grounds to behave like that. I somewhat a thing of the past, so Rebecca had to adjust to the market had to learn everything on my own. For me, business was the lesson of life. Over time, business created me, and I created business.

In fact I’ve had three lives. In the first one, I had a private company which I sold. In the second I had another private company which I sold in England, and in the third life I have a public enterprise. I’m the biggest in my line of business in Canada, but my business is much bigger in the States because the American market is so much larger. If I were to make a comparison with how I started off in my husband’s office, with one chair, one desk and a phone, then from my current perspective I could say that this is a dream come true – albeit one I never dreamt.”

Rebecca has been declared the most successful businesswoman in

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by recommendation only. In 2008, she was the one member from despise snobs you know, and even more so when someone is a snob Canada. The condition to join this elite club is to start with nothing and but has nothing to show for it… We Serbs are rather stuck up and we succeed in one’s field of work, just like Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, overestimate our abilities. We think we know best, that the world Oprah Winfrey or others who are in this club with Rebecca. At that revolves around us, that we have no equal anywhere on the planet. moment, Rebecca was on the verge of tears as she received the medal, Such behaviour has cost us a lot, and it still does because we never thinking how that little girl from Belgrade had seem to try to change our working habits, or any other habits for that matter. The West is People in the government become a woman whose name was called out such esteem. And she thought to herself: ruthless, dollars don’t grow on trees, and as live in their own world of with “This is something you can be proud of and someone who started from scratch I know politics that has pleased with yourself!” what it means to earn every cent. I know nothing to do with reality, When after a long time she arrived in Belwhat it means to succeed and how hard that is, and I also know what the hardest thing is grade from Canada to visit her friends Ana and businesspeople can – to stay on top. Because when you make it and Vlade Divac, she was disappointed. The suggest to them a certain out there, you become a target for everyone, next time she came, she saw a slight improveway of thinking which and that’s something I’ve had to live with for ment, and now she feels that something is on also implies making some the move; that things are looking up: “I think years. That’s why I believe I have the right to speak about the amount of work it takes people in Serbia have begun to realise that practical moves to succeed and to say that nothing can be it’s useless to constantly blame America or achieved overnight, which is what we think here.” anyone else. Let’s blame ourselves a little. I had a call from General When she became a member of the prestigious Horatio Alger MacKenzie [commander of sector Sarajevo during UNPROFOR in 1992, Association in Washington some ten years ago, Rebecca stood in the note by R.S.] during Dayton and he told me that “Mr Milošević gave Supreme Court room and felt that she had really made it – she had them everything!” What could I say after that except that Milošević joined the club of the 300 most powerful people in the U.S. and Canada. deceived his own citizens, his own people.”

Each year this Association admits nine U.S. citizens and one Canadian, Many young people have left Serbia and are still leaving. Mrs MacDonald

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and through. I had a lot of difficulties as a woman in the world of business, and an immigrant on top of that. That was why my wish to succeed and show them I can do it was even greater. I’m very critical towards Canadian institutions because of their treatment of women.

Once I even said it publicly: Stop seeing a woman as a risk, try to see her as an opportunity. And all those bankers and other businessmen and politicians whom I reproached now admit that I did open their eyes when it comes to women in business. In my companies, 54% of employees are women. There’s a foundation for women in my company.

I show by example that my fight for the better position of women in Canada is not just a slogan, but something that can be done.”

The Centre for Arthritis and Autoimmune Disease in Toronto was created by Rebecca after she experienced serious health problems when she got rheumatoid arthritis. Having recovered, she helped build an entire floor in the hospital for the Centre for Arthritis and Autoimmune Disease, which looks more like a hotel or an art gallery than a hospital, requesting that any woman from any part of Canada should be offered an opportunity to receive treatment there.

“I’ve heard such touching words of gratitude from some of the patients there; I’ve felt what it means to help someone save their life. That’s the beauty of giving. I’m not in love with money, I see it rather as something that gives me freedom. I have enough and more, and I want to share that surplus with people who need money.”

In the 1990s, when the rest of the world saw Serbia as the epitome of evil, Rebecca told everyone: I’m a Serbian-born Canadian, look at me and see that we’re not murderers. Today she says: In Canada no one asks “I’m terribly annoyed by corruption in Serbia. a therapist for a while until she chose to I hope things are getting better, I do hope so. I’ve raise children because she believes that you what you were or noticed that better ambassadors are coming from her main vocation is that of a mother. what you are now; they’re Serbia, because in the past I personally witnessed In this sense I think I’ve been a good only interested in what that we had ambassadors who couldn’t speak Engmother, because I always thought they you can do. In this sense, lish. Today we have an ambassador who can speak should find their future in whatever suits them best.”

English and French, and who does his job perfectly. we’re such snobs, with Patriarch Irinej calls her Ubavka, and “I feel sorry that privatisation in Serbia went into absolutely no grounds to foreign she speaks of him with great affection hands and that our riches are being used by behave like that and respect. Her donations focus on someone else, and not our people. Because once you Canada and her home country, and she lose your natural riches, your water, what have you got donates to Serbia through the Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation. She left? You’ve got cheap labour. We’re much better than that and we don’t mostly helps young people, primarily through scholarships. She’s deserve to stoop so low. Whoever is running policy in Serbia must get thinking about focusing her donations to Serbia only on sick and out of business entirely, because there is simply no other way. I think that talented children. She has also helped the Serbian Orthodox Church some new, young people will change that harmful practise. And especially in Toronto and donated money for the reconstruction of a monastery those young people who left Serbia and are now successful in America. near Toronto which was in a very poor state.

“I know it’s easy to criticise. The hardest thing is to actually do The issue of the equality of women is more pronounced in Canada something to help, to change. I love my people, I come from those and America than it was in Yugoslavia at the time when Rebecca left. people, but we’re not united and we don’t know how to fight for a She remembers all the advantages of the system at the time, which in common idea, a common cause. We have to look to the future. Invest certain areas was very humane and advanced. in young experts, in production; let’s finally agree with each other and “I have felt on my own skin how much the world of men doesn’t stop being jealous of each other. There’s nothing more negative than want to accept a woman. But once you’re in, you’re accepted through jealousy. And envy at someone’s success.” ■ thinks that Serbia’s biggest tragedy is that it has young, educated, capable and talented people who don’t see their future in their own country.

“To be honest and true, this isn’t only Serbia’s problem, but many other countries’ as well. You have an educated workforce and simply no work for them. My heart breaks when I see young men and women with university degrees working in cafes because they can’t find other work. My traders usually don’t have university degrees, but they have higher salaries than doctors. I used to tell my children to study something they can live off and sustain themselves. My son majored in business and finance and he’s got his own company in the same branch as his father once had, and my daughter worked as

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INTERVIEW

Sustainable Balance Of

MUTUAL INTERESTS H.E. ATTILA PINTÉR AMBASSADOR OF HUNGARY TO SERBIA

As an EU member, Hungary must find a balance between fulfilling its obligations defined by EU legislation and meeting the expectations of the Chinese side, which can sometimes be really difficult. I am an optimist, so I don’t think the railway project will share the fate of the South Stream gas pipeline”

J

oint infrastructure projects, such as the restoration of the Belgrade-Budapest railway, are one of the aspects of economic cooperation between Hungary and Serbia, which is developing on the foundations of “never better” political relations between the two countries, says Hungarian Ambassador in Belgrade, H.E. Attila Pintér. As he explains in this interview for CorD Magazine, the two countries are not only strengthening bilateral relations, but rather elaborating a strategy for joint appearances on third markets, where China will be the first challenge.

■ Your Excellency, could you tell us more about our two countries’ joint business strategy?

- Relations between our two countries have never been as good as they are now. We would like to use these present harmonious political relations to expand our economic cooperation. The geographical proximity of our countries and their similarities, easy accessibility, as well as our complementary tourist attractions (beautiful capitals and other cities, spas, wine routes, historical ruins), create the possibility for joint action 14 |

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and a joint presence on third country markets. Since January 2017, Serbia, in the case of short-term stays of up to 30 days, provides visa free entry for Chinese citizens. We would like to develop joint tourism offers, with special tours across both countries, which could be really interesting and attractive not only for tourists, but also for businessmen arriving from the Far East. We share these goals, because our two countries together can be more successful and attractive for new investments.

■ There is a lot of talk in Serbia about the modernisation of the railway and connecting Budapest and Belgrade, under the auspices of China’s “One Belt, One Road” investment project. The media recently reported that the construction of that 350km-long section has now come under the scrutiny of the European Commission, which is checking whether the financial arrangements with China are in accordance with European regulations. What is Hungary’s response?

- As a European Union member state, Hungary is not in an enviable position, because it must find balance a between fulfilling of its obligations defined

by EU legislation and meeting the expectations of the Chinese side, which can sometimes be really difficult. From that aspect, Serbia is in a slightly easier situation, which is why Minister Zorana Mihajlović was able to sign the commercial agreement for the reconstruction of the first section in Serbia last year in Riga. We tried to find a solution by forming a joint company with our Chinese partner, bearing in mind the legal obligations towards the EU. We are waiting now and shall see what the Commission has to say, but we are optimistic.

SOLUTION

EU

INVESTMENTS

We tried to find a solution by forming a joint company with our Chinese partner, bearing in mind the legal obligations towards the EU

Against all the criticism, the Hungarian Government believes very much in Europe and in the European Union as envisaged by its Founding Fathers

Many Hungarian companies are considering new investments in Serbia, while we also have great plans in the field of infrastructure development

■ Could the project to construct the railway that would connect Serbia and Hungary with Greece end up sharing the fate of the South Stream gas pipeline, which was scrapped due to noncompliance with European regulations?

- I don’t believe that could happen. In the case of the South Stream, the issue had a slightly different origin. The EU couldn’t accept the fact that the constructor of the pipeline should be the same company, which would also provide the transportation services after the completion of the project, as the purpose of construction of new gas pipelines today is not only to create new routes, but also to ensure the diversification of sources. However the existing Nord Stream project proves that there can be always exceptions. In the case of the railway line, the Commission could have problems with the conditions of funding and those of the construction provided by the Chinese side, but it is evident and there is no doubt that the railway line would serve not only the interests of all countries concerned, but also the whole of the EU. In addition, the project has many benefits, including environmental ones, as it will reduce gas emissions and is more cost effective, so it offers a very advantageous transportation alternative that fits in the European road networks.

- Against all the criticism, the Hungarian Government believes very much in Europe and in the European Union as envisaged by its Founding Fathers. As Robert Schuman wrote in 1963, “European cooperation (…) does not diminish or absorb (the nation), but confers on it a broader and higher field of action”.

The Founding Fathers of the European Union sought to create a united Europe on the foundations of cooperation and mutual trust among strong nation states and the democratic equality of the European peoples. That is in the interest of preserving peace, economic and social development and, last but not least, the raising of living standards. We think we must safeguard the greatest achieve-

■ When it comes to relations between Hungary and the EU, is the new round of “National Consultations” – some kind of referendum that has been organised by the Government since 2011 in order to check the views of citizens regarding current issues – an introduction to new clashes ments of the EU. At the same time, we need a Relations between EU with the EU, given that the questions for citizens strong Europe capable of acting and respondMember States and EU are entitled “stop Brussels”? ing to Member States’ interests and citizens’ - Relations between EU Member States and EU institutions institutions should fully needs to regain their trust. should fully respect the principles of subsidiarity and This is what the Heads of Governments of respect the principles proportionality. Hungary believes social standards cannot the Visegrad 4 Countries declared before the of subsidiarity and be uniform and social progress should follow economic Rome summit, in their Joint Statement “Strong proportionality. Hungary Europe – Union of Action and Trust”. The Viseggrowth. As the Commission does not share our view in this regard, there is no consensus between Brussels and believes social standards rad countries are very keen to contribute to the Budapest concerning several policy issues. Therefore, discussion about the future of Europe. That is cannot be uniform and the Hungarian Government decided that it is timely for why the motto of the incoming Hungarian V4 social progress should the public to voice its opinion through a new National presidency starting in July 2017, will be “V4 follow economic growth connects”. Furthermore, the priorities of our Consultation. The consultation will touch the topics of migration and taxation policy, job-creating measures and Presidency are closely connected to the EU and the regulation of public utility charges, and the operation of NGOs in Hungary. its future, as well as to the issues of security and migration, competitiveness, digitisation and the global and regional role of the V4 cooperation.

■ Critics of these consultations see them as government pop■ Has the continued existence of the Central European University ulism, which question the European principle of the free market in Budapest, founded by American of Hungarian origin George and equal conditions for all, trying to present the issue as an EU Soros, been called into question? attempt to interfere in Hungary’s internal affairs?

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living on humanitarian aid, and the mass migration passing through Libya - As regards the amendment of the Act on Higher Education, a new framework is causing increasing social and economic tension. The number of migrants and regulatory system are required for foreign institutions of higher educaarriving in Europe via the central Mediterranean has increased since the tion in Hungary. The reason behind this was that the Education Authority, beginning of this year, and Italy has registered 18,000 immigrants, mostly during a regular review in 2016, discovered several discrepancies and serious arriving from Libya. irregularities in the operations of foreign institutions of higher education in There are also worrying signs along the Balkans migrant route. An unstable Hungary. Based on the new regulations, foreign institutions of higher educasituation has emerged in Macedonia as a result of external intervention, which tion can operate in Hungary on the basis of an agreement between the two is preventing the country from establishing a states, which provides reasonable conditions government capable of making decisions. The for the issuing of academic degrees that are fact that the previous Macedonian decision valid across the entire European Union. concerning the state of emergency in border As regards the CEU, from the legal perspecterritories will expire at the end of July means tive there are currently two separate universithat without political stability it will be imposties operating in Hungary – Közép-európai Egyetem (KEE or, in English, Central European sible to extend the military’s participation in University) and the Central European University, guarding the border. To support Macedonia, New York (CEU).

Hungary is sending a new contingent of police The CEU was established in the United to Macedonia. This is the fourth unit of thirty States in 1991 as an institution of higher police officers, which contributes to joint border education, but it provides no teaching promanagement operations. grammes in the U.S. Rather, it operates solely ■ How do you see the roles of Hungary in Budapest, though under U.S. law. The CEU is and Serbia, as next-door-neighbours and featured in the Hungarian register as a foreign countries along the so-called Balkans institution of higher education. migrant route?

The KEE is a privately-operated Hungarian - Protecting the external Schengen borders is institution of higher education recognised by an EU requirement and Hungary is complying the state and operating under Hungarian law. with EU regulations on protecting the European However, technically the two universiUnion’s external borders. Serbia is currently ties are the same, as they maintain the same bearing a bigger burden in the migrant crisis teaching programmes, while their staff and than some EU Member States. Serbia is taking study departments overlap. This joint opcare of about 7,000 migrants and simultaneeration of the institutions has resulted in In Hungary’s evaluation, the fact that today the CEU (New York) and ously fighting illegal migration on its borders.

KEE (Budapest) cannot be clearly separated Hungary and Serbia have developed sucbuilding Europe’s security even as far as the institutions themselves are cessful cooperation in fighting illegal migration solely on the migration deal concerned. Thanks to that, the students are and human trafficking. Hungarian police officers with Turkey, whilst criticising only required to attend a single course for supported the work of the Serbian police in the the Turks and doing nothing in summer of 2015, at the Serbian-Macedonian the university to be able to issue them with two degrees – Hungarian and American. border, and between October and December the interest of reinforcing The new regulations would not impact on 2016, at the Serbian-Bulgarian border. Hungary protection of our borders, is the Közép-európai Egyetem KEE, while the is willing to continue providing all possible forms an unreasonable policy, which of support to Serbia in order to keep the migrant future operations of the CEU must be settled might fail any time soon via an international agreement. The Hungarian situation stable, and to protect Serbia’s borders. government is ready to negotiate the CEU case with the United States Government or leaders of the federal state involved.

■ During last month’s Rome summit, marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the EU, the member states from Eastern ■ A recent survey by the Nezopont Research Institute suggests Europe criticised the idea of a “Multi-speed Europe”. How is that that 61 per cent of respondents in Hungary fear a new migrant idea interpreted in Hungary? crisis and believe that another million migrants will pass through - Hungary believes that the EU remains the best instrument to address the Hungary towards Europe. Is that fear justified? challenges we are facing. We also agree that, in order to ensure the necessary - In Hungary’s evaluation, building Europe’s security solely on the migration flexibility, we can take advantage of enhanced cooperation, as stipulated in deal with Turkey, whilst criticising the Turks and doing nothing in the interest the Treaties. Yet any form of enhanced cooperation should be open to every of reinforcing protection of our borders, is an unreasonable policy, which Member State, and should strictly avoid any kind of disintegration of the Single might fail any time soon. If thousands of migrants appear at our borders Market, the Schengen zone and the European Union itself. Based on the same once again, the EU will be unable to do anything, just like two years ago. idea, the EU should remain open to those countries that share our values, There are 13.5 million people in Syria and 21.2 million people in Yemen including the countries of the Western Balkans and our Eastern neighbours.

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■ Hungary is Serbia’s fifth largest economic partner. In which corridor” between Ruma and Novi Sad, but we are also ready to provide areas do you see opportunities to develop cooperation further? financial solutions for the realisation of this project. We would also like to - Last year saw the trade turnover between our countries reach nearly €2 open a new border crossing between our two countries this summer, while billion, though the commodity structure has been greatly transformed. the aforementioned cooperation in tourism is also of great importance.

The main traded goods between our countries became almost the same, mostly energy resources (oil and its derivates, ■ What kind of impact on strengthening electricity), processed products, industrial maeconomic cooperation did the joint session Hungary believes that of the governments of Serbia and Hungary, chinery, electrical machinery and vehicles, mainly the EU remains the best held last year in Niš, have; given that it was thanks to the realisation of a larger number of instrument to address followed by a meeting of businessmen from foreign investments in Serbia and the opening the challenges we are both countries? of new production facilities in the country. The - Niš was chosen as the venue of the joint session of Serbian Government’s efforts aimed at sustainfacing. We also agree our two governments specifically for the developing macroeconomic stability and improving the that, in order to ensure business climate have started to pay off, which is ment of our economic relations, because we wanted the necessary flexibility, why most imported and exported goods are no to divert the attention of Hungarian companies that we can take advantage of have plenty of opportunities waiting for them not longer raw materials, but more processed, higher added value products. That’s why we should focus enhanced cooperation, as only in Vojvodina, but throughout the whole of Serthe accent of our future economic cooperation stipulated in the Treaties bia, so why not South Serbia? Although the majority on knowledge and technology transfer, mostly of companies, especially small and medium-sized in areas and sectors in which Hungary has a lot to offer, such as energy enterprises, like to operate in an approx. 200 km radius and are comfortable efficiency, ecology, water management, wastewater treatment, agriculture in envirnoments they know well, and are also afraid of language barriers, the technologies, knowhow transfer and ICT. Many Hungarian companies are Business Forum in Niš was a great opportunity to change those habits and considering new investments in Serbia, while we also have great plans in for them to enlarge their business networks, interact in a different setting the field of infrastructure development, as it is no secret that some Hungarwith new potential partners and new opportunities, and I can now surely evaluate it as having been a very sucessful meeting. ■ ian companies are really interested in the construction of the “Fruska Gora

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PAIN

GLOBAL DIARY

“In the next 30 years, the world’s pain will be much greater than its happiness. Social conflicts over the next 30 years will hugely impact every industry.” - Jack Ma, Founder and executive chairman of Alibaba Group

LA BIENNALE DI VENEZIA : VIVA ARTE VIVA ▶ The 57th International Art Exhibition, titled VIVA ARTE VIVA curated by Christine Macel is organized by La Biennale di Venezia chaired by Paolo Baratta. The Exhibition will be open to the public from 13th May to 26th November 2017, at the Giardini and the Arsenale venues.

VIVA ARTE VIVA will unfold over the course of nine chapters or families of artists, beginning with two introductory realms in the Central Pavilion, followed by another seven across the Arsenale through the Giardino delle Vergini. A total of 120 artists from 51 countries have been invited 103 of these are participating for the first time.

The Exhibition will also include 85 National Participations in the historic Pavilions at the Giardini, at the Arsenale and in the historic city centre of Venice. Four countries will be participating for the first time: Antigua and Barbuda, Kiribati, Nigeria and Kazakhstan.

Phyllida Barlow will represent Britain at the 2017 Venice Biennale.

PROTESTS SPREAD ACROSS SERBIA

▶ The protests began after an initial

demonstration was held in Belgrade on Monday April 3rd. Around 2,000 attended the protest, which was organised via social media.

The largest protest so far was held on 12th April. At least 15,000 people attended the rally in Belgrade and Serbia’s other largest cities, bringing city traffic to a standstill. In Belgrade, protesters marched from the parliament building to the Serbian public broadcaster and the government, blowing whistles and banging drums.

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the rally brought together liberal activists, right-wing groups, citizens, students and supporters of Serbian opposition parties. No one wore any party insignia.

Smaller protests attended by between several dozen and several hundred people were also held in Subotica, Zrenjanin, Kruševac, Leskovac, Lazarevac, Sombor, Požarevac, Užice, Bor, Čačak, Šabac and Kraljevo.

BANGKOK PLANS TO BAN ALL STREET FOOD ▶ The Thai capital’s world famous

street food scene may soon be a thing of the past. All street food stalls will be cleared from Bang-

kok’s roads by the end of the year in a bid to bring order and hygiene to the Thai capital’s streets, a city official said .

Officials say thousands of street stalls litter the streets, create chaos and block pedestrian walkways.

Since seizing power in 2014, Thailand’s military junta has tried to crack down on rampant prostitu-

tion, street stalls and other informal businesses that have traditionally skirted around regulations due to corruption, ineffectual law enforcement and legal loopholes.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) order affects all of the city’s 50 districts, including the the famous Yaowarat and Khaosan Road area.

105TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF KIM IL SUNG ▶ North Korea marks the 105th anniver-

sary of the birth of the state founder Kim Il Sung on 15th April and in 2012 launched a long-range rocket carrying a satellite to mark the date. It tested a newly developed intermediate-range missile last year.

Around 200 foreign journalists are in Pyongyang for North Korea’s biggest national day, called “Day of the Sun.” Officials gave no details of the big event and similar announcements in the past have been linked to relatively low-key set pieces.

DEPENDENCE

“Our dependence is mutual: when we invest in developing fields and building pipelines, Gazprom relies on future demand and de facto depends on the European market as much as Europe depends on Russian gas.” - Alexei Miller, Gazprom CEO

QUEEN ELIZABETH CELEBRATES 91ST BIRTHDAY ▶ Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, the world’s oldest and longest-reigning monarch, celebrated her 91st birthday in the usual low-key fashion on 21st April.

Artillery gun salutes in London’s Hyde Park and at the Tower of London marked the occasion, although the queen, who normally spends her birthday privately, has no formal engagements planned herself.

Elizabeth was born on 21st April 1926 in Bruton Street in central London, when Calvin Coolidge was U.S. President and Joseph Stalin had just taken control in the Soviet Union, and became queen in 1952 at the age of 25.

Despite her age, she still regularly carries out official duties, although she has cut back on the number of engagements in recent years.

The queen has an official birthday in June, which is publicly marked with a large parade of soldiers through central London, known as Trooping the Colour.

Source: Reuters

"GOLDEN PRINCE" THE MOST EXPENSIVE PIGEON EVER

biggest auction of the season”. The previous milestone was set in 2013, when €310,000 was paid for “Bolt”.

▶ The Belgian race pigeon “Golden

Prince” from Wevelgem has fetched €360,000 at an online auction.

Auction house Pipa claims that this makes Golden Prince the most expensive pigeon ever. The winning

bid came from South Africa.

Golden Prince is part of a collection of 405 specimens of a race pigeon farmer in Wevelgem. Pipa calls it “the

CANADA IS PREPARING TO LEGALISE MARIJUANA

MACRON VS LE PEN IN THE 2ND ROUND ▶ France’s far right is reaching out

to voters who backed the defeated

▶ The government of Canadian

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau introduced a bill that would empower adults to possess 30 grams of marijuana in public. Canada’s proposed bill permits houses to grow four marijuana plants. Youth under 18 possessing small amounts of grass will not face criminal charges.

If the bill is passed, Canada will become the largest developed country, to have legalised marijuana for recreational purposes.

Uruguay is so far the only country where the use of marijuana is completely legal.

far-left contender, hoping to peel away voters from the extremes of the political spectrum. With 97% of polling stations declared, newcomer Macron was leading the field with 23.9%. National Front leader Le Pen was close behind on 21.4%.

The 7th May runoff will be between the populist Marine Le Pen and centrist Emmanuel Macron, and French politicians on the moderate left and right immediately urged voters to block Le Pen’s path to power. The defeated far-left candidate, Jean-Luc Melenchon, pointedly refused to do the same.

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30TH BELGRADE MARATHON

Marathon Runners

WARM UP BELGRADE

Participants in this year's Cord Charity Masters collected a total of 836,200 dinars. The main donors were the embassies of Ukraine, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Canada and Malaysia, companies Piraeus Bank, Mitecco, Schneider Electric, Novo Nordisk Pharma, as well as our readers, Đorđe Samardžija and Nikola Đurić, and CorD's staff

Despite a very low temperature for this time of year, the jubilee 30th Belgrade Marathon showed once again that positive vibrations, socialising and sporting spirit are what has kept this event running for three decades

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mong several thousand professional competitors and recreational runners this year, there were over 400 runners, walkers, parents and children – participants of the CorD Charity Masters – the only race where humanity comes before competition.

The 11th CorD Charity Masters race attracted employees from 10 companies and many individuals, traditionally led by the staff of Piraeus Bank.

All participants decided for themselves who would receive their charitable contributions, which depended on the number of kilometres covered multiplied by a sum provided by sponsors they secured themselves.

In the previous 10 races the participants of the CorD Charity Masters have collected about €140,000 and donated it all to those who needed it most.

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CorD TEAM

AUSTRALIA EMBASSY STAFF

H.E. PHILIP PINNINGTON, CANADIAN AMBASSADOR AND MRS ERICA PINNINGTON

UKRAINIAN EMBASSY'S TEAM WITH H.E OLEKSANDR KYRYCHENKO (RIGHT)

DEJAN MARKOVIĆ, SCHNEIDER-ELECTRIC

PIRAEUS BANK ONCE MORE SENT THE LARGEST TEAM, LED BY DIRECTOR VOJISLAV LAZAREVIĆ

B&H TEAM BEFORE THE RACE

ĐORĐE SAMARDŽIJE (INDIVIDUAL)

A WELL-DESERVED RECOGNITION FOR PIRAEUS BANK

SOME OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST ATHLETES WERE IN BELGRADE THAT DAY

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A PICTURE TO REMEMBER – PIRAEUS BANK JAVIER SOTOMAYOR WELCOMES THE PARTICIPANTS OF CORD CHARITY MASTERS

SLOBODANKA JOVANOVIĆ

ALMOST THERE...

RUNNING SHORT OF ENERGY

FINISHING AS A TEAM

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THE LADIES' PART OF THE TEAM

A MARATHON OF POSITIVE VIBES

By LIDIJA CAREVIĆ, SOMMELIER

INTERVIEW

Matching Summer

WINE & FOOD Wine, that luxurious, exquisite and precious nectar; that perfect combination of nature and the skilled hands of winemakers. Often referred to by wine lovers as “poetry in a glass”, it is a feast for all our senses

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s one of the essential foundations of modern civilisation, wine plays an important role in the social life of people.

Wine and food have since time immemorial been inextricably linked, and it is often said that wine “is drank with a fork”. Wine complements a meal and raises the taste of food to a higher level, while food and wine together make a perfect rounded whole, perfect synergy, the harmony of taste, and in their balance they create an entirely new “third taste” that they would not be able to create individually. For most wine lovers, this matching of tastes represents the elevation of the gastronomic experience to a higher level, and the French have symbolically named it a “marriage”.

Pairing (combining) food and wine used to be very simple. There were just a few rules, and one of the basic ones was that red wine goes with meat and white with fish. This rule is outdated, incomplete and over time has been almost completely discarded. Many new styles of wine and enogastronomy, the science dealing with mutual relations between wine and food, are developing and changing with changes in lifestyle. Today we have even gone to the other extreme, with the pairing of food and wine shrouded in mystery, as though it has been completely forgotten that wine is a perfect but very simple product. The basic error is to regard wine as a “correc24 |

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tor of the taste of food”, because wine should be a partner of food in the gastronomic experience. It should not be consumed through the food, but rather wine and food should complement each other.

It is best to strike a balance so that neither the food nor the wine overpowers the taste of the other.

Selecting wine to go with a meal is often a real challenge, especially when it relates to complex meals and an endless array of wine labels, and merely marrying food and wine can be very confusing.

Pairing food and wine is an area in which there are no strictly defined rules. Primarily, in the world there are so many varieties of grapes, wine labels, specific regions, specificities in winemaking styles and styles of world cuisines that it is impossible to have completely unified knowledge about pairing food and wine, and then there’s the fact that when combining food and wine the personal taste experience always has the final word. No one can take away your right to pair the food you love with wine that you want to drink at that moment. If you enjoy it – you are not mistaken. “De gustibus non est disputandum”!

Most people who do not wield extensive wine knowledge are led by common sense when pairing food and wine. Just as you will instinctively order coffee with chocolate cake and lemonade with a light, refreshing salad, it’s great when you are led by intuition in the selection of wines.

The good news is that few pairings have a negative impact on the senses and a very small number of combinations will result in total failure, and that can easily be avoided by following several very simple rules.

There is another factor that plays an important role in the selection of wines, and that is the season. Instinctively, we adapt our choice of wine, just like food, to the season.

A long, hot summer is on our doorstep. Although wine choice depends primarily on personal preferences, during summer lighter, young and simple wines are preferred, with the least possible flavour of oak, a lower percentage of alcohol, particularly white wines and rosés, but also young red wines, which are served chilled and provide proper refreshment on hot summer days. Good choices include Prosecco, fresh, non-barriqued white wines, like New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, refreshing light reds like French Beaujolais, as well as delicate French Rosé.

balanced meal, filled with ingredients like cheeses, nuts, meat or fish, but this kind of meal also requires a glass of wine.

One of the general rules for good pairing of wines and salads is to reach for a dry rosé, Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling, or even some reds with a light texture, such as Pinot Noir, while sparkling wine is always an excellent choice, because – just like salad – this wine is light, refreshing and perfect for warm summer evenings.

Caesar salad creates forms a great combination with dry white wines like Chablis, Chenin Blanc or Chardonnay without the flavour of oak.

Salads with goat cheese will pair well with Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire. Greek salads are dominated by feta cheese and olives, so a good

FISH AND WINE - FAVOURITE SUMMER FOOD Fish and shellfish are generally favoured summer foods. The intense but delicate flavours of seafood should not be covered by robust, tannic red wines, but rather wines with the same intensity, in order for the subtle flavours of the food to form a nice balance with the wine, equally delicate and refreshing.

With the soft meat of white fish, such as plaice, just like with prawns and shrimp, you should go for light, refreshing white wines, without the taste of oak, such as Muscadet or Pinot Grigio, while bream is delicious with Soave or fresh Sancerre wine.

Sparkling wine is always a great choice and can combine nicely with caviar, as well as with almost all kinds of fish and shellfish. Oysters, just like mussels, form a classic pairing with champagne, Although wine choice but choices can also include Muscadet or Chablis. choice is a citrusy white wine like Sauvidepends primarily on gnon Blanc or a dry white like Bordeaux.

Scallops seek soft, delicate white wine, with a good Dry rosé, ideally from Provence in the south choice being medium-dry Riesling. Lobster salad personal preferences, of France, is excellent in combination with goes well with South African Chennin Blanc or during summer lighter, the spicy, salty flavours of a Nicoise salad.

Australian Riesling, while when served as a main young and simple wines Pairing well with beef salads is fruity red course it seeks luxurious Chardonnay. are preferred, with the Beaujolais or one of the Italian reds, such Salmon is among seafood what chicken is among meats - wonderfully combinable, exceptionally least possible flavour of as Chianti, while a fresh, mineral Sancerre adaptable and unobtrusively dominant. It is easy to oak, a lower percentage or Italian Pinot Grigio nicely complements a seafood salad meal. combine with many wines, but with rosé you won’t of alcohol, particularly go wrong. Smoked salmon blends nicely with a dry white wines and rosés, PASTA AND WINE – PAIRING FOOD AND rosé or strong white wines, such as Gewürztraminer or oak-flavoured Chardonnay, while it is also nicely but also young red wines WINE FROM THE SAME REGION A piece of advice that’s worth its weight complemented by sparkling wines. gold when it comes to pairing food and wine is to give preference to A great combination with bass and monkfish is Australian Semillon or Australian oak-flavoured Chardonnay. Tuna is excellent with wines that come from the same region as the food it is meant to complement. A typical example is the blending of traditional Italian dishes a silky, sensual Pinot Noir, with a light body and low tannins, but – pasta with Italian wine.

Merlot is also a great choice, with its soft rounded tannins, and even When choosing a wine to go with pasta, it should be noted that Australian Shiraz, with it spicy flavour. pasta has a neutral flavour and it is always the sauce that provides the SALADS AND WINE - HEALTHY MEAL WITH SUMMERY WINE AROMAS dominant flavours, so wine should be paired with the sauce.

Apart from seafood, another ideal summer meal is salad and a glass Spaghetti Carbonara contains a creamy sauce and bacon, thus it will of carefully selected wine. Salad as a main dish provides a healthy, wellform an excellent pairing with fresh white wines like Italian Pinot Grigio, M AY

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Gavi di Gavi or Soave, while the selection may also include Merlot, but also Chablis due to the creamy structure of the sauce.

Italian dishes often contain lots of tomatoes, so pasta with tomato sauce, due to its acidity, combines nicely with wines like Pinot Grigio, Verdecchia or Montepulciano d’Abbruzzo.

Spaghetti with seafood is best combined with fresh, white Muscadet wine, or a dry rosé, while Spaghetti Bolognese adores wines like Sangiovese, Primitivo, Rosso di Montalcino or Barbera, while a good choice can also be Zinfandel. Spaghetti with mussels, a typical Italian dish, will have its most beautiful tastes brought to the fore with young non-barrique Italian white wine, Soave, Sicilian white, but dry rosé Côtes de Provence can also be an excellent choice. Alongside classic lasagne with minced meat, it is wise to opt for a slightly fuller wine, with a good choice being Cabernet Sauvignon medium body, or Rioja Crianza, whilst vegetarian lasagne is nicely complemented by dry Italian whites like Gavi or lavish whites like Viogner (depending on the sauce added).

RISOTTO AND WINE – SUMMER MEDITERRANEAN ATMOSPHERE Risotto is a dish of Mediterranean origin that was created in Spain. A light and simple meal, it offers an endless variety of combinations.

Seafood risotto pairs wonderfully with wines like Chardonnay or Pinot Bianco, Chablis Premier Cru or fresh Sauvignon.

Mushroom risotto shines when combined with Barbera wine. Likewise, you won’t go wrong if you combine it wine with Chardonnay from Burgundy or Pinot Noir, due to its earthy character, while Risotto alla Milanese with saffron marries perfectly with Barbera red wine.

the perfect pair for blue cheeses, such as Bleu d’Auvergne, because the sugar of sweet wines forms an excellent balance with the strength and intensity of the blue mould. Sauternes wine and Roquefort is an already popular pair. Port goes perfectly with Stilton cheese. Creamy Brie, with its rich flavour, combines wonderfully with champagne or another sparkling wine that will further highlight and develop its aroma, while Pecorino cheese goes great with Chianti.

DESSERT AND WINE – THE SWEETEST FOR LAST It is good for every good meal to be rounded off with dessert. Desserts usually prefer sweet or sparkling wines. However, blending sweet with sweet is mostly an endeavour filled with traps. If the dessert is sweeter than the wine with which it is consumed, the wine will be made to seem empty and expressionless, thus we must be particularly careful when pairing wines and desserts.

Prosecco is a good choice for cakes with soft creams and biscuits. Its fruity and floral aromas, as well as its sweetness, will nicely round off the end of a meal. Creamy desserts, such as Crème brûlée or Panna cotta, deserve “Noble Rot Wines”, like Sauternes or Tokaji.

Fruit desserts adore Moscato d’Asti, and this moderately sweet sparkling wine will emphasise the fruity note in such desserts instead of sweetness. A good combination would be late harvest dessert wines like lighter Australian or German Riesling.

THE RULE IS THAT THERE ARE NO RULES! They say that all fashions pass, only wine remains – in a story that is as old as man A piece of advice that’s himself; in a story that has no end. worth its weight in gold In wine, just like in food, one needs to when it comes to pairing know how to enjoy oneself, and pairing food food and wine is to give CHEESE AND WINE – “JOIE DE VIVRE” and wine is essentially a continuous search Whether served as an appetiser or as for that right combination – exploration, dispreference to wines that covery, enjoyment, creating new flavours and dessert, cheese is an unavoidable part of come from the same new memories. As long as you drink the wine every true gastronomic delight. Just like wine, region as the food it is meant that you like the best, you will not go wrong, cheese is also a fermented product, so whne to complement. A typical just as you won’t go wrong if you sometimes combined they form an exceptional pair. When the cheese board has an assortment of cheeses example is the blending of break the rules and experiment, ignoring all recommendations and guidelines, because all that should be paired with wine, there should traditional Italian dishes theories about ideal combinations are worthnever be more than five (ideally 3-4), in order – pasta with Italian wine less if they are not to your taste. for a glass of wine to match all cheeses.

The choice is yours alone, and will often Cheeses are almost always the dominant depend on mood, opportunities and the company in which wine is partner in pairing with wine, and it is unlikely that a wine will change being drunk. our perception of a cheese.

Drink good wine, because life is too short to drink bad wines. Good Dry white wine is an excellent partner for cheeses, while if we choose a red wine is even better in good company and, as the Portuguese proverb wine we should give preference to a fruity variety, with less tannin and oak. goes, “Where everyone pays, wine is not expensive”.

South African Chenin Blanc goes great with goat’s cheese and À votre santé! ■ Chardonnay from oak is excellent alongside Cheddar. Sweet wines are 26 |

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LIDIJA CAREVIĆ, SOMMELIER

MAY BUSINESS LEADERS’ MEETING POINT

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DR ROB RISCH Director at the International School of Belgrade, ISB

ALEKSANDRA KESEROVIĆ Principal, British International School in Belgrade (BIS)

Passport For WellRespected Schools

The School Of Lifelong Learning Devotees

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RADOJKO JANIĆ Owner and Director, Radijator Inženjering

ALEKSANDAR MANDIĆ General Manager, UNIS USHA

High Recognition In The Right Hands

European Quality

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AUDUN FARBROT Head of Science Communication at Norwegian Business School BI

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CORPORATE

DR ROB RISCH, DIRECTOR AT THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF BELGRADE, ISB

Educated At ISB, Equipped For The World The International School of Belgrade offers its pupils, aged 3 to 18, an engaging and exciting educational environment, diversity and warm hospitality. With diplomas earned at ISB, pupils may choose to pursue their studies at any of numerous well-respected schools for grades 6-10, and Diploma Program (DP) for grades 11 and 12. Many international schools worldwide follow the IB programmes, and this allows pupils to ■ How do you ensure that children transfer between these schools with with different backgrounds fit into relative ease. The IB programmes focus your education system? on rigorous academics and blend these - Our assurance in this regard comes with holistic opportunities for students through three distinct channels: The to develop and blossom in performing first of these is our international and and visual arts, athletics and student internationally-minded teaching faculty leadership, and by providing service and staff. We are collectively very expeto their local and global communities. rienced regarding education systems The third factor that enables children from across the world, and our teachers from different backgrounds to fit into can individualise and differentiate their SB has been providing a high-qualour education system comes from the instruction to accommodate students ity education to the international diversity of the pupils themselves. We from various backgrounds and with community in Belgrade since 1948. have students of 43 different nationalidiffering levels of instructional English.

Thanks to its teachers – dedicated ties with no single dominant professionals who hold multiple group, so current students or master’s degrees in their Parents wanting to learn what areas of specialisation – ISB creopportunities ISB offers their children are accustomed to each other and to new students having ates an inspiring, pupil-centred can visit the school and talk to such varied backgrounds, and individualised approach teachers on 17th May, when ISB is which leads to them examinto the learning process. This ing and appreciating different month we spoke with ISB Direcholding its next “Open Day” event perspectives, developing an tor Dr Rob Risch about the opopen mind-set, celebrating their diverWe provide specific support in English portunities ISB offers its students. sity and learning from each other. and other areas where needed, and at the same time we are able to challenge ■ For which age groups does ISB pro■ What diploma can students obtain? and extend all students in their specific vide education?

Are your diplomas accepted by other areas of strength. The second factor - The International School of Belgrade schools? that enables children from different has educational programmes for - All students who graduate from ISB backgrounds to fit into our system is our children from the age of three to the obtain the ISB Diploma, which is equivacurriculum, which follows the guidelines age of 18. Our early childhood prolent to a high school diploma from an of the International Baccalaureate Orgagrammes for our youngest learners in academically-orientated high school in nization, specifically the Primary Years Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten are the U.S. This diploma by itself enables stuProgram (PYP) for Pre-Kindergarten to located on our Lower School Campus, dents to enrol in universities throughout grade 5, Middle Years Program (MYP) along with classes for students in grades 1-5. Students in grades 6-12 attend the nearby Upper School.

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■ What is the ISB Scholarship?

- The ISB Scholarship programme was initiated four years ago and provides a full scholarship that covers tuition costs and fees for one Serbian national student in each of our four high school grades – grades 9-12. In order to qualify for consideration of the scholarship – in addition to being Serbian – prospective pupils need to show a history of strong academic results from their previous Serbian schools; demonstrate their passion and involvement in extra-curricular activities, such as the arts, athletics, music, student leadership, service or charity events; possess an advanced level of English; and come from families who demonstrate a financial need. The applicants need to write a personal statement in English explaining why they would The vast majority of ISB graduates like to attend ISB and what obtain the IB Diploma, which universities they feel they can offer the view as a sign of success in a challenging school, as well as to obtain letters of support from their academic environment parents and teachers at their current schools, show success on our entrance tests and, if chosen, have a successful interview with our scholarship committee. The ISB Scholarship programme provides those candidates selected from among all applications the chance to attend ISB for grades 9-12, without costs, gain an amazing academic and holistic education, and graduate with both our ISB Diploma and the IB Diploma.

North America and many other parts of the world. However, the vast majority of our graduates also obtain the IB Diploma, which is accepted at universities worldwide. Universities view the IB Diploma as a sign of success in a challenging academic environment and know that these students are well prepared for universitylevel expectations. In fact, many of our students who earn high marks on final IB exams are given advanced-placement credit at universities.

■ How do you maintain the high quality of the education you provide?

- In addition to our own internal continuous review and revision of our programmes and practises, we also engage in authorisation reviews from the IBO and our accrediting agencies in Europe and North America. We are accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). While the IB monitors curriculum and instruction, CIS and NEASC also examine our finances, facilities, governance and legal structures, and all other matters pertaining to high quality international education. By meeting or exceeding the standards and expectations that are explicitly listed and evaluated by visiting teams, and which are part of the re-authorisation and re-accreditation process, we provide assurances to all of our stakeholders that we continuously review, revise and improve our high standards.

■ What are the backgrounds of the ISB teachers like and which degrees do they hold?

- Our teachers come from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, with eleven different nationalities currently represented. The vast majority of our teachers are international educators with

internationally-obtained education and degrees, as well as previous experience working in other international schools.

We also have some highly-qualified Serbian nationals in key positions at our school, such as in teaching Serbian Mother Tongue classes. In addition, our teaching faculty is highly-educated, with

over 70% having obtained advanced degrees at the Master’s or Ph.D. levels.

Most importantly, they all subscribe to our Mission and Philosophy, through which we inspire, equip and empower our students to be active and enthusiastic participants in their own learning.

■ How can parents learn more about your programmes?

- ISB will be hosting an “Open Day” on 17th May for all interested parents. In addition, our school website - www.isb. rs - is very comprehensive and provides details and videos, including the viewpoints of our students themselves. ■ M AY

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EU ACCESSION

LOCAL

NEWS

“Despite of the difficulties it is facing, Serbia will be able to open two or three new chapters in its EU accession talks by the end of the year.”— JADRANKA JOKSIMOVIĆ, Serbian

Minister for European Integration

BANCA INTESA

VOJVOĐANSKA BANKA

Credit To Construct Ada Shopping Centre

Winner of “Global Custodian Magazine” Survey

Banca Intesa, in cooperation with PBZ Bank in Croatia and VUB Bank in Slovakia, and as a member of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group, has signed a binding offer with company GTC S.A. in the amount of €64 million for financing the construction of the Ada Shopping Centre in Belgrade, which represents GTC’s first investment in Serbia’s retail sector.

According to this year’s ‘Agent Bank in Frontier Markets” survey by U.S. publication “Global Custodian Magazine”, Vojvođanska Banka is the best bank in Serbia when it comes to providing custody services to foreign financial institutions, i.e. keeping and administering their securities.

TURKISH AIRLINES

New On-Board Options Feature

Banca Intesa CEO DRAGINJA ĐURIĆ

The Ada Shopping Centre will cover a total area of 34,400 square metres of modern retail space, designed and constructed in accordance with the highest international standards.

“In cooperation with other members of our parent group, Intesa Sanpaolo, we are supporting the implementation of another significant foreign investment in Serbia that will help to create jobs, in addition to offering our citizens additional contents,” said Banca Intesa CEO Draginja Đurić.

“The Ada Shopping Centre is conceived in such a way that it offers visitors a unique shopping experience in Belgrade,” said GTC CEO Thomas Kurzmann.

Turkish Airlines is taking its in-flight experience even further. With passenger satisfaction as the airline’s priority, the carrier’s wide on-board selection continues to be broadened in an effort to reach the widest range of passengers’ requests.

Now yet another innovation has been developed by Turkish Airlines to enable in order its business class passengers to enjoy the best Turkish hospitality, within the concept of privileged travel. The Living Garden concept, including new cosmetics consisting of hand lotion, hand soap and room freshener branded with Molton Brown –a brand identified with refreshment, naturalness and luxury – are presented on specially designed wooden stands with live plants in business class bathrooms.

The flowers and green plants placed in the lavatories within the scope of the project make passengers feel as though they are in a flower garden above the sky.

SREMSKA MLEKARA

Major Shareholder of Tobacco Industries Bujanovac Sremska Mlekara has purchased 57.93% of the capital of Duvanska Industrija Bujanovac (DIB) for €686,374, with the idea of reviving DIB and relaunching cigarette production in Serbia’s southernmost region.

Sremska Mlekara signed the purchase agreement on 13th April, offering only €20 above the starting price, as defined by the Ministry of Economy.

According to the Business Registers Agency, 100% of the capital of Sremska Mlekara is owned by RA.B Capital Group LTD, a company registered in Cyprus.

The current director, Rade Basta, said that he had nothing to do with the Cyprus-based companyandthatSremskaMlekara also planned to privatise Dunavska Industrija Ljubovija.

DIB currently employs 100 people, while agriculturists from the area might hope to find work producing tobacco for DIB.

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“Global Custodian Magazine” is a leading world magazine in monitoring operations with securities around the world. This prestigious recognition has been awarded to Vojvođanska Banka for the fifth consecutive year, based on the positive evaluations of foreign clients who declared it the best in all segments and all countries where the survey was conducted.

“We received the highest scores and achieved the best results in these countries. We shall continue the policy of being the most efficient as keeping and administering securities,” said Xenofon Damaskos, member of the Executive Board of Vojvođanska Banka.

DELTA HOLDING

National CSR Award Serbia’s Chamber of Commerce has granted the National Award for socially responsible business to Delta Holding.

The company received the award in the category of large companies after the judges analysed all areas of social responsibility: product quality, employee care, attitude towards business partners, environmental protection and support to the social community. As an illustration for the last segment, Delta Holding presented two projects for sustainable agricultural development: Plantation for Future, which helps the development of social entrepreneurship in agriculture, and Fund for Future, which educates future agricultural experts.

The awards were granted by judges who included representatives of the Ministry of the Economy, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture, non-governmental organisations, the Ambassador for Sustainable Development and Olivera Kovačević, Public Service Editor at Radio-Television Serbia.

IMF “One thing is certain, the IMF provides Serbia with funds that go to support its balance of payments. Fortunately, these funds are not needed.” — DUŠAN VUJOVIĆ, Serbian Finance Minister

Placements & postings appointments@aim.rs

H.E. SYED ADIL GILANI

New Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

H.E. Syed Adil Gilani (72) graduated in N.E.D. Engineering from the University of Karachi.

A civil engineer by profession, he has amassed 51 years of experience in Pakistan and Nigeria in the public/private sector, the Government of Sindh 1966-1970, North Estate of Nigeria 1970-1975, Gammon Pakistan Ltd, 1979-1989, Karachi Port Trust Government of Pakistan 1989-2000, and, since 2000, project management and advisory services. He was also a member and Port Consultant of the Sub-Working Group on Ports & Shipping of the Government of Pakistan for 2005-2010 Five-Year Plan.

Ambassador Gilani has served as anti-corruption expert and led various projects and regulations in the Pakistani government. He arrives in Serbia from the position of Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission Consultant.

ALEKSANDRA ERDOGLIJA

President of the Executive Board of JUBANKA JSC Aleksandra Erdoglija, a graduate of the University of Belgrade’s Faculty of Economics, takes on the position of President of the Executive Board of Jubanka JSC after having spent more than six years as a Member of the Executive Board of Alpha Bank Serbia JSC. Erdoglija began her career at Jubanka in June 1998, within the Section for the collection of funds and relations with banks. In August 2002 she was promoted to the leading position in the Treasury Division, where she was responsible for management and control of the bank’s structural risks, as well as for the control of the Department of Investment Banking. In June 2010 she continued her career as Member of the Executive Board of Alpha Bank responsible for the development and control of operations of the Treasury Division, Investment Banking Department, Legal Services Department and NPL Division.

A member of numerous professional associations, Erdoglija is Deputy Chair of the Supervisory Board of the Association of Serbian Banks.

NIKOLA VULETIĆ

New member of the Executive Board of UniCredit Bank

SANDRA VOJNOVIĆ

New member of the Executive Board of UniCredit Bank

The Executive Board of UniCredit Bank Serbia has been expanded with the inclusion of two new members, Sandra Vojnović, responsible for the Strategy and Finance Division, and Nikola Vuletić, responsible for the Retail Banking Division.

Sandra Vojnović graduated in financial management at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Banja Luka and began her banking career in 2004 as an analyst of the creditworthiness of clients from the Retail Division, only to continue her work in 2005 on USAID’s TAMP project, directed towards the reform of the tax system in Republika Srpska. She joined UniCredit Bank in Banja Luka in 2006, where she was employed within the Department for Planning and Control. She was appointed director of this department in 2008, then, in 2013, she was promoted to the position of Director of the Financial Department.

Nikola Vuletić graduated in international management at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Belgrade and began his professional career in 2003 in UniCredit Bank, or at the then EXIMBANK, where he held the position of contributor for business with the retail sector and small businesses. The following year saw him take on the same position within the Department of Corporate Banking, while following the merger of HVB Bank and Eximbank he assumed the position of financial analyst. He continued his career in the Department for business with large and international companies, and in 2007 was promoted to the position of director of the Department for business with medium-sized enterprises.

After two years, he was appointed Director of Commercial Affairs within the Retail Division, then, in 2012, he became director of the Retail Division.

NENAD MIŠČEVIĆ

New commercial director at PepsiCo Western Balkans PepsiCo has appointed Nenad Miščević to the position of Commercial Director for the Western Balkans (Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina). Miščević assumes this position after serving as Manager of Sales Strategy, New Business Development and Trade Marketing Manager at retail outlets at PepsiCo Western Balkans. His appointment means that the company is now managed by a local staff member for the first time since PepsiCo entered the market of the Western Balkans in 2008.

He has amassed more than seven years’ experience in various commercial positions on the markets of Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and has achieved significant results in setting high standards in sales and introducing innovation, with which he personally contributed to the business unit of PepsiCo Western Balkans gaining IS&OP platinum certification in 2016. Miščević graduated from the University of Belgrade’s Faculty of Economics.

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CORPORATE ALEKSANDRA KESEROVIĆ, PRINCIPAL, BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL IN BELGRADE (BIS)

The School Of Lifelong Learning Devotees Over the past 20 years the British International School in Belgrade (BIS) has seen continual development, based on the motto “Success Comes to He Who Works”

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ritish International School is a regular member of the European Council of international Schools (ECIS), and a member of the Council of international Schools (COBIS). It is also recognised by both UK and Serbian educational ministries, and is an operator for the International Award for Young People (Duke of Edinburgh Award), which was established

by HRH Prince Phillip.

■ This year marks a significant anniversary of two decade since the establishment of the school in Serbia. What are the significant benchmarks that contributed to the development of the school?

- British International School’s development is reflected in an up-to-date approach to new trends in teaching and learning, which included provision of the latest teaching resources and expansion of our information technology facilities. This has resulted in steady growth of student numbers year after year and, consequently, in the expansion of our school facilities. BIS is recognised by various external educational authorities which serve as a benchmark in our operation, proving the quality of education that we stand for.

■ Much has changed in the meantime.

Which standards provide the basis for the work of the British International School today?

- The motto of our school is expressed in the Latin sentence: “Meret Qui Laborat” (Success Comes to He Who Works).

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We believe in the ability of our teachers to instil the love of lifelong learning in our students. Each student is encouraged to use and develop their critical thinking, problem solving and enquiry skills in an interactive process of teaching and learning in class. We believe that a student can become a lifelong learner only if they take ownership of their learning. We are proud of our alumni, who live and work throughout the world, and who have succeeded in their careers as doctors, lawyers, engineers, managers etc.

We believe in a holistic approach to education which implies that a student should develop not only their intellectual, but also their social, emotional and physical skills

■ During the teaching of your regular classes, you also insist on developing your students’ social and ethical values.

How do you manage to achieve this?

- We believe in a holistic approach to education which implies that a student should develop not only their intellectual, but also their social, emotional and physical skills.

This is accomplished through many extracurricular activities, such as drama, chess, pottery, music, national dances, ballet, karate, capoeira, swimming and team sports.

■ This year you are once again organising your traditional charity event. What are the main activities?

- Each year the school organises a Spring Charity Bazaar in May with a particularly chosen purpose to support a charitable cause within the local community. The BIS Spring Bazaars represent an opportunity for our whole school community (parents, students and teachers) to come together in supporting those in need. The participants include many embassies and companies, representatives of our Parent-Teacher Friends organization (PTF), as well as representatives of our Student Council. Colourful stalls spread across the school yard feature various national cuisines and national souvenirs. There is also a stage programme which, besides singing and dancing, includes a fashion show of national costumes from different countries.

I am taking this opportunity to invite all who wish to join us at this year’s BIS Spring Charity Bazaar to visit our primary campus at Užička Street 7a on 20th May. We look forward to hosting all the visitors who are keen to support us in collecting proceeds to buy beds and mattresses for mentally disabled young individuals living in the hospice in Sremčica. ■

Kobbler is a luxury footwear and accessories store, positioned in the pedestrian zone of Belgrade’s downtown. Kobbler’s team is formed out of passionate shoe lovers, brought together by a single vision – to introduce top quality footwear and accessories within a concept store.

Kobbler is the only shoe store in the region to carry legendary English handcrafted shoe brands such as Church’s, Tricker’s, Cheaney and Grenson, as well as premium quality shoe brands from Spain such as Magnanni and Berwick 1707.

Starting from the spring summer season of 2017, Kobbler is expanding its retail presence by introducing designer footwear for women from the likes of LK Bennett London, Aquatalia, Penelope Chilvers, Church’s, and Grenson. Kobbler is also the only place in town to offer stylishly handmade sneakers for both women and men from the likes of Filling Pieces.

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REGIONAL

NEWS

ENLARGEMENT “I think the enlargement question is, especially in the Western Balkans, an important question, but it has now become in a fraying international order a second order question.”— THOMAS KLEINE-BROCKOFF, Executive Director of the Berlin Office of the German Marshall Fund

CROATIA

ROMANIA

Seven Cities To Receive €345 mln From EU

Ford Employs 1,000 People

An agreement on conducting delegated activities, signed at government headquarters on Thursday, will provide Croatia’s seven largest cities with a total of €345 million from three EU funds.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

American car maker Ford has kicked off a massive recruitment campaign in Romania. The company will create 976 new jobs at its plant in Craiova, southern Romania, where it manufacturers the Bmax model and the engine 1.0 EcoBoost.

Bingo Bought Dita Tuzla The agreement relates to the implementation of the Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) mechanism and is part of the Competitiveness and Cohesion operational programme. Its signing is the first step toward decentralising the system for the management and control of the use of the European Social Fund, European Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Funds, with a part of these functions being delegated to the city level.

The purpose of the ITI mechanism is the urbanisation of less developed areas surrounding these cities and implementation of projects in those cities aimed at strengthening their economic development. The agreements were signed with the mayors of Osijek, Pula, Rijeka, Slavonski Brod, Zadar and Zagreb and the government’s commissioner for Split.

The sale Factory Dita from Tuzla was carried out by the system of free contract, and the committee of creditors’ of Dita, which is in bankruptcy, made a decision that was accepted by the Municipal Court in Tuzla.

“The committee of creditors’ accepted the offer of the company Bingo Ltd., current retail market leader in BiH, in the amount of 7,673,000 BAM ( €3.8 mln). With this purchase, Bingo promised to keep all 75 workers who are currently working in the factory and to continue with the production,” said Almir Bajric, Head of the Economic and Financial Service of Dita.

With the money from the sale, the full length of working experience of workers in Dita will be counted, confirmed Bajric, including those who are currently working, as well as those who are no longer working in this factory of detergents.

BULGARIA

BAT’s Further Investment British American Tobacco (BAT) announced that it has sign contracts for the purchasing of leading tobacco brands from Bulgartabak.

Bulgartabac’s Banja Luka-based tobacco factory, however, will remain property of the Bulgarian company. The value of the deal is over €100 million and reflects Bulgaria’s growing reputation as a country preferred by foreign investors. This is the biggest investment in this country for the current year.

BAT-Bulgaria is to become one of the five biggest tax payers in Bulgaria, immediately opening over 100 new job positions in production and another 1,000 in the sphere of distributions.

The company will make in Craiova the small-SUV model EcoSport, which required additional investments of €200 million.

In total, Ford has invested €1.2 billion in its Romanian plant.

At present, Ford has 2,715 employees at its manufacturing unit in Craiova.

Ford will manufacture in Craiova the new generation of the EcoSport model that will be distributed in Europe.

HUNGARY

First Direct Freight Train From China Arrives In Budapest The first direct freight train between China and Hungary arrived in Budapest, carrying more than $1 million worth of clothing, electronics, toys and steel. The 650-metres long train, carrying 41 shipping containers, travelled more than 10,000 kilometres over 17 days, passing through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland and Slovakia before arriving at Mahart Container Center terminal in the Port of Budapest. The head of Mahart Container Center and Ekol Hungary, which organised the delivery, marked the arrival of the train together with China’s ambassador to Hungary Jielong Duan and deputy state secretary for customs and international affairs Tamás Molnár.

Preparations are underway to upgrade the rail line between Budapest and Belgrade. The stretch is to become part of a transport corridor for Chinese goods bound for Europe.

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DIVISIONS “Balkan countries must implement reforms and work to overcome age-old divisions if they want to join the European Union.”— SIGMAR GABRIEL, Germany’s foreign minister MACEDONIA

IMF Predicts Economy To Grow By 3.2% in 2017

ALBANIA

NPL Decreased By €295 Million Albania’s banking system has removed around 12.6 billion lek (€93.3mln) in nonperforming loans from banks’ balance sheets in 2016.

Central Bank data show that the process of cleaning banks’ balance sheets from lost loans over the past three years also continued during the past year, contributing to the improvement of credit quality and further reduction of the non-performing loans ratio. According to the Bank of Albania, the non-performing loans write-off from balance sheets over past two years is estimated at around 40 billion lek, or €295 million. Despite the process of cleaning the Albanian banking system’s balance sheets, the overall NPL ratio still remains high, at around 18%.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that the Macedonian economy will grow by 3,2 per cent in 2017 and 3,4 per cent in 2018.

In its latest spring meeting review, it estimated that the Macedonian economy will grow by 3.8 per cent by 2020.

Albania will reach the highest level of growth in the region with 3,7 per cent, Kosovo’s GDP growth will reach 3,5, Montenegro 3,3 per cent, Serbia and Bosnia will grow three per cent, while EU members Bulgaria and Croatia will have 2.9% growth. The results will be similar by 2022.

Earlier in April, the World Bank estimated a growth rate of 2,8 per cent for Macedonia in 2017 and 3,3 per cent in 2018. Globally, the world economy is projected to grow by 3,5 per cent in 2017 and 3,6 per cent in 2018.

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CORPORATE RADOJKO JANIĆ, OWNER AND DIRECTOR, RADIJATOR INŽENJERING

High Recognition In The Right Hands The best entrepreneur in 2016, Radojko Janić, will represent Serbia in Monte Carlo and compete to win a new award

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he owner of the former “Radijator” craft workshop, which handled the installation and maintenance of central heating, is today the holder of the prestigious world award “Entrepreneur of the Year 2016”, which he was awarded by world famous company “Ernst & Young”. The award arrived in his hands thanks to the fact that over the course of 26 years he turned that craft workshop into a company producing a wide range of boilers, employing close to 400 employees and operating on the European market.

■ You are the best entrepreneur in 2016, and you received that recognition from world-renowned company Ernst & Young. What was the decisive factor in you receiving such a highly valued award?

- First of all, my receiving this esteemed recognition was influenced by many years of successful business, export orientation and product quality. It represents confirmation of a successful business policy, planned investments in the latest equipment and timely 36 |

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responses to market demands in terms of the modernisation of existing products and the construction of new ones.

of doing business. I particularly want to present a wide range of our products that work on pellets and biomass.

■ As the best entrepreneur in 2016 you will get the chance to represent Serbia in Monte Carlo and compete for the best possible ranking. Have you started preparing for that event; what do you intend to say to others and which of your products in particular do you intend to present?

- Preparations are underway, because my aim is to present my company and my country in the best possible way. My aim is to destroy the prejudices that still exist in Europe, and which we unfortunately still face in dealing with many European companies, when it comes to doing business with companies from Serbia. I would like to tell them that in Serbia there are many successful and serious companies that can respond to high business standards, in terms of quality and respect for agreed deadlines and other conditions

■ Your company has existed for 26 years and employs around 400 workers. According to your assessment, what is the economic environment for doing business like and does the state pay attention to companies that are doing well?

- My company has existed for 26 years and we have nearly 400 employees, with a tendency for further growth. I consider that the economic environment could be better and that the state should use some stimulating measures to contribute to the further development of successful companies, but also to assist companies that currently have difficulties with their operations. Under stimulating measures I’m implying reductions in taxes and contributions on earnings with the aim of creating new jobs, providing incentive credits from state funds for procuring equipment and other factors.

The state should use some stimulating measures to contribute to the further development of successful companies, but also to assist companies that have difficulties. Those measures should be expressed through reductions in taxes and contributions on earnings, in order to create new jobs, but also by providing incentive credits from state funds for procuring equipment

■ You have a wide range of products when it comes to boilers and water tanks, and you are known throughout the region. What is your recipe for success, considering that you started modestly and ended up receiving acclaimed world recognition?

- My recipe for success lies in persistence and timely responses to market demands. No single success comes overnight and it is very important to estimate market demands well, as well as to monitor all modern trends when it comes to your chosen domain. The motto our company is “Quality without compromise”, and I consider continuously improving one’s own production processes as being necessary for success. ■

CORPORATE ALEKSANDAR MANDIĆ, GENERAL MANAGER, UNIS USHA

European Quality Our steel wire ropes and connectors are well known for their quality all over the region and in our new facility we will be drawing wire

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uality has been the most important word for the UNIS USHA Company ever since it was established. The factory has already produced steel wire ropes and slings for 35 years and regional buyers look first to this manufacturer for them. The company also takes pride in its accredited laboratory for mechanical and chemical testing, boasting state-of-the-art equipment, certified by Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance, a London certification body.

■ You are the regional leader in manufacturing stainless steel cable. To which markets do you intend to expand?

- Our factory’s products are found on the markets of Serbia, B-H, Montenegro and, to a lesser extent, Macedonia and Croatia. Our future goal is to increase our presence on the Croatian and Macedonian markets, but we are also negotiating with some Austrian and Slovenian companies with regard to entering their markets.

■ For which products can you do quality testing in your laboratory?

- UNIS-USHA A.D. Višegrad has a laboratory accredited by BiH (BATA). We are certified for mechanical testing of metallic materials according to BAS EN ISO/ IEC 17025:2006 standards.

As our accrediting institute is a member of the European Federation of Associations of Accreditation Bodies, our certificate is recognised all over Europe. Besides our own products, we are engaged to test and certify products for third parties.

We are able to carry out mechanical testing of wire, all kinds of steel wire ropes, and slings.

The UNIS USHA Company boasts many certificates, including some issued by the most distinguished certification bodies, such as Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance of London, BATA Institute, SGS Group for global inspection, verification, testing and certification, TUV SUD Management Service GmbH, etc.

■ What quality standards and certifications do you have?

- The London certification body Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance has issued us the following certificates: Certificate for quality management

system standards BS ISO 9001:2008, BAS ISO 9001:2009 (pdf, 589 kb) Product certificate (pdf, 253 kb) Certificate for environmental management system (pdf, 384 kb) The Bosnia and Herzegovina Accreditation Institute (BATA) has issued us the following certificates: Accreditation for the mechanical testing of metallic substances according to standards BAS EN ISO/IEC 17025:2006 (pdf, 698 kd) The SGS Group, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, has issued us the following certificates: Product certificate according to standard ISO 10245:2003 (E) TÜV SÜD Management Service GmbH has issued us the following certificates: Certificate for results of the technical file (TF) (steel wire ropes 46mm, steel wire ropes and slings up to 46mm) (pdf, 356kb).

■ Will you develop new products as customers or the market demand?

- Our long-term business strategy involves continuous efforts to expand and innovate our present product range according to market demand and requirements.

We would also particularly like to draw attention to our completely novel plant for producing and drawing wire which, in addition to providing us with the intermediate material as required, will enable us to enter a completely new market. ■ M AY

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WORLD

NEWS

NORTH KOREA “North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them!”— DONALD TRUMP, U.S. President CHINA

US/JAPAN

Airport Building Spree The Xinjiang region plans to spend 14.4 billion yuan (US$2.1 billion) on the construction or expansion of 17 airports this year in an effort to enhance the region’s role as a transport terminal linking China with Central Asia.

Fourteen are transport airports located in Urumqi, Kashgar, Aksu, Yining, Korla and Altay, as well as some counties including Zhaosu, Yutian and Shache. The other three are general airports. Shache Airport will be the first to be completed this year. It will be the 19th transport airport in Xinjiang. Urumqi International Airport will add two runways and a new terminal building covering 450,000 square metres, with its annual passenger and cargo throughput rising to 48 million people and 550,000 tonnes respectively.

Japan, U.S. To Set Joint Rule On Customer Info The Japanese and U.S. governments plan to establish a common rule on the management and utilisation of customer information INDIA

Gazprom To Help Ensure Indian Energy Security India is the world’s fourth largest consumer of liquefied natural gas (LNG). According to Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller, India’s demand for imported gas is steadily increasing. By 2020, the demand will rise threefold, while by 2030 demand is expected to rise sixfold. Domestic gas production in India is expected to rise to 146.87 million metric standard cubic metres per day in 2018-19, but this will only be sufficient to cover 30 per cent of India’s demand.

Russian gas giant Gazprom will begin supplying 2.5 million metric tonnes (mt) of LNG annually to India from 2018. Gazprom’s subsidiary, Gazprom Marketing & Trading Singapore, supplier, while Indian state oil and gas company Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) will be the recipient.

LNG supplies to India can be made from a plant in Sakhalin, as well as from the new Yamal LNG plant. The first phase of the Yamal LNG project will be launched in 2017.

UK

One In Five Businesses Has Suffered A Cyberattack The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has called for all organisations to improve their cyebrsecurity provisions after revealing that one in five businesses in the UK has been the victim of an attack within the last year. A BCC survey found that big businesses are far more likely to be hit, with 42 per cent of firms with more than 100 staff falling foul of cyber criminals, compared to 18 per cent for those with less than 99 employees.

Businesses are predominantly relying on IT providers (63 per cent) to resolve issues after an attack, compared to banks and financial institutions (12 per cent) or police and law enforcement (2 per cent).

Worryingly, 21 per cent of businesses in the UK believe the threat of cybercrime is preventing their company from growing. But, despite the threat, just 24 per cent of businesses have cyber security accreditations in place.

U.S. President DONALD TRUMP and Japanese Prime Minister SHINZO ABE

that Japanese and U.S. companies obtain in either country, aiming to make it easier for businesses to use the information in their sales strategies, according to sources. Each country has different regulations regarding the use of customer information, and companies are required to go through complicated procedures.Therefore,bothgovernmentswill establish a common rule, the sources said.

GERMANY

Siemens, Bombardier Negotiation On Uniting Rail Operations Talks about uniting the rail operations of Germany’s Siemens and Canada’s Bombardier are being complicated by the desire of both companiestokeepcontrolofamergedbusiness.

Antitrust issues and political considerations could also ultimately make a deal to create a company with combined sales of $16 billion hard to pull off, industry experts said.

SWITZERLAND

Credit Suisse Cuts Exec Bonuses

Credit Suisse chief TIDJANE THIAM

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Credit Suisse’s chief and other top executives offered to have their bonuses slashed by 40 per cent, following investor concern over the size of their proposed compensation packages.

Credit Suisse chief Tidjane Thiam and the bank’s executive board proposed that the “long-term incentive awards for 2017 and short-term incentive awards for 2016 ... be reduced by 40 per cent each,” according to a statement. The board of directors would also leave its compensation unchanged at the same level as 2015 and 2016, and would not accept a proposed incremental increase.

“My highest priority is to see through the turnaround of Credit Suisse which is under way,” Thiam said in a letter to shareholders.

The two groups are talking about a joint venture that could compete better with Chinese state-backed market leader CRRC, which is expanding aggressively abroad and would still be twice their combined size by revenue.

A Bombardier-Siemens combination could run into anti-trust issues, as it did last time it surfaced, with significant overlap particularly in Germany. But in a global context the arrival of CRRC has changed the shape of the industry and Europe could be interested in creating a strong competitor to the emerging Chinese challenge.

COMMUNICATION “China advocates to resolve the issue through peaceful means, and is willing to maintain communication and coordination with the U.S. on the Korean Peninsula issue.” — XI JINPING, Chinese President BELGIUM

Lloyd’s Move Its European Hub To Brussels Insurance and financial services firm Lloyd’s of London has chosen Brussels as its European hub.

Lloyd’s is one of the first financial services firms to announce this type of move. Lloyd’s has always been very clear about the need for an EU subsidiary if Britain has no access to the single market after leaving the EU. The announcement comes just one day after Britain triggered Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon’s Treaty, to start the divorce with Europe, the beginning a difficult two-year process.

Lloyd’s is a firm with a long tradition in Britain. It centres on specialist insurance and reinsurance of a whole range of things, from oil rigs to athletes’ legs.

It is not clear how many jobs this will bring to Brussels, but Reuters quoted Chairman John Nelson as saying that the Brussels subsidiary would employ dozens of staff - in areas such as compliance and information technology - unlike banks which have said they may move hundreds of staff to the EU.

FRANCE

Paris The 2nd Largest Hub For Innovation Companies The Financial Times, in partnership with Statista, has published the very first “FT 1000”, a list of European companies achieving the highest percentage growth in revenues between 2012 and 2015.

No fewer than 45 of the companies on the list are based in Paris, making the French capital the second largest hub for innovation and commerce in the EU after London (78), followed by Milan (34) and Berlin (32).

Management consulting firm Theano Advisors is the highest French company in the ranking (8th), with a compound annual growth rate of 288%. Comme j’aime, specialising in nutritionally balanced dishes, took 37th place, while universal SIM card connectivity solution provider Matooma came in 51st. In all, there are a total of 13 French companies in the top 100, including Adxperience, Bébé Boutik, Lemonway and Madgik.

France is ranked first in Europe for the number of fastest growing companies in the technology sector, with 45 companies, ahead of the United Kingdom (42), Germany (30), Italy (17) and Spain (6).

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CORPORATE

AUDUN FARBROT, HEAD OF SCIENCE COMMUNICATION AT NORWEGIAN BUSINESS SCHOOL BI

Sharing The Knowledge: Changing People And Societies Audun Farbrot is the author of two books on science communication and Head of Science Communication at Scandinavia’s leading business school, the second largest such school in Europe. He works every day on sharing knowledge and changing communities for the better step by step

■ There must be some challenges as hen writing a text, whether and experts succeeding in sharing and comwell - what are they and how do you municating their knowledge to new audia memo, an article or a book, deal with them? ences, either through the media or directly it is all about the words, - I believe challenges really are core elements to practitioners in business life or public phrases and sentences. of meaningful jobs. In a nutshell, my work organisations. I invite knowledge workYou can’t hide your message and thoughts consists of making people do things they ers to challenge and expand their comfort behind a great look, charming smile, eye didn’t even think they were up to, with few zones and train them to be more effective contact with your audience, funny stories or or no direct incentives to do so, and with appealing body language. So you really absolutely no time available to do that. have to work hard on presenting your The best moments in my work Sounds like mission impossible, right? ideas, thoughts and perspectives in an What I can offer is personal advice to inare undoubtedly when I crease the chances of succeeding in geteffective language. experience young, talented ting an article published in the media, for researchers and experts example. In many ways, you might say, I ■ You work on helping scientists and am a communication coach or personal researchers share and communicate succeeding in sharing and trainer in public communication. It is fair their knowledge with the world, so that communicating their say that some professors at universisocieties benefit from science-based knowledge to new audiences to ties and research institutions behave like findings and research, the general communicators. Seeing them getting out prima donna’s, in many different ways. But public becomes more interested in science of their ivory towers and sparkling in the they are also humans, who flourish when and fellow scientists get more excited, connected and creative. What an interesting public limelight gives me a strong feeling other people show interest in their work. job! What are some of the best moments or of meaning. It also make me happy to see That mechanism makes mission impossible experiences regarding your work? examples of value creation in society as a actually possible, after all.

- You are absolutely right; this really is a result of public communication of researchfantastic job, simply a dream job. When ■ Your second book, Social media for scibased insights and knowledge. I believe entists, PR consultants and experts, has I wake up in the morning I am looking strongly that science communication is a been translated and published in Serbia. forward to contributing to changing the powerful tool leading to better decisions Both Serbian and Norwegian could be world, at least a little, every day. The best among politicians and business leaders, called “small” languages when it comes moments in my work are undoubtedly when smarter ways of doing things and new to the number of people who speak them.

I experience young, talented researchers products and services.

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Is it important for science communication and knowledge sharing to try and use “smaller” languages more?

- Language is not only a practical tool for written and verbal communication, but is also a bearer of culture, history and national identity. On the other hand, I believe that sharing science and research-based knowledge across national borders is the best way to create a better world and a better future for our children. My answer to this might be slightly inspired by Winnie the Pooh confronted with the question “Honey or condensed milk with your bread?” I think we should communicate knowledge both in our “small” national languages and in English, which holds the position as the international language of Science and Research, whether we like it or not.

■ Was this the first translation of your book? How did it feel?

Where you excited, surprised… when you heard the news?

- I had already been thinking about translating my book into a foreign language, but I have to admit that Serbia was not the first country I was thinking about.

So, I was surprised and delighted when my publisher told me they had been contacted by Belgrade-based publishing house Kovačnica priča. This is the first translation of my second book.

And now that the book has materialised and is published, I think it is really cool.

■ Speaking of the book, we can say that the idea of sharing knowledge through social media is relevant, useful and inspiring. But scientists, researchers and different experts are usually already (too) busy with multiple projects and duties.

Why should they use their time for social media as well? How do you motivate them to do so at BI Norwegian Business School, where you’re in charge of science communication?

- It is not enough to tell them why they should consider sharing knowledge via social media, rather you also have to demonstrate the effects and possible advantages

of doing so. In addition, it’s important to help them getting started.

Here are some of the benefits I demonstrate through practical examples and evidence from research on science communication.

Experts who use social media in communicating knowledge increase the probability of being found in the way she or he wants to be found – for their professional expertise.

By sharing knowledge you also strengthen your academic recognition, and contribute to

Content is king, even in Social Media. The key to success is regularly sharing knowledge and insights of interest, relevance and value for your readers increased value creation for society.

Thus, Social Media can be much more than media and communications channels.

To paraphrase William Shakespeare: “To be found or not to be found” online matters.

■ Is there any special advice, tips or inspiration you would share with a scientist wanting to try to communicate their knowledge through social media?

- Content is king, even in Social Media.

The key to success is regularly sharing knowledge and insights of interest, relevance and value for your readers. You need a website for publishing content, for example a web page, blog or home page.

This is your knowledge hub. In addition,

you should consider using one or two services for sharing this content, for example LinkedIN, Twitter or Facebook. And you really have to listen to the conversations of other people on social networks. That’s an inherent part of being social and really communicating with people.

■ During your studies at BI Norwegian Business School, you were on exchange at ESCP Europe in Paris. As someone who works in an international environment at the second largest business school in Europe, It’s a safe bet to say that you deal with intercultural communication a lot as well. Are there significant cultural differences in the ways we communicate?

- The most important factor in communication, whether in a local or an international context, is to know your audience. Every audience is unique and different from every other audience.

There are cultural differences between people from different parts of Norway and these differences may in some cases be larger than the differences between Norwegians and, for example, Danes or Swedes. To overcome cultural differences you really have to be willing to be open and learn as much about the people you are to communicate with, and be able to adapt your communication accordingly.

■ What are some of the main things to remember when communicating with Norwegians - whether that is business, science or general communication?

- Norwegians might appear shy and distant until you get to know them. They are not world masters in phrases of politeness; they tend to be very direct in their communication. Norwegians believe in equality, living in a social democracy with relatively small power distances. Gender equality is also important. The typical Norwegian is future-orientated and enjoys planning their activities, both at work and in their leisure time. Norwegians score relatively high on people-orientation and like working in teams and groups. ■ M AY

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By BJARKE SMITH-MEYER

ECONOMY

Greek Bailout Package Moves Forward The Greek government took a step closer to securing its next disbursement of bailout cash after it reached an interim deal on the latest round of reform commitments for its €86 billion bailout program

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“policy” agreement on “the size, timing and sequencing of the reforms” was announced announced following the recent Eurogroup meeting of eurozone finance ministers in Malta.

The deal allows officials from the EU institutions and the International Monetary Fund to travel back to Athens “as soon as possible” to iron out the technical details and conclude the so-called “second review” of the rescue package.

Greece and its creditors had been at loggerheads for months to move the bailout package forward, and all parties welcomed the announcement which — for now — allays fears of a repeat of a Greek-triggered eurozone-wide crisis in the summer of 2015.

Time is running out for the Greeks, who face a €7 billion bill in maturing government debt and interest payments in July. Without the next disbursement of bailout cash, Greece may not have sufficient funds to pay its dues.

“The Greek economy in the first half of last year was picking up, and that momentum is slipping away from us,” Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem said. “So we really need to work fast and have [the second review] done well in time for the next payment that Greece needs to make the disburse42 |

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ments that are needed for that.”

But many more steps remain before all stakeholders can announce a political deal on the review, which is a vital precursor for IMF participation that countries like Germany and the Netherlands are insisting on.

Nonetheless, the latest breakthrough has officials eyeing a formal agreement by 22nd May, when eurozone finance ministers gather for their next Eurogroup meeting in Brussels.

To complete the final agreement, Greece’s creditors will have to discuss with the IMF what is meant by “medium-term” in relation to the budget surplus target As part of the agreed-upon policy deal, the Greek government will soon write into law intended cuts to its pension and tax policies to secure its budget surplus target of 3.5 per cent of GDP and maintain it for the “medium term,” once the bailout programme ends in mid-2018. Pension cuts are expected to take place in 2019, while changes to Greece’s tax policies should come into effect in 2020.

In return, the Hellenic government will be able to prepare growth-spurring initiatives, which can be introduced

with any extra cash that Greece collects in the event that it overshoots the 3.5 per cent budget surplus target.

Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos hailed the “substantial agreement” even though it involved “more delays than I’d like to have seen,” adding that “all parties must take some share of the responsibility for that delay.”

To complete the final agreement, Greece’s creditors will have to discuss with the IMF what is meant by “medium-term” in relation to the budget surplus target.

Once that’s agreed, an economic forecast for Greece must be made and potential debt-reducing measures crafted before the IMF can conduct its debt-sustainability analysis.

Then, IMF staff will present their conclusions to its board in Washington, which has the ultimate say on whether the Fund should participate in the current Greek bailout package, or walk away.

Only then can Greece’s creditors agree on a disbursement figure that will allow Athens to meet its debt payment in July.

“We need a deal very quickly,” Tsakalotos said. “There are very few actors, if any at all, that want another Greek crisis.” ■

PROFILE

Hard work, Curiosity, Persistence I am a first-hand witness and proud contributor to the bold and decisive transformation of PMI from a traditional cigarette manufacturer to a modern and dynamic company promoting a smoke-free world, as featured by our breakthrough innovation - IQOS

JELENA PAVLOVIĆ Managing Director of Philip Morris International for Southeast Europe

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y professional path is the result of my deep belief and firm commitment to certain values and behaviour – hard and honest work, curiosity to understand ‘why’ and learn ‘how’, and persistence – coupled with the privilege of working for a company that embraces those values and embodies them in its internal culture.

I am a lawyer by education, having completed my MA studies at the Belgrade Faculty of Law. As a young professional, I spent some time in the academic environment studying international law. My first practical experience came with a decision to take on a role serving the U.S. Treasury and the World Bank, enriched later with leadership experience on international projects. All this prepared me well for what has so far been a 14-year career with one of the largest international companies in the World - Philip Morris International (PMI).

From March 2003 until today, I have grown though nine different positions – from Corporate Affairs Executive in charge of Serbia, to my current role as Managing Director for Southeast Europe, where I am in charge of a large

organisation and highly complex business on six regional markets. For me, a sense of personal fulfilment comes hand in hand with the pride of achieving great business results, which my team continues to deliver year on year.

I owe most of my success and satisfaction to the fact that I work with professionals of the highest calibre – both at the international level and here in Southeast Europe. Together we persistently grow, learn, discover and celebrate new highs.

PMI is a company that respects all those values upon which I have based my professional life - hard and honest work, intellectual curiosity and embracing challenges Our high today is called IQOS, a breakthrough innovation in the tobacco industry! It is very exciting to be a first-hand witness and proud contributor to the bold and decisive transformation of PMI from a traditional cigarette manufacturer to a modern and dynamic company promoting a smoke-free world, as heralded by IQOS. The magnitude of this transformation is largely reflected in symbols: while the traditional

PMI stronghold brand Marlboro was associated for years with the “macho” cowboy, today the symbol of IQOS, PMI’s product for the 21st century, is a hummingbird, a delicate being which takes only the nectar out of the plant on which it feeds, leaving the nature untouched.

What is IQOS? It is a device leveraging the breakthrough heat control technology that is used with specially designed tobacco HeatSticks. Real tobacco is heated and not burned, and the consumer gets the nicotine and the taste of real tobacco, but without smoke, without ash, without the unpleasant smell or negative impacts on the environment. Actually, IQOS retains all that smokers enjoy and eliminates most of the things that bother both them and non-smokers alike.

The level of pride and excitement that I feel about IQOS could hardly be described in words. What I find most important – I believe in IQOS with all of my heart. I am fascinated, not only professionally but also personally, by this potentially less harmful, and certainly better, alternative to cigarettes. I and many of my colleagues, along with more than 1.8 million people worldwide who are former smokers, are now in a pursuit of a smoke free world.  M AY

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ART MARKET: PREDICTION FOR 2017

Trends To

EXPECT THIS YEAR

Amidst the gloomy predictions for 2017, a year with which Achille Mbembe announces the ending of the era of humanism, making any predictions regarding art market trends may seem an impossible, if not an obsolete, task. The beginning of this year was marked by rising prices and auction records for artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Claude Monet, but also falling sales in New York and London

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candals also stirred the art world, including both Sotheby’s and Christie’s being investigated for money-laundering.

The investigation ended positively for the auction houses, with neither of them ultimately being charged, while Jho Low, a Malaysian businessman who was entangled in the story, also fought off the claims. Other reported incidents include a dispute between an American billionaire, Leon Black, and the royal family of Qatar over a Pablo Picasso sculpture. When it comes to the art market, the next year will follow some paths established in 2016, but exhibitions planned at MOMA and elsewhere will also stir the market in new directions.

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So, here are the lists and statistics for 2016, as well as forecasts for 2017, while we also teased out certain dominant trends that shed some light on what we can expect next year.

CONTEMPORARY ART MARKET CONTINUES TO RISE The number of contemporary artworks sold at auctions in 2016 totals tens of thousands. The market for this type of works has increased considerably over the last few decades, due to globalisation, internet auctions and sales, as well as an increasing number of museums that promote contemporary art. By looking at results since

2000, we can notice 14.7-fold increase in sales over the last 16 years. During the same period, the auction turnover reached an increase in volume of an astonishing 1,370%. Various factors contributed to this, including ease of access to information on art market, moving of sales and auctions online, an increase in the number of art buyers and their lower average age, as well as the expanding of the market to encompass India, South Africa, Asia, the Pacific Rim and South America. Fascinating data that more museums have been built between 2000 and 2014 than in the previous two centuries additionally explains the growth in the market, which is now also being spurred by the museum industry.

CLAUDE MONET – Water Lilies

RENEWED INTEREST IN RUSSIAN ART An exhibition of Russian art covering the period from 1912 to 1935 will be held at New York’s MOMA museum in 2017, commemorating the centenary of the October Revolution. Radical abstract works were produced during this period, including Kazimir Malevich’s Black Square. The Tate Modern in London is also planning two exhibitions for autumn 2017 that will focus on the Russian scene. Following these tendencies, the art market responded with an increase in prices, and in November 2016 an auction record was set for Alexander Rodchenko at Sotheby’s. His Construction No.95 sold for the hammer price of $4.4 million.

Claude Ruiz, the son of Pablo Picasso, describes the Russian avant-garde as revolutionary, and as a leap into the future. Perhaps this is what is causing art from Russia to move to the fore of market interests for 2017 – it represents the promise of a radical change that is needed now more than ever.

AFRICA It has been a good year for art, especially from an African perspective.

With “African Perspectives” at the New York Armory Show in March, curators Julia Grosse and Yvette Mutumba steered the focus towards 14 galleries that are presenting works from Africa and the Diaspora.

Half a year later, the fourth edition of 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair at London’s Somerset House attracted record numbers of visitors. And also the art fair AKAA (Also known as Africa) in Paris in November reported sales by all of the 30 galleries represented.

On the continent itself, the Cape Town Art Fair in February attracted major local names like Goodman, Stevenson and Momo, as well as international dealers from London, Italy and Germany.

JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT – Boxer

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KAZIMIR MALEVICH - Black Square

The already successful Joburg Art Fair almost doubled its sales, while the still young Art X Lagos Fair in early November saw a significant number of works sold to mainly Nigerian collectors.

The success of these fairs reflects the growing interest in contemporary art production from Africa, both on the continent itself and abroad. Young and established collectors are banking on potential price increases. Others expand their international collections, with established names like El Anatsui, Yinka Shonibare, William Kentridge or Wangechi Mutu. At the same time, the success of the Beauté Congo Kitoko exhibition at Fondation Cartier in Paris also caused a sensation.

THE DELIBERATE USE OF AUCTION DATA Two recent purchases by Sotheby’s and Artnet of Mei Art Indices and Tutela Capital set the scene for what we can expect in 2017 when it comes to novel art market strategies.

Interest in the collection and analysis of auction sales and prices data shows us the way that the art market plans to move forward. Mei Art Moses is a database company that follows trends on value changes of artworks over time, by following the repeat

of auction sales. Tutela Capital, headed by Fabian Bocart, is also an analytical firm that deals with auction prices. While some criticised these moves, the financial world commended them, emphasising that data use will help understand how art fits into the broader financial market. For buyers, these purchases correspond with bigger plans for future development, including initiatives to attract new collectors and investors who would receive a clearer picture of risks and the status of the art market through this data. What remains uncharted, however, is the private sector and galleries that do not disclose their sales data, and this would be the next step for companies dealing with art to tackle.

STEADY INCREASE IN ONLINE SALES A painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat sold on Instagram for $24 million in November 2016, representing an unprecedented event that probably heralds a new era in online auctioning and sales. The painting was sold for more than triple the $7.3 million that it fetched at auction in 2007.

So far, the annual rate of increase in online art market sales has been 24 per cent, and it is expected to reach $9.58 billion by 2020. Internet art buyers spent $155 million in 2016, which is a 20 per cent increase on the previous year. The background of buyers is also changing, with tech-savvy generations participating in online bids. Almost half of all internet buyers were new to auction houses that also set some records – Christie’s number of online-only buyers doubled in 2016.

AN INSTALLATION VIEW OF THE RUSSIAN AVANT-GARDE SHOW BY GALERIE GMURZYNSKA

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FOCUS ON REGIONS AND AGE GROUPS The art market was concentrated around Western buyers for years, but in recent years Asian collectors stepped up, which resulted in significant restructuring of the market and the rescheduling of events. Major auction houses decided to delay their London sales for 2017 until after the Chinese New Year. Branches of the biggest art galleries are opening in Asia, including a branch of David Zwirner. To illustrate, it is worth noting that Phillips sold $50 million worth of contemporary art, design and watches in YAYOI KUSAMA SOLD HER WORKS FOR $53.8 MILLION IN 2016 November in Hong Kong.

2017 IN ART: Along with market increases in the East, galleries, auction houses SUMMARISING TRENDS and museums placed a focus on artists from young and older age It seems that the art market in 2017 will continue the practise of groups in 2016. Works by creative artists like Harold Ancart, born defining and developing novel strategies to attract buyers and expand in 1980, and Korakrit Arunanondchai, born in 1986, sold within a its reliability regarding predictions and investment risks. Developing few hours at Art Basel Miami Beach. The older generation is also a buyer base and moving business to the online world to a greater advancing strongly, with 101-year-old artist Carmen Herrera selling extent will follow on the already positive trends in this sphere. Reone of her canvases for $970,000 and showing a solo exhibition at Whitney Museum, while 87-year-old Yayoi Kusama sold her works newed interest in Russian art seems to come not just from historical for an astonishing $53.8 million in 2016, and will have solo shows justifications, but also from the political circumstances of the moment, at Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington in 2017. and that will surely create demand and lead to price increases for these works. Finally, all CARMEN HERRERA – Costa del Sol forecasts predict that the market for contemporary art will continue to increase, while the interest in young and older generation artists will remain steady, thanks to positive trends in these sectors, which proved to be reliable assets in a globalised art market world. â–

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FACES & PLACES

SEE MORE WWW.CORDMAGAZINE.COM 29.03.2017

Turkish Airlines’ Agency Award Night Turkish Airlines, the best airline in Europe for the 6th consecutive year, organised an agency award night at Belgrade’s MEHMET ALAGÖZ, General Manager Hyatt Regency Hotel. of Turkish Airlines for Serbia On this occasion, General Manager of Turkish Airlines for Serbia, Mehmet Alagöz, hosted numerous guests, including H.E. Tanju Bilgiç, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Serbia, other representatives of the diplomatic corps, media representatives and business partners.

The event saw Turkish Airlines award tourist agencies in Serbia with the best sales results in 2016 in the categories: group sales, increased sales, business class sales and total sales. During the event, Turkish Airlines promoted its three newly established exotic destinations – Seychelles, Zanzibar and Havana – as well as Phuket, to which flights will be launched as of July.

Turkish Airlines team WITH H.E. TANJU BILGIÇ AND MEHMET ALAGÖZ 05.04.2017

AHK Members Dinner The traditional dinner of AHK Members brought together almost a hundred members of the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce at Crown Plaza Hotel, with the guest of honour’s speech provided by member of the Fiscal Council Vladimir Vučković, who spoke on the subject of the current state and prospects of the VLADIMIR VUČKOVIĆ Serbian economy. He pointed out that Serbia’s GDP has surpassed the level of the pre-crisis period and noted that it is positive that growth is being driven by exports and investment.

Discussions also covered the topic of unemployment rates, based on the results of the Labor Force Survey and the realistic picture, while it was noted that exports are growing faster than imports, that the deficit is declining, inflation is low and that, although the budget deficit has fallen, public debt still remains high. The Host of the evening, DR RONALD topics generated great interest among SEELIGER, AHK President those in attendance, who had the opportunity - during lectures and at the following cocktail reception – to receive answers to numerous questions from Professor Vučković and other economic leaders in attendance.

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06.04.2017

Royal Easter Charity Bazaar HRH Crown Prince Alexander and Princess Katherine officially opened this year’s Easter Bazaar of handicraft items made by female refugees and children with special needs.

The officially opening of the bazaar at the Stadion Shopping Centre was attended by senior state officials, representatives of the diplomatic corps and numerous guests from the cultural and public life of Serbia.

“It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the traditional festive Easter Bazaar. You have the opportunity to see beautiful handicrafts made by creative women and their associations. These ladies were forced to leave the safety of their homes and create an alternative life far from their homes. All proceeds from the bazaar are intended to support these women and their associations. I wish everyone much success and thank you for your great support. Christ is risen! Happy upcoming Easter,” said HRH Crown Prince ALEXANDER and Princess KATHERINE HRH Princess Katherine.

05.04.2017

Centenary Of Diplomatic Relations Between Serbia And Spain The Archives of Serbia provided the venue for a ceremony to commemorate the centenary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Serbia and Spain, while there will also be an exhibition of documents and the presenting of the book “The Kingdom of Serbia and Kingdom of Spain.

Documents”.

H.E. MIGUEL FUERTES SUAREZ (left) and Alongside First Serbian IVICA DAČIĆ, First Serbian Deputy PM Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dačić, participants were also addressed by Novica Antić, State Secretary at the Ministry of Culture and Information, H.E. Miguel Fuertes Suarez, Ambassador of thre Kingdom of Spain to Serbia, Enrique Camacho Garcia, director of the Cervantes Institute in Belgrade, Severiano Fernandez Vincente, director of the Spanish state archives, and Dr Miroslav Perišić, director of the Archives of Serbia.

07.04.2017

Meeting On Public Administration Reform Belgrade’s Sava Centre has hosted a meeting on public administration reform via the development of e-services, under the organisation of the Ministry of State Administration and Local Self-Government, the National Alliance for Local Economic Development (NALED) and the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM).

The meeting with local government representatives saw the presenting of plans and concrete steps towards the transition to the electronic exchange of data for the needs of administrative procedures and the development of registries in electronic format - e-government fields – the implementation of which will begin in 2017, with the aim of establishing a modern system of public administration that will function as an effective service for citizens and businesses. The Ministry, NALED and SCTM presented examples of good practice in the introdction of electronic services that have contributed to increasing the efficiency of local administration.

ĐORĐE STANIČIĆ (Left), IVAN BOŠNJAK, Minister ANA BRNABIĆ, VIOTELA JOVANOVIĆ, NALED director, JELENA BOJOVIĆ and IVAN MILIVOJEVIĆ 08.04.2017

Romanian Easter The Embassy of Romania and Romanian Ambassador H.E. Dr Oana-Cristina Popa hosted an Easter Exhibition, with guests at the opening including members of the diplomatic corps, repH.E. DR OANA-CRISTINA POPA (middle) with members of the Romanian community in Serbia resentatives of the Romanian national minority and figures from the culture scene, as well as representatives of business and media organisations.

The exhibition featured arts and crafts from the Romanian community in Serbia, a presentation of traditions and exhibitions of local products, painted eggs, wine and Easter cake tasting, as well as a charity sale of Romanian wines and sweets.

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FACES & PLACES

SEE MORE WWW.CORDMAGAZINE.COM 19.04.2017

In the presence of Serbian Agriculture and Environmental protection Minister Branislav Nedimović, H.E. Kyle Scott, U.S. Ambassador, and H.E. Philip Pinnington, Canadian Ambassador, company Sekopak has opened Serbia’s first dam for defence against packaging waste in Batnjik on the River Raška.

The formal opening of the dam was also attended by Raška Mayor Ignjat Rakitić and representatives of Sekopak and the Apatin Brewery.

The newly-opened network of dams serves to collect waste packaging from river flows, thereby preventing the pollut- Mayor IGNJAT RAKITIĆ and Minister BRANISLAV NEDIMOVIĆ ing of rivers.

Minister BRANISLAV NEDIMOVIĆ, Mayor IGNJAT RAKITIĆ, H.E. KYLE SCOTT, H.E. PHILIP PINNINGTON and VLADIMIR NOVAKOVIĆ, member of the Sekopak management board and general manager of Apatin Brewery 21.04.2017

Serbian Army Day Commemorated

ZORAN ĐORĐEVIĆ (left) and LJUBIŠA DIKOVIĆ

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The Day of the Army of Serbia was marked with military ceremonies and wreath and flower laying ceremonies at the memorials to fallen soldiers at all command centres, units and institutions. The ceremony at the House of Guards in Topčider was attended by Serbian Army Chief of Staff Ljubiša Diković, Interior Minister Nebojša Stefanović, Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić, Energy Minister Aleksandar Antić, Deputy Speakder of the National Assembly Igor Bečić, military analyst Miroslav Lazanski, Serbian Patriarch Irinej, as well as other Serbian religious dignitaries.

Guests also included representatives of foreign embassies, parliamentarians and other figures from the country’s social life.

The ceremony began with the audience being addressed by Serbian Defence Minister Zoran Đorđević, who welcomed those in attendance as host and publicly thanked soldiers and officers.

First Century Of Swedish-Serbian Diplomatic Relations

As part of celebrations marking the centenary of the establishing of diplomatic relations between Sweden and Serbia, H.E Jan Lundin, Ambassador of Sweden, and his spouse, Mrs Milica Lundin, organised various events, starting with the Swedish Culinary Diplomacy Week (20th-27th April) at Belgrade’s Đorđe Restaurant.

In the pleasant atmosphere created by Ambassador and Mrs Lundin, representatives of political, diplomatic and cultural circles in Serbia had the opportunity to sample mainly organic dishes from menus often served at dinners in Swedish residences and to taste MRS MILICA LUNDIN welcomes different gastronomic specialities and wines. guests Photo: Aleksandar Andjić

First Dam For Defence Against Packaging Waste

Photo: Aleksandar Andjić

11.04.2017

26.04.2017

NALED Members Select New Leadership The Assembly of the National Alliance for Local Economic Development, NALED, has selected a new Board of Directors that will lead the alliance over the next four years: Goran Kovačević, CEO of Gomex, Aleksandar Ružević, General Manager of Coca-Cola H.E. JULIA FEENEY accepts HBC, Stanka Pejanović, General Manager of Gorenje, NALED’s award Vojislav Genić, SAP Director of the Public Sector for Central and Eastern Europe, and Vladimir Novaković, general manager of Apatin Brewery; then three representatives from the rankes of local governments – Vladan Vasić, Mayor of Pirot, Dušanka Golubović, Mayor of Sombor, and Goran Cvetanović, Mayor of Leskovac, as well as Dragana Čukić, Member of the Management Board of ACES, as the representative of civil society organisations within NALED’s membership.

The Assembly also selected the new composition of the Supervisory Board: Marija Gardzić, Human Resources Director at DIS, Boban Đurović, President of the Municipality of Vrnjačka Banja, Gordana Bukumirić, Chair of the Executive Board of Uniqa osiguranje, Vladislav Cvetković, CEO of PWC, and Igor Anić, member of the Executive Board of ProCredit Bank. This occasion also included the presenting of NALED’s Strela Award to Member of Parliament Arpad Fremond, and Australian Ambassador H.E. Julia Feeney.

INTERVIEW

The Right Place For Accurate And Reliable Advice Members of the National Association cover more than two thirds of Serbia’s foreign trade in the field of transport and customs operations. Thanks to the association’s professional support and useful advice, its membership is constantly growing SLAVOLJUB JEVTIĆ President of the National Association of freight forwarders and agents Transport i Logistika

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e spoke with Slavoljub Jevtić, President of the national association of shipping companies and agents Transport i Logistika, about the association’s activities, business development in this sector and the institutional environment in which the members operate.

• How many members does your association have today and what is the membership structure?

- The National Association (NA) was established under the name of PU Transport i Logistika in 2003, with the primary

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purpose of associating to address the systemic issues of the profession.

At the moment it has more than 70 members, over 50 of which are active.

According to available data, NA members cover over 70% of Serbia’s foreign trade in the field of transportation and customs brokerage.

The membership structure includes small companies with just a few employees, but also companies that have almost two thousand experts in transportation, warehousing, distribution and customs brokerage.

We are especially satisfied with the continuous increase in NA membership.

• What services do you offer your members?

- NA provides its members with essential system information, as well as daily operational information. NA hires external experts who have an advisory role in interpreting and applying certain regulations in the field of customs procedures, transport, application of tax regulations, foreign exchange operations, etc.

Our website, which is very well visited, provides a lot of general information, while the closed part of the site, accessible only to members, stores legislation, decisions, regulations,

proclamations, and other documents of the responsible government and regulatory authorities that members can freely use in their work.

NA is also a platform where members can discuss or point out an individual or systemic problem and get an immediate response. NA is in constant communication with several responsible ministries, and participates in a permanent working group with the Customs Administration to resolve operational and systemic issues • In your opinion, what are the key achievements of the association since its establishment until today?

- I think that our greatest achievement is that NA is recognised as a professional, safe and reliable partner, which cares not only about the interests of the profession, but of the entire business environment. Certainly it gives us

great pleasure that many international partners contact us to provide them with updated information on the business environment, and on individual companies with whom they want to cooperate in Serbia.

Our association is recognised as a professional and reliable partner that cares about the interests of the profession. Many international partners contact us to provide them with updated information • In which national and international professional organizations does the association represent its members?

- NA keeps regular contact especially with the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, the PU Medjunarodni Transport, the first professional chamber Med-

junarodni Transport i Logistika and we will soon sign an agreement with the Serbian Logistics Association. NA also collaborates with similar organisations and associations in the region, and during our assembly, to be held on 23rd May 2017, I expect the beginning of cooperation with the European Logistics Association and its members.

Of course, there are other associations and organisations with which we work closely but with which we are not closely associated professionally.

• What are the basic characteristics of today’s market for domestic companies in the field of shipping, logistics and transport?

- Market conditions dictated primarily by international manufacturing and trading companies are more and more complex by the day, and only a very well organised and equipped company pro-

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viding services in all aspects of logistics can respond properly. The requirements are very strict in terms of storage, transportation and IT capacities.

If they want to do business with larger customers that guarantee continuous business, small companies have to either invest a lot in equipment and functional capacity or be more active in mutual association to respond to the increasingly demanding tenders.

• How has the growth of foreign investment and export influenced the development of your sector?

- The growth of foreign investment has certainly affected the development of the logistics service sector, especially in the field of supply chains, where more stringent criteria are applied for importing raw materials and exporting finished products.

• How did the entry of foreign companies bring new dynamics and standards to the domestic market?

- The arrival of foreign companies on our market has also influenced the arrival of global logistics providers that have followed their clients to cover their logistics needs.

This has undoubtedly led domestic freight forwarders to adapt to the demands imposed by the market. This

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primarily means improvement of activities related to storage and distribution of goods, where processes are automated by applying new IT solutions.

• How much is the association active in the training and specialisation of professional staff?

- The increased volume of business, especially in the last ten years, requires training of both existing and

In Serbia there is still no industry code for freight forwarders and this is one of the things that need to be urgently resolved by the relevant ministry new staff. NA has initiated several programmes, the most important of which is an agreement with the Faculty of Transport in Belgrade, where our members’ staff give lectures to students of master studies, specialised companies dealing with education, for example transport and handling of hazardous materials and the like. We are preparing an agreement with the Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad and we also plan to train customs agents and provide training programmes for certain types of transport.

• How do you assess the overall institutional environment for developing the sector?

- With the disappearance of the large freight forwarders that operated on the Yugoslav market, there was a temporary vacuum that was first filled by new domestic freight forwarders and later by branches of global logistics providers. This continuing process shows that the economic environment is adapting to market demands, where improvements are needed in processes and the ability to meet increasingly complex demands. These adjustments do not apply only to logistics, but also to the ever-changing regulations that accompany these issues. Certainly the most important thing is the predictability of regulations and dynamics of their introduction. These are very important things that require some time for adjustment.

• What are the association’s key goals today for improving the business environment for your members?

- The key goal is to influence government authorities in terms of legislation that affects the business of freight forwarders in Serbia. Unfortunately, many of our efforts and expressed desire for cooperation have not always been met with understanding.

Given that almost all our members actively cooperate with similar foreign logistics companies, we have very detailed information on their business environment. We are ready to share our experience with our responsible authorities so that we do not wander around and waste time, but catch up primarily with the business environment established in the EU. I would like to point out that in Serbia there is still no industry code for freight forwarders and it is one of the things that need to be urgently resolved by the relevant ministry.

We also expect some of our initiatives to be dealt with, such as amending the regulations on foreign exchange transactions and similar things. ■

DEJAN TUBIĆ, DIRECTOR, HOLLEMAN TRANSPORT LTD. CORPORATE

Certain, Undamaged And - On Time Permits are obtained twice as fast, while the work of the Interior Ministry, Traffic Police Authority and other institutions has visibly improved, which eases our work

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ransporting oversized, large and heavy objects has always been a special challenge for transport. At company Holleman Transport Ltd. they are very familiar with bulk transport, both thanks to the company’s ten years of experience of doing business in Serbia and also thanks to the even greater experience of Holleman’s parent company - multinational transportation company Schwandner P. Logistik + Transport GmbH. Our interlocutor Dejan Tubić, the director of Holleman Transport, stresses that their work is constantly evolving thanks to the great work and dedication of all employees, but also thanks to the understanding of the relevant ministries and state institutions that create conditions for this job to be done securely and on time.

• Holleman, which is well known for the transport of oversized and heavy cargo, has been operating in Serbia for 10 years.

What are the most important standards and procedures you apply in your operations, especially when it comes to transporting oversized cargo?

- Company HOLLEMAN TRANSPORT began operating on the territory of the Republic of Serbia 10 years ago.

In our development process we constantly improve and strive not to lag behind European and international companies in the transport domain. We are certified in the fields of quality, health and safety at work and environmental protec-

tion with the certificates ISO 9001: 2008, ISO 14001: 2015 and OHSAS 18001: 2007.

In addition to certificates that are recognised by international organisations, the particularity of the work we do ensures that we also have a lot of internal policies and procedures that help us to ensure we have professional and safe working processes.

• It is important that oversized cargo arrives on time and undamaged. How do you achieve that; which measures is it necessary to take to ensure everything goes smoothly and that you can reach the necessary experts?

From the moment an offer is given related to a transport job, via the obtaining of a positive response to that offer, preparing for transport that includes securing the necessary permits along the agreed route, preparing drivers for transport, ensuring we have the equipment used for securing cargo and all other important elements that impact on that - the work process is fully completed - In order to ensure the safe transportation of goods that must arrive undamaged and on time, we need to work every day on improving all segments of work, both in terms of the resources with which we work and the employees who use

those resources. The completion of the work process starts from the moment an offer is given related to a transport job, via the obtaining of a positive response to that offer, preparing for transport that includes securing the necessary permits along the agreed route, preparing drivers for transport, ensuring we have the equipment used for securing cargo and all other important elements that impact on that.

• Oversized cargo requires special conditions along the transport route. Are you assisted in this work by certain traffic and other competent authorities?

- You‘re right, without the competent institutions it is impossible to conduct this type of transport operation.

When we first started operating, there were difficulties in securing the necessary permits and approvals. Over time there have been changes in these institutions and these changes resulted in significant improvements, both in terms of the time needed to prepare and on the ground. It is often the case that short times required to organise transport are an essential factor in gaining a job. We used to have to wait up to ten days to obtain permits to move our convoy, but now the competent institutions issue these same permits within three to five days. Likewise, the operations of the Interior Ministry and Traffic Police have visibly improved, which helps to ensure our cargo is safely transported to the desired destination. ▪ TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS 2017

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INTERVIEW IVAN MILIĆEVIĆ, Nelt LSP Operations and Development Manager

We Can Meet The Client's Most Demanding Requests With a new set of logistics services, launched by activating the intermodal terminal, Nelt provides faster and safer transportation services and enable its clients to reduce their logistical costs

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uring 25 years of experience in managing fast moving consumer goods, Nelt has developed flawless organisation of integrated logistics services: from national and international transport and mediation in custom clearance to storing goods at various temperature regimes, in both customs and noncustoms warehouses, various types of additional services to deliver to over 22,000 locations.

• What is NELT’s capacity today?

- Nelt is part of the Nelt Group, an organisational system that interconnects 4,000 employees in 11 companies, in seven countries - Serbia, BiH, Montenegro and Macedonia, in Europe; and Angola, Zambia and Mozambique, in Africa. Nelt Group's turnover in 2016 was 890 million euros. The group has at its disposal over 125,000 m2 of controlled, cooled and cold-storage warehousing and 350 delivery vehicles that are used to manage 10,000 deliveries a day. Nelt Group handles over 6,500 SKUs in its warehouses.

• You recently opened a rail container terminal.

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- In NELT’s central distribution centre in Belgrade there are industrial rail tracks, which has recently allowed us to establish the first private intermodal terminal in Belgrade – a road/rail container terminal. The depot’s initial capacity is 400 TEU, with a possible extension to several thousand TEU. Intermodal transport is synonymous with efficient, effective and environmentally sustainable global transport of all kinds of goods. By activating the intermodal terminal we can guarantee our clients lower logistical costs, but

The regular weekly rail container transport for import and export between Rijeka and NELT Dobanovci is the first of the services we are placing on the market also a faster, more secure and higher quality transport service.

• For whom are your services intended?

- NELT’s rail terminal is open to everyone on the regional market in import, transit and export, from shipping companies and rail operators to logistics companies, freight forwarders, producers, brand owners and other distributers.

NELT’s intermodal terminal has rail connections with all the region’s ports and

with other European ports and ground terminals. The motorways E-75 and E-70 cross just 6km from the terminal and Nikola Tesla Airport is only 10km away.

In the logistics centre there is a customs office and warehouse, which enables a lot of support to all kinds of goods services.

Maersk, the leading sea transport company, has added NELT to its official terminal list. Maersk has made it possible for its containers to be placed at NELT’s terminal for all kinds of operations in NELT’s logistical portfolio.

• What services do you provide to the terminal’s users?

- Nelt provides container maintenance, cleaning and repair services, as well as the necessary inspection services, while we also have a large parking area that can handle up to 100 trailer trucks.

• How far can you go to meet a client’s special needs?

- NELT can offer special transport services, warehousing, customs clearance and VAS services, but can also be an integrator of complex supply chains, an adviser in logistical processes or a supplier of in-house logistics where the client has its production. We offer a broad spectrum of services to demanding industries, such as pharmaceuticals, FMCG, hi-tech equipment and the packaging industry. ■

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INTERVIEW NIKOLA JEVTIĆ, MANAGING DIRECTOR, ALTI LOGISTIKA

Logistics Of Success Just as every successful start is based on good preparations and a realistic business plan, so Alta Logistika - through market analysis, budget availability, cash flow projections and lots of enthusiasm and energy – has reached more than 300 satisfied clients in just the 16 months that we have so far been present on the market

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lti Logistika as a company is today dedicated to satisfying world standards, which implies swift responses, thoroughness and dedication of each transport consignment and customs procedure, as well as constant care for each client.

• Alti Logistika enjoys a good reputation on the transport and logistics market. How have you managed to position yourself in such a way within less than two years?

- The stable organic portfolio of over 300 satisfied clients that we initiated in the first year of operations was a key point for us, in terms of ratings, to position ourselves well on the logistics market. Moreover, greatly contributing to this was the trust we built with our clients. With the quality of the service we provide, we strive to continuously justify that trust and continue with our further development and advancement.

Our services and their quality are reflected in the values that we cherish, namely: reliability, efficiency and professionalism.

I would like to mention that for a successful start-up project it is very important to think ahead. We started with a well-devised and precise business plan. A challenging and achievable budget was the subject of multiple analysis projects, while monitoring and controlling results and costs on a daily basis

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was essential, all with the aim of reminding ourselves at every moment where we are and where we need to be for the remainder of the fiscal year. In addition to experience, we also invested a lot of energy in all of the aforementioned, while we continue at a serious pace, all the way to the fulfilling of our mission and vision completely.

• You are focused on the part of the market occupied by SMEs. What do you think is crucial for the success of business collaborations with this market segment, and what kind of future does it have in the field of logistics?

- The company’s operations in the first 12 months were focused on small and mediumsized enterprises. This segment will always be important to us and will always have a significant place in our portfolio, because every client is equally important to us, regardless of their size. In parallel with the

noted market segments, we are developing, and will continue to develop, cooperation with big companies, factories, production facilities. We consider that the speed of responding, thoroughness and dedication to each transport consignment and customs procedure, as well as constant customer care, are crucial for the trust placed in us.

The future of both segments is in the fact that we, as a socially responsible company, support the development of transport and logistics, and that Serbia utilises the good geostrategic position it has and that the economy continuously evolves.

The next logical step is to develop infrastructure, then the efficiency of transport will be enhanced. Such conditions are given as a result of increasing the volume of goods that are transported, a consequence of which is the emergence of growing need for logistics services on the market.

• Price, accuracy of delivery and security of transported goods are the most important parameters when it comes to selecting transport and logistics companies.

Which of these criteria represents a comparative advantage of Alti Logistika?

- The competitiveness and security that you can provide are certainly points with which you start competing in the highly competitive environment of the logistics

market. Accuracy is also part of the service that is expected to be respected. Alti Logistika strives to stand out in terms of the value added of the services that we provide. Our clients know that we are committed to satisfying their needs and demands, because for every industry we create specific made-to-measure solutions. The essence is that for our clients we maximally ease the organisation of logistics services, in order for us to contribute to saving their costs and time.

• You certainly have good insight into current trends in the transport and logistics sector. How do you see and evaluate them, and which services does Alti Logistika excels in, compared to the rival companies in your sector?

- Trends in logistics are under the influence of global trends like globalisation, the position of economic centres, geopolitical conditions, technological development, digitisation and new supply chain strategies. I see and evaluate all of these as opportunities that we should also understood as tasks that we have to prepare for in terms of capacities to prepare ourselves in line with supply and demand on our market. The main activities of Alti Logistika relate to the organising of complete logistics services (international transport, customs brokerage, short-term and long-term storage, distribution). The focus of our operations is on international and domestic road transport. Transport is a subsystem and the lifeblood of logistics, while we also organise a reliable and high quality service, accompanied by competitive prices and justified by the satisfying of delivery times that are expected.

The percentage of increasingly satisfied clients that continue to increase the degree of trust shown in us is the starting point by which we highlight the success of our operations. In 2017 we plan to invest in infrastructure that will enable our storage capacity to respond to the demands of increasingly complex contractual logistics. In the current year we also plan to grow our operations by 200% compared to revenue generated during the previous year. From the logistics centre we will expand and develop our business, while the focus will continuously remain on the quality of transport services, which will have more than good support in infrastructure, organisationally and as

the most important personnel solutions in which we invest continuously.

• You have a lot of experience doing business on the international market. To what extent is it possible to implement the principles of such operations on the domestic market?

- It is largely possible to implement principles by maintaining an organised method of working and continuously improving it

The main activities of Alti Logistika relate to the organising of complete logistics services (international transport, customs brokerage, short-term and long-term storage, distribution), while the focus of operations is on international and domestic road transport by listening to the needs and requirements of clients, on the one hand, and the competition, on the other, which is good because it motivates us to be better. Developed markets at the intersections of international logistics are only developed because they are continuously improved and work is done on innovation, while of course the amounts invested in infrastructure and industry are also important, as is the technology that has developed rapidly in the

past 20 years. It is necessary to capitalise to the greatest possible extent on our geostrategic position and for the principles and methods of organising operations that have proven to be practical and productive to be recognised and implemented on our market, and which are already greatly current and present on the international market.

• Everyone is aware of the significance that customs procedures have for the

logistics sector. According to your assessment, to what extent is Serbia harmonised with the EU when it comes to customs procedures?

- When it comes to customs procedures, there are three procedures that are most represented: transit, import and export.

In early 2016 the Republic of Serbia approached the introduction of the NCTS common transit procedure, which is already present in the 28 EU member states and four EFTA countries. It is known that the Serbian Customs Administration has a strategy for fully automating Customs, for all procedures.

At present transit procedures are implemented and automated almost completely, while next to come is the plan for the automation for the export of goods, then later for goods imports. This is a process that will last. As things stand at present, this relates to a medium- to long-term time framework to complete automation. ■ TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS 2017

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CORPORATE LACHEZAR VESELINOV RUBCHEV, DIRECTOR, GEFCO DOO

Strong Expertise Combined With Highest Standards

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his growth is also influenced by negotiations between Belgrade and the European Union regarding membership by 2020.

• GEFCO is a renowned global company with extensive experience in the transport and logistics sector. Considering that you’ve only been doing business in this region for a few years, how would you evaluate market movements in the region when it comes to the development of the transport and logistics sector?

- For logistics providers, as well as transport services companies, there are an endless variety of opportunities. All companies understand that. That’s why we can find new names on the lists of logistics providers operating in Serbia on an almost daily basis. This way, on top of stunning growth possibilities, a logistics provider in Serbia also faces the challenge of improving/perfecting its offer, due to conditions dictated by tough competition.

• You offer services on the basis of the “turnkey” principle, from initial pickup to final delivery, whilst adhering to the highest standards in this domain.

How has GEFCO’s infrastructure been created, considering that you provide transport services in all forms – road, rail, ship and air?

- Our hub in Serbia is situated at our central office in Belgrade. All transport solutions for our clients are built, implemented and monitored from there. On top of this, we work in close cooperation with

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The Serbian economy’s development is one of the most dynamic in the region. The Serbian market is being boosted every day, with new manufacturers locating their facilities in the country other GEFCO subsidiaries in the Balkans, Western and Eastern Europe, and the rest of the GEFCO network. In this way we involve our “sister companies” for flows consolidation, sourcing transporters or obtaining some specific knowhow. To give you an example, in order to prepare a Serbia-Germany rail link solution for a client, we worked for several weeks together with our colleagues from Germany, Slovakia, Czechia and Hungary,

Whether road or rail transportation, air or ocean freight, packaging, customs or warehousing, we have the advantage of controlling the entire supply chain of any sector for any client with the project being implemented by our Rail & MM Coordinator, who is based in Germany. And we can give many similar examples. We see our strength in this ability to use our network and to combine global and local approaches.

• Which standards provide the basis for GEFCO’s operations?

- GEFCO has strong expertise, allowing it to set up seamless intercontinental door-to-door flows. Whether it is road or rail transport, air or ocean freight, packaging, customs or warehousing, we have the advantage of controlling the entire supply chain of any sector for any client. Our standards are based on security and effective management of flows, with constant attention paid to quality and efficiency.

• Which GEFCO services are particularly attractive for clients in Serbia and the region?

- Integrated logistics solutions, involving road transportations, represent the biggest part in the range of services we provide to our customers. This situation is innate not only for Serbia, but also for other subsidiaries in the region.

We have strong knowhow in rail transport. When compared to road transport, rail is safer, more flexible, more cost efficient (if the transportation model is properly built) and, most importantly, it is harmless for the environment – helping to reduce carbon emissions. This is why in Serbia and the Balkans we often offer our clients rail solutions as an alternative to road transport.

We often design transportation solutions schemes to/from Russia and ex-CIS countries because this direction is one of the most interesting for Serbian exporters and importers, and because GEFCO has a strong foothold in this area. ▪

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CORPORATE IVO MODIĆ, DEPUTY CEO, EXPRESS TRANS D.O.O.

Aim – The Whole Of Europe Express Trans is working on the development of a new information system and digital services that will provide clients with a completely new experience when it comes to the goods transport sector

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y 2025, Express Trans plans to conquer all European markets.

The company is already present on many of them, thus in recent years the company’s operations have been harmonised with EU directives and standards. That’s why the company’s deputy CEO is proud to point out here that professionalism is the word that defines its relations with clients.

• Express Trans has 22 years of experience in the goods transport sector.

Which standards form the basis of your relations with clients?

- Our company was established in 1993, with the clear vision of becoming a leader in the transport sector in Serbia and Europe. The main goal we set back then was to build an effective business system and in parallel raise the quality of the service we provide to our clients.

There is no doubt that Express Trans today is synonymous with an experienced, reliable and profesionl partner, which can be relied upon when it comes to the most complex operational demands. Our efforts in recent years have been directed towards completely harmonising the company’s operations with the directives and standards of the European Union – which we have done. If I had to choose one word with which I would define our relationship with our clients that would certainly be professionalism.

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• Your operations adhere to European procedures in the transport sector.

What are your priorities in this regard?

- We monitor the demands of our clients, but also the environmental standards prescribed by national and European legislation. More than 85 per cent of our fleet satisfies the latest EURO 6 standard for engines.

In accordance with the strategic plan for the development of our company, this year we will purchase 20 new EURO 6 vehicles and 20 new trailers.

Our expert teams for operational activities and fleet organisation work exclusively with respect for the procedures regarding technical and

We respect the environmental standards prescribed by national and European legislation. More than 85 per cent of our fleet satisfies the latest EURO 6 standard for engines... this year we will purchase 20 new EURO 6 vehicles and 20 new trailers exploitation standards harmonised at the level of the EU. • With commercial space of over 13 thousand square metres and more than 70 modern trucks, you are today able to offer your customers the broadest possible logistics and transport services. What are the next steps in Express Trans’s development?

- Last year we opened a company in Slovenia and we currently have 20 new vehicles for auto transport. The primary activity in Slovenia is auto logistics, and in order to meet all the demands of our clients we have invested a total of over four million euros, and we won’t stop there. Our strategic aim for the period up to the year 2025 is to expand the company’s activities to all markets in Europe and support our biggest partner Milsped.

This year we completed construction of our new headquarters in Novi Sad and invested in the latest technology and software solutions for monitoring and tracking vehicles.

We are preparing to develop a new information system and digital services that will provide our clients with a completely new experience when it comes to goods transportation.

Express Trans currently employs more than a hundred people and we have a constant need to engage new workers.

Express Trans is the largest partner of the Milšped Group, and as such we strive to support our partner on all markets. By respecting the threedimensional concept of sustainable development that prioritises people, the economy and the environment, through the implementation of European standards in the field of environmental protection and our ethical operations, we strive to provide our clients with the best service on the EU market. ▪

we care about your cargo

We are a team of people dedicated to providing professional services in the international transport of goods

171 Boulevard Kralja Aleksandra office 29, Belgrade, Serbia; Tel: + 381 11 24 02 793; e-mail: ultraspeed@sbb.rs; www.ultraspeed.co.rs TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS 2017

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CORPORATE cargo-partner

Specific Solutions For Every Client The Integrated Log Space and S.P.O.T. system enable a full overview of the flow of goods throughout the entire supply chain process for each client individually

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or the transport of goods, the speed at which goods reach the client who placed the order or the consumer is very important. In such situations, the most reliable choice is cargopartner, which is a medium-sized private international company that specialises in providing transport and logistics services and which is particularly prominent in the field of air and sea freight. Given that this is a family business, the business model is based on personal and global partnerships with and for clients.

- The excellent quality of services in our offices worldwide, which are provided by top experts in logistics, as well as innovative systems and solutions, through the optimised flow of goods and information, are advantages for our clients. We strive to achieve economic and environmental sustainability – notes Marko Ilić.

Clients are very precise when they entrust their goods to a transport company, but high quality warehousing and management of complex transportation services, via various transport routes, have ensured that cargo-partner has won the trust of its clients.

- We have also developed WMS, or the integrated Log Space and S.P.O.T. system, which allows full monitoring of the flow of goods through the entire supply chain process. Our organisational structure, innovative IT software, staff expertise, high standards of service and exceptional

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efficiency are a consequence and a result of our corporate policy.

• cargo-partner can always offer specific solutions tailored to each client individually – says Ilić. – And when it comes to Serbia, since 2014 we have had our warehouse under our ownership, covering an area of 8,000 square metres, with 20,000 pallet positions and 18 reloading ramps, including for oversized cargo. There is also a registered public customs warehouse on an area of 2,200 square metres, equipped with a racking system and block zone for storing oversized cargo.

In Serbia cargo-partner has had its own warehouse since 2014, covering an area of 8,000 square metres, with 20,000 pallet positions and 18 reloading ramps, including for oversized cargo, as well as a registered public customs warehouse on an area of 2,200 square metres, equipped with a racking system and block zone • cargo-partner is an Austrian company that has operated on the Serbian market for more than a decade and has significantly improved its SPOT platform, introduced in 2000, as well as introducing a number of new additional possibilities.

The enhanced version of the online

SPOT platform for users of road transport started in October 2016 and is now available for air and sea transport. Innovations include: Dashboard, an additionally advance part for communication, advanced options for reporting and improved visualisation of status.

The SPOT Dashboard provides users with all necessary information already at first glance. Simple visualisation enables easier tracking and locating of shipments, and users can define how and when they want to receive notifications about their shipments.

The advanced SPOT Communicator defines which parties in the chain should receive accurate information. Thanks to this type of communication, administrative work has been drastically reduced.

Advanced reporting options provide more detailed information about where goods are located, the amount of orders and the level of costs.

This advanced system also provides a number of advantages that enable employees at cargo-partner to handle orders more efficiently, which also leads to an improvement in the quality of the actual process. Duties are clearly divided and each operator has insight into current shipments and client instructions.

The SPOT platform currently has more than 20,000 registered users, while it is used to send an average of 600,000 transport orders per year. ▪

Reljina 4/3, 11000 Beograd Fax: +381 112 687 107 E-mail: info@balkanlogistika.com BALKAN LOGISTIKA offers transport services at home and abroad.

We are a renowned road transport company that focuses on integrated logistics services. Originally founded as a family company, Balkan logistika has for generations been gaining international experience, competing with integrated corporate multinationals.

Through its distribution network, our company provides transport services worldwide EXPRESS, FULL LOAD and GROUPAGE: Our fleet includes several types of vehicle: artics/trailers, express vans, tandem trucks, automobiles. Trucks follow a programmed inspection cycle that guarantees safety and drivers operate according to all the regulations on transport of goods.

Our advantage is express delivery service: we always meet even the most urgent requests with our vehicles that can deliver goods of all sizes (small/ medium) efficiently to all parts of Europe and outside the EU (Serbia and Turkey) providing: availability 24h/365 days a year, response to clients’ requests,

continuous shipment tracking, delivery time 24-72 hours from loading.

Thanks to innovative worldwide logistics our team will meet all storage demands (inside/outside), cargo handling and support to all storage-related requirements.

BALKAN LOGISTIKA also provides on board air courier service with professional staff delivering goods to all European and international destinations (including India and China).

With our comprehensive fleet we meet all transport needs by ensuring precision, reliability and quality of service.

BALKAN LOGISTIKA offers efficient solutions in terms of safety and competitive prices according to clients’ specific demands.

Our certification for the ISO 9001:2015 standard is proof of our quality assurance system. Every organisation’s standard should take account of growing market competition: customer satisfaction, streamlining internal processes and reducing waste and inefficiency.

www.balkanlogistika.com

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CORPORATE ZORAN POPOVIĆ, GENERAL MANAGER, CENTROSINERGIJA

We Strive For Organisational And Operational Excellence Over five years Centrosinergija has grown into a recognised distribution company that employs six hundred staff and supplies over 16,000 retailers in Serbia. Its dedicated work has received coveted recognition

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entrosinergija received the prestigious Brand Leader Award 2017 in April this year.

• What standards and procedures are required to receive such a recognition?

- We won the award for the integrated management of our comprehensive distribution and logistics services, for our outstanding business results, constant investment in development, our professional and competitive attitude towards business and for our organisational and operational excellence. The award is important to us because it is a formal recognition of all our efforts and hard work to improve our organisation and business over the past five years.

Two years ago we signed a distribution agreement with British American Tobacco. Through our efforts, hard work and expertise we have proved that we are able to meet the high standards of one of the biggest tobacco companies in the world. This success has motivated us to continue improving our internal standards and procedures.

• Centrosinergija provides logistics and transport services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, using a new distribution and logistics platform. What is it based on?

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- We started providing logistics services in 2012 with the distribution of consumer goods, newspapers and magazines for our retail network MOJ KIOSK. We receive, store, sort, transport and deliver goods, newspapers and magazines every day of the year. To be able to do this for MOJ KIOSK in 137 municipalities we had to build a national logistics and distribution network consisting of a distribution centre in Belgrade and nine regional crossdocking points. The specificity of our logistics platform is the synergy of the distribution of newspapers, magazines

and corporate social responsibility. What is the essence of your CSR? - The concept of corporate social responsibility nowadays ranges from a company’s humanitarian activities to responsible investment in general ‒ responsible to society and to future generations. The leaders of Moj Kiosk Group, the corporate system of which Centrosinergija is a part, used to lead Doncafe and Centroproizvod. Their business decisions are made with an awareness of great responsibility towards 3,500 staff and their families, local businesses and social communities, customers, suppliers and creditors.

We take pride in the fact that our professional journey on the Serbian market, which has lasted for over 20 years, has always been motivated by our wish to create new value for future generations

• One of the longstanding problems in newspaper publishing is the distribution of daily subscriptions. Do you expect suitable solutions in this area?

- The digital transformation of society has solved this problem to an extent.

The trend is to move subscriptions online, where there is no additional cost for the reader. The distribution of daily subscriptions to legal entities is still functioning but new trends are visible here too. New-generation managers are more likely to read the news on their favourite websites before they go to bed than in a newspaper waiting on the desk in the morning. ▪

and consumer goods, which enables us to fully exploit our transport fleet, introduce other types of product and expand our business activities to large and small customers and local chains across Serbia.

• As a member of Moj Kiosk Group, Centrosinergija is dedicated to business ethics

The key to our success lies in unique relations with clients, rapid and successful logistics solutions and many years of experience

Whether we are tasked to export or import of goods, we offer our clients the best and most realistic solutions for transporting goods throughout Europe, all fully based on our many years experience in international goods transport. Goods transport to and from Spain and Portugal are our speciality and we are proud of it.

As a result of many years of cooperation with our clients, we present our new service: a regular group transport

line from Spain to Serbia (and other Ex YU republics).

We present two regular group transport lines: Group transport line No. 1: A truck completes loading in the Barcelona warehouse on Monday/Tuesday and arrives in Serbia on Friday/Saturday.

Group transport line No. 2: A truck completes loading in the Barcelona warehouse on Thursday/Friday and arrives in Serbia on Monday/Tuesday.

Mostarska 4, 18000 NiĹĄ, Serbia Tel: +381 18 260 869, +381 18 561 810 office@itttehnika.com www.itttehnika.com TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS 2017

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WORLD NEWS SWITZERLAND

Swissport Wins Emirates SkyCargo Business In France Swissport Cargo Services France, a subsidiary of Swissport International, will handle cargo at three French airports, CDG, LYS and NCE for Emirates SkyCargo, the largest cargo airline worldwide in terms of international freight tonne-kilometres flown.

BELGIUM

Better Travel For Apples and Pears Specially designed for the fruit and vegetables supply chain, a “truly unique” big box has been developed by the manufacturer Schoeller Allibert.

Thanks to the one-of-a-kind base design of the Maximus®1212 featuring 4 pockets, apples and pears sustain significantly fewer dents and bruises than within traditional pallet containers, which allows growers to get more high quality fruits out of each container.

The company says that this design plays the role of a shell by preventing the fruits from rolling around during transport. From orchards to road transport, the result is significant with much fewer damaged or bruised apples and pears than with flat base boxes, according to an independent competitive test conducted by the Flemish Centre for Horticultural Products in Belgium.

The agreement with Emirates SkyCargo is the result of a rigorous selection process and came into effect as of 1st April 2017. It covers the complete scope of cargo handling services, including full freighter and warehouse handling, and signals the beginning of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two organisations in France.

Emirates SkyCargo is the freight division of Emirates airline and the world’s largest international air cargo carrier, connecting customers to over 150 destinations across 83 countries in six continents through its Dubai hub.

CHINA

“One Belt – One Road”

UK

Exporta Expands Rackable Plastic Range Exporta Global has expanded its rackable plastic pallet range with the launch of seven new products.

The new heavy duty rackable pallets add to Exporta’s impressive product range.

All of the new pallets are suitable for automated systems and four way rack/ forklift entry.

The new pallets boast improved dynamic load capacities ranging from 1250kg to 2250kg, with racking load capacities ranging from 1000kg to 1800kg. Where appropriate, this new range of pallets can also utilise metal rods to reinforce the strength.

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The first container train travelling between China and the UK arrives at DB Cargo UK’s London Eurohub terminal in Barking. The train is operated by the InterRail Group, a multinational transport operator headquartered in Switzerland, on behalf of China Railway subsidiary CRIMT. Various freight railways handle traction along the 12,000-kilometre route, The UK is just the latest destination added to the China–Europe rail link. The train is initially being operated as a test train. London is one more international connection for the InterRail Group, along with Duisburg, Madrid, Afghanistan and Riga, on the “One Belt – One Road” corridor, an initiative of the Chinese government.

CROATIA

Shipping Solutions Into Its Software Applications

INTTRA, the world's ocean shipping electronic marketplace, and Sarda d.o.o., a Croatian-based software development company specialising in maritime transportation, announced an alliance under which Sarda has integrated INTTRA ocean shipping solutions, including Container Booking, Shipping Instructions, Container Tracking (Track & Trace) and INTTRA eVGM, into Sarda's software.

Sarda will also serve as a reseller for INTTRA eVGM, a leading solution to facilitate SOLAS VGM compliance.

"Accessing INTTRA's global network through our software will enable our customers to directly conduct ocean shipment management on the industry's leading electronic transaction platform," said Sarda's Rajko Badurina.

GERMANY

Picking Robot Named Best Product at LogiMAT 2017

With warehouse staff reaching their performance limits in processes that demand high performance and quality for long periods of time, one solution is the use of industrial robots.

Achieving reliable robotic picking had been considered an insurmountable task, but KNAPP’s Pick-it-Easy Robot has made it a reality – and the solution has just scooped the Best Product award at the LogiMAT 2017 exhibition in Stuttgart.

Designed to handle a wide range of articles in applications where consistently high throughput is required, KNAPP’s Pick-it-Easy Robot is a goods-to-person picking system that is suitable for various business sectors and sales channels.

Robotic and manual workstations can be easily combined to make best possible use of their individual assets. The robot cell offers particular advantages to companies with multi-shift operation that are striving to reduce errors and the associated costs.

EU

Call For EU To Charge Up Its E-Vehicles Plans

Some of Europe’s key auto industry players, including Alstom, Siemens and Tesla, teamed up with T&E and other NGOs to urge EU policymakers and governments to help accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles across the continent.

GREECE

Athens-Thessaloniki Motorway Completed

The most dangerous part of the road between Athens and Thessaloniki, the Tempi valley, is bypassed. It is replaced by a short road that meets the latest safety standards, completed the AthensThessaloniki motorway whose construction started 70 years ago. The three tunnels are at Tempi Valley and Maliakos-Klidi section of the Patras-Athens-Thessaloniki-Eyzoni motorway.

The motorway connects far end of western Greece to the borders in the North. The tunnels not only reduce the distance between Athens-Thessaloniki to just 4 hours and 15 minutes at normal highway speed. Most of all, they provide driving safety in an area that gained tragic fame due to the many road accidents that cost the life of dozens of people in the seventy years of its existence.

EU

Each electric vehicle saves more than a thousand litres annually of fuel, according to consultants Cambridge Econometrics, saving €1,000 in fuel cost and three tonnes of CO2 emissions. There are already half a million electric vehicles on Europe’s roads. If we accelerate the transition away from transport based on fossil fuels, the EU would save around €500 million a day, create high quality jobs, and could save hundreds of thousands of lives by cutting air pollution.

The coalition of 24 organisations called for more charging stations and greater provisions for vehicle charging from buildings, among other measures. They also urged EU governments to submit their plans for supporting charging infrastructure, which they were required to do before the end of last year, though only 17 have so far done so.

European Open-Access Rail Alliance Formed

An alliance has been formed in Brussels which brings together open-access operators in the passenger and freight sectors with the aim of collectively addressing issues affecting non-incumbent rail companies. The Alliance of New Rail Operators (Allrail) has been founded by the European Rail Freight Association (Erfa), which represents 30 rail freight operators, and non-incumbent players in the passenger market, including Leo Express, MTR Express, Westbahn, NTV, Regiojet and Trainline. Allrail says key topics for the new organisation include the full opening of rail markets in all EU member states, non-discriminatory access and financing of rolling stock, competitive track access charges and an open-data approach.

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B y R A DM I L A STA N KOV I Ć P h o t o ZO R A N P E TROV I Ć

MY LIFE

Chronicler Of

OUR FLAWS PREDRAG KORAKSIĆ CORAX

POLITICAL CARICATURIST

During a visit to Belgrade during the 1990s, Richard Holbrooke, a U.S. diplomat and one of the authors of the Dayton Agreement that ended the war in Bosnia, accused Slobodan Milošević of stifling media freedom in Serbia.

Milošević responded to this by removing from his drawer a copy of weekly news magazine Vreme featuring a caricature by Predrag Koraksić, aka Corax (83), and said “look at what they’re doing to me! This cartoonist is at large!

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What this famous cartoonist did to the former strongman remained as testimony to a period of time in 3,700 caricatures, which is how many Corax published during the period of Milošević’s rule. Of course, he also continued sketching images of public figures, primarily those from the political scene of Serbia, and he’s still doing that today. Every day his cartoons appear in daily newspaper Danas, because this artist cannot imagine a day without a new contribution:

“When I read some news story, I immediately consider how I could comment on that. I’d call that an occupational deformity that implies that I must react. Something similar is done by a journalist when they decide to write something. I think in pictures and use pictures to describe my ideas and thoughts. I have always said that this caricature with which I react to reality can be a slap in the face, but not an insult. It must be ironic, to have a sting, but it mustn’t humiliate anyone. While I work, I think of the so-called little guy who’s going to look at it and M AY

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who should be able to recognise everything and feel good, even superior compared to those who I draw and who, unfortunately, decide our fate.”

Predrag Koraksić is known to the world as Corax, and to his friends as Goga. His Koraksićs are originally Greeks, while the hamlet of Koraksić is near Čačak. His father Stojan was a teacher, communist and revolutionary, who was accepted into the Party in post-war Yugoslavia by politician and Chairman of the Collective Presidency of Yugoslavia Cvijetin Mijatović aka Majo.

Stojan was in Bosnia, in the village of Liješan above Zvornik, he met a young teacher called Zora, or Zorka, who he brought to his native Gornja Gorevnica, nine kilometres from Čačak.

Zora gave birth to their son, Predrag, in 1933.

“Although I am a Serb, I was raised and brought up in the spirit of Yugoslavia.

My mother was a Bosnian from Fojnica, her father was from Split, my great-grandmother on my mother’s side was Italian and my father was a Serb. My father’s entire family were partisans, while mother was a member of the anti-fascist movement. At the beginning of the war, my father was arrested by the Krauts and transported to Germany. He leapt from the train somewhere in Slovenia,

somehow miraculously survived that shooting and managed to crawl, seriously wounded, to a stream where housewives from the village collected water. One woman from a Chetnik family saw him and told her husband, so more Chetniks came and finished him off. Predrag and his brother, who was four years younger, didn’t know that their father had been so brutally murdered.

The children waited for him to return from the war and only discovered the truth after the war: “When that happened with my father, my mother, my younger brother and I were practically condemned to death by the Chetniks.

One villager who was a servant at the Chetnik headquarters told us that some black threesome was supposed to come to slaughter us, so we fled immediately. First we went to Čačak, to stay with some of our godparents, then we caught the train to Belgrade. My brother and I were escorted on thte train by a girl from that god-family who generally smuggled milk curd and cheese into Belgrade and sold them.

My mother was smuggled in illegally from Zemun on some rowing boat, then went to her parents at Gunduliceva Street 28a. And my brother and I were at Aunt Duda’s on Slavija, who managed to get some ausweis (ID card/ pass) and transfer my brother and I to Zemun, which was then Croatian territory. There we lived under my mother’s maiden name and I was called Franjo Božić.”

It was only after the war that Predrag learned from his uncle, General Velimir Terzić when and how his father was killed.

His mother was silent about that for a long time. The war years were painful. Mother was arrestedand the children were starving more than full. Predrag finished secondary school and made a compromise with his mother I have a principle of no longer working for anyone that he wouldn’t be an engineer, according who refuses to publish one of my caricatures. to her wish, nor an artist, according to his, At Vreme that happened when Dragoljub Žarković and instead enrolled in architecture studies.

“I was 17 when I published my first cartoon requested that I stop drawing Vojislav Koštunica, in Jež.

It was a miracle for that time. The averas would also happen many years later to Duško age monthly salary was 3-4 thousand dinars, Petričić at Politika, when the editor in chief didn’t but for that one caricature I received 600 want him to draw Aleksandar Vučić dinars! I took my whole team, seven or eight buddies, pals who hung out, to the Zemun cake escaped and returned to the Čačak area. He was the best friend shop “Kod glumca”. We ate everything they had and they all felt of national hero Ratko Mitrović. On that famous picture kept in sick. So that was the first fee I received and that’s how I spent it.” the National Museum of the liberation struggle, where Ratko In the last year of high school came sculptor Milan Besarabić, Mitrović is speaking at a rally in Čačak, which was then liberwho also did caricatures in the form of sculptures, making small ated, my father is pictured standing in a Partisan uniform. That figures of judges, bureaucrats ... out of terracotta. They were was the last picture of him.” caricatured figures. He had a studio at the Fairgrounds where Stojan Koraksić was captured by the Yugoslav royalists, his talented students went, and in the school he made a painting the Chetniks, and taken to Ravna Gora, to the headquarters of section in the loft of the school, in the attic. Everyone who wanted Draža Mihajlović. They cut off his fingers and shot him, but he to learn something about drawing from an artist who wanted to 72 |

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lover, stood and watched. Pjer turned around, looked at me and help them came there. Those were Corax’s first drawing lessons. asked – ‘whose are you, little one?’ I was skinny, small, thin, but After his first caricature, he continued being published in I remembered that Pjer addressed me and asked “whose are Jež, while in his studies he completed the third year of his archiyou, little one?”. That was very important to me at that moment. tecture degree and then gained employment as a professional Many years later, director Zdravko Velimirovic decided to make cartoonist for the newspaper Rad. He was hired by Ašer Deleon, a documentary film based on Pjer’s caricatures. Pjer’s best and one of Rad’s editors who was that very year sent to serve as most interesting body of work was between two kings – King ambassador to the United Nations. Danilo Knežević then arrived Petar and King Aleksandar. Even back then it was stated in the as the new editor in chief, and Koraksić spent three years there.

When the evening news, Večernje Novosti, was launched, he was invited to join the editorial department by Slobodan Glumac, the man who created this newspaper and gave it its stamp of success.

Corax would spend the next 25 years working in that editorial department, first with Ranko Guzina, who would later bring Dušan Petričić into that newsroom. Speaking about that time when caricatures were inaugurated as an integral part of Novosti, he says today: “Those were that type of caricature without an address, in which we resorted to Aesopian humor, fighting against human flaws in general terms... These were everyday themes and we worked on them every day. Over the years in “Novosti” we actually created a kind of “school of Novosti”, publishing cartoons that differed from others and from those in Jež. I still occasionally worked for Jež, particularly in 1971, during the time of the liberals, because at that time you could really publish a lot, which was Corax didn’t believe that it was even possible to almost impossible in “Novosti”. However, with its style Novosti stuck out compared to all destroy Yugoslavia for a long time. The realisation other daily newspapers. There were perhaps that it could, and everything that happened to the some cartoons in other newspapers, but not country, hurt him terribly. He says that he exploded even close to our quality, which was thanks to Dušan Petričić and Ranko Guzina, who was creatively and it was during those years that his best a good sketch artist, Stevo Stračkovski, Tošo and most famous cartoons emerged Borković and, of course, little old me.”

Cartoonist Dragan Savić came up with the idea of organizing a contest for the best caricature that would Constitution of Serbia that “the press is free”, and Pjer had the carry the name of the famous Pjer Križanić. And so in 1967 the best series of caricature cartoons that were published in dailies prize for the best caricature was awarded for the first time, Politika and Novi list. Zdravko Velimirović picked me to retouch and that competition continues to this day. Predrag Koraksić Pjer’s caricatures for that film, and I worked on that for a full gave his valuable contribution to maintaining this competition, three months. I reworked his caricatures from newspapers, having served for 10 years as the commissioner of the exhibipreparing them for shooting, and that was the best school for tion that represented the year’s best published caricatures. He me. That film was shot under the title “Between two kings”, also founded a publishing company, so when the brilliant Otto and that left a really deep impression on my career; that is my Reisinger won Pjer’s award, Corax organised the publishing of irrepeatable experience.” a book containing Reisinger’s caricature cartoons, under the Everything went well at Novosti until the time of differentitle High Society. tiation after the Eighth Session of the League of Communists Interestingly, Koraksić recalled meeting the famous Pjer of Serbia, which represented a party showdown between Ivan Križanić during his youth: Stambolić, who represented one policy platform, and Slobodan “I was a contributor to Jež, and I was wearing some short Milošević, who represented a different policy platform within trousers when I watched Pjer play chess with Toša Paranos, the framework of the same party. As it turned out that there was who was famous for his witt. They played chess and I, as a chess no room for two such characters within the one party, Stambolić M AY

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was defeated and Milošević came onto the scene, where he would stay for the next 13 years. Koraksić quickly recognised where that initiated policy would lead: “I don’t know how or where that came from, but it was immediately clear to me what was happening and what awaited us. However, Milošević bewitched the masses; everyone was for him and with him, and I lost many friends at that time. I didn’t even want to see some of my closest relatives anymore.”

editor and owner Slavko Ćuruvija] also did that to me while he was at Borba, when he rejected one of my caricatures and I no longer wanted to work for him. This is a very famous cartoon.

Vojin Dimitrijević wrote a major article for a Swedish newspaper and that caricature was published alongside his text - Milošević with a bear’s paw, placing that paw on “Borba”.

“Actually, during the three months of the bombing I didn’t publish a single caricature.”

Austrian President Kurt Waldheim was accused in 1988 of being responsible for war crimes in Bosnia and Greece as a member of an SS unit during World War II. He had been elected President of Austria two years prior.

When those allegations came out in public, he remained silent and didn’t make a public statement. Corax then published a caricature cartoon in magazine “Duga” showing Waldheim with a swastika over his mouth instead of a plaster. Duga’s then censor destroyed an entire print run of 50,000 copies only to print a new version without Corax’s cartoon: “Fortunately, I was able to get a copy of that printed issue fearturing my caricature”.

Corax didn’t believe that it was even possible to destroy Yugoslavia for a long time. The realisation that it could, and everything that happened to the country, hurt him terribly.

He says that he exploded creatively and it was during those years that his best and most famous cartoons emerged. He drew from his stomach, wanting to oppose the descending I supported both Čeda and Radulović, and I also lunacy.

He wasn’t afraid of the consequences supported Tadić when that was necessary, but as of such a stance or of drawing caricatures soon as they changed and showed their negative whose main characters were the then holders qualities I made cartoons that opposed each of power. Asked whether he was subjected to threats during that time, he tells CorD: of them. It is the same case today when I make “I wasn’t threatened directly, but rather caricatures with Aleksandar Vučić as the indirectly. But I had to work just as I had to main protagonist breathe, so I also had to draw. No matter what, I paid no attention to that. During the time of war I survived all sorts of things. Our head was always in a bag, so I For three years at Novosti Koraksić fought against the somehow solidified, not paying attention to that; I simply had to do publication’s editorial leadership. They wanted to force him to that. And when Yugoslavia broke up, my real work simply gushed resign on his own, while he wanted them to fire him. And they out of me and I was unable to stop myself, not even to this day. were unable to fire him because the guidelines didn’t contain a I collaborated for many years at Vreme with Stojan Cerović. clause that would allow them to do so. They finally changed the He wrote his text, his column, and I drew a caricature. That was guidelines and introduced a clause whereby those who did not always independent. I worked independently on my own and support the editorial policy could be dismissed. Thus Predrag it rarely happened that the topics we covered would overlap. I Koraksić was sacked and moved to weekly news magazine Vreme remember that period as a nice time. I liked to work and hang (Time), where he remained until his retirement: out with him, and when he died it was really a loss for everybody, “I have a principle of no longer working for anyone who but I felt it especially.” refuses to publish one of my caricatures. At Vreme that happened when Dragoljub Žarković requested that I stop drawing Corax enjoyed unbelievable success worldwide during the Vojislav Koštunica, as would also happen many years later to 1990s. The New York Times published his caricatures, as did Duško Petričić at Politika, when the editor in chief didn’t want all newspapers in Germany and other European countries, and him to draw Aleksandar Vučić. Ćuruvija [assassinated media he lived from that: 74 |

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Konstantinos Mitsotakis, Momir Bulatović, Radovan Karadžić, “I had to go to Hungary and open a bank account there so Biljana Plavšić, Nikola Koljević and Momčilo Krajišnik: that my fees could be paid, because they all paid me. I sold the “I drew them playing a game that in my childhood called originals of my caricatures here and they almost all sold out. trule kobile [like Leap Frog], and the prosecutor claimed that I was visited by foreign journalists and foreign ambassadors in my caricature the protagonists were performing fellatio on who sought to buy my drawings. For instance, at that time the one another! Realising that it would end up looking ridiculous, then Norwegian ambassador came with his wife and made a the prosecutor dropped the charges after three hearings. Many heist of my caricatures, because they both bought their own, years later I learned that Dobrica Ćosić had called for the filing given that they both had their own collections of pictures. I had an exhibition in Oslo and the Ambassador submitted his own collection to be shown as part of the exhibition.”

When the Milošević government was toppled in the one-day revolution of 5th October 2000, many people believed that Koraksić would be left without a topic and without a target, but he continued sketching without interruption: “Everyone thought that I wold no longer have someone or something to draw, but there’s always something that bothers me and so I will always have a reason to draw caricatures. I have an instinct to react immediately as soon as something catches my eye.

I supported both Čeda and Radulović, and I also supported Tadić when that was necessary, but as soon as they changed and showed their negative qualities I made cartoons that opposed each of them. It is the same case today when I make caricatures with Aleksandar Vučić as the main protagonist.

“He and other politicians from today’s I’ve always been driven mad by arrogance, which scene are the fourth set of politicians that is actually a dominant characteristic of those I have sketched and which I intend to say people, ruthlessness, lies, deceit... and especially farewell to.” nationalism. I don’t know whether this is a Corax says that his cartoons are created by looking at the world through a keyhole. His consequence of me being the child of a mixed idea is to strip down political and national marriage, but I’ve always immediately recognised potentates to reveal the caricatured essence the stupidity and primitiveness of nationalism of their character: and nationalists “I’ve always been driven mad by arrogance, which is actually a dominant characteristic of those people, ruthlessness, lies, deceit... and especially of the indictment and not Slobodan Milošević, as I had thought.” nationalism. I don’t know whether this is a consequence of the Predrag Koraksić has left behind him a series of books in which fact that I am the child of a mixed marriage, but I’ve always his best cartoons are collected, while a particularly important immediately recognised the stupidity and primitiveness of one is the edition published by the Official Gazette under the nationalism and nationalists. I think that with my drawings I’ve title: “Past Continuous Tense: Chronology 1990-2001”. managed to strip down these people, politicians and national Of the many testimonies of praise for his art, it is difficult potentates, to show the caricatured essence of their character. I to overlook the words of writer Miljenko Jergović, who wrote, made them ridiculous even though they were dangerous, and I among other things: “Predrag Koraksić always, explicitly, deals would say, judging by the reactions that have reached me, that with the Serbian side of things. That also means the Serbian the people liked that.” side of war... Corax draws for Serbs and in the daily ceremony Koraksić has only once had to appear in court as a result of of self-reflection he does the same for his audience as was done his caricatures. This was due to a cartoon published at the time for the Germans by Thomas Mann...” when Dobrica Ćosić went to Pale to convince the Bosnian Serbs Corax explains that his duty is to deal with the evils of govto sign the Vance-Owen plan. In weekly Vreme Corax drew Ćosić, ernment and he isn’t giving up on that. ■ M AY

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B y M A JA V U K A D I N OV I Ć

10TH BELDOCS FESTIVAL

Festival For

DOCUMENTARY LOVERS

Beldocs director MLADEN VUŠUROVIĆ

T

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the establishing of the international documentary film festival in Belgrade, Beldocs. Its jubilee edition will be held from 8th to 15th May at various venues in the Serbian capital

he documentary “One more time with feeling”, directed by Andrew Dominik and featuring celebrated Australian musician Nick Cave, will be screened for the festival’s opening ceremony at the Sava Centre.

In total, the festival will offer 88 documentaries from 40 countries, screened as part of 11 programme sections.

As stated proudly by festival director Mladen Vušurović, documentary lovers will have an opportunity to see a film about Ingrid Bergman, one of the greatest European actresses of all time (“Ingrid Bergman In Her Own Words”), the feature documentary “Mr Gaga”, about acclaimed choreographer Ohad Naharin, as well as many other internationally awarded documentaries. Beldocs will present three international premieres – “Lust For Sight”

by Manuel von Strlüer, “Tomorrowland” by Iranian director Sarvnaz Alambeigi, and the biographical documentary “Mikhail Tal. From Far Off”, about this famous chess player, directed

by Stanislav Tokalov.

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FOCUS ON GLOBAL ISSUES From its very inception, Beldocs has been focused on contemporary tendencies in documentary filmmaking. Our interlocutor reminds us that documentaries about important global issues have had a special place at the festival. This year will see two films about ISIS screened and the audience will have a chance to enjoy the special selection “Creation vs. Destruction”, dedicated to relations between war and creativity. The documentary “The Siege”, by Remy Ourdan and Patrick Chauvel, will mark Europe Day. Another film potentially worth watching is “Ghost Hunting”, which won the best documentary prize at the Berlinale.

Controversial author Bernard-Henri Levy, director of “Battle for Mossoul“ and “Peshmerga”, will also be coming to Belgrade.

In addition to the always inspiring international competition, biographical documentaries will also attract the audience – last year saw tickets for this selection sold out instantly. Some will choose musical-dance documentaries, of

educational programmes, or attend retrospectives of Goran Marković and Alione van der Horst. The interesting “Feelgood movie” section will feature ecological films, those with Eros and Tanatos as their subject, and so-called slow docs. And we also shouldn’t forget to mention nine feature documentaries that will be premiered within the national competition and Croatian documentaries – millenial reality from a female perspective.

SEARCH FOR THE AUDIENCE As in previous years, these films will be screened outside Belgrade. Another good tradition that will continue this year is for some filmmakers to join debates or hold workshops. Among

Beldocs Market

official guests are Steve Bjorkman, who directed the documentary about Ingrid Bergman, and director Stanislav Tokalov.

“In the coming ten years, Beldocs will position itself as a premiere festival. We used to primarily research important festivals in order to find the best films, but recently we have found very interesting documentaries in countries with a low production capacity, such as Ireland, Norway or Lithuania,” says Vušurović.

An important part of the Beldocs mission represents the search for the audience. As the directo of Beldocs implies, the local audience is yet to fall in love with documentaries. We hope that the international community in Serbia will support this idea, as some embassies and foreign cultural centres have previously supported this festival. ■

Beldocs Market, co-financed by the Creative Europe programme, will take place during the festival - from 8th to 12th May. It is supported by the MEDIA Programme for the first time. Thus Beldocs will become the only documentary film festival in the region to have 12 sales agents from Europe and the world presenting documentaries, while producers will have the opportunity to establish direct communication with those agents. Moreover, the market will also be attended by 15 managers in the acquisition of television programming in the Western Balkans, twenty representatives of festivals, producers and journalists. The market will also include the staging of lectures, panel discssions, one-on-one meetings and organised informal meetings. Beldocs Market will provide an opportunity for local artists to showcase their work in progress projects to representatives from Europe and television editors from the region.

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CHILL OUT WORLD

INTERNATIONAL PILLOW FIGHT DAY ▶ The year 2017 marks the seventh annual World Pillow Fight Day. The event has so far taken place in over 100 cities around the world. From Barcelona to New York, from Amsterdam to Vancouver, people attacked each other in merciless pillow fights on the first Saturday of April. This year it was 1st April.

The International Pillow Fight Day is an initiative of the Urban Playground Movement, the non-profit organisation known for its free, fun, all-ages public activities. The idea is to reclaim urban public spaces, spreading pure fun and freedom and connecting with each other. This is the only type of fight in which people enjoy and laugh a lot at the likeable silliness.

UK

OXFORD WINS BOAT RACE AFTER WWII BOMB REMOVED FROM THAMES

WORLD

DICTIONARY.COM ADDS 300 NEW WORDS ▶ Dictionary.com has added more than 300 new words and definitions to its online database reflecting everything from news to pop culture, which brought these words out of the darkness of the struggle bus and into the victorious expression of dabbing.

“Once again, many new words came straight from the head-

lines, from Black Lives Matter and Burkini to alt-right and clicktivism,” Dictionary.com said in a statement. “Some words like 420 and Kush reflect broader acceptance of marijuana use and culture, as it’s becoming medically and recreationally legal across the country.”

Dictionary.com also included slang terms, including slay and smackdown. The updates come after Merriam-Webster added more than 1,000 new words to its dictionary in February.

▶ Hours after police removed an unexploded World War II-era bomb near the start of the course on the River Thames, Oxford reclaimed the boat race title from Cambridge.

The bomb was discovered

by a member of the public near Putney Bridge in southwest London, just meters from the starting line of the famous race between rowers from Oxford and Cambridge universities.

Oxford won the 163rd boat race by a length and a quarter in 16 minutes, 59 seconds. The course is 6.8 kilometres long. Cambridge was denied its first back-to-back victories since 1999, but still leads Oxford 82-80 overall after a dead-heat in 1877.

AUSTRIA

SNOWBOMBING FESTIVAL 2017 ▶ Snowbombing is a six-day festival for late-season skiers – and the place for your cool teens and seasonaires to hang out for the final party of the season – a celebration for those who love their music and the mountains in equal measure. The ski holiday-music festival hybrid, now in its 18th year, attracted more than 6,000 revellers between 18th and 23rd April.

This whirlwind of funky bands, world-class DJs and clubbing, set against a backdrop of stunning alpine peaks, has been dubbed “the greatest show on snow” and “the best bash in the Alps”. With partying all night and skiing Mayrhofen’s 625km of pistes (including Austria’s steepest), a 3,286m glacier and an award-winning terrain park, it was definitely the place to be in the Alps last month. Of particular note at the Snowbombing festival was the Ride N Seek event, which was billed as a snowboarding competition like no other, where some of the best professional names threw themselves down the Penken Park course and over trick ramps.

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SERBIA

OVER 200 COMPETE IN CRACKING EASTER EGGS ▶ Despite the changeable weather, more than 200 competitors came from all over the world to the little Vojvodina village of Mokrin near Kikinda during the Easter holidays to compete in the 27th World Championships in Egg Cracking.

The rules state that competitors must exclusively use painted chickens’ eggs, which is proven by the winner having to – after cracking the shell of their final opponent’s egg – eat half of the egg with which they competed, while the other half is eaten by the president of the jury.

The visitors who came from as many as eleven countries, including Sweden, Austria and New Zealand, enjoyed the hospitality of Banat locals and the traditional “leafed” Mokrin cheese. After a long and tense struggle, the title of 2017 World Champion went to Mokrin local Sava Terzić.

USA

GOOGLE’S NEW APPROACH TO TRANSLATE WITHOUT TRANSCRIBING ▶ Google’s latest take on machine translation could make it easier for people to communicate with those speaking a different language, by translating speech directly into text in a language they understand.

UK

Machine translation of speech normally works by first converting it into text, then translating that into text in another language. But any error in speech recognition will lead to an error in transcription and a mistake in the translation. Researchers at Google Brain, the tech giant’s deep learning research arm, have turned to neural networks to cut out the middle step. By skipping transcription, the approach could potentially allow for more accurate and quicker translations.

USA

UNCLE SAM IS 100 YEARS OLD ▶ Uncle Sam has completed a century as the emblem of the U.S. armed forces, stars and stripes patriotism, Yankee imperialism and America itself. In 1917, with war waging against Wilhelmine

VIETNAM

VIETJET FOUNDER BECOMES VIETNAM'S FIRST FEMALE BILLIONAIRE

MEANTIME DEVELOP BEER TO SUIT YOUR DNA ▶ London-based Meantime Brewing Company is now selling you a beer that’s genetically attuned to your DNA to make sure you like it.

Customers supply their saliva, and Meantime does the rest, eventually giving them 12 hectolitres (about 2,100 UK pints) of ale tailored to taste preferences encoded in their genome.

Asked why customers couldn’t just express a preference for what they already know they like, Richard Myers from Meantime, said, “We are interested in how much they really like our beer For example, from the test we now understand that some of our customers have higher tolerance to bitter flavours. Far higher than they actually thought they have.”

▶ Vietjet founder Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao made a fortune by putting sexy bikini-wearing stewardesses on her planes, and is now Vietnam’s first female billionaire.

In 2011, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao established budget airline Vietjet and staffed it with sexy bikini-wearing flight attendants. It didn’t take too long before money started coming in. She also began selling steamy calendars showcasing her bikini-clad beauties. By 2017, Vietjet was taking in ten-figure revenues, and likewise giving its founder a ten-figure fortune.

This year she made Forbes’ world billionaires list — the only Southeast Asian female on the roster and the first Vietnamese woman to do so. The 46-year-old now has bigger plans for her airline, which she envisages as as a global operation.

Germany, the streets of the United States were invaded by Uncle Sam’s face, which - pointing his index finger from under his top hat, intimated: “I Want You For The U.S. Army”. Hundreds of thousands answered the call, a generation that ended fighting on the Marne.

Just over twenty years later the same bony face, sporting two piercing blue eyes and tufts of wavy white hair, again sought the same thing from a second generations of kids, who would once again fight the power of Berlin.

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CULTURE CALENDAR

Božo Vrećo 10 – Kolarac – 20:30 Over the last few years, artist, performer and author of sevdalinka music, Božo Vrećo, has become a musical sensation not only in this region, but also at the European and world levels.

The New York Times recently described this lyrical tenor as “a man with an angelic voice, who touches the heart and caresses the soul,” before further describing him as being a synonym for total freedom.

Vrećo has released four studio albums to date, the most recent under the title “Pandora”.

This summer will also see the release of his fifth album, “Božo Vrećo - live in Paris” – featuring the live recording of his concert at Paris’s famous Théâtre Le Palace.

The repertoire of his awaited upcoming concert, along with traditional sevdalinka, will see Božo rank himself among the authors of sevdalinka, in which it is worth noting his undeniable talent and skill in authoring new sevdalinka numbers, where his creation filled a gap that lasted for more than thirty years – since the last sevdalinka works were written.

BELDOCS 8-15 – various locations (see below)

Upgrade with Guy Gerber - 3rd Season Opening!

12 – Barutana – 23:00 After bringing the leaders of the global electronic music scene to Belgrade in the previous two years, Upgrade will start its third season with the guest performance of an extraordinary player.

Elusive Israeli magician Guy Gerber will perform under Belgrade’s open sky on Friday 12th May! This is a specially selected event is Gerber’s calendar, with an extremely limited capacity, in the cult open-air space of Barutana, located under the ramparts of the Belgrade Fortress.

The prologues and epilogues for this May night are being prepared by Kristijan Molnar and Vlada Janjić, while the first advanced tickets, at the early price of 890 dinars, are available via all Gigstix and Eventim ticket offices.

Damir Imamović Sevdah Takht 13 – Kolarac – 20:00 The new King of sevdah music (according to The Huffington Post), the charismatic Damir Imamović, chose one of the Serbian capital’s most beautiful concert spaces with the best acoustics for the promotion of his new album “Dvojka” (Deuce).

More than eighty films at the jubilee tenth BELDOCS festival The anniversary 10th edition of the Belgrade International Documentary Film Festival, Beldocs, which will be held from 8th to 15th May 2017, will be marked by numerous firsts and the screenings of over eighty top contemporary documentary films.

The tenth Beldocs festival will officially open on 8th May at 20.30 in the Great Hall of the Sava Centre with the screening of “One More Time With Feeling”, Andrew Dominik’s film about great music star Nick Cave. The festival will screen, among others, a film about Ingrid Bergman, one of the most famous European actresses of all time, the hit film “Mr. Gaga”, which won prizes in Sofia, Aspen, the IDFA and HOTDOCS, as well as many other films that have won awards around the world.

When it comes to festival sections, Produced for the best world music label, Glitterbeat Records, “Deuce” has received rave reviews across the globe, bringing Damir and his Sevdah Takht deserved fame.

Damir comes from Sarajevo’s famous Imamović family and is the grandson of one of the most influential singers in the history of sevdah music - Zaim Imamović.

He is considered the pioneering leader of “new sevdah”, composing modern interpreta-

Night of the Museums 20 – various locations (see below) – 17:0 The Night of the Museums represents a unique cultural spectacle in more than 120 cities worldwide, which have included Belgrade since 2005. The city’s first Night of the Museums, held in five Belgrade museums and galleries, managed to attract more than 4,000 visitors, but over the last ten years that figure has risen to a staggering 500,000 visits to museums in almost 200 locations in more than 60 towns and cities across Serbia.

Serbia will be included in this year’s Night of the Museums event on 20th May with 250 exhibitions and poetry readings in more than 40 towns and cities.

Ana Jovanović, founder of the event in Serbia, says that she is proud that the Night of the Museums will be taking place for the 14th time in Belgrade and the 11th time in other places in Serbia.

“There will be many events in 150 cultural institutions across Serbia,” promised Jovanović, adding that 12 Belgrade venues will be included in the Night of the Museums for the first time

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this year. “That’s 12 new stories that visitors to Belgrade will be able to familiarise themselves with for the first time,” she added, noting that an exhibition has also been prepared featuring the novel “The Master and Margarita” by Russian great Mikhail Bulgakov.

Costume designer and painter Boris Čakširan has announced the exhibition “Personality and Revolution reconstruction of costumes” at the Culture Centre in Čačak.

“This is an exhibition dedicated to the personalities that marked various revolutions or found themselves involved in them,” explained Čakširan, adding that the exhibition features costumes made for films and television series.

Curator of the Museum of Coal Mining in Senjski Rudnik, Miroslav Nikolić, said that

apart from international and domestic competition segments, we will also enjoy biographical documentaries, which last year attracted enormous public attention, but also brand new sections: music and dance documentaries, the special “Creation vs. Destruction” selection, retrospectives of Goran Marković and Aliona van der Horst, as well as ecological documentaries, which this year, in accordance with global trends, will find their place in the Feelgood movies programme.

Programme: beldocs.rs

tions of traditional Bosnian songs as initiated by the Mostar Sevdah Reunion and continued

by Amira Medunjanin, Božo Vrećo and the Divanhana group.

What makes Damir Imamović and Sevdah Takht specific is their original and researchbased approach to sevdah, which constantly pushes the limits and breaks taboos related to traditional Bosnian culture.

Energy of Tradition 15 – Sava Centre – 20:00 Concert marking the 69th birthday of the KOLO ensemble.

the theme of their event that evening will be “Women in coal mines, then and now”.

When coal mining is mentioned to the general public they immediately think of men, but few people know that women have a very important role in the development of mining,” said Nikolić.

The Night of the Museums will take place in Novi Sad, Niš, Bačka Palanka, Veliko Gradište, Dimitrovgrad, Sombor, Jagodina, Leskovac and Kosovska Mitrovica.

For programme and venues, please visit nocmuzeja.rs

The famous “KOLO” ensemble will celebrate its 69th birthday on 15th May at the Sava Centre with its annual gala concert, this year entitled “Energy of Tradition”. That evening will see the ensemble present itself to its faithful audience in new attire, enriched with a modern directorial concept, innovative design and the use of scenic and technical possibilities, with renewed energy, which

exudes freshness, inspiration and enthusiasm, completing the impression of the great artistic works that will be performed that evening.

This evening will be an opportunity to feel the power of the art of folk dance, song and music, and the moment for tradition that belongs equally to the members of the ensemble and their faithful audience.

Barcelona Gipsy balKan Orchestra 15 – Kolarac – 21:00

The Barcelona Gipsy balKan Orchestra (BGKO) is an international formation which has stirred great interest in Barcelona and various other European countries through its memorable performances. BGKO interprets traditional music of the Balkans, as well as Gypsy and Jewish music of Eastern Europe, with an original approach and great passion, while constantly exploring their roots.

The BGKO’s contemporary, unique and particular sound stems from its tireless and passionate exploration of the timbers and flavours of klezmer and Romany traditions and Balkan music. Balkan music, perceived as a set of musical traditions and a multiethnic culture, goes beyond its geographical borders and is moreover nurtured by all those historical traditions that coexisted in this land throughout the centuries: Askenazi, Jewish and Sefardi, Gypsies, Ottomans, Arabs etc.

Monty Python’s Spamalot 19 - Dom Sindikata- 20:00 Monty Python’s “Spamalot”, a musical comedy based on the film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”, has become one of the most popular musicals ever played on Broadway.

The original Broadway show was produced in 2005 and “Spamalot” immediately received the Tony Award for Best Musical and two more Tony Awards – for Sara Ramirez for the role of the Lady of the Lake, and Mike Nichols for the best direction of a musical. The same award

RECOMMENDS

BINA 2017 - Ideas Yard 27/4 – 25/5 The name of this year’s event, the Ideas Yards, originated from the concept of a European project in which BINA and its ten partners will participate over the next 4 years – Shared Cities: Creative Momentum – which is based on the concept of a "yard" that is, basically a common, public space in which ideas about the city and urban spaces arise and are shared to suit the users. By creating ideas and programs in public urban spaces, social innovations are encouraged from creative sectors, which include the participatory processes of urban design.

In this year's BINA "yard", we will explore elements of the architecture of Nikola Dobrović, put the General Staff Headquarters building into focus, exchange experiences with our colleagues within the Future Architecture Platform conference "Belgrade Outskirts – Envision the Future", present two European events, the Triennial of Architecture from Lisbon and the Biennale of architecture BETA of Timisoara, host the exhibition called "Small Utopias" by the MAXXI museum in Rome, discuss the architecture

Belgrade The Eternal City Aleksandar Diklić 3000rsd

of knowledge as the driving force of urban development, cheer for the swift implementation of the detailed design for the reconstruction of the Belgrade City Museum, socialize with the experts that build and equip our buildings, while students and pupils will create their architecture in workshops, and we will all walk through Belgrade together, getting to know the city over and over again.

BINA 2017 speaks the language of transdisciplinarity: architecture, anthropology, philosophy, sociology, music, visual arts and design. We invite you to join us at exhibitions, lectures, walks and workshops so that, together, we can contribute to creating responsible solutions for new spatial challenges that our surroundings constantly face!

Welcome to the twelfth Belgrade International Architecture Week, welcome to the Idea Yards!

international and regional experts.

The festival will offer guest a three-day conference, the BEUM Hackathon, early education labs for children, the 2017 Smart City Challenge Serbia, various workshops, F-UP Nights and post-conference events with Mikser Beograd and much more. ceremony saw “Spamalot” nominated for as many as 14 Tony Awards. During the nearly five years of its theatrical life on Broadway, this show was performed more than 1,500 times and seen by more than two million people.

Spanish meter: Contemporary film 25.05 – 01.06.2017 - Culture Centre of Belgrade

International Spring Festival 21 – Radisson Blu – 11-17:00 The International Women’s Club, IWC, invites you to experience the colours, sounds and flowers of the World at the International Spring Festival. Enjoy music, dance and culinary delights.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 1 Kevin O’Neill, Alan Moore 2150rsd

London, 1898. The Victorian Era draws to a close and the twentieth century approaches. It is a time of great change and an age of stagnation, a period of chaste order and ignoble chaos. It is an era in need of champions.

In this amazingly imaginative tale, literary figures from throughout time and various bodies of work are brought together to face any and all threats to Britain. Allan Quatermain, Mina Murray, Captain Nemo, Dr. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde and Hawley Griffin, the Invisible Man, form a remarkable legion of intellectual aptitude and physical prowess: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 2

Belgrade Smart City Festival 2017 26-28 – Radisson Blu The Smart City Festival #SCF17 is coming to Belgrade. Join us at #SCF17 and learn more about the challenges, opportunities and trends of smart urban development, presented by

One of the greatest publications on the history of Belgrade.

“I believe that after a long journey, Belgrade is finally on the way back home and on the why to take up its respectable place: of the Knight of Europe and the Eternal Prince of Asia.” Publication is also available in Serbian Roman and Serbian Cyrillic.

This project was created in 2008 as a film festival organised by the Cervantes Institute, in cooperation with the Culture Centre of Belgrade and the Culture Centre of Novi Sad, while today it has grown to become one of the region’s most interesting events in the field of filmmaking.

For more details visit www.spanskimetar.rs

Kevin O’Neill, Alan Moore 2150rsd

Written by Alan Moore; Art and cover by Kevin O’Neill It’s one month after the events in LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN VOL. 1, and the skies over England are filled with flaming rockets as Mars launches the first salvo of an invasion. Only our stalwart adventurers - Allan Quatermain, Mina Harker, Captain Nemo, Hawley Griffin, and Mr. Edward Hyde - can save mother England and the very Earth itself. But there are many startling revelations along the way, including the blossoming of love and the uncovering of a traitor in their midst!

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AFTER WORK SEE MORE WWW.CORDMAGAZINE.COM

23 TELEKOM SERBIA AWARDS

TRAILOVIĆ GRAND PRIX AND 29 MIRA TH

ENTREPRENEURIAL TEAMS

Start-ups Ballooner, AddTag and Cactomain have been awarded with cash prizes for the further development of their business ideas, under the auspices of the first “mts start-up accelerator” programme to support entrepreneurial teams with a total cash amount of €20,000. The three-member panel of judges assessed that the solution of the team at Ballooner – for cheaper balloon flights into space and exploration of the stratosphere - the Cactomain service team - for simplified registration and management of internet domains – and the solution of team AddTag – for eased communication between brands and visitors of festivals and other events – have the greatest prospects of developing sustainable products for the global market in the coming period.

“Telekom Srbija today supported the development of technological entrepreneurship with the first grant investment in the products of these three talented teams, at a juncture when they most in need of support. Apart from that, we are ready to provide them with mentoring advise in areas where they estimate that they require that,” said Milan Simić, executive director of Telekom Srbija for IT and ICT services.

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39 POLITIKA AWARD PRESENTED

Photo: VLADIMIR OPSENICA

MAR

IVAN MEDENICA, DUŠAN DAVID PAŘÍZEK and MILOŠ LATINOVIĆ

The occasion of the 50 th BITEF saw the presenting of traditional awards: Grand Prix “Mira Trailović” and the 39th Politika Award. The double laureate was the play Hilarious darkness (Urnebesna tama), directed by Dušan David Pařízek as a production of Vienna’s Burgtheater.

Those in attendance were welcomed by Miloš Latinović, Director of Bitef Theater, and Ivan Medenica, Artistic Director of Bitef.

Photo: VLADIMIR OPSENICA

29 FRANCOPHONIE –

MAR

WINDOW TO THE WORLD

H.E. Christine Moro, French Ambassador in Belgrade, stated at a reception held in honour of la Francophonie that 100,000 school pupils in Serbia are learning the French language, adding that “Francophonie is a window open to the world”.

Addressing guests at the ceremony marking the completion of the Month of Francophonie at the French Ambassadorial Residence, Ambas- H.E. CHRISTINE MORO sador Moro said that the emphasis is placed on the French language that enables students who are learning it to participate in numerous cultural and scientific programmes, but that it is also a bridge towards bilingual education in Serbia.

Ambassador Moro thanked Serbia’s ministries of culture and foreign affairs for their support, as well as offering special thanks to the embassies of Switzerland and Canada, as well as other partners. At the reception, which was attended by diplomats and guests from culture, science and education, prizes were awarded for Francophone dictation and the winner of the Francophone song was also declared.

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30 AHK WORKING

MAR

BREAKFAST

A working breakfast organised by the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with the TSG Law Office and the Slovenian Business Club (SPK), was attended by representatives of over 30 companies and devoted to regulations, state aid and controls, investment projects and conditions (Greenfield and Brownfield) to which incentive funds can be assigned. The speakers were TSG lawyers Marko Janjićijević and Goran Kršikapa LL.M. The gathering also included discussions on incentives for investments in renewable energy.

DR GORANA KRŠIKAPA (LL.M, lawyer), MARKO JANIĆIJEVIĆ (lawyer), LJUBICA TOMIĆ (lawyer and partner at the TSG Law Office)

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SSCC VISITS SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY PARK BELGRADE

05 VOJVOĐANSKA BANKA

APR

EXHIBITION OPENS

Members of the Swiss-Serbian Chamber of Commerce (SSCC) visited the Science Technology Park (STP) Belgrade.

Established with the aim of creating a favourable environment for developing links between industry, universities and research organisations, and stimulating technological development, innovation, commercialisation and development of the knowledge-based economy, STP was established with the support of the Swiss Government’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO. Formally opened by Swiss Federal Councillor Johann Schneider-Ammann in 2015, this technopark has become a major player in the innovation ecosystem. STP is today home to 47 companies, including two Swiss companies.

DR TIJANA PALKOVLJEVIĆ BUGARSKI, Administrator of Matica Srpska Gallery

GORDANA DANILOVIĆ GRKOVIĆ, STP Director, YANA MIKHAILOVA, SSCC President, DR ANA GOVEDARICA, Roche Serbia General Manager, and ANA GRUJOVIĆ, SSCC Executive Director

ZORICA DŽIDA, Director of the CSR Department of Vojvođanska Banka

Artworks from the rich art collection of Vojvođanska Banka, by authors Milan Konjović, Milan Kečić, Stojan Trumić, Milan Kerc, Zoran Petrović and other greats, were presented to the Belgrade public for the first time in the National Bank of Serbia at the opening of the exhibition “Responsible in culture”.

Under the organization of Vojvođanska Banka and the Matica Srpska Gallery, 33 selected paintings by renowned local artists from the second half of the twentieth century are being presented.

“We owe thanks for the opportunity to exhibit these valuable and carefully selected works in Belgrade to our partners at Matica Srpska Gallery, but also at the National Bank of Serbia. I would like to thank them, because now – with their support – we are exhibiting 33 paintings, while at the same time we’re working on processing and valuing the remaining 600 works, which is how many there are in our collection,” “said Zorica Džida, Director of the CSR Department of Vojvođanska Banka.

“Responsible in culture” is a selection of the best and most representative works that highlight the values of the art gathered under the auspices of the bank over the past half century, showing their responsible attitude towards cultural heritage,” stressed Dr Tijana Palkovljević Bugarski, administrator of Matice Srpska Gallery.

05 SERBIA-ITALY: BRIDGES OF CULTURAL HERITAGE

APR

Serbian Minister of Culture and Information, Vladan Vukosavljević, and H.E.Giuseppe Manzo, Italian Ambassador in Belgrade, opened the seminar Serbia-Italy: “Bridges of cultural heritage” at the Cinematheque Yugoslav Film Archive.

At the seminar, which was organised by the Serbian Ministry of Culture and Information and the Italian Cultural Institute, with the support of the Italian Embassy in the Republic of Serbia, experts from Italy presented their experience and initiatives from their country in the field of evaluating cultural goods.

This first meeting of Italian and Serbian experts on the topic of cultural heritage management was aimed at developing cooperation H.E. GIUSEPPE MANZO (left) and between Italy and Serbia in area of culture. Minister VLADAN VUKOSAVLJEVIĆ

06 SIXTH SETTING OF "EGALLERY" APR

EXHIBITION OPENS

In cooperation with the group Š.U.N.D. (Šta umetnost nudi društvu - What art offers society), the premises of the Executive Group agency for integrated communications is hosting for the sixth time an exhibition of “EGallery”. Some 23 young and emerging unknown artists were given the opportunity to present their works, while the exhibition’s dominant technique this time was oil on canvas and graphic prints. DUŠICA MATIJAŠEVIĆ (right) “These young people deserve the chance to show their artistic expression and we gladly provide that through the promotion and the space we make available to them. In return, we get the opportunity to enjoy each new exhibition,” said Dušica Matijašević, director of advertising and strategy at integrated communications agency Executive Group.

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06 MEETING OF THE AMERICAN, APR

FRENCH AND NORDIC BUSINESS COMMUNITIES

Representatives of member companies of the American Chamber of Commerce in Serbia (AmCham), the French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce (CCIFS) and the Nordic Business Alliance (NBA) met at Belgrade’s Hyatt Regency Hotel for another in the series of Business Speed Meeting events.

During this meeting, members of the three business associations gained the opportunity to expand their network of contacts and, through the innovative format of informal meetings, establish the basis for future business cooperation.

This year’s first Business Speed Meeting was opened by Tina Kostić, manager for company relations and finance at AmCham, Sanja Ivanić, general director of the French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, and Andreja Pavlović, executive director of the Nordic Business Alliance, who all noted the importance of cooperation between ANDREJA PAVLOVIĆ, Executive chambers of commerce aimed at strengthening Director of Nordic Business Alliance links and cooperation.

07 SSCC MEMBERS’ REUNION

APR

In accordance with the decision of the Board of the SwissSerbian Chamber of Commerce to increase members’ visibility within the SSCC network and maintain regular communications with member companies, the SSCC organised its Members’ Reunion on the premises of company “Roche d.o.o. Serbia”.

This occasion provided SSCC members with the opportunity YANA MIKHAILOVA, SSCC President, and ANA GOVEDARICA, General Manager of Roche d.o.o to present their corporate activities, raise their company profile and boost the image of their businesses among the SSCC community.

Moreover, SSCC members also had an opportunity for further discussion and networking during the subsequent cocktail reception.

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06 AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES PRESENTED TO APR

BELGRADE STUDENTS

The fourth annual American college tour of Southeast Europe, organised by the “Education USA Serbia” international academic centre, which works under the auspices of the U.S. State Department, aims to provide potential students with more detailed information about higher education institutions in the United States.

H.E. Kyle Scott, U.S. Ambassador to Serbia, said: “We are very proud of our education system. Five of the world’s top ten ranked universities are U.S. universities”.

Also speaking at the presentation, Danielle James from Central Penn College expressed a desire for more students from the region to enrol, while Nebiat Gereme from Savannah College said that students from this region would contribute to the international spirit of this institution.

H.E. KYLE SCOTT

10 DANISH “VOKALKOMPAGNIET” CHOIR

APR

IN BELGRADE FOR THE FIRST TIME

Copenhagen’s “Vokalkompagniet” choir has performed in Belgrade for the first time to commemorate the centenary of diplomatic relations between Denmark and Serbia.

In the over 20 years that it has been performing, “Vokalkompagniet” has relayed the beauty of Nordic songs, pop classics and swing jazz, JOVAN JOVANOVIĆ, Advisor of the as well as emotional “a capella” pop City Secretary for Culture (left), MORTEN compositions.

SKOVGAARD HANSEN, Head of Their repertoire also includes Mission at the Danish Embassy trip hop music, and the Belgrade audience will have the opportunity to hear the harmonising of modern and old compositions, under the conductor’s baton of Simone Maja. The same day also saw a performance of the “Beograd” City Choir, a mixed vocal group that has a repertoire which includes works by Mokranjac, Mozart, Beethoven, Miller and Savić, as well as traditional music, gospel, jazz and pop.

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CULTURE CENTRE GRAD CELEBRATES 8TH BIRTHDAY

The European Centre for Culture and Debate, better known as Culture Centre Grad, has emerged and come to life as an independent cultural institution, recognised on the cultural map of not only Belgrade, Serbia and the region, but also well beyond. With a large number of different programmes that are conducted on a daily basis, KC Grad has gathered together large audiences of different generations for eight years.

The Netherlands versatile ambassador in Belgrade, H.E. Hendrik Van Den Dool, joined the band on stage during the birthday celebration and took control of the keyboard. His virtuosity soon won over the audience and was followed by a standing ovation from the large number of music lovers in attendance.

Source: Danas; Photo: Nemanja Stojanović

20 GREEK DAYS APR

FIRST 125 YEARS OF CARLSBERG

Carlsberg Srbija organised a ceremonial dinner at Beton Hala’s Sofa restaurant, hosted by newly appointed Carlsberg Srbija Group CEO Vladimir Vava, who used this opportunity to present the development of company Carlsberg Srbija, which has been marked by investments, exports and IGOR MIROVIC, VLADIMIR VAVA, socially responsible operations.

MORTEN HENSEN Around 220 million euors has so far been invested in the brewery in Čelarevo, while this year Carlsberg also celebrates 125 years of its existence as a company, the central point of which will also be a promotional campaign for its biggest beer brand, LAV. A few days later (24th April) Carlsberg Srbija also presented its announced monograph “Miracle in Čibo”, representing the first written document about the history of the brewery. The monograph was officially presented at the old Dunđerski mansion in Čelarevo in front of a large number of guests, including representatives of the provincial government, the diplomatic corps, local governments and the media. Guests were addressed by Igor Mirović, President of the Provincial Government, Morten Skovgaard Hansen, Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Denmark in Serbia, and Carlsberg Srbija CEO Vladimir Vava.

20 TEL AVIV AS AN EXAMPLE OF GOOD PRACTICE APR

IN BELGRADE

A ten-day cultural event entitled “Greek Days in Belgrade” was held from 20th to 29th April under the patronage of the Embassy of Greece and with the hospitality of the City of Belgrade.

The event was opened with the presenting of exhibits from Benaki Museum and the Ethnographic Museum in Belgrade.

The exhibitions were also visited by Greek Culture Minister Lydia Koniordou, on the occasion of her visit to Belgrade at the invitation Serbian counterpart Vladan Vukosavljević, while the event was hosted by H.E. Elias Eliadis, Greek Ambassador to Serbia.

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MIRJANA MENKOVIĆ and Ambassador H.E. ELIAS ELIADIS

MIRJANA MENKOVIĆ and LYDIA KONIORDOU, Greek Culture Minister

Belgrade City Hall has hosted the first in a series of workshops with international experts, under the organization of the Embassy of the State of Israel to Serbia and the National Alliance for Local Economic Development (NALED), at which local governments discovered how they can make their towns and municipalities more attractive places to live and work, as well as familiarising younger generations and entrepreneurs with their tourist offer.

This occasion saw experiences exchanged with Sharon Landes Fischer, director of the Tel Aviv tourism strategy, who presented the unique practice of positioning “smart” cities through synergizing of the city’s tourist attractions and business offers, embodied through the brands Tel Aviv Start-Up City and Tel Aviv Non- Stop City.

Workshops were organised under the auspices of the commemorating of the Independence Day of the State of Israel and the 25th anniversary of the restoring of diplomatic relations between Serbia and Israel.

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20 EUROPEAN NETWORKING COCTAIL APR Belgrade recently hosted a large business meeting of eight chambers of commerce of European countries present in Serbia, with a cocktail reception attended by 250 people. The event was attended by members of the French-Serbian and German-Serbian chambers of commerce, the Italian-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, the Belgian-Serbian Business Association, the Slovenian and Croatian business clubs in Serbia, the Hellenic Business Association and the Nordic Business Alliance.

This meeting was just the first in a series of events jointly plaaned to be organised by representatives of Europe’s economy in Serbia, which is the most represented on the Serbian market, with the aim of promoting joint appearances on third markets, improving the country’s business environment and supporting local institutions through transfers of the best European practices. This reception of European chambers was held on the Vizantija boat restaurant on Belgrade’s Ušće.

20 ALUMIL UNVEILS NEW SHOWROOM APR A new showroom is showcasing the latest generation of Alumil products, characterised by their modern design, high security, thermal insulation, strength and endurance.

The facility’s opening ceremony was attended by a large number of guests, including representatives of the Serbian business community and the media.

RITA LOZINSKI (centre) Alumil is the first Greek company in the aluminium extrusion industry to enter the closed club of affiliated members of the producers of aluminium systems for the European Aluminium Association.

The salon was formally opened by Alumil director Rita Lozinski, in the presence of senior representatives of the Embassy of Greece.

20 ROUNDTABLE: PRESIDENTIAL APR

ELECTIONS IN FRANCE

Nedeljnik (Weekly) Magazine and the French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce staged a roundtable for members of the chamber and the general public on the topic “Presidential Elections in France – which future for Europe?”. The event initiated a public debate on the possible political, social and economic impact of these elections on the rest of Europe.

Panelists included Jean-Yves Leconte, a French politician, a French senator living outside France and the chairman of the parliamentary group “France - Western Balkans” (responsible for Serbia) Ivica Mladenović, editor of the Serbian edition of Le Monde diplomatique, a Ph.D. student of sociology at the University of Belgrade and political science at the University of Paris 8, and Nada Popović-Perišić, chancellor of Singidunum University’s College of Media and Communications

Speakers: IVICA MLADENOVIĆ (left), JEAN-YVES LECONTE and NADA POPOVIĆ-PERIŠIĆ, Roundtable

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25 PRESENTATION OF NEGOTIATING CHAPTER 6

APR

The Foreign Investors Council (FIC) and the Ministry of Economy held a presentation of EU Accession Negotiation Chapter 6 - Company Law at the Palace of Serbia.

Apart from members of the Foreign Investors Council, representatives of the Ministry of the Economy, heads and members of negotiating teams for Serbiaćs accession to the EU, the event was also attended by representatives of several business associations - AmCham, NALED, SAM, CCIS and Privrednik - as well as representatives of other economic institutions.

The presentation format saw the presenting of more information on the EU accession process and the basis of the negotiating positions of the Republic of Serbia for Chapter 6, as well as the kind of impact this chapter will have on the environment in which companies operate. The meeting also included the presenting of forthcoming amendments to the Law on Companies.

25 FRENCH NATIONAL ORDER OF MERIT FOR

APR

TANJA MIŠČEVIĆ

26 WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DAY MARKED

APR

ZORAN PETROVIĆ, Chairman of the AmCham Board of Directors

The head of Serbia’s EU accession negotiations team, Tanja Miščević, has been awarded the French National Order of Merit, in recognition of her contribution to promoting European values and integration.

Speaking at the award ceremony at the French Embassy, H.E. Christine Moro, Ambassador of the Republic of France, said that European integration is primarily represented by a sense of belonging, and that Serbia’s “belonging is not only felt, but alive”.

She said that it is necessary to exert efforts to realise that future and that Serbia is awaited by difficult reforms, but that France is determined to support Serbia on its European path.

“The recognition I received means that I do my job well and that they believe in Serbia in the EU and the EU in Serbia,” said Miščević.

TANJA MIŠČEVIĆ and H.E. CHRISTINE MORO

H.E. KYLE SCOTT, U.S. Ambassador to Serbia

The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) and the U.S. Embassy in Serbia marked World Intellectual Property Day with a gathering on the premises of AmCham that included the presenting of data on progress achieved in terms of the protection of intellectual property rights in Serbia and discussion of the challenges present in this domain.

The gathering was addressed by Zoran Petrović, Chairman of the AmCham Board of Directors, H.E. Kyle Scott, U.S. Ambassador to Serbia, Vladimir Popović, Serbian State Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Slaviša Đukanović, Deputy Head of the Serbian Interior Ministry’s Sector for Analytics, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Vladimir Marić, acting director of the Institute for Intellectual Property, and Dragomir Kojić, Chair of the Group for Intellectual Property within the AmCham Committee for the fight against the grey economy and Head of the Intellectual Property Department of Commercial Law Firm Karanović & Nikolić, who all agreed that great progress has been achieved over the past ten years with regard to the protection of intellectual property.

26 FORMAL BREAKFAST AT THE GOETHE-INSTITUT

APR

DR BERND SCHNEIDER (left), H.E. AXEL DITTMANN and FRANK BAUMANN

The Goethe-Institut in Belgrade has organised a business breakfast for media representatives, which included a welcome address

by H.E. Axel Dittmann, German Ambassador to Serbia, and also saw those in attendance addressed by Frank Baumann, new director of the Goethe-Institut in Belgrade, and Dr Bernd Schneider, who briefly presented the GoetheInstitut’s activities related to German language courses. Following the opening speeches, the hosts responded to media questions.

Guests later toured Zepter Palace and used the opportunity to check out the space where the German language courses of the Goethe-Institut in Belgrade recently began being taught.

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