France Business Partner 2023

The Year Of Opportunities

BUSINESS PARTNER FRANCE 2023

04 No Alternative To Normalisation

H.E. Pierre Cochard Ambassador of the French Republic to the Republic of Serbia

14 Proud Of Our “Green Line”

Vladan Čokić

Country Chief Executive for Serbia and for Montenegro at Bureau Verita

24 French Season In The Hues Of A Late Summer

Guest of Honour at the 66th International Belgrade Book Fair

08 Optimistic With Reason

Dragan Stokić President of the French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIFS)

12 Re-Bonjour: Events For New Encounters

Sanja Ivanić

General Director of the French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce and and Industry (CCIFS)

16 French Serbian Autumn

Stanislas Pierret Counsellor for Cooperation and Culture at the Embassy of France, Director of the Institut français de Serbie

20 Reliable Partner

French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce (CCIFS) and Industry

IMPRESSUM

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Neda Lukić n.lukic@aim.rs

ART DIRECTOR

Branislav Ninković b.ninkovic@aim.rs

PHOTOS

Zoran Petrović

COPY EDITOR Mark Pullen mrpeditorial@mail.com

PROJECT MANAGERS

Biljana Dević b.devic@aim.rs

Mihailo Čučković m.cuckovic@aim.rs

Renata Šteković Zagorac r.zagorac@aim.rs

OFFICE MANAGER

Svetlana Petrović s.petrovic@aim.rs

FINANCE

Dragana Skrobonja finance@aim.rs

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Maja Vidaković m.vidakovic@aim.rs

DIRECTOR Ana Novčić a.novcic@aim.rs a.novcic@cordmagazine.com

PUBLISHER Ivan Novčić i.novcic@aim.rs

PRINTING

Rotografika d.o.o.

FRANCE 2023

Us

28 A Great Who Connects

Sava Šumanović

30 France Plans To Invest €2 Billion In Cycling Cycling

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Strengthening Institutions, Enhancing Economic Ties

France is a key player on Serbia’s journey towards EU membership, with a focus on resolving the complex relations between Serbia and Kosovo, strengthening the rule of law and democratic institutions, and fostering economic relations and investment opportunities between the two countries

moting regional reconciliation.

Furthermore, France places great importance on the rule of law and democratic institutions, aligning with the EU’s expectations for Serbia's EU membership journey. It is with this in mind that Ambassador Cochard acknowledges the mass protests in Serbia, viewing them as part of a vibrant democratic landscape, provided they remain peaceful.

This special issue offers valuable insights into bilateral economic cooperation, shedding light on the strong interest of French companies in expanding collaboration, specifically in the areas of environmental protection, infrastructure development and renewable energy.

France has been a staunch supporter of Serbia's political and economic reforms, as well as its pursuit of EU accession. The visit of the President of the French Republic to Belgrade on 15th16th July 2019 served to revitalise relations between the two countries, aligning with the objectives of the French Strategy for the Western Balkans that was adopted in April 2019.

France is currently focused on Serbia’s journey towards EU membership in three key areas: firstly, France, together with Germany and the U.S, is actively seeking to resolve the complex and tense relations between Serbia and Kosovo; secondly, France prioritises strengthening the rule of law and democratic institutions in Serbia; and lastly, France places a strong emphasis on deepening

economic relations and encouraging increased investment from French companies in Serbia.

France's perspective underscores the value of fraternity, solidarity, and shared values in fostering mutual cooperation and engagement between France and Serbia, contributing to Serbia's development across various domains.

These priorities are highlighted in the interview for this special issue with H.E. Pierre Cochard, Ambassador of France to Serbia. He stresses the importance of normalising relations between Belgrade and Pristina, emphasising the need for comprehensive and inclusive municipal elections in North Kosovo in order to achieve a lasting political resolution. The ambassador also emphasises France's commitment to supporting Serbia's European integration aspirations and pro-

Moreover, this special issue also emphasises the efforts of local authorities aimed at addressing environmental and cultural challenges, with a focus on strengthening ties between France and Serbian municipalities. Lastly, it provides an overview of cultural cooperation and valuable insights into the celebration of Francophone culture in Serbia, coinciding with the forthcoming International Belgrade Book Fair.

France also actively promotes cultural cooperation by revitalising studies of the French language in the education system, facilitating inter-university exchanges, providing training programmes for cultural professions and fostering research collaborations between laboratories. Facilitating the mobility of Serbian students and researchers to France is a key priority for the French Embassy in Serbia.

No Alternative To Normalisation

Municipal elections in the municipalities of North Kosovo that are boycotted by the Serb population do not represent a lasting political solution. They have to be reorganised with the full participation of the Serb population. That’s what we will be working on to make sure that we can return to the original agreement that is still in place and is still binding for both parties -

Pierre Cochard

As a member of the Quint and a country with a leadership that’s viewed with respect from the Serbian perspective, France provides its own contribution to the process of normalising relations between Belgrade and Pristina. In this interview for CorD Magazine’s special edition on France, Ambassador H.E. Pierre Cochard insists that the only alternative to returning to dialogue is “growing incessant tensions”. He reiterates France’s assessment that the government in Pristina “has an important share of responsibility in the latest events”, adding that the obligation to form the Association of Serb Municipalities must be met.

Your Excellency, what will be your key message when you address guests at the traditional Bastille Day reception on 14th July?

— My key message will be one of fraternity and solidarity. Fraternity is one of the elements of our national motto “liberté, égalité, fraternité” [liberty, equality, fraternity] that’s sometimes forgotten. But this year I want to address the Serbian people with a message of fraternity and solidarity after the Ribnikar school mass shooting. That was a shock for everybody. It was also a shock for us because we have strong ties with the Ribnikar community. So, we share in the sorrow of the children, the parents and the teachers, and we will continue to support the Ribnikar school in the future. But I also want to share a message of solidarity and fraternity with Serbia in order to help the country implement its green agenda and thus accelerate on its path towards the EU and to ensure that the country belongs to the broader European community of shared values.

Speaking on the occasion of the unveiling of the new runway at Belgrade Airport, which is managed by French company VINCI Airports, you described this venture as symbolising a new page in the annals of bilateral cooperation between our two countries, in which you see Serbia as a regional power. Could you elaborate?

— Yes, I think that the VINCI investment in the airport is emblematic of the long-term perspective in which French companies want to invest in Serbia. And if they do so it’s because they believe in the future of this country, its European future, its capacity to utilise its assets of geographical location, good infrastructure and a skilled workforce in order to, let’s say, become even more developed and become a true regional power in the positive sense of that term, i.e., to become a driving force propelling the entire region towards EU standards and EU integration.

KEY MESSAGE

Fraternity is one of the elements of our national motto “liberté, égalité, fraternité” [liberty, equality, fraternity] that’s sometimes forgotten

INVESTMENTS

I think that the VINCI investment in the airport is emblematic of the long-term perspective in which French companies want to invest in Serbia

KOSOVO

We invite Kosovo to take stock of the situation and exert all possible efforts to enable a productive dialogue and to return to agreements

By Ljubica Gojgić

Nonetheless, at the political level there is often talk of the danger of Serbia being isolated in the region. How do you view these two parallel realities?

— I don’t think anybody wants to have Serbia isolated in the region and in Europe. That would be a dead end for the country and the region. That’s why we called on Serbia to join the EU sanctions against Russia. That’s not only to tick the box, but rather to show that we have the same assessment of the impact of this war of aggression on our collective security, and on the way of life that we all want to protect together. Of course, that’s also an illustration of the fact that, as a regional power, Serbia also has challenges and responsibilities. It has to overcome the legacy of the past. It has to promote regional reconciliation and once again represent a driving force for all countries of the region, bringing countries together and not sidelining them in striving to achieve this objective.

The start of this year was marked by optimism over the latest attempt to forge an agreement on the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Priština. Given the latest events, do you think this process is once again in crisis? — We have just witnessed the fact that there is no alternative to normalisation. The only alternative is growing incessant tensions, and that is unfortunately now playing against the interests of the local population, chiefly and primarily. That’s why we invested a lot, as you mentioned, in restoring the dynamism of this normalisation process. We are naturally worried by the unilateral gesture taken notably by Pristina and have made it clear that Pristina has an important share of responsibility in the latest events. So, we invite Kosovo to take stock of the situation and exert all possible efforts to enable a productive dialogue and to return to agreements. For example, municipal elections in the municipalities of North Kosovo that are boycotted by the Serb population do not represent a lasting political solution. They have to be reorganised with the full participation of the Serb population. That’s what we will be working on to make sure that we can return to the original agreement that is still in place and is still binding for both parties. We will make sure that it will produce the expected effects.

It has been announced that France, and President Macron in particular, will have increased involvement regarding Kosovo in the future. Will this involvement prioritise the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities or concessions on the Serbian side, in the form of Serbs returning to institutions, which is an insistence of the U.S.?

— Of course, in this approach concessions are expected from both sides, but what was already decided and agreed upon in 2013 and 2015, in terms of the Association of Serb Municipalities, is clearly a priority. It must be implemented forthwith. That’s not only the message of France and Germany, but rather is the message of the whole of the EU and the United States. So, yes, it’s a step to be taken immediately. The return of Serbs to Kosovo institutions – be that the police, the judiciary and municipalities – is also important and we have all witnessed the negative impact of their withdrawal. There is a vacuum that allows unilateral steps to be taken and that’s partly the explanation for the current situation. So, both are important, but discussion of the Association of Serb Municipality must start immediately and implementation must come soon.

Given that you often emphasise that there will be no overlooking of Serbia’s obligation to strengthen its democracy and institutions on its path to EU membership, how do you see the current political situation in the country, marked by mass protests among citizens?

— Rule of law is a key milestone on Serbia’s journey towards the EU. We want to give impetus to new momentum in this process of Serbia achieving full membership, but that doesn’t mean the rule of law, functioning institutions, the separation of powers and so on being neglected or downgraded in terms of importance. In order

for that to remain a key element, we are looking very carefully at positive reforms already implemented and other reforms that are planned for the coming months. That will, of course, be an important part of all these equations. I would not like to comment on internal political developments: that’s up to the Serbs to decide. Coming from a country where mass protests are not

rare, all I can say is that I think that, provided they don’t descend into violence, mass protests may be considered part of lively democratic life at the same level as a functioning parliament, functioning institutions, pluralist media landscape etc. All that is part of democratic life, again provided violence is clearly excluded.

When it comes to economic cooperation, you stated recently that the full potential for further economic cooperation between the two countries has not been utilised. France is present in Serbia in the sectors of environmental protec-

Coming from a country where mass protests are not rare, all I can say is that I think that, provided they don’t descend into violence, mass protests may be considered part of lively democratic life

tion, wastewater treatment, and major infrastructure projects, with more than 100 French companies operating in Serbia. Which new areas do you see as having the potential to further develop bilateral cooperation?

— There’s great potential. We've done well over previous years. Our bilateral exchanges have tripled since 2010 and now total around 1.6 billion euros, which is a more than 30% increase compared to last year. We have more than 100 French companies here and they are employing a lot of Serbian people, so all that is positive. Our main sectors of activity are wastewater treatment, waste treatment, the environment, infrastructure and so on. There’s also a strong French presence in the area of automobiles and vehicle equipment. Just to mention the fact that Hutchinson, for example, will increase its presence, while Michelin has now extended its capacities in Pirot. We have a lot of mechanical industry players, like Mecafor and so on. There’s also another important sector in the form of the agri-food industry, where we

have major companies like Savencia, Lactalis and Axereal that are mainly present in Vojvodina. Renewables also represent a sector that’s of great interest to us and one in which we’re sure French companies will be increasingly present. We already have a large, modern project in the field of the solar power industry. And another sector is IT. Just to mention the fact that I recently inaugurated, together with the Prime Minister, the new Novi Sad hub for Schneider Electric worldwide, which is a very well-known company. And here in Novi Sad they will be producing software that will be exported all over the world and will help make the electrical network much more effective. They will also be present in Serbia.

In your capacity as ambassador, you are heavily engaged beyond Belgrade. You signed the Convention on Cooperation in Kragujevac and provide support to the City of Niš in organising its public transport system based on the model of Nice, while you also led ambassadors of francophone countries in their visit to the City of Cacak, which is this year’s Serbian capital of culture. How do you see Serbia from that perspective?

— Everywhere, but especially in Serbia, local authorities have a key role to play in addressing important challenges like the environment, mobility, and so on. That’s why we are trying to increase our ties with local authorities here. They also have an important role in allowing for an active civil society at the local level to also promote culture through popular culture for everyone. That’s why we also try to forge links between French and Serbian local authorities. This is even more important, for example, through the seminar of municipalities at which they can exchange their environmental protection solutions, promote energy efficiency etc. This seminar has been a huge success, with a lot of Serbian and French local authorities coming to hear – initially in Niš, Novi Sad and Belgrade – exchanges and also bilateral visits. In the important field of culture, I very much enjoyed the visit to Čačak together with my francophone colleagues. We also brought French artists to this city, and having an annual capital of culture for Serbia is a very good initiative. I would also like to mention the fact that, as you perhaps know, France will be the guest of honour country at the upcoming International Belgrade Book Fair in October. We are happy to see that a lot of French local authorities are interested in coming and bringing their own… let’s say ‘assets’. We will certainly have Ille De France and Rhones Alpes (City of Lyon) presenting at our stands and also showing the local dimension of France dynamism.

We have more than 100 French companies here and they are employing a lot of Serbian people…Our main sectors of activity are wastewater treatment, waste treatment, the environment, infrastructure and so on

Our bilateral exchanges have tripled since 2010 and now total around 1.6 billion euros

Optimistic With Reason

The trade exchange between Serbia and France is experiencing continuous growth, while the number of French companies and French partners interested in investment in our country is on the rise. These positive trends fill us with optimism and represent inspiration for our work ~ CCIFS President Dragan Stokić

The number of French companies operating in Serbia has been increasing ever since the signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union, as has the number of inquiries from French companies interested in launching their operations in Serbia, says Dragan Stokić, president of the French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIFS). These developments have resulted in a threefold increase in the volume of trade between Serbia and France over the last 12 years, with bilateral trade

reaching a value of 1.6 billion euros in 2022. And that growth was up 29 per cent compared to the previous year alone.

“Moreover, if we take into consideration the involvement of French companies in capital infrastructure projects in Serbia (Belgrade Airport, waste treatment project in Vinča and the Belgrade metro), we are optimists when it comes to the volume and expansion of bilateral trade and we hope that the value of the total trade exchange will soon exceed the figure of two billion euros,” says our interlocutor.

To what extent are changes on the world market, and the responses of French companies to those changes, relevant to your activities in Serbia?

— Globalisation has contributed to us being networked/interconnected, but also to us being simultaneously dependent on one another, and to changes on the world market influencing changes in individual countries to a certain extent. When it comes to French companies in Serbia, we can say that these changes are limited. They relate more to the initial decision of French companies to start doing business in Serbia generally. French companies are now more cautious when it comes to making such decisions, considering all possible scenarios and not taking lightly the decision to enter any market. On the other hand, it should be noted that those companies that already operate in Serbia continue to conduct their activities without hindrance and are not impacted to a great extent by changes on the world stage and geopolitical challenges.

Given the repositioning of major value chains, how relevant is the Western Balkan market for French companies under these new conditions?

— The fact that the value chain is shifting and that European companies are seeking alternative solutions when it comes to their supply chains is actually beneficial to Serbia, because it positions our country as a potential destination for new FDI. Serbia is recognised as a traditional industrial country with a high-quality workforce, and if we add to this it’s good geographical position, developed transport infrastructure, favourable business climate, and the gov-

ernment’s willingness to accommodate investors through various subsidy programmes, we can say that the repositioning of the value chain can benefit Serbia.

To what extent did the “Bonjour Serbia” campaign help to better acquaint you with Serbia’s potential and to present, in a targeted way, the potential of the local market to French companies?

tions of companies in these cities. This campaign helped us to establish significant contacts and familiarise ourselves with local institutions and projects, but also helped us present to our member companies the potential of the region in Serbia. This was one more wonderful way for our members to connect, establish joint cooperation and perhaps decide to take advantage of the potential

— Under the scope of the Bonjour Serbia event, we visited Kragujevac, Niš, Kikinda and Zrenjanin. Members of our Chamber had an opportunity to meet with institutional and business partners, and to better acquaint themselves with the opera-

that regions across Serbia offer to expand their operations.

You stated at this time last year that you respond to challenges with enthusiasm and hard work, and that nu-

We are optimists when it comes to the volume and expansion of bilateral trade and hope it will soon exceed the figure of two billion euros

merous objective challenges can be overcome with an intelligent combination of measures, the dedication of the business community and good cooperation with the Government of Serbia. How would you rate the current economic juncture from that perspective?

— We entered 2022 optimistically, believing that last year would bring us many more opportunities and fewer challenges to doing business. However, the business world is unpredictable, and we are learning with each year to adapt to new changes and utilise them to make progress. Happenings at the world level and in our country, as well as the uncertainty and unpredictability they bring with them, prompt us to change our business strategies and decisions, to take risks, in order for us to be the best in what we do despite all the tribulations. By encouraging mutual cooperation and the strength of the community, we strive to improve the state of the economy and ease access to the market for French companies.

How does the clear slowdown in Serbia’s economic growth reflect on the operations of French companies in our country?

— Just like other countries in the region and further afield, Serbia is experiencing slower economic growth. The reason for this is largely high inflation, which is reflected in the reduced pur-

chasing power of the population, and that consequently impacts companies’ business revenue. Despite these negative circumstances, the vast majority of French companies in Serbia carry out their activities unhindered. Slow economic growth does influence decisions to invest and expand operations in Serbia. Such situations cause companies to be more cautious with investments and often prompt decisions to delay expansion plans.

Over the past several years, numerous chambers – acting both independently and in unison – have influenced the improvement of the business climate in Serbia. What changes are you focused on today and to what extent are they understood by the Serbian administration?

— These same initiatives remain current at the level of the Chamber. We listen to the needs of our member companies and try – through the good communication that we have with the relevant government bodies – to suggest the consideration of certain economic laws that would primarily help companies carry out their activities unhindered. Our Chamber commends the state bodies on their cooperation; they always happily respond to our invitations to organise meetings with members and respond to every inquiry we make quickly and with precision.

SYNERGY

By encouraging mutual cooperation and the strength of the community, we strive to improve the state of the economy and ease access to the market for French companies

CAUTION

Serbia is facing slower economic growth... Such situations cause companies to be more cautious with investments and often prompt decisions to delay expansion plans

CONNECTING

The “Bonjour Serbia” campaign was a wonderful way for our members to connect, establish joint cooperation and take advantage of the potential for expansion offered by regions across Serbia

Re-Bonjour: Events For New Encounters

If we observe the intensity of business cooperation between our two countries in 2023, we must say that we aren’t dissatisfied when it comes to the arrival of new French companies on the Serbian market, particularly given that we must bear in mind that these results have been achieved in the midst of an ongoing crisis

and “systemic” elements of the Belgrade metro project, explains CCIFS General Director Sanja Ivanić in this interview. “There are also several smaller projects, predominantly in the retail and services sectors. Considering the current crisis, we’re not dissatisfied,” she adds.

Bilateral trade between our two countries is growing year on year, with the number of French companies opting to launch operations in Serbia on the rise, while the French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry continues to cultivate optimism for the years to come, as it has since its inception.

We had the pandemic, followed by a global energy crisis, and now the continuation and complication of that crisis. To what extent have these adverse circumstances impacted on the number of French companies contacting you for advice and support related to FDI?

French companies have positioned themselves as partners on projects that are of strategic importance to Serbia in the areas of infrastructure, energy and the green economy. These are sectors in which French expertise is recognised worldwide, including in Serbia.

Two French companies have signed contracts with JKP Beogradski metro i voz [public utilities company Belgrade

Metro and Train] since the start of this year, with RATP Dev (operator of the Paris Metro) having signed a contract for early operator assistance services for the automated metro system and French company Systra, in a consortium with Germany’s Deutsche Bahn, signing a contract for Project Management Construction Management (PMCM), which relates to the establishing of a connection between the “construction”

— Following the abating of the pandemic, we succeeded in fully returning to the previous way of operating, though events at the global level have brought new challenges. The geopolitical situation, as well as the rising inflation that also hit our country, brought a certain degree of uncertainty with regard to future business. However, despite the unenviable situation on the market, the number of inquiries that we receive from French companies enables us to maintain a positive attitude, because we are recording slight growth. French companies from various fields of industry view the Serbian and Balkan markets as an opportunity to expand and launch operations.

INTERVIEW | SANJA IVANIĆ GENERAL DIRECTOR OF THE FRENCH-SERBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND

We know that French companies in Serbia are particularly interested in the infrastructure and energy sectors, and seemingly also the green economy. How, in this context and from the point of view of potential French FDI, would you assess the legislative amendments and institutional changes in these sectors?

— That’s right, it is precisely in these sectors where French expertise is recognised all over the world, including in Serbia. The best proof of this are the two large projects in Serbia that are being implemented by French companies working in cooperation with the City of Belgrade: Belgrade Airport (Vinci Airports) and the Vinča waste management complex (Veolia). The excellent cooperation that these two companies have with the City authorities provides a genuine incentive for all those companies considering doing business on our market. Moreover, the constant aspiration to harmonise Serbia’s legal regulations with the EU acquis representing an important indicator that the Serbian state is urging and encouraging the arrival of new FDI.

French SMEs also started arriving in Serbia a few years ago. How pronounced is this trend today?

— Unlike large companies, small and medium-sized enterprises are significantly more cautious when it comes to approaching the Serbian market. Despite the dose of caution that exists, French SMEs have nonetheless noticed the opportunities offered by our country’s market. We consider state assistance as being extremely important for the SME sector, but also the support of major corporations. Given that this is a sector that can play a key role in growing the Serbian economy, we endeavour to encourage all our member corporations to improve their cooperation with SMEs. This is one of the ways to increase the number of French SMEs in Serbia and create the best possible conditions for them to do business.

The CCIFS contributes to linking French companies and promoting French culture through a wide variety of activities. What does 2023 bring us when it comes to these CCIFS activities?

— The Chamber had numerous activities during 2022. We held many successful events for our members at which they

had opportunities to mutually connect and establish business cooperation. The excellent results that we achieved last year served as an incentive for us to continue organising events for our member companies in 2023 and to offer services to French companies wanting to do business in this region. We will continue with our regular monthly gatherings in the period ahead, as well as a series of new additions. We are continuing the Bonjour Serbia event, under the scope of which we provide our members with opportunities to attend various events over the course of a single day, through meetings with the local business community and local authorities. As of this year, we are even going a step further and deepening this event through the Re-Bonjour events, within the scope of which we will return to the cities we previously visited and place the expertise and experience of our member companies at the disposal of companies throughout

Serbia. We will organise a series of conferences nationwide throughout Serbia at which we will present relevant topics from the business world to local enterprises. This coming autumn will see the implementing of a new edition of the CSR campaign ‘Do Something Drastic to Make Waste Fantastic. Within the framework of this year’s campaign, primary school pupils will use waste to make structures on the topic of promoting sports and the Olympic Games to be held in Paris next year. The Quest for Net Zero project also remains a priority this year, with numerous roundtable events, publications and CSR activities. We also organised the region’s first Green Gala evening this year, which enjoyed fantastic success. This autumn’s French Week, with its many happenings, will be launched with the Beaujolais Nouveau evening, to be held, according to tradition, on the third Thursday in November.

Bureau

Proud Of Our “Green Line”

lines for assessing and managing risk, as well as for making decisions on investments. Viewed over the long term, both certification and compliance with ESG standards can bring companies numerous benefits. Achieving better business and financial results, as well as an improved reputation, requires a systematic approach and a lasting commitment to these aspects. Mere certification or the satisfying of ESG standards is no guarantee of success, though it can form an important part of a strategy that contributes to achieving those goals.

Here Vladan Čokić, Bureau Veritas Country Chief Executive for Serbia and Montenegro, discusses the company’s “green line”, which encompasses everything from the verification of greenhouse gas emissions, certification in the area of sustainability, social responsibility, eco products and the energy efficiency of buildings and systems

Your company is today increasingly mentioned for its so-called green line of services and solutions. What is included under the ‘Green Line’? — Bureau Veritas is really a leader in the field of Testing, Inspection and Certification, which is confirmed by the fact that we provide services for more than 400.000 clients globaly. The “green line” initiative is oriented towards supporting sustainable development and environmental protection, as well as promoting energy efficiency, and under “green line” services and solutions we offer a wide array of services and certifica -

tions that help organisations reduce their environmental impact, implement sustainable practices and satisfy regulatory requirements. The services categorised under the Bureau Veritas “green line” include, amongst others, the verification of greenhouse gas emissions, certification in the field of sustainability, social responsibility, eco products, the energy efficiency of buildings and systems etc.

Could a direct parallel be drawn between certification and adherence to ESG standards?

— A certain connection exists between certification and compliance with ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) standards, but it isn’t a direct parallel. Certification relates to the process of verifying

and confirming that an organisation, product or service fulfils certain standards. For example, the certification of environmental management sys-

You also believe that a better world can be reached by creating better jobs, better surroundings and better business practices, and all in accordance with the UN’s sustainable development goals. How do your clients view that?

— Many companies are today aware that business success isn’t only measured in terms of financial results, but also in terms of a positive social and environmental impact. Companies that accept sustainability as part of their business model recognise benefits like

tem could be considered part of a sustainability approach and ESG practices.

ESG standards focus on gauging the impact companies have on the environment, attitudes towards employees, social equity, the management of corporate risks and other issues linked to sustainability. ESG standards often serve as guide-

competitive advantage, access to new markets, risk reduction etc. The trend is such that ever more companies are recognising that sustainability and business success are not antithetical, but are rather interconnected and in the long term ensure improved operational and financial results, as well as a better reputation.

Veritas is a leader in testing, inspection and certification that provides clients with all services required to achieve, maintain and demonstrate compliance with all requirements pertaining to quality, health and safety, the environment and corporate social responsibility

Mere certification or the satisfying of ESG standards is no guarantee of success, though it can form an important part of a strategy that contributes to achieving those goals

French Serbian Autumn

It is our great honour to have been chosen as the Guest of Honour country at the International Belgrade Book Fair and our wish is for our appearance to reflect the fusing of French and Serbian culture –the confluence. We want this to symbolise the entire autumn period in Serbia, which many partner institutions from all over the country will help us achieve ~ Stanislas Pierret

This year’s International Belgrade Book Fair, which features France as the Guest of Honour, will be opened by Mathias Énard, considered one of today’s most important French novelists and the recipient of many awards, the most prestigious of which is the Prix Goncourt.

Also arriving as our guests will be Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt, who’s well known to Serbian readers, but even more famous among theatregoers, as well as novelist Catherine Cusset and economist Julia Cagé. Belgrade will simultaneously welcome world-renowned economist Thomas Piketty.

“At the same time, this year’s Fair will provide an opportunity to recall the galaxy of francophone authors, which includes writers who not only marked Yugoslav art with their creativity, but are also well known in France, such as Yugoslav novelist Danilo Kiš and French comic book writer Enki Bilal,” explains Stanislas Pierret, cooperation and culture counsellor at the Embassy of France and director of the French Institute in Serbia [Institut français de Serbie].

One of your exhibitions is dedicated to Serbian publishers who champion French culture. How has it been received?

In light of the upcoming Book Fair, our wish was to highlight the importance of the work of Serbian publishers and translators, given that they represent the fulcrum for spreading French thought. We decided to work, in cooperation with them, to organise exhibitions in the gallery of the French Institute, through which we will present published translations of French and francophone authors. We entrusted the first exhibition of posters, which feature authors and citations from their works, to publishing house Akademska Knjiga [Academic Book]. That exhibition opened on the same day that the Embassy of France in Belgrade hosted the award ceremony to present the Order of Arts and Letters in the rank of Officer to Mrs Bora Babić, director of this publishing house, which has spent almost two decades successfully publishing important works in the fields of fiction and social sciences. Following this exhibition, we are planning another with other publishing houses with which we collaborate.

To what extent has this series of events triggered the interest of new and existing lovers of the French Institute and its media library?

We are led by the idea of expanding the audience, who don’t have to be exclusively francophone. There are many existing areas where our two cultures come together, and sport is certainly

one of them, particularly considering the upcoming Paris Olympics. I was astounded when Novak Đoković triumphed at Roland Garros and spoke French at the award ceremony. The very idea of speaking the language of the country that welcomed him, where he competes, demonstrates his respect for that country, and that can only be an incentive to strengthen our ties. And if it is even appropriate to mention myself at this moment, I will say that I’ve also been trying to learn the Serbian language since arriving in the country, and I’m glad to have reached a solid level, which I will improve upon.

Another area of your focus is the youth and their exploration of French culture. Could you provide information on specific events in 2023 dedicated to the younger audience?

Young people remain in the focus of our activities throughout the entire year, and that will also be the case at the book fair. We try to familiarise them with French culture through sports, games and workshops. Children were happy to visit the circus workshops that we organised in cooperation with organisation Cirkusfera.

We will organise events, workshops, book promotions, readings and games at our stand on a daily basis, through which youngsters and their parents will be able to learn more about the French language and culture. I’m glad that the guests of the fair will also include famous French authors who’ve already found their place among young readers: Magali Le Huche, Florence Aubry and Tony Valente.

As we are all aware, sport, tourism, and gastronomy will also be in your focus. What role does the institute play in promoting the upcoming Olympic Games, which will take place in Paris in 2024?

We plan to sell books in French at our stand, which will also include books addressing the fields of tourism, sports and gastronomy. We would like to organise meetings with athletes. We are also planning to hold discussions about books dedi -

Our language school will be represented at the Book Fair throughout the nine days of its duration

Nine bilingual Serbian-French language departments that are attended by students in six Serbian cities demonstrate the development of that cooperation and represent another symbol of the fusing of our two cultures

FRANCE,

cated to athletes, with the authors in attendance. One such book was published in France recently and we hope it will be translated into Serbian. The work in question is called Le Nageur (The Swimmer), which author Pierre Assouline dedicated to famous French swimmer Alfred Nakache, who was a champion in the interwar period and a participant in the Olympic Games, and who was deported to Auschwitz at the peak of his career, only to return. The book addresses the topics of overcoming oneself, resistance and the fight for survival, and represents a genuine life lesson in courage and endurance that we can only be given by great athletes.

We also plan to promote the Illustrated French-Serbian dictionary of sports, which will be published prior to the Fair by the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education of the University of Niš.

The rise of AI and its impact on various forms of culture is a widely discussed topic globally, including in Serbia. How are French cultural institutions, publishers and artists approaching this particular subject?

At the start of this year’s Book Fair, Serbian publishers will organise a professional summit and panel debates with French publishers, but also with representatives of other institutions related to books and publishing. We were happy

Museum Of Basketball

We’ve been invited to this year’s opening of the Museum of Basketball in Čačak, and that’s something I’m especially looking forward to

to respond to the call for us to bring competent French representatives to participate in themed discussions. The themes to be discussed will include piracy in publishing, intellectual property rights and, of course, the ever more topical theme of artificial intelligence.

French culture is accessible in Belgrade, Niš and Novi Sad. Have you been considering expanding to other cities in Serbia?

The French Institute in Serbia can boast of the fact that it is a unique foreign cultural institute in

Serbia in that it has branches in as many as two cities: Novi Sad and Niš. Our desire is to organise our activities nationwide across the country, to collaborate with representatives of culture in all Serbian towns and cities. After Čačak, which is this year’s Serbian capital of culture, we expect to also develop cooperation with Užice next year, which will carry this same title in 2024.

The French language promotes values that are vital in today’s unstable world: liberty, exchange and tolerance. French is the official language of the Olympic Games and an influence vector around the world

Reliable Partner

The French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIFS) organises numerous activities for its members – from monthly gatherings to conferences and numerous other activities that provide opportunities for members to get informed, meet new partners and establish dialogue with representatives of the state administration and other interlocutors. Here we

review the most important activities of the CCIFS in the previous period.

WHAT IS THE CCIFS?

As the leading French-Serbian business network, the French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce (CCIFS) is an association that brings together French companies operating in Serbia, as well as Serbian and other international companies that conduct trade relations

with France or French companies. The CCIFS is also a reliable partner to all companies from France wanting to obtain information about the Serbian market or launch a business in Serbia and the wider Western Balkan region. In its efforts to promote French-Serbian economic exchange and facilitate communication between member companies, the CCIFS organises around 40 different events annually.

MONTHLY ACTIVITIES

The CCIFS organises three to four events of different formats per month, which provide opportunities for member companies to get acquainted, obtain information and, of course, enjoy socialising together. It is precisely these kinds of networking events that have enabled a lot of acquaintances to be made that subsequently developed into business partnerships. We would highlight the monthly meetings under the title ’Na čašicirazgovorasa’ [‘Conversation over a glass with...’], Speed business meetings, training courses held within the scope of the

CCIFS Training Centre, thematic webinars, as well as meetings of the HR, CSR and Sustainable Development clubs.

22.11.2022, EMBASSY OF FRANCE IN BELGRADE GREEN TRANSITION CONFERENCE

The GREEN Transition conference, organised by the CCIFS in collaboration with the Embassy of France in Serbia and under the patronage of company MPC Properties, was the second conference in the series of events held within the scope of the

Quest For Net Zero project that was launched in the context of harmonising the Serbian economy with the EU Green Deal. The conference aimed to present French expertise in the green transition sector and environmental protection through the latest projects of leading French and local companies. The conference was jointly opened by Ambassador of France to Serbia H.E. Pierre Cochard, Serbian Mining and Energy Minister Dubravka Đedović and CCIFS President Dragan Stokić.

In the autumn of 2022, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Serbia and with the support of its member companies, the CCIFS implemented the CSR campaign “Do something drastic to make waste fantastic”. This campaign was intended for fourth year pupils at primary schools across Serbia and aimed to raise their awareness of the importance of sustainable development and environmental protection. Schoolchildren were invited to use waste to create structures. The response of schools was exceptional, with the CCIFS receiving 200 applications from various regions of Serbia. Following voting by the jury, but also the general public – with more than 30,000 votes collected – CCIFS member companies awarded 12 valuable prizes to the schools that produced the structures declared as being the best. Following the culmination of the campaign, a two-month photo exhibition of images of the 20 best structures was organised at Belgrade’s Ušće Shopping Centre, in cooperation with MPC Properties.

27.3-23.4.2023 CHALLENGE CCIFI

CSR CAMPAIGN “DO SOMETHING DRASTIC TO MAKE WASTE FANTASTIC”

The CCIFS made its first ever appearance in the major global sporting competition CCIFI Sport Challenge, participating together with French chambers from 24 countries worldwide. The team from Serbia included 10 CCIFS member companies. With the help of a mobile app, we counted our steps and were physically active, while at the same time being socially responsible (part of the funds collected from participation were donated to French organisation SeaCleaners). In competition among over 550 teams, all teams from Serbia achieved great results, starting with Tigar Tyres, who took 5th place at the world level, while Serbia winning a fantastic 1st place in the country category.

27.4.2023 GALA EVENING

Among the CCIFS’s most attractive events is the annual Gala Evening that brings together 250 guests, including diplomats, businesspeople and public figures. This year's GREEN Gala was held at Belgrade’s Hyatt Regency Hotel. The CCIFS switched the focus of its operations towards the promotion of sustainable development and emphasising healthy business values last year, and the organisation of this year’s GREEN GALA paid particular attention to reducing the carbon footprint. The same event saw the awarding of the annual Grand Prix in two categories, as well as special awards for members. The Innovation Grand Prix was won by Generali Srbija, while the CSR Grand Prix went to Schneider Electric. The Chamber also awarded two special prizes: one to MPC Properties in recognition of its special contribution to the Chamber’s activities over the previous year; and the other to Tigar Tyres, which took 1st place in Serbia at the CCIFI Sport Challenge organised at the level of French chambers worldwide. Occupying a special place in

AUTUMN 2022

the programme of the Gala Evening was a fashion show organised in cooperation with the Faculty of Applied Arts in Belgrade and company L'Oreal, in which students presented fashion creations that they made in accordance with the principles of sustainable fashion.

ent them to new French companies and, on the other hand, to improve commercial exchanges between CCIFS member companies and local companies. Events have so far been held in Kragujevac, Niš, Kikinda and Zrenjanin, all of which brought together the highest members of the French diplomatic corps in Serbia, mayors and municipal/city governments, members of the French-Serbian business community, as well as representatives of local companies. Each event also included visits to French manufacturing companies operating in the aforementioned cities: Tigar Tyres (Michelin), Mlekoprodukt, Mecafor and Le Belier.

BONJOUR SERBIA

Bonjour Serbia is an event series that was launched at the start of 2022 and aims, on the one hand, to better acquaint the CCIFS with the potential of cities across Serbia in order to better pres-

GLOBAL INDUSTRIE

The CCIFS had the pleasure of participating in the GLOBAL INDUSTRIE fair and presenting the potential of the Serbian market in France for the second year in succession, this time in Lyon. This prestigious event is one of the world’s leading fairs dedicated to the development of industry and international cooperation.

2022-2023

7-10.3.2023

17-23.11.2022

FRENCH WEEK

French Week, representing one of the CCIFS’s most significant events, aims to promote historical, cultural and business ties between France and Serbia, while it is held during a period marked by an extremely popular French custom - the reception of Beaujolais Nouveau new wine.

The diverse and vibrant contents of the 10th edition of French Week provided guests with opportunities to participate in traditional French Week events: tasting good wine at the reception of Beaujolais Nouveau new wine; learning some secrets of preparing French delicacies at the Gastronomy Workshop; tasting famous wines from French regions at the Wine Workshop; sampling famous French cheeses and other delectable delicacies. New business links were forged between CCIFS member companies and representatives of local institutions, international organisations, Serbian cities and municipalities at the Green Transition business conference, which aimed to present the sustainable development sector expertise of CCIFS members. Furthermore, the seventh consecutive Online Employment Fair was held throughout the entire week, on the web platform www.francuskanedelja.rs, with visitors given the possibility of touring the virtual stands of participating companies, applying for over 70 advertised jobs and chatting with HR representatives. Completing the programme for young people was a series of webinars for students entitled “After college I shall be...”, at which students received an opportunity to discuss various professions with panellists and receive useful advice regarding their future professional orientation.

SUPPORT SERVICES TO FRENCH COMPANIES

The French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce works continuously to provide support to French companies wanting to develop their business activities in Serbia. We assist companies from France in terms of investigating market potential, identifying potential clients and partners, opening branches and generally doing business on the Serbian market. The CCIFS has been an operating partner of Business France, the French Government agency for export promotion, and a member of Team France Export for 10 years. More than 200 French companies from the most varied sectors (from industry to services) have placed their trust in us when it comes to assessing the launch of operations in Serbia. We also provide support to companies in the countries of the region, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia. Our LeBooster business centre provides services ranging from the renting of office space to all kinds of assistance in companies’ functioning.

French Season Late Summer In The Hues Of A

Speaking during last October’s handover of the open book of the Fair, French Ambassador Pierre Cochard, representing the guest of honour country at the 2023 Belgrade Book Fair, said: "I look forward joyously to France’s guest appearance, and this will simultaneously be an opportunity for the French Institute in Serbia and the Embassy of France to highlight cooperation with young people. They will promptly use travel books, alongside comics, audio and digital editions, and read literary fiction. We will suggest that all partners, including theatres and museums, pay attention to French creativity and make it a beautiful French season in the hues of a late summer.

Here we exclusively present to you some of the French authors who’ve agreed to participate in the 66th International Belgrade Book Fair, which will this year be held between 21st and 29th October.

CATHERINE CUSSET

Catherine Cusset was born in Paris in 1963. She graduated from the École normale supérieure, before receiving two PhDs, one from Paris Diderot University, with a dissertation on the works of the Marquis de Sade, and one from Yale University, where she continued to teach 18th-century French literature from 1991 to 2002.

Her links to America would go on to influence the themes of her novels, in which she questions the cultural differences between French and American

Visitors to this year's Belgrade Book Fair will have an opportunity to discuss her works, particularly the novel La Définition du bonheurThe Definition of Happiness

people, as well as between the countries themselves, but she would also delve deeply into family matters and reexamine the unavoidable motive of passion.

She made her debut on the literary scene with the 1990 novel La Blouse Roumaine. Although most of her written works received awards, it can be said that her L'autre qu'on adorait novels, all published in 2016, proved the most successful, having been declared the best novels by young people from the selection for the prestigious Goncourt prize in 4 countries of the world: Belgium, Romania, Slovenia and Sweden. She received the prestigious Prix Anaïs Nin for her novel Vie de David Hockney.

Catherine’s work have been translated into more than 22 languages. Here novel Jouir (Uživati) has been translated into Serbian (Prosveta, 2004, translated by Ivana Hadži-Popović.)

Visitors to this year's Belgrade Book Fair will have an opportunity to discuss her works, particularly the novel La Définition du bonheur - The Definition of Happiness [Definicija sreće] (Prometej, Novi Sad, 2023, translated by Sara Ralić).

ERIC-EMMANUEL SCHMITT

Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt was born in Lyon in 1960. He initially studied music and literature, only to graduate from the Ecole normale supérieure in philosophy in 1983, where he also earned his Ph.D in 1987. Six years later, following wonderful responses to his

Photo copyright: © Photo Ulf Andersen

literary work, he decided to devote himself fully to writing. Three translations of his titles will be presented at the book fair: the novel [Udeo drugog] (Clio, 2023); and two children's books: L’île de la liberté [Ostrvo slobode/The Liberty Island] and L'Éléphant qui ne respectait rien [Sebično slonče/Selfish Elephant] (Odiseja, 2023).

Schmidt is first and foremost a playwright. He has received the award of the French Academy of Sciences for his entire theatrical opus, while many of his works – from the first one to be performed in 1991 and to this day – have been awarded multiple times, with many more nominations. Over the course of the three months that it showed in Belgrade, an extra ticket was highly sought after for every performance of his famous piece Enigma Variations. Performance rights were subsequently bought for many countries: Finland, Greece, Japan, Poland, Argentina, Russia... and everywhere the main role is performed by famous stars and the best actors of national theatres.

All three of his short stories comprising the Trilogy of the Unseen - Oscar and the Lady in Pink [gospođa u ružičastom mantilu], M. Ibrahim and the flowers of the Koran [Gospodin Ibrahim i cvetovi Kurana] and Milarepa, which have been published in Serbian by Laguna – are performed on theatrd stages

The author of more than 20 books for children and young adults, she is a winner of several prestigious French awards

ature, before earning a master’s degree in geography. In Apart from writing, Aubry also works as a school teacher and librarian. She is a member of the Charte des Auteurs et Illustrators de Jeunesse, an association of authors and illustrators that advocates equal rights of writers and illustrators of children’s books.

The author of more than 20 books for children and young adults, she is a winner of several prestigious French awards. Her works deal with serious and sensitive issues, such as suicide (La Fille du monstre, 2019), alcoholism among adolescents (Biture

worldwide. He is also known to Serbian theatregoers for the dramas The Visitor [Posetilac], Einstein’s Betrayal [Ajnštajnova izdaja], Enigma Variations [Zagonetne varijacije], Minor Marital Crimes [Mali bračni zločini] etc.

During his stay in Belgrade, Eric-Emmanuel Schmidt is scheduled to attend a performance of his piece Si on recommençait [Da krenemo ispočetka/If we Started Again] at Opera & Theatre Madlenianum.

FLORENCE AUBRY

Florence Aubry is a French writer and activist. She was born in 1968 in Besançon, where she completed undergraduate studies in language and liter-

During his stay in Belgrade, EricEmmanuel Schmidt is scheduled to attend a performance of his piece Si on recommençait [Da krenemo ispočetka/ If we Started Again] at Opera & Theatre Madlenianum

express, 2010), poor living conditions for animals in captivity (Titan Noir, 2018), and so on.

Her novel Titan Noir [Crni Titan/Black Titan] (published in Serbian by Odiseja, 2023, translated by Svetlana Stojanović) is Aubry’s first work to have been translated into Serbian. It has also won several awards, the French Booksellers Award (2019), the Petruis Award for the best youth novel (2019) and the Maya Award (2020), the first French award presented for literary works that contribute to the defending animal rights.

JULIA CAGÉ

Julia Cagé is a French economist. Her main areas of interest are development economics, political economy and economic history. Cagé is a professor

Under the scope of her visit to the International Belgrade Book Fair, Cagé will hold a lecture on media freedom

Copyright Albin MichelPhotographe Pascal ITO

of economics at the Sciences Po University’s Department of Economics in Paris. She is a winner of the 2023 Best Young French Economist Award. One of the directors of the Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Evaluation of Public Policies (LIEPP) of the research group “Evaluation of Democracy”, she is also a research associate of the Centre for Economic and Political Research (CEPR) and head of CEPR’s research and policy network on “Media Pluralism”. She is the wife of famous French economist Thomas Piketty.

Akademska knjiga published her book Saving the Media. Capitalism, Crowdfunding and Democracy (Sauver les médias) in 2016, which was translated from French by Dušan Janić.

Under the scope of her visit to the International Belgrade Book Fair, Cagé will hold a lecture on media freedom She will be signing her book Saving the Media at the Fair, at the Akademska knjiga stand and the French national stand.

MAGALI LE HUCHE

World-renowned French children’s book author and illustrator Magali Le Huche will be a guest of the Creative Centre at this year’s International Belgrade Book Fair.

She is known to Serbian readers for her audio books about a musical dog, called Peca in Serbian, which are among the most popular children’s books around the world. The Creative Centre has to date published 11 books from this series, the hero of which is called Paco in the original French, and prepara-

As a writer of extraordinary erudition, Énard uses this novel to provide a lot of information about the violent history of the Zone – the states of the former Yugoslavia, Spain, Algeria, Lebanon, Italy

a teenage girl growing up in the ‘90s who manages to overcome her fear of school by listening to the Beatles. The book received the 2021 Prix Pépite in the category of comics at the Salon du livre jeunesse de Montreuil and a special acknowledgement from the jury of the 2022 Bologna Ragazzi Awards in the category of comic books for primary school children.

Born in Paris in 1979, Magali studied for five years at the Academy of Applied Arts in Strasbourg. She published her first children’s book in 2005 and has since been working continuously as an author and illustrator of children’s books and graphic novels.

MATHIAS ÉNARD

This year's 66th International Belgrade Book Fair will be opened by French writer Mathias Énard. Born in 1972, he studied Persian and Arabic and spent a long time living in the Middle East, while he is today resident in Barcelona. Énard’s novel Zone, pub-

tions are underway to publish a Serbian version of the book Peca plays the blues [Peca svira bluz], the original version of which was published recently by Éditions Gallimard.

She achieved great success with her 2021 autobiographical work Nowhere girl, which she both authored and illustrated, and the Serbian translation is also expected to be published by the Creative Centre ahead of this autumn’s Belgrade Book Fair. A touching and humorous comic/graphic book about

She is known to Serbian readers for her audio books about a musical dog, called Peca in Serbian, which are among the most popular children’s books around the world

lished in Serbian by Akademska knjiga in 2016 and translated by Anđa Petrović, was declared by critics as one of the most original books of the decade and won several French and international literary awards. As a writer of extraordinary erudition, Énard uses this novel to provide a lot of information about the violent history of the Zone – the states of the former Yugoslavia, Spain, Algeria, Lebanon, Italy. He received the 2012 Goncourt Award for the novel Compass (Boussole), published in Serbian by Akademska knjiga in 2016, translated from French by Tamara Valčić Bulić. Énard is one of the most beloved writers in our region, while he is also among the top ex-

perts on the region’s history and culture. Two other novels of his have been translated into Serbian: Breviary for Pyrotechnicians (Bréviaire des artificiers 2007), translated by Emilija Cerović Mlađa, and Tell Them of Battles, Kings and Elephants (Parle-leur de batailles, de rois et d'éléphants, 2010), translated by Ivana Misirlić Bigard. This year’s International Belgrade Book Fair will include a promotion of Énard’s latest novel, The Annual Banquet of the Gravediggers Guild (Le Banquet annuel de la Confrérie des fossoyeurs, 2020), translated by Tamara Valčić Bulić and published by Novi Sad-based Akademska knjiga. The same publishing house is also preparing to publish the novel The Perfection of the Shot (La Perfection du tir, 2003), which has been crowned with the prizes Prix des cinq continents de la Francophonie and Prix Edmée-de-La-Rochefoucauld.

THOMAS PIKKETY

We expect the most spectacular event at the Belgrade Book Fair to be the guest appearance of

Piketty is one of the most vocal advocates of progressive taxation of income and wealth globally in order to reduce inequality around the world

Hennette), translated by Kristina Bojanović; Time for Socialism (Vivement le socialism, 2020) translated by Gorana Prodanović; A Brief History of Equality (Une brève histoire de l’égalité, 2021), also translated by Gorana Prodanović; and Capital and Ideology (Capital et idéologie, 2019) translated by Aleksandar Stojanović. Capital and Ideology is a continuation of the book Capital in the XXI Century. During Piketty's stay in the Serbian capital, he will make a guest appearance at the International Belgrade Book Fair and give a lecture. He will be signing books at the stand of his Serbian publisher, Akademska knjiga from Novi Sad, and at the French national stand.

TONY VALENTE – TONI VALENTE

Artist & Scriptwriter

Tony Valente gained his start in comic books with Delcourt, illustrating the four-part series Les 4 princes de Ganahan, alongside scriptwriter Rapheël Drommelschlager. Once the series was completed, Valente began work on his own project, Hana Attori (Soleil Productions), a result of his manga and anime influences. He next illustrated SPEED Angels (Soleil), together with writer Didier Tarquin, before turning once more to a personal project. The first volume of the French manga series Radiant was published by Ankama.

world-renowned economist Thomas Piketty, who drew a lot of attention from the world public when he published the book Capital in the XXI Century (Le capital au XXIe siècle) in 2013, which became a scientific bestseller. More than 2.5 million copies have since been sold worldwide, with this work translated into more than 40 languages. The main theme of the book is wealth and income inequality in Europe and the United States since the 18th century. Piketty is one of the most vocal advocates of progressive taxation of income and wealth globally in order to reduce inequality around the world. World Bank economist Branko Milanović considers Piketty's book “one of the groundbreaking books in economic thinking”. Akademska knjiga published Capital in the XXI Century in Serbian, translated by Kristina Bojanović, in 2015 and has since also published his other books How to Democratise Europe (Pour un traité de démocratisation de l'Europe; co-authored by Antoine Vauchez, Guillaume Sacriste and Stephanie

Valente has the remarkable distinction of having RADIANT as the first and, to date, only manfra (French manga) to be translated into Japanese

Valente has the remarkable distinction of having RADIANT as the first and, to date, only manfra (French manga) to be translated into Japanese. Over a million copies of RADIANT have been sold worldwide. Radiant is translated and published in Serbia by publishing house Najkula.

A Great Who Connects Us

On the occasion of celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the establishing of the Cultural Centre of Serbia in Paris, an exhibition entitled Sava Šumanović and European Realism Between the Two World Wars was held from 26th May to 23rd June, organised in cooperation with the Novi Sad-based Pavle Beljanski Memorial Collection and the Gallery of Matica Srpska

The exhibition was conceived with the idea of presenting the latest results of research into Šumanović's connection with French culture and Paris’s international art scene at the Cultural Centre of Serbia. The exhibition is authored by Milana Kvas, manager of the Pavle Beljanski Memorial Collection.

The exhibited works included nine paintings and four drawings from the Gallery of Matica Srpska and eight drawings from the Pavle Beljanski Memorial Collection, as well as video animations of the paintings Luncheon on the Grass (Pavle Beljanski Memorial Collection) and The Drunken Boat (Museum of Contemporary Art, Belgrade ), while the exhibition was complemented with the addition of a special video segment with important examples of Šumanović’s painting and works by his role models and contemporaries sourced from both public and private collections.

Completing the exhibition was the original authorial music of composer Andrija Pavlović. The exhibition’s video content was authored by Aleksandar Ilić, while its design and accompanying catalogue were entrusted to Veljko Damjanović.

With a focus on original works from the Gallery of Matica Srpska that were originally exhibited at the Autumn Salon and the Salon of the Independents in Paris, relations with orientations towards European realism on Paris’s art scene, as well as on Šumanović’s circle of friends and acquaintances, the standouts among whom included the likes of Rastko Petrović, André Lhote, Florent Fels and Kiki de Montparnasse, the exhibition at the Cultural Centre of Serbia presented Sava Šumanović in a new light as one of the most important Yugoslav artists on the cultural scene of the French capital.

Lectures by art historian Gordana Krstić Faj and screenings of films about Sava Šumanović were organized throughout the duration of the exhibition. A promotion of the publication Sava ŠumanovićandEuropeanRealismBetweentheTwo WorldWars, published in 2022 by the Pavle Beljanski Memorial Collection, was held on 23rd June to mark the culmination of the exhibition’s run. Providing an important contribution to the evaluating and interpreting of Šumanović’s work for future generations, this representative collection of works includes trilingual (in Serbian, English and French) published studies by prominent scientific and museum experts and art historians: Zvonko Maković, Lidija Merenik, Igor Borozan, Ana Ereš, Sofija Milenković, Gordana Krstić Faj, Tijana Palkovljević Bugarski, Milana Kvas and Tamara Ogn-

A promotion of the publication Sava Šumanović and European Realism Between the Two World Wars was held on

23rd June to mark the culmination of the exhibition’s run

jević. The fact that the contents of the publication are available in both French and English enables experts and the general public in France and elsewhere to better familiarise themselves with the important aspects of Šumanović's creative oeuvre, which serve to show that his art, but also the Yugoslav cultural scene of the interwar period, participated equally in shaping Europe’s art scene.

The exhibition and promotion of the publication SavaŠumanovićandEuropeanRealismBetween the Two World Wars was realised under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia, with the support of the AP Vojvodina Provincial Secretariat for Culture, Public Information and Relations with Religious Communities and the Novi Sad branch of the French Institute in Serbia.

France Plans In Cycling €2 Billion To Invest

In May 2023, the French government announced plans to spend €2 billion by 2027 to promote cycling. The funds will finance the Bicycle Mobility Plan(link is external), which was released on 5 May. Its implementation “should make cycling and walking part of the daily lives of all French people”, said Prime Minister, Élisabeth Borne when announcing the plan.

To achieve this, the plan targets three lines of action: i) make cycling accessible to everyone, from an early age; ii) make cycling and walking an alternative

to private cars and public transport; and iii) make cycling an important economic sector by supporting cycling tourism in France, as well as its cycling industry. The government wants to make bicycles an attractive alternative to cars and a means of transport accessible to everyone from the youngest age and throughout their life. The aim is to provide bike training for all primary schoolchildren, so that eventually an an entire age group will be able to ride a bicycle, i.e. 850,000 children each year. The Government also wishes to develop the bicy-

The French government announced a €2 billion plan to expand cycling infrastructure as part of a broader effort to encourage people to ditch their cars

CLEMENT BEAUNE, TRANSPORT MINISTER

Today, half of our trips by car are less than 5km. That’s immense potential for bikes. With the Plan Velo, we’re mobilizing €2 billion to accelerate the deployment of bikes everywhere in France

work with local authorities and hope that, alongside them, we will be able to invest €6 billion over the period”, said Élisabeth Borne.

The government will also increase spending on secure bike parking facilities in railway stations and in cities. In addition, €500 million will be allocated to subsidies to enable people to buy bicycles, including second-hand bicycles.

As part of the third pillar of the Bicycle Mobility Plan, France plans to strengthen cycling as an economic sector. A national cycle tourism strategy is to be developed that aims to make France the number one cycling tourist destination in the world by 2030. The government will also support bicycle production and the repair industry. Amongst others, a call will be launched for projects that encourage industrial players to innovate, as well as to relocate the production of components and the assembly of bikes to France. The aim is that, by 2027, 1.4 million bicycles will be assembled in France, increasing to 2 million in 2030 (up from 850,000 in 2022).

“The investment the national government will be making to promote cycling is totally unprecedented and massive”, commented Transport Minister Clement Beaune on the plan. The new Bicycle Mobility Plan supersedes the Cycling and Active Mobility plan(link is external) formulated in 2018, which had a planning horizon until 2024 and a budget of €350 million. Its implementation may have sparked the enthusiasm for cycling and the current use of bicycle routes is up 52% compared to 2017. It is hoped that the measures from the new plan will further fuel enthusiasm and ensure a lasting cycling culture.

cle as a tool to promote an active, healthy lifestyle throughout life.

In order to make cycling an easier and more accessible alternative to car for local trips, the government intends to double the cycle lane network from 50,000 km today to 80,000 km in 2027 and 100,000 km by 2030. The government is planning to invest up to €250 million a year for this until 2027. The funds are intended to co-finance projects at the regional and local levels up to 25% to 30% of the total costs. Priority will be given to provincial cities and rural areas, as large cities have already received considerable state funding for cycling infrastructure. "We will

Currently, France has 50,000 km of bike lanes. The government wants to increase that to 80,000 by 2027, and 100,000 by 2030