Contents
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TRANSPORT CONNECTIVITY OPENS THE DOOR TO DEVELOPMENT TOMISLAV MOMIROVIĆ, SERBIAN MINISTER OF CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE
NEW SPLENDOUR FOR THE SAVA CENTER! DELTA REAL ESTATE
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OBO TUNNEL SOLUTIONS
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BETTER AND MORE WORK THAN EVER BEFORE MILUTIN IGNJATOVIĆ, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE OF TRANSPORTATION, CIP
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VOLUME OF WORKS AND NEW JOBS GROWING CONSTANTLY IVANA VULETIĆ, SECRETARY OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY OF SERBIA
IMPRESSUM EDITOR IN CHIEF: Neda Lukić n.lukic@aim.rs ART DIRECTOR: Branislav Ninković b.ninkovic@aim.rs CONTRIBUTORS: Rob Dugdale, Maja Vukadinović, Mirjana Jovanović, Miša Brkić, Ljubica Gojgić
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Radmila Stanković, Steve MacKenzie, Zorica Todorović Mirković, Sonja Ćirić, Miloš Belčević PHOTOS: Zoran Petrović COPY EDITOR: Mark Pullen TRANSLATION & EDITING: PULLEN EDITORIAL HALIFAX
PILLARS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SALES MANAGERS: Biljana Dević, b.devic@aim.rs Vesna Vukajlović, v.vukajlovic@aim.rs Mihailo Čučković m.cuckovic@aim.rs OFFICE MANAGER: Svetlana Petrović s.petrovic@aim.rs
FINANCE: Dragana Skrobonja finance@aim.rs EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Maja Vidaković m.vidakovic@aim.rs PUBLISHER: Ivan Novčić i.novcic@aim.rs
DIRECTOR: Ana Novčić a.novcic@aim.rs a.novcic@cordmagazine.com INFRASTRUCTURE 2022 PRINTING: Rotografika d.o.o. Segedinski put 72, Subotica CorD is published by: alliance international media
Prote Mateje 52, 11111 Belgrade 17, PAK 126909, Serbia Phone: +(381 11) 2450 508 Fax: +(381 11) 2450 122 E-mail: office@aim.rs office@cordmagazine.com www.cordmagazine.com www.aim.rs ISSN no: 1451-7833 All rights reserved alliance international media 2022
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A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH IS A GREAT ADVANTAGE OLGA ĐURIĆ PERIĆ, DIRECTOR, ASMEC CONSULTANTS LTD
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SATISFIED CUSTOMERS REPRESENT OUR PRIMARY GOAL DANILO ĐUROVIĆ, GENERAL MANAGER, HERTZ SERBIA
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GOOD RESULTS ARE THE BEST RECOMMENDATION VUKAJLO LAINOVIĆ, GENERAL MANAGER OF INDUSTRIAL PARK BELGRADE LTD AND STEVAN ROGIĆ, GENERAL MANAGER OF INDUSTRIAL PARK BELGRADE LTD
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WE’RE ADVANCING UNSTOPPABLY NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS
PILLARS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Construction Transport Infrastructure
CONSTRUCTION - TRANSPORT - INFRASTRUCTURE
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INTERVIEW TOMISLAV MOMIROVIĆ, SERBIAN MINISTER OF CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Transport Connectivity Opens
THE DOOR TO DEVELOPMENT
Despite the numerous challenges being faced by Serbia and the rest of the world as a consequence of the energy crisis and the conflict in Ukraine, our country is continuing to implement extensive infrastructural works that form the basis of further economic progress in regional and European frameworks 4
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he state of transport infrastructure represents one of the key factors in attracting foreign investments, but also increasing the competitiveness of the domestic economy. It is for these reasons that the work of the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure is always at the heart of public interest. It was just prior to the publishing of this special edition that regular high-speed train traffic commenced on the new Belgrade-Novi Sad express rail route. However, this isn’t the only rail route to have been renovated. And that’s precisely why we began this interview with Minister Tomislav Momirović by addressing the issue of connecting Serbian and European railways, the importance of these transport routes to further economic development and the environmental aspects of increasingly intensive use of railways.
“It’s completely certain that the entire European Union has recognised railways as the future of freight transport. Emissions of CO2 are 3.5 times lower per ton-kilometre than freight transports by road. Also testifying clearly to this is the fact that the EU decided to provide grants of 600 million euros to finance the modernisation of the Belgrade– Niš–Tabanovce railway, which will complete the rail section of Corridor 10 through our country,” says Minister Momirović. As our interlocutor explains, “our greatest competition currently is coming from Corridor 4, through Bulgaria. With the modernisation of the Corridor 10 route through our country, we will be part of the shortest east-west route. Naturally, this all means much higher revenues for companies that provide railway transport services. Furthermore, any company considering an investment decision will very
DEVELOPMENT
ECOLOGY
TAKE-OFF
The state of transport infrastructure represents one of the key factors in attracting foreign investments, but also increasing the competitiveness of the domestic economy
We’ve allocated 300 million euros for environmental projects for this year – for the construction of the sewage network, wastewater treatment facilities and regional landfills
Airports in Niš and Kraljevo represent a window to the world for their respective regions, and enable even better conditions for receiving people and goods
carefully calculate the price and speed at which it can transport its products to its consumers”. The minister also notes that greater importance has been attached to the environmental impact of transport over recent years. “Developed high-speed railways provide the best response to all of these issues,” concludes Momirović.
utilise it to transfer passengers between different railway systems, which contributes significantly to improving multimodality and thus improving the quality of rail services for travellers.
You launched works to expand the capacity of Niš Constantine the Great Airport despite air transport being hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. What is the ministry’s strategic plan for the development of Serbia’s smaller airports? We signed a contract in February that implies the executing of works to extend the terminal building within the complex of Constantine the Great Airport in Niš. This will make Niš’s airport one of the most modern in Southeast Europe. The upgrading of the terminal building will enable an annual capacity of 1.5 million passengers and the simultaneous serving of six aircraft. It will have departure gates and the possibility of deploying an air boarding bridge, which it doesn’t currently have. We will also secure additional commercial space and enable significant improvements to passenger comfort. Planned works on the expansion of existing airport capacities haven’t been side-lined despite the current situation in the country and around the world. Alongside all current investments and the plan to further develop Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, it is essential for us to have regional airports that serve the needs of other regions in Serbia, and here I’m primarily referring to the Constantine the Great Airport in Niš and the Morava Airport in Kraljevo. These airports represent a window to the world for their respective regions, and the investments of the ministry that I head serve to create even better conditions for receiving people and goods. Following the completion of important infrastructure projects in road and rail transport, and thanks to our country’s economic stability, we can talk about the strategy for Serbia – like developed countries – to have airports located within a 50-kilometre radius of important regional hubs.
Belgrade, followed by Niš, will see the relocating of rail tracks and hubs from their city centre areas. Considering that almost all major European cities have preserved the very central locations of their railway stations, what arguments do you have for reaching different solutions? With the relocating of the noted railway stations, but also the building of new ones, numerous problems will be solved, and here I’m primarily referring to the relocating of freight traffic away from city centres, reducing the risk of traffic accidents involving rail vehicles, as well as eliminating various sources of noise pollution. Moreover, I would note that the project to reconstruct and modernise the Niš–Dimitrovgrad railway envisages the relocating of only rail freight traffic from Niš city centre, while passenger trains would continue operating as they have to date. In that way, with the construction of the aforementioned bypass, the capacity of the railway will be increased, which is extremely important to ensure the efficient future functioning of the Niš rail hub. When it comes to Belgrade’s central railway station, during the previous period – on the basis of decades of analysis of rail traffic and various studies – an urbanisation project was developed for the construction of a railway station, parking facilities and accompanying business/commercial facilities within the scope of the “Belgrade Centre” railway station. One advantage of this relocation is the possibility to efficiently connect it with other parts of the city, as well as the possibility for trains included in the ‘BG: VOZ’ urban rail system to access this station and
The idea of the ‘Open Balkan’ initiative is based, to a large extent, on the transport connectivity of the countries of the region. How close are we currently to realising this vision of good, modern connectivity across this region? I consider us as being very close to achieving the goals, but that in no way implies that we shouldn’t continue implementing all tasks that move us towards even greater transport connectivity among the countries of the region.We do everything that we do in order to improve
The Government of the Republic of Serbia is fully committed to the “Open Balkan” policy, which implies regional integration to ensure swifter and more efficient flows of goods and services, but we will see in the coming period how the conflict in Ukraine will impact on the connectivity of Europe as a whole the prosperity of our citizens, and that’s also reflected in the “Open Balkan” project, which was launched extremely energetically by President Vučić. The “Open Balkan” project was launched to improve the future prospects of Serbia, to remove obstacles in the region and make our economies profitable, and also to facilitate the movements of citizens. Advancing the integration, interconnectivity and economic growth of the entire region are our strategic interests. The Government of the Republic of Serbia is fully committed to the “Open Balkan” policy, which implies regional integration to ensure swifter and more efficient flows of goods and services, but we will see in the coming period how the conflict in Ukraine will impact on the connectivity of Europe as a whole.
Another major project that you are heading is the “Clean Serbia” project. How much progress has been made on this project and what are the realistic possibilities of achieving its objectives by the end of this year?
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INTERVIEW
Less than eight per cent of municipal wastewater in Serbia is currently treated, while less than 10% of the population is covered by some level of wastewater treatment. An extremely low number of households are connected to the sewage system in the Republic of Serbia, with a large number continuing to utilise septic tanks. Our plan is to develop a sewage network covering 7,000 kilometres and construct more than 250 wastewater treatment plants in Serbia over the following five years. The plan is to invest four billion euros in the implementation of these projects, in order to resolve a problem that is being faced by approximately three million residents. President Aleksandar Vučić also launched the “Clean Serbia” project in an effort to resolve these accumulated problems and finally elevate Serbia’s infrastructure to the EU level. Untreated wastewater must no longer be pumped into our rivers; there must be no more wild dumpsites and waste products ending up discarded in forests and children’s playgrounds. This is today’s biggest and most critical environmental problem confronting citizens. We’ve allocated 300 million euros for environmental projects for this year – for the construction of the sewage network, wastewater treatment facilities and regional landfills.
connecting city transport and major hubs of regional and international traffic, such as the railway station and the new bus station? What is your vision; and what are your realistic plans to construct the parts of that mosaic that are currently lacking?
Once we complete important infrastructure projects in road and rail transport, we can turn to the strategy to develop air transport with the idea of Serbia – like developed countries – having airports located within a 50-kilometre radius of important regional hubs
Belgrade is a major construction site, but the general public needs more information regarding the strategic vision of
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Realistic plans are visible to everyone. Major investment projects that are approaching the stage of commissioning – such as the high-speed railway and the Belgrade Bypass, along with the Metro [underground urban rail system], which we’ve finally advanced from a standstill – represent the backbone of our dream of the modern Belgrade, as a centre of domestic, regional, European and world transport corridors. From the intermodal terminal in Batajnica to the new Port of Belgrade, we are slowly adding pieces to the puzzle and raising the competitiveness of Belgrade and Serbia in global frameworks. That’s because roads and transport corridors
enable the economy to take off. And regardless of how impatient citizens are, and how much they want that all to be built as soon as possible, they must be aware of the huge amounts of energy and funding that we’ve invested following previous governments’ decades of inactivity. One of the biggest challenges of the Covid-19 period was the creation of green corridors enabling Serbian goods to make their way to the countries of the EU. What challenges are you facing as a consequence of the conflict in Ukraine and what possibilities do you envisage to resolve them? The conflict in Ukraine is something that will have far-reaching consequences for the whole of Europe, and also the world. Here I would like to look back on the extremely difficult situation that we faced when it came to ensuring the safe return of our truck drivers who were “captured” in Ukraine. I would mention the fact that the ministry I head took all essential steps - through contact with road haulage associations - to secure precise and accurate information on the number and location of all of our haulage vehicles and drivers, our citizens, who were prevented from continuing their journey from Ukraine to Serbia. We succeeded in securing the return of our people to Serbia. We will certainly continue taking all steps towards enabling the unobstructed return of our drivers and goods to Serbia.
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INTERVIEW MILUTIN IGNJATOVIĆ, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE OF TRANSPORTATION, CIP
Better And More
WORK THAN EVER BEFORE Never before in our history have we had as many construction sites and contracted jobs as we have today. During these times of modernisation and the construction of infrastructure in Serbia, CIP is one of the most important participants, both as a project designer and an expert works supervisor
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he Institute of Transportation CIP employs more than 500 experts of all profiles and is the only company in the region that designs railway infrastructure. Founded as far back as 1881, it is this year commemorating 141 years of work on conducting studies, designing and supervising railway construction works in Serbia and across the former Yugoslavia. With a tradition dating back almost a century and a half, CIP’s experts have created monuments of architectural knowhow on the territory of the former Yugoslavia, but also abroad. We began this interview by asking CIP Managing Director Milutin Ignjatović which projects he would single out as being the most important today. “Now, at the beginning of the 21st century, CIP is designing modern, high-speed railway lines, which represent a major leap in the history of designing and installing rail tracks for trains of speeds of 200 kph that will connect Serbia with most European countries. When it comes to railways, I would emphasise in particular the Belgrade-Budapest railway project,” says Ignjatović, continuing: “This is the most important strategic project of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the biggest project in CIP’s history, which makes us very proud.” For the needs of this large project, CIP engaged top expert engineers and prepared complete planning and technical documentation with its partners for the 183km-long section of the line from Belgrade’s central station to the Hungarian border, encompassing the railway junctions of Novi Sad and Subotica.
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PILLARS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PROFESSIONALITY
RECORD
PLANS
We have no real competition, because we carry out almost all of the largest and most important projects in Serbia, which require licenses, knowhow and experience that only we possess
The Belgrade-Budapest railway project is the most important strategic project of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the biggest project in CIP’s history, which makes us very proud
In accordance with the state’s priorities, CIP continues to work intensively with its partners on the designing of highways and expressways
“The ceremonial opening of this ‘masterpiece’ of construction that is the railway from Belgrade to Novi Sad was held on 19th March 2022, with which we gained the most modern railway in Southeast Europe,” notes CorD’s interlocutor.
Highway E-763, covering a length of around 17.6 km, together with a 1,600-metre-long bridge over the Sava and Kolubara rivers, and the Ub-Lajkovac and Takovo-Preljina sections. CIP also designed the majority of sections along Corridor 10’s Highway E-75 (Niš-Skopje),
Ljubovija and Bratunac was built, thus connecting Serbia and Republika Srpska with a joint border crossing. Furthermore, CIP also prepared technical documentation for the Batrovci border crossing and the expansion of the Horgoš border crossing. It is also thanks to CIP projects that all of Belgrade’s modern tram lines have been installed and reconstructed for decades. I would also highlight in particular the unique Avala Tower: the 203-metre-tall symbol of Belgrade that was destroyed in the NATO bombing of 1999 and rebuilt according to a CIP project and under CIP’s expert supervision. We shouldn’t overlook the many structures that were reconstructed following NATO aggression, especially the bridges in Novi Sad – the Varadin Rainbow Bridge and the temporary, prefabricated rail-road bridge that was built in just 120 days. CIP has also prepared project design documentation for the most important residential and business complexes in Belgrade, of which we would particularly emphasise the University settlement in Blok 32, the largest part of the Stepa Stepanović residential and business complex, with more than 4,600 apartments and all associated infrastructure, as well as for the residential complex in Ovča where works are underway. We were also the first in Serbia to design a facility for the National Gamma Centre, under the auspices of the Clinical Centre of Serbia, which has since been constructed and made operational. We should also highlight the project of the unique House of Football in Stara Pazova, the reconstruction of Tašmajdan Stadium, Zeleni Venac Market in Belgrade etc.
Which period of our past is comparable to today when it comes to the number and value of the projects in which you’re currently participating? It is evident that we’ve never before in our history had as many construction sites and contracted works as we have today. During these times of the modernisation and construction of infrastructure in Serbia, CIP is one of the most important participants, both as a project designer and an expert works supervisor. In earlier times, CIP designed almost all structures and facilities that were built in Serbia, whether that was railways, roads, highways, hospitals, schools, sports complexes and cultural facilities. CIP’s experts designed and supervised construction works on around 3,000 km of railways, complete with stations and large railway junctions, across the former Yugoslavia, and here we would single out the Sarajevo-Ploče and Belgrade-Bar railways, as well as the junction hubs of Novi Sad, Skopje and Belgrade. Other rail infrastructure built according to CIP projects incudes the two-track section of the Gilje-Ćuprija-Paraćin railway, with a bridge over the Velika Morava along the Belgrade-Niš railway that’s capable of speeds of up to 160kph, the second track from the Pančevo bridge to Pančevo, with a bridge over the river Tamiš, as well as the main refit of six sections of the railway route of Corridor 10, covering a total length of 112km, and on an approximately 78km-long section of the Belgrade-Bar railway. The “Northern Tangent” in Belgrade was completed with Pupin’s Bridge over the Danube, the Surčin-Obrenovac section of
My vision is for CIP, in the near future, to be ranked among the world’s most important construction companies; a company that will bring together the best expert personnel and produce the best design projects as well as Highway E-80 along Corridor 10c (Niš-Bulgarian border). CIP also carried out the preparation of planning documentation and the preliminary design concept for Highway E-761, the so-called ‘Moravian corridor’, with the 80-km-long Pojate-Kruševac-Adrani section. It was also according to a CIP project that the road bridge over the Drina between
Your portfolio includes some of the most important projects in Belgrade, such as the new Sava Bridge and new railway and bus stations. How will their implementation change the look of Belgrade?
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INTERVIEW Belgrade is already among the world’s most beautiful metropolises. When all the projects planned and launched have been completed, Belgrade will be unrecognisable. Here I’m referring primarily to the completion of the Belgrade Waterfront project, as well as the implementation of the projects of Institute of Transportation, CIP: construction of a new Sava Bridge on the site of the existing tram bridge; construction of a new bus station in New Belgrade; construction of a new railway station in New Belgrade and completion of the construction of the Belgrade Centre railway station in Prokop. All these projects will relieve traffic congestion in the capital, ease the everyday lives of Belgraders and render Belgrade even more beautiful. The Belgrade Centre railway station in Prokop has been designed as the main rail hub passenger station, where Corridor 10 lines from the directions of Subotica, Šid and Niš intersect, then the Belgrade-Bar line and the route from Vrsaš. The new bus station in New Belgrade’s Blok 42, with its 65 platforms, will be integrated with the New Belgrade railway station to form a unique interchange. For New Sava Bridge, which satisfies all traffic, technical, architectural and environmental requirements, CIP prepared its Preliminary Design Concept as the winner of the first prize in the anonymous design contest to design the new bridge over the river Sava, to be located on the site of the existing tram bridge. It is planned for this bridge to cater for both rail and road traffic, with sections for pedestrian and bicycle traffic on both sides. It is also vital for the Serbian capital to complete the Belgrade Bypass, because that would permanently solve traffic congestion, while shifting the transport of hazardous and volatile substances away from central Belgrade.
We have the most modern equipment and software for work, and we encourage employees to learn, improve their skills and progress
These kinds of jobs demand concentrated technical knowhow and a team of top experts ready to find the most rational solutions for the most complex projects. Given the workforce shortages confronting Serbia, to what extent do you succeed in retaining established experts and enticing talented youngsters?
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PILLARS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
You’re right. For the first time in the more recent Serbian history, we have a labour shortage problem. The reason for that is that we’ve launched major infrastructure projects the likes of which we could only have dreamt of in the past. And CIP has managed, despite the difficulties, to retain its expert personnel and the highest quality engineers, because it invests the maximum in the advanced training and educating of employees, working conditions and a technically equipped, healthy and professional working environment. We have the most modern equipment and software
for work, and we encourage employees to learn, improve their skills and progress. We have an increasingly globalised and interconnected market, where competition is constantly on the rise. What are the most important prerequisites for CIP to remain among the world’s top project design companies? The most important precondition for the continued development of CIP is for the state to maintain this kind of economic development, to continue implementing planned projects and contracting new jobs, and to maintain a state of peace and stability, which represent the most important prerequisites for the prosperity of every company and individual. CIP succeeded in carving out its position even during the most difficult conditions, so I have no doubt about our future.
With over a century of tradition, Institute of Transportation CIP is today a leading research, design and consulting company in Serbia and Southeast Europe. Institute of Transportation CIP successfully carries out all design activities, such as geodetic works, geological research, laboratory tests in the field of environmental protection, preparation of study, planning and technical documentation, professional and technical checking of technical documentation, testing of structures, professional supervision during construction, technical inspection of buildings, engineering consulting services. With a staff of over 500 and over 300 experts licensed by the Serbian Chamber of Engineers and the Republic Geodetic Authority, Institute of Transportation CIP is a reliable partner to state institutions, faculties, local and foreign companies. It has modern equipment and software for design, geodetic surveys and geotechnical research. In more than 140 years of business, CIP has remained synonymous with a high concentration of technical knowledge and a team of top experts who are ready to find the most rational solutions to the most complex projects.
The result of decades of successful work by CIP in the country and abroad is more than 8,000 kilometres of designed, built and reconstructed railways, 25 major railway junctions, more than 2,000 kilometres of roads and motorways, 1,200 bridges, 550 tunnels and underground facilities for various purposes and more than a million square metres of health, cultural, business, residential, sports and industrial facilities. The CIP is designing modern high-speed railways, a major leap in the history of the design and construction of railways with train speeds of 200 km/h and with which Serbia will connect to most European countries. An optimal combination of many years of tradition and experience, following global achievements and trends, Institute of Transportation CIP has become a formula for business, quality, speed and trust, and has remained at the top of the list of the world’s engineering design companies.
Managing Director Milutin Ignjatović, dipl. inž. Nemanjina 6/IV, 11000 Beograd, Republic of Serbia Tel. 011/361-69-29, 361-82-87; Fax: 011/361-67-57 E-mail: office@sicip.co.rs; www.sicip.co.rs CONSTRUCTION - TRANSPORT - INFRASTRUCTURE 11
IVANA VULETIĆ, SECRETARY OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY OF SERBIA
Volume Of Works And New Jobs
GROWING CONSTANTLY The construction sector is recording constant growth year on year. We will continue promoting these trends in the period ahead by connecting relevant participants
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f we listed all the areas of activity within the scope of the construction sector, as well as other economic activities that are connected, directly or indirectly, with this industry, this whole page wouldn’t be enough to present them in the proper way. It would be enough to mention roads alone for there to be no end to the list. Serbia’s construction industry today comprises more than 11,000 companies employing in excess of 100,000 workers. The value of construction works implemented in 2021 had real growth of 17 per cent. It’s worth reminding readers that, in the first quarter of 2021, the construction sector achieved the highest year-on-year growth in gross value added of any economic activity, totalling 19.6% compared to the same quarter of the previous year. A total of 2,916 construction permits were issued in December 2021 alone, which is up 34.3% compared to December 2020. Works on newbuild construction projects conducted in December 2021 had an estimated value of 72.6% of the total estimated value of works. The highest concentration of construction activity is expected in Belgrade’s districts, representing 18.9% of the projected value of newbuild construction works, followed by the Kolubara District (15.9%), the South Bačka District (12.4%), the Srem District (10.3%) and the Šumadija region (9.1%), while the participation of the country’s remaining regions reaches up to six per cent. Given announcements of the continuation of investments in Serbia in the period ahead, particularly investments in infrastructure, we expect these kinds of positive construction trends to continue. The construction sector’s influence over the country’s overall economic growth, through
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PILLARS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
many factors, is immeasurable, whether that relates to the construction stage or the stage of the exploitation of facilities through the engaging of domestic operatives and the local workforce, and the use of materials sourced domestically, while, for example, following the completion of construction, better infrastructure eases the economy’s operations. When it comes to presenting us to the world, it is particularly important to mention Expo 2020 Dubai, during the course of which it has been planned for the Republic of Serbia to have business delegations participating in nine thematic
weeks. The Republic of Serbia’s attendance of the expo has been jointly organised by the Cabinet of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia – Platform Serbia, the Development Agency of Serbia (RAS) and the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Serbia (CCIS). A total of 77 companies and 158 businesspeople applied for inclusion in the business delegation to participate in the Third Thematic Week, “Urban and Rural Development”. The 77 companies included in this business delegation employ a combined total of 4,546 workers, while financial statements for 2019 show
that they generated total business revenues exceeding 50 billion RSD. Over the course of their time at Expo 2020 Dubai for the “Urban and Rural Development” Thematic Week, businesspeople from Serbia were introduced to the CCIS Business Hub, located in the South Dubai industrial zone, and given opportunities to use it free of charge to hold meetings, give presentations etc. These companies established more than 2,000 contacts, 275 of which were utilised to establish potential cooperation, while five business contracts were concluded, as well as around ten preliminary contracts for works that will be implemented in the near future. These companies expect to sign contracts with values ranging from 10,000 to three million euros. Serbian construction firms have traditionally had a presence on the markets of Africa, Asia, South America, the Middle East etc. Our construction specialists are still engaged on these markets today, albeit in a slightly altered format. Specifically, the presence of Serbian companies engaged in project design and project management is constantly on the rise, while there are ever fewer Serbian companies engaged in the execution of works on the ground. Moreover, a large volume of works are currently underway in Serbia, which makes our market very interesting and challenging for construction companies, especially in the field of executing works. The construction sector accounts for 7.5% of total employment in the Republic of Serbia. Shortages and outflows of qualified and skilled workers is a problem that has long since confronted the construction industry as a whole, across the entire region. This problem is apparent in Serbia, particularly given the intensification of investment activity in the country’s construction sector during the previous period, which has a direct impact on increasing demand for workers to implement construction works. Apart from a pronounced shortage of skilled labour, the construction worker market also faces the problem of an insufficient number of schoolchildren enrolled in vocational secondary schools specialising in construction. With the inclusion of as many companies as possible in the dual education system, work experience placements and internships would prepare pupils to begin working in construction immediately upon graduation. And, considering
the increased labour market demand, there is certainly work to be had in construction. Likewise, there is also an initiative among construction companies to establish – with certain benefits, i.e., subsidies – training and retraining centres for construction workers within the scope of companies. With the objective of implementing digitalisation within the framework of the construction industry, we launched an initiative to introduce possibilities to manage construction site diaries and construction books electronically, while our communication with NALED, related to the project to introduce benefits for registering seasonal construction workers,
“Created in Serbia” campaign as being extremely important. This is all about supporting domestic producers, the products of which will bear the “Čuvarkuća” [Housekeeper] brand as a way of confirming that the product was made in Serbia. The right to use this brand has to date been taken on by brick and tile producing companies AD Polet and Wienerberger, as well as cement manufacturer Moravacem. All three companies have a long tradition on the Serbian market, while foreign investment has resulted in the further advancement of their operations. Considering the fact that global trends across all industries are focused on sustainable
According to data from the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, 167,687 construction sector employees were recorded in Q4 2021, which is up 4.1% on the number of workers in 2018. According to SORS data for the construction sector, 161,136 employees were registered in Q4 2021, which is seven per cent more than in the same period of the previous year resulted in the Law on Employment Due to Increased Volumes of Work In Certain Activities, with the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veterans’ Affairs and Social Affairs. Our Association, together with company PlanRadar, last year organised a presentation of the Report on the Level of Digitalisation in the Construction Sector. Likewise, we are this year collaborating with company Orook, which is preparing a report on digitalisation in the scope of the construction industry. When it comes to incentivising domestic production companies, we consider the CCIS’s
development, in the construction sector the “green building” approach is something that’s expected to experience its full expansion in the period ahead. Serbian companies have the potential to support this type of construction. I’m certain that possible subsidies encouraging this type of construction would lead to a further increase in the number of companies interested in such investments. Green building is a preventative approach for preserving the environment that provides benefits to the surrounding area, but also to the users of such buildings.
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New Splendour For The
SAVA CENTER!
The Sava Center, the most important congress centre in the region, is today a major construction site occupied by hundreds of engaged workers and machines. The road to the new splendour of this centre, representing one of the most important buildings in this part of Europe, was paved by company Delta Real Estate, which plans to invest more than 60 million euros in this project
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he Sava Center, the most important congress center in the region, is today a major construction site occupied by hundreds of engaged workers and machines. The road to the new splendor of this center, representing one of the most important buildings in this part of Europe, was paved by Delta Real Estate, which plans to invest more than 60 million euros in this project. The formal launch of the comprehensive reconstruction of the Sava Center was marked in December 2021, at which point the future look of this facility was presented to the general public. The concept design of the reconstruction includes, first and foremost, the restoring of the former reputation of the centre itself, which symbolises the greatness and strength of the society in which it was created. The building’s façade will be renovated in accordance with the original design of chief architect Stojan Maksimović, with the external roof made of sloping glass surfaces set to continue defining its internal lines and mass, thus ensuring that the interior and
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exterior continue to represent a harmonious unit. More than double the number of conference halls, modernisation of audio and visual equipment, the newly formed winter garden and an increased capacity of the Blue Hall are just some of the features of the new Sava
Apart from preserving and modernizing this facility, great emphasis will be placed on improving its energy efficiency and energy saving, which were among the Sava Center’s biggest problems in the past
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Center. The project also envisages a clear division of the facility into congress-cultural and business-commercial zones. Apart from preserving and modernising this facility, great emphasis will be placed on improving its energy efficiency and energy saving, which were among the Sava Center’s biggest problems in the past.
The company is currently considering the installation of solar panels on the roof, while it is almost certain that the increased amount of interior greenery, along with its glass façade surfaces with high transparency, will enable the Sava Center to become a genuine example of green-sustainable standards following reconstruction. Belgrade was proclaimed one of the five fastest growing destinations for congress tourism back in 2015, and even back then there was a need for a modern congress centre that would be the driver of this branch of the tourism industry, both for our country and the region. The vision for the Sava Center has always been for it to be a focal point for gathering experts, representatives of scientific communities, culture, media, as well as all people from the business world. Following the reconstruction, this will be a place for all of them to exchange knowledge, make important decisions and forge new ideas that will improve the world in which we live and work.
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BUSINESS
OBO TUNNEL SOLUTIONS
E
uropean tunnels are checked at the start of the holiday season each year. Many accidents and fires have led to the rethinking and modernising of most systems, while today’s demands – even for electrical infrastructure – are extremely high. OBO makes the passage safer. Solutions are generally invisible, but provide a sense of security. Creating passive security Maintaining functionality in the event of an error Maintaining a reliable power supply and data transfer Satisfying all fire protection requirements OVERVIEW OF OBO SYSTEMS Cable management - practical and easy to install, either individually or group-guided cables Connection and distribution - for the secure connecting of electrical cables with maximum IP protection Surge protection - to protect control and power centres from partial currents of atmospheric discharges
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I nsulation of fire breaks - tested firefighting systems that prevent the spread of fire, smoke and heat Considering the joint planning and design of various tunnel systems, experience has shown that every individual project has its own requirements and needs for technical equipment. At OBO, you can receive the right advice on appropriate materials that will not endanger the environment, the appropriate surface protection of materials that must withstand tunnel conditions and are suitable for rapid corrosion, control technology and safety etc. This is made possible thanks to a perfectly equipped test centre, where testing is conducted not only on our standard products, but also on products specific to certain projects. Ensuring normal operations without problems is at the top of the system operator’s list of priorities for tunnels. To enable this, all components used must be made of materials that meet stringent requirements. OBO products used in tunnels are resistant to high humidity and pressure. Mounting times can be decisive when selecting equipment that will be installed in the tunnel, and OBO has set new standards in this field – drastically reducing
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installation time through a quick connection of the cable tray. OBO GR-Magic and RKSMagic fast-acting systems provide the ideal solution. They minimise the time required and thus contribute significantly to project completion within specified deadlines. Whenever something happens in a tunnel, the safety of people inside is a priority. For example, if a fire breaks out, emergency lighting systems, immobilising systems and monitoring systems must function flawlessly. OBO can significantly contribute to personal safety and firefighting. OBO functionality maintenance systems have been tested and approved according to the DIN 4102-12 standard, while the cable carrier system is specially developed to maintain functionality in classes E30 and E90. Tunnel constructions have a dense network of energy and signal cables that traverse walls and ceilings. These design constraints must be specifically protected in the case of fire, in order to prevent flames, smoke and heat spreading via openings in walls. OBO insulation systems guarantee this. OBO BETTERMANN d.o.o. Stara Pazova www.obo.rs
OLGA ĐURIĆ PERIĆ, DIRECTOR, ASMEC CONSULTANTS LTD.
BUSINESS
BUSINESS
A Multidisciplinary Approach Is A
GREAT ADVANTAGE
Over the course of the 15 years that it’s been operating in Serbia, Asmec Consultants has grown from an engineering consultancy company specialising in structural design and works supervision to become a respectable company that’s expanded its operations to Europe, Africa and America
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ll of our structures, whether residential and commercial buildings, hotels or factories, have the common qualities of being economical, secure and durable - says Asmec Consultants Director Olga Đurić Perić, adding that they complete all jobs on time and in a high-quality way. Your portfolio encompasses many elements, from works supervision and project management, to expertise in the fields of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and public health. Does project design represent the foundation of everything? Designing is the foundation for ensuring architects’ challenging ideas see the light of day. We do everything to respond to their ideas, from concept to preliminary and detailed design, via the harmonisation of designs with architectural ideas, to control of the execution of our design and project management. Asmec Consultants is a multidisciplinary engineering company that’s capable of designing various types of facilities, such as residential buildings, hotels, business centres, sporting facilities, factories, warehouses, bridges etc. We design structures in Serbia, Africa, Asia, America and across the whole of Europe, applying different norms and standards. Among our numerous positive references is the long-term cooperation that we have with many international clients. Moreover, for our designs we use the latest software that’s available on the market, including REVIT for BIM modelling. You always strive to ensure the client is satisfied, whether you’re working with major international companies or small entrepreneurs. Do your successfully completed works represent your best reference, advertisement and recommendation?
Among our numerous positive references is the long-term cooperation that we have with many domestic and international clients
Since it was founded, the goal of the company has been to design facilities that are economical, secure and durable. Expertise, assured quality and respect for deadlines are the best recommendations. We’ve worked as subcontractors for large international companies, but also for small entrepreneurs, leaving
our clients satisfied with every job we’ve done, so we can state with pride that we receive positive feedback from our clients regarding the quality of our work and adherence to deadlines. We strive to complete the work on time, in a high-quality way and in accordance with all project requirements. We’ve also transferred this ethic to our employees, who are educated, young Serbian engineers, which is why we believe we’re providing a good contribution to the Serbian market and construction industry. We invest in our engineers and encourage them to develop their skills and work on improving their ability to communicate and coordinate, in order to be as successful as possible in finding a common language with clients and architects. We consider the fact that we have “everything in one place” as another important recommendation, because we are a multidisciplinary company that comprises civil, mechanical, electrical and telecommunications engineers, as well as environmental protection experts. Belgrade is adorned with many new buildings, including tower blocks of 50+ metres, buildings constructed according to the world’s highest standards, innovative designs and innovative solutions. Even the sky isn’t the limit today? Belgrade is developing, expanding and growing, in terms of both breadth and height, so the face of the city is changing constantly. Serbia as a whole has also changed and is now crisscrossed by new roads and railways. Though road and rail infrastructure is important, we believe its development should go hand in hand with improvements to social infrastructure that has a great impact on quality of life. It is for this very reason that Asmec Consultants is working on projects to improve energy efficiency at schools, libraries, clinics and health centres.
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BUSINESS
DANILO ĐUROVIĆ, GENERAL MANAGER, HERTZ SERBIA
Satisfied Customers Represent
OUR PRIMARY GOAL
Hertz is a leader in car rental services worldwide, while it has also been the first choice in Serbia for more than a decade. Apart from its fleet of 2,000 vehicles, including everything from fuel-efficient urban cars to luxury sedans, Hertz also offers a wide range of services
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apid changes within the automotive industry and social product growth per capita will, in the years ahead of us, serve to make car rental an ever more attractive option compared to traditional car ownership - believes Hertz Serbia General Manager Danilo Đurović. What distinguishes Hertz Serbia from the competition so much? As the franchisee of a company that’s been a leader of the vehicle rental industry for more than a century, we are obliged to respect the highest industry standards in all aspects of our operations. This enables us to keep pace with trends and also apply the best practices on our market. We have developed systems for monitoring customer satisfaction, which is the basic goal of our business activities and the key to our success. Is it true that you are able to satisfy the needs of even the most demanding drivers? We are extremely proud of our flexibility, thanks to which we are able to go out of our way to meet the needs of our clients, even when they have requirements that extend beyond the standard products of daily, monthly, annual or multi-year vehicle rental services. Our basic mission is to have satisfied clients, which is why we constantly listen to their needs and respond to them in the right way. Interest in operational leasing is growing in developed countries. How is it progressing in our country? This concept is still in its infancy in our country, and there is great potential for development. The percentage of vehicles acquired through operational leasing, as a proportion of total sales of new vehicles in Serbia annually, is estimated at no more than 20%, while we believe this percentage should
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Our basic mission is to have satisfied clients, which is why we constantly listen to their needs and respond to them in the right way be much higher. The right market ambience exists, because, apart from ourselves, there are also several other established companies providing this type of service, so we - as an industry - are doing everything in our power to promote this type of product and familiarise a greater number of clients with it. We lack institutional support in promoting this type of product, through the establishing of tax incentives, the setting up of legal regulations and legal protections, and the organising of associations. External factors, such as rapid changes in the automotive industry and GDP growth per capita, will, in and of themselves, render car rental a more attractive option than traditional vehicle ownership.
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Does our market have any unique characteristics? Which cars do our drivers prefer and which services are in the highest demand in our country? When it comes to short-term vehicle rental, better known as rent-a-car services, our market is characterised by business users and expatriates, while the share of foreign tourists in total rents lags far behind these two categories. When it comes to operational leasing, it is currently dominated entirely by businesses, on the whole foreign companies and larger domestic firms. When it comes to vehicle type, the specific characteristics of our market are that sedans remain very popular, while diesel remains the preferred fuel type. Given the general automotive industry trend that sees sedans increasingly replaced by SUVs and crossovers, while ever more manufacturers are announcing and/or implementing the complete withdrawal of diesel options, we also expect shifts in this direction on our market.
BUSINESS
VUKAJLO LAINOVIĆ, GENERAL MANAGER OF INDUSTRIAL PARK BELGRADE LTD AND STEVAN ROGIĆ, GENERAL MANAGER OF INDUSTRIAL PARK BELGRADE LTD
BUSINESS
Good Results Are The
BEST RECOMMENDATION Industrial Park Belgrade Ltd (IPB) deals with the development and construction of modern logistics centres, project design etc. It is currently focused on completion of the sixth storage facility in Industrial zone 5.1 and identifying clients for facility number seven, which will be constructed by year’s end
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PB secures construction complexes for its clients that satisfy all international standards in terms of legal regulations, transport and utilities infrastructure, but also energy efficiency.
Do you build new facilities for tenants that are known in advance and have defined requirements, or do you construct them in such a way that they can be combined, merged and adapted to suit the wishes and needs of clients? Does this enable IPB to serve even the most demanding logistical requirements? IPB can serve even the most demanding logistical requirements, because it approaches the development of new business-storage facilities in a flexible way, which includes both of the options that you mentioned. Depending on specific circumstances or needs, IPB can develop facilities for tenants that are known in advance according to their requirements and specifications, but can also build facilities that can later be partitioned, combined or merged following the identifying of a tenant. The goal is to always go out of our way to meet the needs and interests of potential clients, i.e., to realise mutually beneficial cooperation in the most optimal way. What are the advantages of the storage facilities that you build, apart from their perfect location? Apart from strategic positioning immediately alongside Highway E70, which ensures perfect transport connectivity, IPB secures construction complexes for its clients that satisfy all international standards in terms of legal regulations, transport and utilities infrastructure, but also energy efficiency (FM Global sprinkler system, heating and cooling system). We provide a manned reception, video surveillance and ample parking for passenger cars, haulage vehicles and trucks. IPB’s property management team is also able to provide facility management, maintenance and security services. You complete all projects within planned budgets and deadlines, without a single day’s delay. Is this one of the best recommendations for your work? Which companies have so far placed their trust in you? Apart from adhering to deadlines and planned budgets, the best recommendation for our work is organisational flexibility, which enables us to achieve optimal results in the most efficient way, or to react on time to potential unforeseen circumstances, needs to reorganise space and similar requirements. One important factor is expediency in obtaining all
permits and other necessary construction documentation, which provides our clients with a sense of security. We leased the first five business-storage facilities that we constructed to the company Milšped, and Slovenian company T.L. Sirk placed its trust in us by leasing of our latest, sixth facility to be completed. We are currently in the process of finding clients for facility number seven, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year. When it comes to the construction of such facilities, the companies that have placed their trust in us includes the likes of Gradina, Yugometal, Euromont, Elmont Profil, Instalteh, Vlado Baumaschinen, Stobex, Procon, Transkop, BSN Energy, Prota Invest, Girt Pro and Frimex, as well as many other leading companies and entrepreneurs from the field of construction.
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NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS
No Longer Lagging
BEHIND THE WORLD Thanks to huge investments in infrastructure, Serbia is today reminiscent of Europe’s most developed countries. We have new highways, trains that run at speeds of up 200 kilometres per hour, a high-speed railway, the expansion of housing construction, the latest business facilities and a completely different and much improved quality of life, but also economic growth that’s proving unstoppable 20
PILLARS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
A TOTAL OF 36 DEPARTURES BETWEEN BELGRADE AND NOVI SAD Two more pairs of “Soko” passenger transport trains were added to transport flows along the highspeed railway between Belgrade and Novi Sad as of Wednesday, 30th March. Accordingly, the “Regio Express” Soko trains are set to depart from the “Belgrade Centre” railway station bound for Novi Sad at 8.03am and 12.03pm, with the return journeys scheduled to set off from Novi Sad at 10.07am and 2.07pm. This means that there are now 18 daily departures in each direction along the high-speed railway between Belgrade and Novi Sad, or a total of 36 departures every day. During the promotional period, which runs until 30th April, tickets for “Regio Express” trains are priced at 300 dinars for a one-way journey and 600 dinars for a return trip.
€885 MILLION FOR UPDATING INFRASTRUCTURE Serbia will have 885 million euros at its disposal over the next decade to advance infrastructure. Over a third of this total (€300 million) is in the form of grants from the European Union (300 million) and just over half (€450 million) is in the form of loans from international financial institutions, with the remainder to be financed directly from the national budget. One of the key roles in this area belongs to the Western Balkan Investment Framework, a financial platform that was launched in 2009 by the European Union to finance projects in this region. A new Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans was presented in Brussels recently and will be used over the next decade to fund priority projects related to sustainable transport, clean energy, the environment and climate, the digital future and human capital.
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SUNKEN GERMAN FLEET TO FINALLY BE RECOVERED FROM THE DANUBE
Architecture and construction have always been areas where creativity is expressed and boundaries pushed, where new technologies and achievements of the modern world are applied. Given that innovation is the norm and standard of this branch of the economy, and not merely an expectation and possibility, it’s no surprise that it brings us new trends every year, including this one, and the five that we present here are set to dominate the world in 2022.
FIVE ARCHITECTURE & CONSTRUCTION TRENDS
SMALL HOUSES Since the pandemic forced us to more deeply examine our priorities, interest has been growing in small houses that are economical and more environmentally acceptable. What began as a cute little trend is now transforming into a permanent option, because small houses undoubtedly save us both space and money, while being more environmentally acceptable. PREFABRICATED ARCHITECTURE Creating entire buildings or different components in a location that is more suitable for construction, then transporting them to their final location for installation, is a trend that is becoming increasingly popular around the world. Prefabricated solutions reduce costs, guarantee sustainability, save time and ensure simplicity and modularity. DIY SYSTEM When the limitations of the pandemic prompted masses of people to begin considering how good it would be to build their own house or summer home, to live under a roof that they built themselves, between walls that they personal erected,
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Following two and a half years of work on project preparation and the drafting of technical and tender documentation, we are now entering the final phase of implementation of the project ‘Removal of the Sunken German World War II Fleet From the Danube’. “The Government of Serbia decided that, following many decades of neglecting transport and port infrastructure on the Danube, it would launch investments aimed at accelerating the development of water transport and water corridors via investments in ports, navigational safety and the regulating of our rivers to make them navigable 365 days a year,” said Serbian Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Tomislav Momirović. He noted that this project includes demining works and the removal of 21 sunken ships that narrow the width of the navigable route of the Danube from the prescribed 180 metres to just 90 metres. These ships, which were sunk prior to the end of World War II, are located downstream of hydroelectric power station Đerdap 2 [Iron Gate II]. These works are valued at an estimated 29 million euros and the required funds have been secured from a European Investment Bank loan and a WBIF fund grant.
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the construction industry responded by launching the production of DIY elements. They come packaged and complete with step-by-step assembly instructions. SUSTAINABILITY Contemporary architecture and construction strive to integrate our homes with the planet as much as possible, instead of drawing on the planet’s resources and thus shortening its lifespan. The aim is to construct sustainable homes that reduce CO2 emissions and encourage a clean lifestyle. 3D PRINTED ARCHITECTURE Creating construction elements with a 3D printer is a simple, efficient and innovative technique that reduces the risk of errors and saves time, as it eliminates many monotonous steps and simplifies the construction process as a whole.
PRICES OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS ALSO SET TO RISE NEXT YEAR “As soon as the construction industry restarted, which is the driver of all industry worldwide, prices of oil, transportation, raw materials and semi-finished goods also started to rise, which is why the prices of certain construction materials have increased by anywhere from 30 to 100 per cent, with a tendency to continue rising to a lesser extent next year,” according to the assessment of Goran Rodić, vice president of the Chamber of the Construction Industry of Serbia. He considers us a small country where inflationary fluctuations are present, which is why he thinks that this is the right time for people who have money to invest in real estate and thus secure their money. “Prices around the world depend on intermediate goods, or oil and gas prices, which are indicators of movements of the economy and have the greatest impact on overall rises in prices, leading to investors in large countries not earning upwards of 1,000 euros per square metre, but rather seven to ten per cent, in order to cover their costs and “turn around” the money, while it is interesting that in some locations in our country the returns are enormous,” notes Rodić. Source: Biznis.rs
NATIONAL URBAN FORUM IN BELGRADE PREPARING FOR POLAND
The World Urban Forum, which is to be held in Poland this June, prompted the organising of the National Urban Forum in Belgrade, which will be held on 11th and 12th April and will bring together a large number of participants from the public and private sectors, the academic community, scientific and research institutions, civil society, the business world and international institutions, while it will also host participants from abroad. The aim of the forum is to assess and analyse key topics and activities related to the field of urban development, as well as other policies included in the scope of the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure that have synergies with urban development policy: National Housing Strategy, Long-Term Strategy for Mobilising Investments in the Renovation of the National Building Stock (energy efficiency) and National Architecture Strategy. The National Forum is being organised by the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Serbia, in cooperation with the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities – the Alliance of Towns and Municipalities of Serbia, the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Serbia and UN-Habitat.
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