Italy Business Partner 2021

06 H.E. LUCA GORI, AMBASSADOR OF ITALY TO SERBIA ENTERING A NEW PHASE OF ECONOMIC RELATIONS

14 MARKO ČADEŽ, PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY OF SERBIA NEW HIGH-QUALITY COOPERATION

10 FABIANA URBANI, HEAD OF THE ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL OFFICE OF THE ITALIAN EMBASSY TO SERBIA UNTAPPED BILATERAL POTENTIAL

16 PATRIZIO DEI TOS, PRESIDENT OF CONFINDUSTRIA SERBIA ENCOURAGING CHANGES MADE

18 ROBERTO CINCOTTA, DIRECTOR OF THE ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE OF BELGRADE BEAUTIFUL FEELING

20 GALENIKA FITOFARMACIJA PILLAR OF SUPPORT TO DOMESTIC AND EUROPEAN FARMERS

12 ANTONIO VENTRESCA, DIRECTOR OF THE ITALIAN FOREIGN TRADE AGENCY (ITA) OUR FUTURE IS BRIGHT

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

17 ANNINO DE VENEZIA, DIRECTOR OF THE ITALIAN-SERBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (ISCC) KEEN INTEREST IN THE SERBIAN MARKET

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

21 GIACOMO BOSISIO, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF DAMM CONSULTING GROUP THE RIGHT PLACE TO DEVELOP BUSINESS

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. Segedinski put 72, Subotica

ITALY 2023

Published by: alliance international media Prote Mateje 52, 11111 Belgrade 17, PAK 126909, Serbia Phone: +(381 11) 2450 508 E-mail: office@aim.rs; office@cordmagazine.com

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ISSN: 2560-4465

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The views expressed in this publication are those of the presenter; they do not necessary reflect the view of publications published by alliance international media THIS PUBLICATION IS FREE OF CHARGE

Belgrade 21st March 2023

“Counting on the contribution of all components of “Sistema Italia”, we will renew our economic presence in Serbia focusing on innovative sectors such as sustainability, artificial intelligence, and advanced technology.”

ANTONIO TAJANI, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

Entering A New Phase Of Economic Relations

We have a very strong economic presence on this market, particularly in the most traditional sectors. Our core aim now is to focus on more innovative fields: agri-tech, infrastructure, green and energy transition, but also IT, clean-tech and smart mobility ~

Luca Gori

Since arriving in Serbia precisely a year ago, Italian Ambassador Gori has been devoting great attention to what he calls his “top priority”: strengthening economic links between Italy and Serbia. The Italy-Serbia Business and Science Forum that was held in March brought together 400 companies from the two countries, in an effort to encourage them to both cooperate more in traditional sectors of the economy and branch out into new areas. Speaking in this CorD Magazine interview, Ambassador Gori announces an “immediate follow-up” to the forum: a major new event in autumn dedicated to start-ups.

Your Excellency, you stated recently that Serbia holds the place of a strategic partner in Italy’s policy of renewed interest in the Western Balkans. What does that mean specifically?

Italy has always looked at Serbia and the Balkans as a strategic region. The new Italian Government, on the impulse of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani, has renewed Italian engagement in this area. Italy organised its National Conference on the Balkans in January, while we later hosted a meeting of ministers of foreign affairs from the Balkan region in Rome. On the bilateral side, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met with President Aleksandar Vučić in both Tirana and Verona. Minister Tajani came to Belgrade twice, once in November, together with Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, and once on the occasion of the Business &

H.E. LUCA GORI, AMBASSADOR OF ITALY TO SERBIA

COOPERATION

Peace and stability in the region, migration flows, growth and economic development, technological innovations: these are the fields where Italy and Serbia are cooperating

Science Forum in March. It was also in March that we received the Minister of University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini. A few weeks ago, Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests, Francesco Lollobrigida, opened the International Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad. We believe Serbia is the key partner in handling some crucial challenges. Peace and stability in the region, migration flows, growth and economic development, technological innovations: these are the fields where Italy and Serbia are cooperating.

Are you satisfied with the dialogue within the scope of the Business and Science Forum held in Belgrade recently?

Yes, indeed. The Business and Science Forum we held on 21st-22nd March was very successful: we gathered more than 150 Italian companies and 250 Serbian companies; we held more than 450 B2B meetings; we signed 13 agreements. Nevertheless, we consider this event not as an ending point, but rather a starting line. We are monitoring very closely all the follow-ups that arose from the B&S Forum; the dialogue with the Serbian authorities is continuous and we hope to soon finalise some interesting collaborations. Now is the time to deliver, after having paved the way for our companies to establish stronger business relations in Serbia. Our Credit Export Agencies, SIMEST and SACE, are also about to open their representative offices here.

The Business and Scientific Forum in Belgrade was announced as marking the opening of a new phase in economic relations between Italy and Serbia. What represents the core of this new phase?

The revival of economic relations with Serbia represents a “top priority” for Italy. We have a very strong economic presence on this market, especially in the most traditional sectors. Our core

TRADE

Italy, by itself, is the third largest trade partner of Serbia and the second among EU countries

INVESTMENTS

We are working to bring to Serbia Italian investments with increasingly innovative content and high added value, including in areas like AI, digitalisation, agri-tech and cleantech

aim is now to focus on more innovative fields, starting from the pillars of the B&S Forum: agri-tech, infrastructure, green and energy transition, but also IT, clean-tech and smart mobility. In this framework, just to mention a few initiatives: 1) Italy was the Partner Country of the 90th International Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad (20th-26th May), attended by Italian Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry Francesco Lollobrigida; 2) We signed three more MoU between the Italian National Research Council (CNR) and, respectively, BioSense, the Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Novi Sad and the University of Belgrade, on the occasion of Italian Research Day; 3) The next session of the Forum, in 2024, will take place in Trieste. We are strongly committed to reinforcing our presence

Serbia has been negotiating with the EU for nine years and there is a risk of indulging in the fatalism generated by the accession steps (not always clear to the public) and by the timeframe (objectively long) demanded by the enlargement process

in the B&S Forum’s focus sectors and in order to do that it is important to work in synergy with all actors in so-called “Sistema Italia” in both Serbia and Italy.

You’ve mentioned that the future of economic cooperation is in striding towards areas with “high-tech content”. Do you have any specific industries in mind?

Italy is one of the world’s leading countries in IT and the creative industries. We are working to bring Italian investments to Serbia with increasingly innovative content and high added

value, including areas such as artificial intelligence, digitalisation, agri-tech and cleantech. As an immediate follow up, it is our intention to organise a major event this autumn dedicated to startups, which traditionally belong to the aforementioned sectors.

Is the purpose of dedicating one day of the Forum to science linked to the goal of increasing economic relations and cooperation in the high-tech sector?

Indeed, both Italy and Serbia recognise the role of research and innovation in driving sustainable development and socio-economic transformations. A strong academic and research system is key to feeding innovative companies with new ideas, advanced skills and capacities. On the occasion of the Business & Science Forum, we brought together representatives of our main research organisations, at the highest level, to present the national programmes on scientific and technological priorities that we share. On that occasion, we signed a new cooperation agreement that will provide the framework for long term collaboration between the national R&I initiatives by means of joint research projects, education and mobility schemes. We expect to fund up to 15 new research projects by the end of this year. Meanwhile, five new scientific cooperation agreements have been signed between Italian and Serbian research organisations.

To what extent are economic relations between Italy and Serbia dependent on Serbia’s European integration status?

The EU remains the first trade partner and investor in Serbia. The total exchange between Belgrade and EU Member states in 2022 reached 39,1 billion euros, with growth of +27.7% compared to 2021. Italy, by itself, is the third largest trade partner of Serbia and

the second among EU countries. These figures show how integrated and interdependent our markets already are today, and we are working to further strengthen these ties. Economic relations between Italy and Serbia are not dependent on Serbia’s European Integration status. However, on the other hand, there is no doubt that Belgrade’s accession to the common market, without barriers, would boost the trade exchange even more.

As the ambassador of a country that has strongly supported Serbia on its journey to EU membership from the outset, how do you currently view the state of this process?

Italy continues to be a staunch supporter of the European path of Serbia and we appreciate the efforts of the Belgrade authorities to adopt important reforms, starting from the one in the field of justice being implemented during recent months. A lot remains to be done. Serbia has been negotiating with the EU for nine years and there is a risk of indulging in the fatalism generated by the accession steps (not always clear to the public) and by the timeframe (objectively long) demanded by the enlargement process. Italy understands the Serbian public’s frustration and is committed to speeding up the exercise.

When discussing current political events, you insist that the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina represents an important process in ensuring the stability of the region, but is also one of the conditions for progress on EU membership. However, there is a question over how one interprets normalisation: is it, in your opinion, a long-term process or a demand that Serbia recognise Kosovo’s independence?

Normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina remains fundamental for regional stability, in order to preserve peace and create prosperity. Italy has always supported the Dialogue facilitated by the EU and contributes on the ground by supplying troops to the KFOR and EULEX missions in Kosovo and ALTHEA in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

role

innovation in driving sustainable development and socio-economic transformations. A strong academic and research system is key to feeding innovative companies with new ideas, advanced skills and capacities

We believe it is up to the two parties to decide the contents and timing of the normalisation agreement. After the recent agreement reached in Brussels in February, and the implementation annex adopted in Ohrid in March, Belgrade and Pristina are at a decisive juncture. Despite the discouraging outcome of the High-Level meeting between President Vučić and Prime Minister Kurti on 2nd May, both parties still have an obligation to show their full commitment to the process. All agreements must be fully implemented, starting with the

establishment - without further delay - of the Community of Serb Municipalities.

Serbian officials often express their gratitude to members of the Italian army serving in Kosovo for their efforts aimed at preserving Serbia’s cultural and religious heritage from attack and destruction. Considering that you hail from a country that pays special attention to cultural heritage, do you think there is sufficient understanding in the EU for appeals to preserve the rich heritage of Serbs, which is imperilled to a great extent?

We are proud of the work carried out by the Italian troops that have, through the years, been ensuring the protection of some of the most important orthodox religious sites, such as the Visoki Dečani Monastery. Italy contributes 900 members to the KFOR international military mission, which is also led by an Italian Commander, and 25 officers to the EULEX mission. Our country has always been very active in the field of the protecting cultural heritage at the multilateral level. The European Union is also committed to safeguarding and enhancing Europe’s cultural heritage through a number of policies and programmes, which Italy supports fully.

You are continuing the tradition of Italian ambassadors who have engaged in promoting Italian cuisine and fashion, as a special form of diplomatic activity. In a world that often seems to be dominated by high politics, how important is this aspect of promoting your country around the world?

I feel really honoured to be in the position to promote Italian culture in Serbia. Italy boasts more World Heritage sites (58) than any other country in the world. Cuisine, fashion and design, cultural heritage and natural beauty are the excellences that made Italy the “Bel Paese” all around the world. We are the world’s 5th most popular tourism destination. My goal is also to highlight our amazing tradition in science, technology and innovation. The extraordinary results that Italy has

Both Italy and Serbia recognise the

of research and

achieved in these fields are sometimes underestimated abroad.

Do you think Serbian citizens are a good audience for these topics, considering the popularity enjoyed by Italian brands in Serbia?

I’ve noticed a great passion for Italy in Serbia, and for Italy’s popular brands in fashion and design. Serbian people enjoy visiting Italy, they really appreciate our culture and we share very strong social ties. We would like to present a more complete offer of our tourism destinations in future, as Italy has so many treasures to discover. We have very good cooperation with Air Serbia and the number of direct flights and destinations from Belgrade to Italy has increased significantly. It is now possible to fly directly from Belgrade not just to Rome, Milan, Trieste and Venice, but also to Florence, Naples, Bari, Bologna, Palermo and Catania. Holidaying in Italy is an opportunity to experience a real 360-degree experience, comprising culture, art and, of

course, good food and excellent wines. I believe that many Serbian citizens are nowadays increasingly willing to listen to this kind of proposal. Moreover, we launched the initiative “IFIB – Italian Fashion in Belgrade”, which has been a great success among the public, as well as ’Italian Design Day’. And in November we will have the traditional Week of Italian Cuisine… I invite you to stay tuned to find out more about all these social and promotional events. I am sure you will be amazed!

You utilised the promotion of Italian cuisine to discuss the rise in cooperation between our two countries in the agriculture and food sector. Having been a partner at May’s International Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad, what are your impressions of, and plans for, this traditional event?

Italy and Serbia boast a very good exchange in the agri-food sector (our bilateral trade in the sector had a total

value of 585 million euros in 2022), a relationship that we intend to strengthen by promoting the excellence of Italian knowhow in a sector that represents over 9% of Serbian GDP. We can work together to guarantee the quality of our products, food safety and supply chain trackability, as well to exchange best practices and promote technology transfers for farm mechanisation. We do believe there is great room for mutual collaboration in this field. That’s why one of the pillars of the Business and Science Forum was sustainable agriculture and agri-tech, a sector that has significant development potential between our two Countries. On the same occasion, we signed important memoranda on improving cooperation in agriculture, agri-tech and the food industry sectors. Italy was present at this year’s Fair in Novi Sad with 21 companies, in a pavilion covering 5,000m2. Working together will help Serbia better exploit its potential in this fundamental sector.

FABIANA URBANI, HEAD OF THE ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL OFFICE OF THE ITALIAN EMBASSY TO SERBIA

Untapped Bilateral Potential

Serbia may benefit strongly from leveraging advanced Italian academic resources and the knowledge and expertise of the Italian industry in the fields of Economy 4.0 and digitalisation

Italy pays special attention to the further development of economic and scientific cooperation with Serbia, particularly with regard to new sectors such as IT, digitalisation and artificial intelligence, says Fabiana Urbani, Head of the Economic and Commercial Office of the Italian Embassy in Belgrade.

Indeed, innovation was one of the pillars of the Italy-Serbia Business and Science Forum held on 21st-22nd March and resulting in the signing of different agreements in this field, starting from the one on cooperation in research and innovation.

New sectors, such as IT, digitalisation and artificial intelligence, are gaining prominence in the further development of economic and scientific cooperation with Serbia

“We have been encouraging collaboration among Italian and Serbian Institutions (CNR, CREA, BioSense Institute, Institute for Artificial Intelligence, universities), as well as among private companies, in an effort to unveil the untapped potential of bilateral collaboration in Economy 4.0,” says Urbani.

In the context of our bilateral cooperation, how are traditional and new industries, such as the green economy, ICT and digital agriculture, being prioritised and nurtured between Serbia and Italy?

EXPERTISE

With the highest recycling rate for total special and urban waste in the EU, Italy has great knowhow to share with our Serbian counterparts

INVESTMENTS

We already count more 1,200 Italian companies registered in Serbia and many more are interested in investing in the country

FOCUS

The Western Balkans – and Serbia in particular – represent a strategic region for the international growth of Italian companies

Let me share some figures that few know: Italy is the European Country with the highest recycling rate for total special and urban waste (83.4%), much higher than the European average (53.8%); the world’s largest renewable energy operator is Italian (ENEL); 531,000 Italian companies have invested in green products and technologies over the last five years. We thus boast great knowhow to share with our Serbian counterparts.

The recent Business and Science Forum provided a striking example of our commitment to enhance bilateral cooperation in these sectors. It was indeed focused on three pillars: sustainable infrastructures, agri-tech and green and energy transition. In that context, we signed, among other agreements, a Memorandum of Understanding on agricultural research and cooperation between CREA (Council for Agricultural Research and Economics) and the BioSense Institute. Italy has been the Partner Country of the International Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad, bringing 21 companies and organising two seminars on applied technologies in agriculture. We will also organise a festival on innovation and start-ups in autumn.

We do believe that these sectors are the trump card for renewing our already excellent cooperation.

To what extent are Italian investments in Serbia influenced by nearshoring processes?

Serbia has always been a privileged market for Italian firms. We already count more 1,200 Italian companies registered in Serbia and many more are interested – in the wake of the success of the Business and Science Forum – in investing in this country.

make the investment process even easier for our entrepreneurs.

How do SIMEST and SACE support cooperation between our countries, and are these resources sufficiently utilised in collaboration between Serbia and Italy?

The nearshoring process, rapidly accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the current war in Ukraine, is bringing new opportunities for internationalisation. Serbia, with its constantly growing market, is a natural choice for “Made in Italy” positioning. We are confident that the remarkable progress the country is making on its infrastructures, in its bureaucratic procedures and in the overall improvement of the business environment, will

As Minister Tajani stated during his visit to Belgrade in March, the Western Balkans – and Serbia in particular – represent a strategic region for the international growth of Italian companies. And the support of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, SIMEST and SACE is crucial for them to expand further. They signed, respectively, an MoU with the Serbian Ministry of Domestic and Foreign Trade during the Business and Science Forum, thus boosting Italy’s financial and capacity-building support to Italian companies in Serbia. SIMEST will soon open its first office abroad, right here in Belgrade. SIMEST and SACE will make available a series of financial tools aimed at supporting the internationalisation of Italian companies. In addition, the dialogue between Cassa Depositi e Prestiti and the Serbian Ministry of Finance is progressing in a positive direction. We are certain that these new important tools will substantially help to expand Italian investments in this market.

The recent Business and Science Forum provides a striking example of our commitment to enhance bilateral cooperation in sustainable infrastructure, agri-tech and green and energy transition

ANTONIO VENTRESCA, DIRECTOR OF THE ITALIAN FOREIGN TRADE AGENCY (ITA)

Our Future Is Bright

After enduring challenging times due to the pandemic, Italy and Serbia are intensively seeking new avenues for commercial and industrial collaboration, whether through the establishment of Italian-Serbian joint ventures or Italian direct investments in new production and technological processes

Italy has long been one of Serbia’s largest trade and economic partners. According to 2022 data, about 1,200 Italian companies are currently registered in Serbia and have created a combined total of as many as 50,000 jobs. Credit for this cooperation is recognised as belonging to the Italian Foreign Trade Agency (ITA), which has been operating in Serbia for 25 years and presents a link between Italian companies and all major stakeholders in the Serbian market.

“The main purpose of the ITA is to promote Italian industry and disseminate the most modern Italian technologies and design in Serbia; to foster - through economic missions of Italian companies

- not only the development of trade relations, but also new patterns of industrial cooperation,” says Italian Foreign Trade Agency (ITA) Director Antonio Ventresca.

How consolidated are Italian companies in the areas of infrastructure development, green energy and agriculture in Serbia? In which sectors is it possible to identify the scope for expansion?

After the challenges of the last few years, we believe that there are significant opportunities for future commercial and industrial collaboration: whether through processing under contract (production of semi-finished products and components, drying

services, turning etc.) or through the establishment of Italian-Serbian joint ventures or Italian direct investments associated with new production and technological processes. Lastly, there are also other forms of collaboration based on the provision of machinery, equipment and new technology.

With regard to green energy, Italy is the most prominent foreign country in Serbia, particularly with regard to wind power, while several Italian companies play important roles in other renewable energy sectors. We therefore believe firmly that green energy is one of the sectors that offers the greatest potential for cooperation between the two countries.

POTENTIAL

Ambassador Gori also mentioned the investment potential of Italian companies in agriculture and food safety. Have You received inquiries from interested investors? What specific sectors of agriculture interest them?

The agriculture and food sectors are always among our office’s priorities when it comes to new initiatives and activities. Among the many Italian companies that seek our assistance in inquiring about Serbian agriculture, there is an increasing number of requests pertaining to standards, food safety, labelling, import and export legislations, issuance of quality certificates. But we also receive more advanced questions regarding the latest technologies and the possibility of applying them in Serbia.

Could You provide more information on the resources and expertise that Italian companies possess in this sector, and how they could be used in the case of Serbia?

Italian companies excel in the latest, cutting-edge agricultural technologies: ranging from precision agriculture, to new breeding techniques, to advances in genomics and optimisation, thanks in part to Italy’s world-renowned tradition of machine building.

The recently concluded International Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad and workshops were a great starting point to promote cooperation at all levels, from scientific institutions to foreign trade companies, to new opportunities in various fields that intersect with agriculture-engineering, IT, start-ups and so on.

Italy traditionally participates in the Novi Sad International Agricultural Fair, which this year

PRIORITY

FOCUS

Italy wants to continue strengthening economic relations with Serbia starting with the agri-food sector, focusing strongly on agricultural technology and exports of agricultural machinery

Italy wants to continue strengthening its economic relations with Serbia, starting with the agri-food sector, focusing strongly on agricultural technology and the export of agricultural machinery, a sector in which we are Serbia’s second largest supplier, with exports having exceeded a value of 50 million euros in 2022, up 26.6 per cent compared to 2021. Italian participation in the Novi Sad Fair, in addition to including two seminars dedicated to food quality and safety and new technologies in agriculture, was this year enriched by the Week of Italian Culture in Novi Sad, organised by the Italian Institute of Culture in Belgrade.

The Serbian agribusiness sector’s exports to Italy are currently 10 times lower than imports. What measures should be taken to at least partially reverse this trend?

We are confident that, through the advancement and modernisation of the agricultural and food sector – in terms of the improvement of machinery, adoption of standards, development and implementation of the latest technologies in food processing and packaging – as well as the increase of sustainable production based on the latest scientific trends, Serbia will be able to drastically increase its exports to EU Countries, including Italy.

celebrated its 90th anniversary. How did you prepare for this anniversary?

The Agricultural Fair, which this year took place from 20 th to 26 th May, was attended by 21 Italian companies in the sector, which had an exhibition space of 500 square metres inside Hall 1.

Our main goal, besides helping and supporting Italian companies, is to provide Serbian companies, institutes and institutions with all information pertaining to what Italy has to offer, and to facilitate this transition on both sides. Italy and Serbia are, in our opinion, very compatible countries when it comes to food production, and I’m sure that the future is very bright and that we will very soon see the results of our recent activities.

We are confident that, through the advancement and modernisation of the agricultural and food sectors, Serbia will be able to drastically increase its exports to EU Countries, including Italy

We firmly believe that green energy is one of the sectors that offers the greatest potential for cooperation between our two countries

The agriculture and food sectors are always among our office’s priorities when it comes to new initiatives and activities

New High-Quality Cooperation

Bilateral economic relations between Italy and Serbia are characterised by the large volume of exchanges, which reached a record value in 2022. Counting on the continuation of these trends, Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Serbia President Marko Čadež predicts that we are awaited by yet more record-breaking results

Despite the fact that Italy is already among Serbia’s most important trade partners, with a record-breaking €4.6 billion achieved in last year’s goods exchange, as well as more than 500 million euros in exchanged services, and that it is one of the top source countries for investments in Serbia, with total Italian investments in the country (initial and during operations) estimated at around four billion euros, Marko Čadež, president of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Serbia (CCIS), is convinced that we can take even greater advantage of the potential for cooperation. This means that Italian companies want to expand their existing operations on the markets of Serbia and the region, under the scope of the process of internationalising the Italian economy and the strategic plan to strengthen Italy’s presence in the Western Balkans, and that Serbia can thus receive new and even better Italian investments based on high and green technologies, innovations, and cooperation between science and business, which will increase the volume of trade and elevate it to a higher level of quality.

We regularly witness exchanges of opinion between representatives of the government and the business sector, while this time the joint discussion also included the academic community. What were your impressions of the Italy-Serbia Business and Science Forum and what opportunities exist for the Serbian academic community to monetise its research via coopera-

tion with companies?

We opened a new chapter in our cooperation with this forum and are giving new quality to our economic relations, thanks to the interest of investors that’s expanding beyond traditional sectors of cooperation - the automotive, textile and footwear industries, and the mechanical engineering, electrical, metal processing, wood and food industries - into the fields of the green and energy transi-

tions, agri-tech, e-mobility etc. We expect these sectors to entice a new wave of Italian investment. As important as it is for us to attract capital, it is just as precious to us to have transfers of business and financing models, high technologies, machinery and equipment; for us to connect our scientific communities and innovative companies and place them in the function of making the operations of our economy even more successful.

For example, Italian investments in new processing capacities in agriculture and the food industry, and the modernisation of existing ones, through applications of cutting-edge technologies, machinery and equipment, innovations and scientific achievements, in cooperation with our domestic IT sector and top faculties and institutes, will result in products with higher added value and mutual benefit: in terms of an improved export performance for Serbia, and higher profits for Italian investors, particularly on markets where Serbia enjoys duty-free trade.

Apart from agriculture, both energy and infrastructure were also in the forum’s focus as areas in

MARKO ČADEŽ, PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY OF SERBIA

TURNAROUND

We expect a new wave of Italian investment in the fields of the green and energy transitions, agri-tech and e-mobility, as well as transfers of business and financing models, high technologies, machinery and equipment

which cooperation can be expanded. What specific opportunities exist in these sectors, considering the current economic context?

It is estimated that we should invest more than 15 billion euros in the energy sector alone by 2030, in priority projects for energy production, RES infrastructure and storage capacities, energy efficiency and regional connectivity projects. No less space exists for investments in projects for the treatment of all types of waste and wastewater. That potential has already been recognised by Italian companies. For example, the joint venture of Italy’s Fintel Energia and Serbia’s MK Group [MK Energy] has already built three wind farms and is completing a fourth, while it is also planning investments worth more than a billion euros over the next five years, including an investment in the first agrosolar project in the Balkans.

The Italian construction industry also has undisguised interest in engaging in major infrastructure and transport projects that Serbia is implementing with EU support, such as the high-speed railways from Belgrade to Niš and from Niš to the border with North Macedonia. Serbia, as the centre of the region and the logistics hub of the Western Balkans, provides major opportunities for investment

ENDEAVOUR

Our intention is to entice to the fair in Belgrade the maximum possible number of the approximately one thousand so-called “super buyers”, importers and distributors who were present in Verona, and to thus secure business for our wineries

in industrial and logistics facilities, office space and residential buildings.

It is particularly significant that, apart from banks, the business forum also included the participation of insurance companies, investment funds and leasing companies that already operate in Serbia, as

start of last year.

BENEFITS

Italian investments in new processing capacities in agriculture and the food industry, and the modernisation of existing ones, will result in products with higher added value and mutual benefit: an improved export performance for Serbia, and higher profits for Italian investors

IT, as Serbia’s fastestgrowing sector, represents a great pillar of support to high-tech companies from around the world, including Italian companies that will invest here. Apart from people who are top experts, the package of R&D investment

well as other major Italian financial institutions that are prepared to support future investments.

With a focus on cooperation in the area of new technologies, there is no waning of interest in traditional sectors of cooperation, while the importance of IT is also on the rise.

Mutual interest in the expansion of operations and additional investments continues to be present in the automotive, metal processing, textile, food, wood and furniture industries, testifying to which is the expansion of capacities and the modernisation of existing factories and plants, as well as investments in the construction of new ones, but also the fact that more than 130 new Italian businesses have been registered in Serbia since the

incentives certainly also provides additional motivation for them to invest and for the Italian and Serbian IT sectors to cooperate on the creation of joint products.

Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania jointly presented the “Wine Vision by Open Balkan” regional wine fair at April’s Vinitaly wine fair in Verona. How much courage, knowledge and skill did that require? What are the most important conclusions to be drawn when it comes to the further promoting of our wines on demanding markets?

Our stand at Vinitaly was among the most prominent, positioned at the very centre of events, and that wasn’t only because the three leaders of the Open Balkan countries were in attendance, but also thanks to the support of

Prime Minister Meloni and the importance it was afforded by the visits of Italian Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Antonio Tajani and Veneto Region President Luca Zaia. The Open Balkan, as a new wine destination, as well as the wines produced by wineries from the region that we presented, generated great interest among attendees, including members of the expert public and, first and foremost, professional buyers, which was our goal. Our intention is to entice to the fair in Belgrade the maximum possible number of the approximately one thousand so-called “super buyers”, importers and distributors who were present in Verona, and to thus secure business for our wineries. They are the ones who buy wine for the whole world, for the best restaurants and retailers, and who determine whether or not you will succeed on the world market.

At the same time, Vinitaly’s experience in organising the wine fair is invaluable to us, and we are expecting their delegation to arrive in Belgrade as early as June, with the aim of agreeing on further cooperation. We also participated in the fair in Düsseldorf as part of our promotion of this year’s wine fair, while we are also planning presentations in other wine capitals, such as Vienna and Paris, in the period ahead.

We opened a new chapter in our cooperation this March. And we were further convinced of this by the Italy-Serbia Business and Science Forum, at which we hosted the largest delegation of Italian companies to arrive in the last ten years

Encouraging Changes Made

Serbia should focus on the further development of infrastructure and the development of the energy sector, with a focus on renewable energy resources, as well as the digitalisation of the economy. This is the only way to grow together!

Both the Covid-19 pandemic and global economic slowdown imposed numerous challenges on the world, such as supply chain disruptions, fluctuating demand, financial strain and inflation, particularly for SMEs. “Notwithstanding the aforementioned, our association did a great job under these challenging circumstances,” says Confindustria Serbia President Patrizio Dei Tos.

Confindustria Serbia has a clearly defined strategy that encompasses several key aspects and has been yielding results its members for years. “First of all, our interaction with Confindustria Italy and Confindustria Eastern Europe is at a very high level. On the other hand, operating on the territory of Serbia gives us the possibility to cultivate excellent relations with the Italian Embassy in Serbia. However, in order to create business for our members, me – in my capacity as president of Confindustria Serbia – and my team are more than happy to promote very close cooperation with Serbian institutions,” says our interlocutor, adding that this sends a strong message to all new potential investors that they can expect flexible support for their business from Confindustria Serbia.

What key initiatives or strategies will you prioritise during your presidency in an effort to enhance human resources and education, the agricultural industry, transport and logistics, and supply chains in Serbia?

On the margins of the Italy-Serbia Business and Science Forum held this March, Confindustria Serbia signed a MoU with the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of

Serbia that committed us to promoting dual education and enabling young people to acquire the work placement practice they need at Italian companies, while still studying.

I must add that our association participates in the SMEs Open Doors Day initiative every year. We had a major event in Subotica last November, at which our members showed the practical value of the dual education system, and I am pleased to announce that we are already preparing this year’s event.

We have also established collaboration with Third Belgrade Gymnasium [High School], with the aim of promoting the concept of entrepreneurship among the youth. Through a series of gatherings, we endeavoured to illustrate the realisation pathway for a business idea. From my perspective, wherever there is business, there are also innovation and development, but also the creation of wealth and welfare. And this is the reason why we, as entre-

preneurs, are clamouring for adequately prepared human capital just in order to be able to confront the changes together.

We organised a very successful conference last September, together with the Slovenian Business Club and the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Serbia, on the future of global supply chains. This conference provided for an open dialogue on the overall impact of the pandemic and current geopolitical events on worldwide logistics. The relevant speakers also discussed issues relating to new rules in business and infrastructure, the current HR management approach, new technologies and specific situations confronting industry. Considering the topic’s positive impact and importance, we decided to make this an annual event and are now preparing a new edition for October 2023.

How do you perceive the current business environment in Serbia?

As far as I’m concerned, the situation has improved significantly over the past few years. Serbia has implemented various economic reforms with a view to creating a more business-friendly environment. This includes simplifying the tax system, reducing bureaucracy and improving access to credit for SMEs. The government has introduced many incentives to encourage foreign companies to invest in Serbia, such as tax breaks and streamlined procedures.

PATRIZIO DEI TOS, PRESIDENT OF CONFINDUSTRIA SERBIA

The industrial sector in Serbia needs to overcome several challenges in order to remain competitive and sustainable. Companies must invest in technology and skills in order to internationalise their operations

ANNINO DE VENEZIA, DIRECTOR OF THE ITALIAN-SERBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (ISCC)

Keen Interest In The Serbian Market

We aim to continue fostering exchanges between Italian and Serbian companies, and we take pride in having established a strong network of relationships at all institutional levels in both Italy and Serbia

Serbia and Italy have a long history of economic cooperation, and Italy is one of Serbia’s major trade partners. The historical bilateral trade volume includes intensive exchanges in agricultural products and machinery, infrastructure, green energy and sustainability, and tourism, as well as cultural and academic projects. Those were the main topics of the recent Italy-Serbia Business and Science Forum, which was held in Belgrade this 21st and 22nd March. Since the staging of the Forum, the Italian-Serbian Chamber of Commerce (ISCC) has been contacted by several Italian companies from different sectors and fields, says ISCC Director Annino De Venezia.

How does the ISCC adapt its activities to support its members and promote economic exchange between Serbia and Italy?

Our mission is twofold. On one side, we are promoting the MADE IN ITALY concept on the local market, spreading the quality and values of the Italian economy and production, while at the same time, hopefully, we are building some even more favourable business and working conditions for local companies. Bringing together the realities of Italian and Serbian business, by considering the best possible matchmaking between them, is among our top aims. Potential Italian investors are all interested in learning more about the Serbian market and the quality of services that the country can offer.

Could you provide some examples of initiatives or programmes that have proved successful in this regard?

Our programme is very intensive and varied. As I said, we are bringing our two countries closer from a more economic

perspective, so our main activities are concentrated in the domain of organising missions and bilateral business gatherings. On the occasion of the last Roadshow, organised by Assocamerestero, the network of Italian Chambers of Commerce abroad, we were able to present the opportunities to participate in Serbian fairs to around 80 companies from the Italian region of La Marche.

In June we are taking a delegation of the most prominent Serbian start-ups to Rimini, to attend the festival We Make Future, where these Serbian start-ups

will have a chance to pitch their projects to investors.

We are also taking part in June’s Annual World Convention of the Italian Chamber of Commerce, which will this year be held in Ascoli Piceno, while it is also in June that we celebrate the national holiday of the Republic of Italy and we will contribute to the national celebrations with a small cultural event called ‘Encounter in Naples’ (APPUNTAMENTO A NAPOLI), at which we will celebrate the songs and traditions of Naples.

In parallel with all of these activities, we are constantly providing webinars and seminars on the most relevant business and legal issues, as well as promoting the interests of our members through tailored activities.

We will have two entrepreneurial missions in October and November, when we will take 10 Serbian engineering and construction companies to two fairs in Bari.

Towards the end of the year, we traditionally organise our MADE IN ITALY fair, which is dedicated to promoting the best Italian food and beverage producers. This year’s event will be our fifth edition, and to date we have had more than 150 exhibitors and more than 1,000 B2B meetings.

How does the ISCC prioritise the needs of SMEs in its activities and initiatives?

We are increasingly turning to even those micro businesses that need our support and our network of connections. Our aim, according to our statute, is to facilitate exchanges between Italian and Serbian companies. We are honoured to be able to say that we have a network of excellent relationships at all institutional levels, in both Italy and Serbia.

Bringing together the realities of Italian and Serbian business, by considering the best possible matchmaking between them, is among our top aims

ROBERTO CINCOTTA, DIRECTOR OF THE ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE OF BELGRADE

Beautiful Feeling

A large audience always attends our events, and that demonstrates that the public could hardly wait to again enjoy the concerts, exhibitions, shows, conferences and all other kinds of cultural events that we offer

wait to again enjoy concerts, exhibitions, shows, conferences and all other kinds of cultural events.

You have pledged your support to publishers, translators, production / distribution / synchronisation and subtitling institutions, as well as cultural institutions in their efforts to promote Italian culture. What themes and topics have proven to be the most popular among the Serbian public?

We have been confronted by a series of crises over the past few years, including the Covid-19 pandemic, economic calamities and climate change. During the pandemic, the Italian Cultural Institute of Belgrade shifted its cultural offer, events and Italian language courses to an online format. Those were difficult times, but it was still possible to provide a valid and engaging programme to our public - says Italian Cultural Institute of Belgrade Director Roberto Cincotta.

“We interpreted the needs that emerged from such circumstances as an opportunity to reach a broader audience.

Appreciation for this approach is proved by the fact that Italian language courses are still available online even after the lifting of health restrictions, alongside in-person courses. As to the future, we want to continue offering the public a large number of high-level events in all cultural sectors, even in cooperation with Serbian and European cultural institutions,” explains our interlocutor.

We find ourselves in a vastly different atmosphere this year compared to previous years, when the fear of the pandemic loomed large. How does it feel to breathe freely and move around without

restrictions, particularly when it comes to your inperson programmes and the audiences they attract?

It’s definitely a big turnaround and a beautiful feeling. The entire Serbian cultural panorama has experienced the recovery with great euphoria and a desire to do things. The Italian Cultural Institute has also organised a huge number of events, most of them in collaboration with Serbia’s public and private cultural institutions. We have also recorded a significant increase in cultural proposals involving Italian artists: musicians, dancers, writers and more. A large audience always joins our events, and that demonstrate that the public could hardly

Cinema is among the most popular and appreciated sectors among the Serbian audience. That’s why the Institute collaborates on the organisation of festivals and exhibitions throughout Serbia, including the Cinema Italia Oggi initiative, a special Italian cinema festival that’s realised in collaboration with Cinecittà Studios. Music is also highly appreciated, from classical to jazz and from pop to opera. Painting exhibitions, such as the one of the works of late 17th century painter Jacopo Bassano in Novi Sad, photographs and comics have also been able to count on broad public participation. Our Institute’s participation in the Belgrade Book Fair was highly appreciated and the meetings with Italian and Serbian authors were warmly welcomed by visitors. The Italian Cultural Institute cooperated with Serbian

publishers on the publishing of the Serbian edition of Daniele Meucci’s graphic novel on Nikola Tesla, another one on Pasolini by Davide Toffolo and the essay by Francesca Rolandi on the influence of Italian mass culture in Yugoslavia (1955 -1965). Last, but by no means least, comes Italian fashion.

This year marks the launch of the IFIB – Italian Fashion in Belgrade programme. Could you provide us with more details about the programme’s inception, previous events and what we can expect in the future?

The first edition of the IFIB is an “umbrella” event, a set of initiatives dedicated to Italian fashion. It is having great success. We cooperated with the Embassy to organise fashion shows, live shows, workshops on the excellence of Italian tailoring and an exhibition of iconic dresses created by the most famous Italian fashion designers and worn by great cinema stars. Fashion is indeed one of the sectors of Italian culture that generates enthusiasm among the public around the world, and in Serbia in particular. We will continue to dedicate a lot of energy to Italian fashion events.

With the spring season of concerts and exhibitions having now come to a close, what events would you recommend to our readers for the summer season?

We will have an event in early June on the great Italian families of fashion and art, Versace and Donà dalle Rose. Starting on 16th June, the Italian Cultural Institute will host an exhibition of paintings on canvas by Vittorio Bianchi at the Institute,

Italian fashion events continue to generate enthusiasm among the global audience, particularly in Serbia, highlighting the significance of fashion as a vibrant aspect of Italian culture. We remain committed to dedicating substantial efforts to further promote Italian fashion in the region

and later also another one focused on two stars of Italian and Serbian football – Paolo Rossi and Siniša Mihajlović – will be inaugurated on 5th July, hosted by the Museum of Applied Arts in Belgrade, with very precious football memorabilia like the golden ball and boot. In addition to film screenings at various locations across Serbia, we will promote Mauro Sigura’s jazz band at the Nišville Festival and the literary café at the Institute with Eugenio Berra. And finally, to conclude the summer programme, the lat-

est edition of the Italian and Serbian Film Festival, which is being organised together with Gabriella Carlucci and hosted by the Yugoslav Cinematheque Film Archives, will get underway on 25 th September.

Among the many Italian language courses offered by the Institute, two have piqued our interest: courses for young pupils aged four to seven, and bespoke courses tailored for companies. Could you elaborate on these courses and the

level of public interest they have generated?

The Italian language is undoubtedly much loved in Serbia and is studied at all ages, not only for reasons related to passion for Italy and its culture, but also for the professional opportunities provide to those that speak it. This is why the Institute organises courses at all levels, for groups and individuals, targeting companies, both in-person and online. It is also possible to obtain CILS linguistic certification at the Institute, which is aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. There is always a tailor-made course available for those wanting to study Italian.

It is during this period of the year that many young people begin considering their options for studying, either at home or abroad. How frequently do you receive inquiries about studying in Italy from Serbian students?

We constantly receive requests of information from Serbian students who want to study in Italy. We collaborate on the organisation of promotional events of the most important Italian universities and each year award scholarships granted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to a select number of Serbian students and young researchers. We receive a high number of requests every year and the selection process is difficult, given that all the projects submitted are incredibly valuable. The Institute additionally advertises calls for scholarships from Italian universities and cultural institutions, especially in the fields of linguistics and music.

GALENIKA-FITOFARMACIJA

Pillar Of Support To Domestic And European Farmers

With 16 registered products that are harmonised with European legislations, phytopharmaceuticals company Galenika-Fitofarmacija a.d. (JSC) is present on 28 markets, 19 of which are in the European Union. Its annual sales on EU markets exceed a million litres of finished products

Galenika-Fitofarmacija a.d. is the leading manufacturer of plant protection products in Serbia, with 70 years of dedicated work and experience. Expertise and high-quality products form the foundations of success, and the company’s primary goal is to continuously supply domestic and European farmers with safe and high-quality products for protecting plants

ThThe experts of this leading producer of plant protection products in Serbia have dedicated themselves to creating high quality products that satisfy the specific requirements of farmers while at the same time taking care to protect human health and preserve the environment.

Galenika-Fitofarmacija a.d. is the leading manufacturer of plant protection products in Serbia, with 70 years of dedicated work and experience. Expertise and high-quality products form the foundations of suc-

cess, and the company’s primary goal is to continuously supply domestic and European farmers with safe and high-quality products for protecting plants. Galenika-Fitofarmacija a.d. simultaneously advances its operations in accordance with the industry’s highest standards. With 16 registered products that are harmonised with European legislations, this leading domestic producer of plant protection products is present on 28 markets, 19 of which are in the European Union. Its annual

sales on EU markets exceed a million litres of finished products.

In the period since 2016, it has received 99 national registrations in EU. Producing registration files for products that are manufactured in accordance with EU legislations is GalenikaFitofarmacija’s absolute development priority and strategic goal.

T he company will continue investing ever more resources in the future, but will also invest in the knowledge, experience and expertise of its employees, in order to achieve a stable position as a regional leader of agrochemical markets.

GIACOMO BOSISIO, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF DAMM CONSULTING GROUP

The Right Place To Develop Business

Damm Consulting Group is renowned for its personalised consulting services, high professional standards and extensive network of professional associates. They represent the best guarantee that we provide a top service

Financial and tax consulting, bookkeeping and administrative support and human resource management represent our core business, but the scope of action is not limited to those. We offer much more than that.

Our typical clients are foreign, mainly Italian, companies who choose to seize the opportunities Serbia offers in terms of human capital, competitive costs and geographical and cultural proximity. They seek support from consultants who can help them better understand the local

business environment and guide their staff through the peculiarities of the Serbian legal framework. I want my clients to feel reassured that they have picked the right

place to develop their business and that Damm is a reliable partner to identify a solution for each of their needs.

It is crucial to adapt to the specific needs of each client. Thanks to the experience we have gained in over 15 years of activity in Serbia, we can address the most varied requests, taking advantage of the wide network of local professionals we have been cooperating with since our foundation.

We assist to foreign companies in adapting to the local reality, finding the right location and people, and securing funding. In the longer run though,

they need to identify reliable professionals ensure that the administrative part of the job is flawless, and accounts and tax position are in compliance with local legislation.

Our new partners, two major players in the consulting field located in Italy and in other Eastern Europe countries, will grant us a set of tried and tested professional tools and solutions. Our customers will benefit from comprehensive knowhow and an increasingly structured organisation that is also capable of offering assistance at an international level.

Bilateral Cooperation On The Rise Once Again

The business communities of Serbia and Italy enjoy the full support of the highest institutions and officials who have prioritised the economy at the top of their agenda, as was confirmed at the Italy-Serbia Business & Science Forum that was held in Belgrade at the end of March and included the presenting of plans for advancing cooperation between the two countries

There are around 1,200 registered companies in Serbia with majority Italian capital, Italian financial institutions and enterprises that collectively employ approximately 50,000 people, while the goal is to deepen this bilateral cooperation, primarily in the fields of food production, green transition, e-mobility and infrastructure development.

The Italy-Serbia Business & Science Forum, held in Belgrade on 21st and 22nd March 2023, was jointly organised by all members of Sistema Italia - comprising the Embassy of Italy, the Italian Trade Agency, Confindustria Serbia and the Italian-Serbian Chamber of Commercein cooperation with the Serbian Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Speaking at the forum, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić emphasised the importance of relations between the two countries, particularly in support of the further development of bilateral economic relations, while other speakers at the forum included Serbian Chamber of Commerce & Industry President Marko Čadež, Ambassador

TRADE BETWEEN OUR COUNTRIES IS ON THE RISE

It was noted at the forum, which was organised under the scope of the visit of an Italian state-economic delegation led by Foreign Minister Tajani, that the business communities of Serbia and Italy have the full support of the highest institutions and officials who have placed the economy at the top of their agenda.

In his opening address, President Vučić said that Italy is a sincere friend of Serbia and that it has never been among the countries that have exerted undue

Lorenzo Angeloni, Italian Trade Agency President Matteo Zoppas and many other distinguished guests.

It is expected that the production of Stellantis’s electric car in Kragujevac will significantly improve the trade exchange between Serbia and Italy

pressure on our country, but rather has opened the door to cooperation.

“For us, Italy is a sincere friend that we’ve always been able to count on when it comes to our path to Europe and our cooperation on all important, and not always easy, issues,” noted Vučić, before stressing that Italian entrepreneurs are more than welcome in our country.

“I invite all Italian companies to come to Serbia,” he said, adding that Serbia offers a secure environment for investment.

The Serbian president emphasised Italy’s ranking as the second largest foreign investor in Serbia, noting that the value of the total goods exchange between the two countries reached 4.6 billion euros last year, which was 10.5 per cent higher than in 2021; that Serbia’s exports to Italy are worth two billion euros, while imports from Italy have a value of 2.6 billion, and that Italy represents Serbia’s third most important foreign trade partner.

There are almost 1,200 companies with majority Italian capital, Italian financial institutions and enterprises that are registered and active in Serbia, and that collectively employ approximately 50,000 people.

REVIVING THE WONDERFUL COOPERATION OF THE PAST

Foreign Minister Tajani noted that Italy wants to have a greater presence in Serbia and the Balkans, which he said are of strategic importance to Italy.

“We started with a large Balkan country that is an EU membership candidate. That is Italy’s political determination, to once again be present in Serbia and all parts of the Balkans. We want to continue cooperating in the future with the people with whom we cooperated in the past,” said Tajani.

He also expressed thanks to President Vučić and the Government of the Republic of Serbia in response to efforts aimed at establishing peace across the Balkans.

“As a financially developed country, Italy has four million small and mediumsized enterprises. We are impressed by the number of businesspeople attending the business forum, which for me is a sign that the will exists to cooperate and work together. Both Serbian companies and goods are welcome in Italy, as we want

to cooperate even more in our shared interest,” stressed Tajani.

CCIS President Čadež explained that this was the largest bilateral forum held over the last 10 years, which included the participation of more than 250 Serbian and 150 Italian business leaders. He thanked Vučić and Tajani for prioritising the economy on their agenda.

“We are here today to do business,” said Čadež, before reiterating that Serbia

significantly improve the trade exchange between Serbia and Italy.

The forum included three panel debates dedicated to energy and green transition, agriculture and infrastructure, while an additional over 450 or so B2B meetings were organised and included the participation of more than 150 Italian companies and approximately 250 Serbian ones, which represents the best indication of the importance and potential of cooperation between Italy and Serbia. The B2B meetings held represented an added value of the Forum and will certainly contribute to the further development of economic cooperation and the creation of new business opportunities.

A networking cocktail reception was held at the Embassy of Italy in Belgrade

is an excellent investment destination that has to date attracted two thirds of total investments across the region.

B2B MEETINGS REPRESENT AN ADDED VALUE OF THE FORUM

This gathering aims to improve overall economic relations between Serbia and Italy, to expand cooperation in the field of high technologies on the basis of innovations and scientific achievements, and to present new opportunities for Italian companies to invest in Serbia. According to President Vučić, Stellantis’s electric car that is set to be produced in Kragujevac, with production scheduled to be launched next year, is expected to

on the eve of the forum, 20 th March, and brought together representatives of companies from both countries, as well as other important guests. The reception provided an opportunity for forum participants to get acquainted and exchange ideas in an informal environment, which contributed to promoting additional networking and the forging of new business contacts.

The forum served to show that economic cooperation between Italy and Serbia is developing in a positive direction and that great potential for further growth and development exists, primarily in the field of innovation in food production, green transition, e-mobility and infrastructure development.

The value of the total goods exchange between the two countries reached 4.6 billion euros last year, which was 10.5 per cent higher than in 2021

Important Collaboration For Both Countries

The 90th International Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad featured more than 1,100 exhibitors from 26 countries, with Italy as partner-country, which – together with other organisers – helped make this event memorable

Trade between Serbia and Italy in agricultural and food products amounted to 583.5 million euros last year, 20% more than in 2021. There is great potential to further improve cooperation in the agricultural sector, and this is the reason Italy, already at March’s Business & Science Forum, chose agri-tech as one of the main themes.

The jubilee 90 th International Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad took

place from 20th to 26th May and was opened by Jelena Tanasković, Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Serbia, and Francesco Lollobrigida, Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests of the Italian

Republic, which is this year’s partner country of the fair.

The largest agricultural event in this part of Europe was attended by 1,100 exhibitors from 26 countries around the world.

“I would like to congratulate the organisers and hosts on their birthday, not a small one, with a centenary of the existence and the jubilee of the 90th international agricultural fair”, said Minister Tanasković. “The partner country of this year’s

In Hall 1, covering an area of 500 square metres, 21 Italian companies were present, half of them for the first time in Novi Sad

fair is Italy, which in recent times has proven to be an exceptional friend of the Republic of Serbia, especially in agriculture. This is also demonstrated by the trade of agricultural and food products between our countries, which amounted to 583.5 million euros in 2022, 20 per cent more than in 2021. The potential to improve our cooperation is great and it is certain that we will head in that direction.”

She mentioned that Italy was partner country of the agricultural fair in 2016 and 2019, while in 2015 it was a friend of the fair.

THE FAIR IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE FUTURE

Italian Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests Francesco Lollobrigida emphasised that attending this event is an opportunity to discuss the future of both countries, and above all cooperation in the field of agriculture and agri-tech.

that are among the leaders in their fields. Half of them presented themselves for the first time in Novi Sad at the Agricultural Fair.

THE ITALIANS CAREFULLY PREPARED THEIR ARRIVAL

That nothing less should be expected was known even before the Fair, when Antonio Ventresca, director of the Belgrade office of the Italian Foreign Trade Agency, said that as a partner country they are not only bringing companies. He went on to announce a rich cultural programme - organised by the Italian Cultural Institute - that will cover the entire city of Novi Sad and two seminars during the fair.

Italian Minister Lollobrigida and President of the Italian Foreign Trade Agency Matteo Zoppas attended the first seminar, which is perhaps the best demontration of how important this fair is for Italy.

“I would especially like to thank the Embassy of Italy, which has made the greatest effort to bring us a large number of visitors from their country. We have the opportunity to learn about innovations in agriculture, the organisation of production and opportunities to exchange experiences, but also to establish partnerships and cooperation,” said the Secretary of State.

INHABITANTS ENJOYED A WEEK OF ITALIAN CULTURE

On the occasion of the 90th International Agricultural Fair, the Italian Cultural Institute in Belgrade in cooperation with the Italian Embassy presented a rich cultural programme called Week of Italian Culture in Novi Sad. A large number of initiatives dedicated to Italian culture were organised by the IIC in the areas of music, dance, theatre, film, art, linguistics...

“It is an honour for me to be here visiting for the first time a country to which we are linked by history and culture”, said Lollobrigida. “I hope there will be a connection in all other areas as well. I will talk with Minister Tanasković about the future of both countries, about the promotion system in the field of agriculture. I expect many positive results in research and production of high quality agricultural products, especially in this era of globalisation.” He emphasised that mutual support is very important because he is certain that cooperation will be mutually beneficial and that we will all benefit from it.

In Hall 1, covering an area of 500 square metres, some 21 Italian companies were present. These are commercially excellent companies

Director of the Novi Sad Fair Slobodan Cvetković expressed his satisfaction with the partnership with Italy and emphasised Italy’s importance in the foreign trade exchange with our country. He emphasised that the way Italy participates in the organisation of the fair as a partner country has been a trailblazer for all other future partner countries, which will want to have the same prestigious status at the Novi Sad Fair.

Otherwise, there is no need to talk much about the importance of mutual cooperation between Italy and Serbia, because the Serbian market is very interesting for Italian companies, especially because agriculture is an important sector in Serbia. That is why both countries are trying to cooperate as much as possible, to develop and exchange technologies and knowledge, because both in Italy and Serbia there are small and medium-sized agricultural companies that need high-quality solutions.

Dušanka Golubović, State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, sent special thanks to Italy.

A tribute to Italian art was organised at Petrovaradin Fortress with the exhibition Italian Art at the Fortress. It included eight paintings from the foreign art collection of the Museum of the City of Novi Sad. An international conference entitled Italian Language, Literature, History and Culture . Encounters in Real, Virtual and Imaginary Space was held at the Department of Italian and Ibero-American Studies of the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Novi Sad, and the concert La Notte della Taranta– Rhythm and Passion of Apulia on the plateau in front of the Svilara Cultural Station. As part of the Italian Film Day at the Cultural Centre of Novi Sad, 11 films of contemporary production were screened in the original Italian version with Serbian subtitles, the Piano&Movies concert by the Italian pianist Roberto Turino was held at the Svilara Cultural Station, and a literary recital The Knight who Did Not Exist in Youth Theatre.

At the end of an eventful week, Serbia once again proved to be a good host and Italy, as this year’s title says, an excellent partner.

Italy has recently proven to be an exceptional friend of the Republic of Serbia, especially in the agricultural sector

Pearls Of Italian Fashion Presented In Belgrade

IFIB - Italian Fashion in Belgrade, an event dedicated to the promotion of Italian fashion in Serbia and organised by the Italian Embassy in Belgrade, the Italian Cultural Institute and the Fabrika agency, ran from April to June to the delight of all those who appreciate Made in Italy

Italian fashion lovers were treated to a gala concert dedicated to fashion designer Renato Balestra, an exhibition - curated by Stefano Dominella - of 50 legendary dresses and costumes worn by the Hollywood’s greatest divas of the 1950s and 1960s, workshops, seminars, film screenings and exclusive fashion shows.

The first IFIB - Italian Fashion in Belgrade event, dedicated to the

promotion of Italian fashion in Serbia and organised by the Italian Embassy in Belgrade, the Italian Cultural Institute in Belgrade and Fabrika Vesna Mandić, was inaugurated at the end of April with a press conference at the residence of the Italian ambassador and will last until June. During the opening it was emphasized that the IFIB intends to present the Italian fashion industry to the Serbian public

from a variety of perspectives: theatre and music, workshops and seminars, tradition and handwork, sustainability and innovation, fashion shows, women’s empowerment, design and film.

“The Serbian public is in love with Italian fashion”, said Italian ambassador Luca Gori. “The launch of the first IFIB - Italian Fashion in Belgrade will allow them to know even better the creativity, the quality and the many

facets of Made in Italy fashion, a sector that is constantly growing in the world, with over 80 billion euros of export in 2022.”

THE GREAT RENATO BALESTRA LOVED BELGRADE

As part of IFIB, a gala concert dedicated to designer Renato Balestra was held at the National Theatre, featuring

the original costumes he created for the Belgrade Opera.

Non-standard costumes and sets and a combination of tradition and moder-

nity in the opera Cinderella and the ballet Swan Lake are Renato Balestra’s contribution to our national theatre.

“Everyone knows that Renato was very sensitive, incredibly sensitive. He told me that he experienced some of the most beautiful emotions here. One of his last works was the ballet Swan Lake at the National Theatre in Belgrade. He was constantly thinking about Belgrade”, said conductor Jacopo Sipari di Pescasseroli.

Thanks to the quality and originality of Made in Italy fashion, it is growing steadily, with exports set to exceed 80 billion euros in 2022

Ballet stars and opera divas from the Belgrade National Theatre performed arias and excerpts from Rossini’s opera Cinderella and the ballet Swan Lake, with Balestra costumes designed especially for these performances.

“He worked with a lot more colours”, said ballerina Tatjana Tatić. “He took a lot of risks for a classical ballet, especially for Swan Lake which is kind of, some themes are mostly Gothic, some costumes are very similar, and he took risks and put all kinds of cheerful colours. At first, when the premiere came out, opinions were divided, but it was something new, something fresh. Jacopo Sipari di Pescasseroli added that Balestra spent a lot of time looking for the right music for his costumes.

“This is a very important aspect. Other designers create fantastic collections, while other take care of the music and its connection to the design. With Balestra, it was the opposite. He would choose the music first, and only then conceive the costumes.”

50 LEGENDARY DRESSES ARRIVE FROM SEOUL

There was great interest among the audience for the gala concert and the exhibition of original costumes and designs by Renato Balestra. The VII

Day of Italian Design at the Museum of Applied Art was also dedicated to fashion, when a seminar dedicated to fashion sustainability by Eugenia Morpurgo and Tamara Jarić was organised thanks to the Italian Cultural Institute in Belgrade. The exhibition of Italian iconic pieces of design will also be re-organised soon at the Italian Embassy, in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency, Confindustria Serbia and the Italian – Serbian Chamber of Commerce.

The Italy in Fashion exhibition, conceived and organised by Stefano Dominella, president of the fashion house Maison Gattinoni Couture and of the Section for Fashion, Design and Furniture of the UnIndustria Lazio association, opened at the Ethnographic Museum in Belgrade on 17th May.

The exhibition was opened by Italian Ambassador to Serbia Luca Gori, with an opening speech by the curator of the exhibition, Stefano Dominella, and welcoming words by the director of the Fabrika agency, Vesna Mandić, and the director of the Ethnographic Museum, Marko Krstić.

For the first time in Serbia, visitors could admire pearls of Italian fashion that were previously inaccessible to

Italian fashion is presented through theatre and music, workshops and seminars, tradition and handwork, sustainability and innovation, fashion shows, women’s empowerment, design, film...

the public, from the archives of Italy’s greatest fashion houses. After being presented in Seoul, the Belgrade exhibition previews 50 legendary dresses and costumes worn by Hollywood divas, as a cultural symbol of the spirit and sentiment of the 1950s and 1960s.

Among these 50 exclusive exhibits are the little black dress worn by Anna Magnani at the Oscars, costumes worn by Audrey Hepburn and Anita Ekberg, the jersey dress worn by Lana Turner, Kim Novak and many others.

THE BEST CREATIONS ARE SIGNED BY THE GREATEST MASTERS

“These 50 iconic dresses that have become part of the collective consciousness have contributed in making the

Made in Italy style famous all over the world”, says Stefano Dominella, who recently held a workshop dedicated to students of the Faculty of Applied Arts in Belgrade.

The accompanying programme for the exhibition consisted of a review of films at the Yugoslav Cinematheque (Cactus Flower, La Dolce Vita, Imitation of Life, War and Peace, Europe 51, with a special screening of our classic Love and Fashion) in which the dresses and costumes were worn.

“To present Italian fashion in Serbia”, says Luca Gori, “we decided to emphasize our sartorial tradition and, exclusively for IFIB show in Belgrade, the legendary clothes worn by the greatest stars. We are talking about fabrics and designs signed, among others, by masters such as Gatinoni, Armani, Moschino, Versace, Max Mara, Etro, Missoni, who made the Made in Italy brand famous all over the world.

The IFIB program includes fashion shows by Patrizia Pepe and Dress for Success, as well as workshops dedicated to Italian tradition and craftsmanship. Among others, the Salon of Excellence, on the theme of Italian sartorial art, organised by Aleksandar Đorđević with prominent Italian masters of craftsmanship, such as Franco Puppato, and a seminar dedicated to the role of the Versace and Donà Dalle Rose families in fashion and art.

JELENA PETROVIĆ NJEGOŠ (IT. ELENA DEL MONTENEGRO, OR ELENA DI SAVOIA) 1873-1952

150th Anniversary Of The Birth Of The Last Italian Queen

Jelena Petrović Njegoš, aka Elena of Montenegro (It. Elena del Montenegro or Elena di Savoia), was a Montenegrin princess and an Italian queen, a caring mother, wife and grandmother, a great benefactor, versatile artist, painter, poet, photographer, archaeologist and patron of the arts. She was born in Cetinje on 28th December 1873, as the sixth child and fifth daughter of Prince Nikola and Princess Milena

Christened by Russian Emperor Alexander II Romanov, at the age of ten she was sent to be schooled at the Smolny Institute of Noble Maidens in Saint Petersburg, which was under the patronage of the empress. It was there that she discovered her talent for painting.

It was while attending the first International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale in 1895 that she met Italian Prince Victor, with whom she developed a close affinity thirteen months later, at a ball in Russia to celebrate the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II. Their rapport didn’t go unnoticed by Vittorio’s father, Italian King Umberto, who was troubled by his son’s disinterest in marriage and wanted to strengthen his lineage with “new blood”, as there were too many marriages between cousins in the dynasty.

Princess Jelena Petrović Njegoš strengthened the Savoy dynasty by providing it with five children, while her numerous acts of benevolence led to her becoming a favourite among the Italian people.

“I ask you if you will give me your hand and consent that you will take me, and I offer you mine. I want, and later we will ask my and your parents if they will give us permission and blessing,” – it was with these words, in 1896, that Italian Prince Victor Emanuel proposed to Princess Jelena, the daughter of Prince Nikola Petrović Njegoš, while the Italian prince was visiting the Montenegrin court in Cetinje. And he thereby resolved, with this short dialogue, an issue that the

diplomats of Montenegro and Italy had been working on for almost two years. Of his nine daughters, Prince Nikola Petrović Njegoš managed to have five of them married into imperial and royal courts (Princess Zorka was wed to King Peter I of Serbia).

Their civil wedding ceremony was held at the magnificent Quirinale Palace, while the church ceremony took place in the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, with many guests from across Europe in attendance. Princess Jelena took the surname Savoy and converted to the Catholic faith, in her firm belief that God is best served through love for one’s nearest and dearest.

A postage stamp entitled “Vittorio Emanuele III’s Wedding” was planned for issue to commemorate this event, but it was never distributed and today there are only 100 existing examples of this stamp.

In the year 1900, news of the assassination of King Umberto by an anarchist in Monza reached his son Vittorio Emanuele while he was cruising the Mediterranean with Jelena. The prince had hitherto considered his ascension to the throne as being a long way off, given his father’s age (56). The young king immediately got to work. Speaking just a few days after taking the throne, in his first address to the nation, he introduced a conciliatory policy by stating “Monarchy and Parliament go hand in hand”.

The ruling couple took up residence in Rome’s Quirinale Palace, which was surrounded by royal gardens and sports fields. A veritable oasis of happiness and joy for the royal couple, they spent years and decades of their reign in this idyll, together with their children.

The Italian people felt affection towards the new royal couple, and often also admiration. When an earthquake devastated the city of Messina in 1908, the king and queen risked their own lives by travelling to the area and spending more than 20 days helping the people of the city. The queen skilfully assisted the wounded, easing the suffering of the victims by her own hand. It was more than 50 years later, in 1960, that a marble statue was erected in Messina’s Seggiola Square, embracing the figure of the queen as a young girl who witnessed the devastating earthquake and responded as

the noble, courageous benefactor known as Elena di Savoia.

The Queen of Italy had five children with King Victor Emmanuel III: Yolanda, Mafalda, Umberto, Giovanna and Maria Francesca, all of whom married into European royal houses. Jelena went down in history as the last queen of Italy.

In 1939, three months after the Nazi invasion of France, Jelena penned letters to the six European queens who were then still neutral (Denmark, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia). Victor Emmanuel III was arrested by Benito Mussolini in July 1943, but in September of

remained briefly in Egypt before relocating to France. There, in Montpellier, she was diagnosed with a severe form of cancer and died during an operation to treat it in 1952. She was buried, in accordance with her wishes, in a common grave at the Montpellier Municipal Cemetery.

Victor and Jelena hadn’t been parted from one another from 1896 onwards, even during their time in exile – 51 years of marriage, together with the Italian nation, in fortune and misfortune. Her charitable work and service to the people of Italy were so great that Catholic Bishop Ricard of Montpellier initiated the process of her beatification in 2001.

that same year, with the help of their allies, the royal couple managed to find refuge in the port city of Brindisi. Their daughter Mafalda was arrested by the Nazis and imprisoned in Buchenwald concentration camp, where she died in 1944. In a referendum held in Italy in June 1946, 52 per cent of voters gave their support to a republic over a monarchy. The formation of the new Republic of Italy was declared four days later, thus formally ending the House of Savoy’s rule in Italy.

Vittorio Emanuele III, who had abdicated in favour of his son Umberto II prior to the referendum, headed into exile with Jelena in May 1946. The royal couple retired to Villa Jela in Alexandria, as guests of King Farouk I of Egypt, who thus reciprocated for the hospitality that his father had previously enjoyed in Italy. Jelena remained by her husband’s side until his 1947 death. Left a widow, she only

In 1937, Pope Pius XI bestowed on her the Golden Rose of Christianity, the Catholic Church’s highest honour for a woman. In a telegram of condolence sent by Pope Pius XII to her son Umberto II following her death, he described Jelena as a “Lady of charitable work”.

In 2002, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of her death, the Italian Ministry of Communications issued a commemorative stamp with her likeness that linked her personality to the fight against cancer. At the beginning of the 21st century (2001), with the opening of the diocesan process for her beatification, the late queen was accorded the title “Servant of God”.

In December 2017, 65 years after her death, Jelena’s remains were repatriated from Montpellier to the monumental Sanctuary of Vicoforte Church near Turin, where they were interred alongside the mortal remains of her husband.

Strade Dei Vini

There are few better ways to experience autumn in Italy than with a trip to its wine regions, visiting vineyards and cantinas, sampling artisanal cheeses and breads, and dining in rustic trattorias overlooking posterworthy landscapes. But Italy has some 140 wine roads (called strade dei vini) to sate most every oenophile’s taste, so how to choose one that’s best for you? Here are five of these amazing routes, ranging from the Veneto and Piedmont in the north to Sicily in the south for you to consider for your next fall getaway

PROSECCO ROUTE

(Strada del Prosecco, Veneto)

While prosecco has become one of Italy’s best known exports in the last decade, its wine road, the first such route designated in Italy, is now generating buzz beyond the country’s borders. Located in a hilly stretch of the Veneto in northeastern Italy, the Prosecco Strada runs from Conegliano (about a 50-minute drive from Venice) to Valdobbiadene, a 33-kilometer route weaving through wine villages and towns and rolling countryside dotted with vineyards, medieval fortresses, family owned cantinas, frescoed churches and castles (one you can stay is the Castel Brando in Cison di Valmerino). Roads are narrow and winding here so (as in any wine region) designate or have a driver if you’re going to be sampling along the way. On this route you’ll be able to try prosecco in three varieties--sparkling, semi-sparkling and still, the latter called tranquillo. The “grand cru” of prosecco, the DOCG Superiore di Cartizze, comes from the hillsides near Valdobbiadene, specifically a 106-hectare parcel of land that is among the most expensive vineyard terrain in the world.

THE BAROLO ROUTE

(Strada del Barolo e Grande Vini di Langa, Piedmont)

Piedmont produces some of the world’s most renowned wines, among them Barolo, the silky smooth red that’s been dubbed the “king of wines” and the “wine of kings;” and Barbaresco, which like Barolo is made from the Nebbiolo grape. There are routes you can drive that focus not only on visiting renowned cellars and seeing idyllic landscapes but also on the region’s historic art and architecture. One trip that encompasses a bit of everything starts in Alba, a foodie haven known for its white truffles and often called the “capital of the Langhe,” one of the sections of Piedmont (along with Roero and Monferrato) designated a UNESCO World Heritage site for its winemaking traditions. The route then curls through the countryside, down to Roddino and then back up to Castiglione Falletto. On the way you can explore nearby medieval castles (notably at Grinzane Cavour) and have access to Barolo vineyards and cantinas; at La Morra there are walking trails that take you into the heart of wine country. From Castiglione Falletto, the last stop on the route, it’s easy to reach the town of Barolo itself, about 5 kilometers away. You’ll want to arrange tastings of the famous wine at local vineyards (as in other areas, schedule an appointment), and visit the Castello Falletti, which dates from the 10th century. It houses a museum and enoteca where you can also sample some splendid Barolos.

THE ETNA WINE ROUTE

(Strada del Vino dell’Etna, Sicily)

Yes, there are vineyards on the slopes of Mt. Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano, which erupts from time to time, but that hasn’t deterred area wine growers, who produce highly regarded reds, whites and roses from its special terroir. An easy way to navigate the Strada del Vino dell’Etna is by a special wine train departing on Saturdays (for a minimum group of 10, reservations required; private tours can be arranged for smaller groups) from Piedimonte Etneo on the Ferrovia Circumetnea, built in the late 19th century. The route (which also includes travel in a dedicated wine bus) weaves through historic towns and past vineyards, citrus farms and farmhouses. Among the many fascinating wineries to visit is the Tenuta Tascante, owned by Tasca d’Almerita, a pioneering Sicilian vintner with four other estates on the island. When in the area sample such Etna specialities as Bronte pistachios, considered the best in Italy-they’re scrumptious in pistachio gelato and pistachio pestos.

CHIANTI CLASSICO WINE ROUTE

(Strada del Vino e dell’ Olio Chianti Classico, Tuscany)

Perhaps the best known wine road in Italy is the Chiantigiana that threads through the heart of Chianti country, spanning 69 kilometers from Florence to Siena. On this route you’ll come to such famous wine towns as Greve and Castellina, and by traveling nearby roads, to Radda and Gaiole. Set aside time to visit legendary wineries like Marchesi Antinori in Bargino (19 kilometers from Greve), which helped pioneer the development of Super Tuscans; Badia a Coltibuono (6 km from Gaiole), a gracious wine estate with cooking classes and lodging; and the Ricasoli family’s Castello di Brolio (11 km from Gaiole), the oldest winery in Italy. The castle can be visited and the property includes an Italian country-style farmhouse for vacation stays.

THE ETRUSCAN ROMAN WINE ROUTE (Strada dei Vini Etrusco Romana, Umbria)

Although the ancients Greeks brought grape varieties and winemaking methods to Sicily, the Etruscans upped the game, teaching the Romans how to better produce the elixir that has been a part of daily life on the peninsula for thousands of years. You can travel through Umbrian towns and villages settled by the Etruscans and Romans if you follow the Strada dei Vini Etrusco Romana from Orvieto to Narni (roughly 63 kilometers), where you’ll find an assortment of vineyards producing top Umbrian wines, like the Orvieto and Rosso Orvietano DOCs. Be sure to set aside time to visit the historic town of Orvieto, once a major Etruscan center and known for its Gothic-style Duomo, which dazzles with an elaborately carved marble facade. Another stop on the route is Amelia, on a beautiful hillside setting overlooking the Tiber, and famous for its polygonal-style stone walls believed to have been built by the Etruscans. At the end of this route you’ll be in Narni, a medieval hill town with a subterranean section (Narni Sotterranea), home to a 12th-century church with rare frescoes. While traveling this area, be sure to sample regional pastas like stringozzi with asparagus, or in season, tagliatelle with truffles, and bistecca Chianina, a luscious steak from the region’s white cows.