Slovenia 2019 - Strong Growth Potential

Partner 2019

●

ISSUE No.# 13

●

ISSN broj 2560-4465

SLOVENIA - SERBIA

STRONG Growth Potential H.E. Iztok Jarc, Ambassador of Slovenia to Serbia ● Zdravko Počivalšek, Slovenian Minister for Economic Development and Technology ● Marko Čadež, President of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Serbia ●Danijela Fišakov, President of the Slovenian Business Club in Serbia ● Professor Jovan Despotović, Director of CEKIBEO d.o.o. (Ltd.), Belgrade ● Branko Greganović, Chief Executive Officer at NLB Banka ● Dejan Turk, CEO of Vip mobile and A1 Slovenia ● Aleksandar Spremić, Director, Halcom Boštjan Škufca Zaveršek, President of Prva Group ● Tadej Beočanin, Mayor of Ajdovščina

H.E. IZTOK JARC

FOREWORD

Ambassador of Slovenia to Serbia

Respected readers, As you may know, I arrived in Belgrade only recently and I am glad to observe the dynamic development of truly diverse relations between Slovenia and Serbia.

In the last period, I’ve been paying special attention to developments in negotiation’s process for Serbia’s accession to the European Union, so allow me first to touch briefly on this important process for Serbia and the region. Based on my personal experiences, I can say that the road to the EU for a candidate country is never simple; it includes obstacles that sometimes seem insurmountable. Great enthusiasm of the significant part of society is needed to create enough energy to overcome them.

Slovenia successfully concluded its path to the EU 15 years ago; t is with pleasure that I can share with you my belief that we have gained a lot during this period as a state and as a society; benefits are even greater than it was originally expected.

That is why we sincerely want Serbia to quickly and successfully advance towards the EU family and we are making efforts to support it. Our support is as visible within the EU as it is in Serbia, where numerous Slovenian experts are cooperating in the harmonisation process.

At the same time, we are encouraging the advancement of our good bilateral cooperation, particularly in the fields of economy and politics. As for economic cooperation, it has been marked by a record trade exchange recently, exceeding a billion euros by a significant margin, and by large investment dynamics in both directions.

Good statistics is not preventing us from seeing untapped potential, primarily in IT sector, agriculture and knowledge transfer, where we will try to focus our attention in the future.

I can also highlight the enviable dynamics of our political cooperation, which is well reflected in regular meetings at all political levels. During the course of this year, we’ve welcomed to Serbia our President Pahor and three of our ministers, similarly there are numerous visits of Serbian officials to Ljubljana, where the National Assembly Speaker will head in a few days. For the second half of the year, we are preparing a visit of the prime minister of Slovenia to Serbia and the organisation of a fifth joint session of the two governments in Belgrade.

In the record of our bilateral relations, the field of culture occupies a special place.

I’m delighted to be able to emphasise excellent cooperation with Minister Vukosavljević and his team. Our commitment to target

mutually beneficial goals led to us to deal with the raft of serious issues related to succession in a way that will deepen our cultural cooperation. We are planning to prepare a joint cultural project – an exhibition of founding documents of the University of Ljubljana, which celebrates its centenary this year, and also a forum has been established for the exchange of good practises in the field of cultural heritage protection. I am very grateful to the minister for such an approach, which is a good example of the” illuminated or European approach” to resolving open issues that are not always simple.

Dear readers, allow me to point out that I have been very warmly and nicely received in Serbia, which has truly helped me to successfully adapt to my new environment over the past few months. Now I understand completely why Slovenians are happy to visit Belgrade and Serbia, where – alongside all cultural and natural sights – they can also experience the renowned Serbian hospitality. At the same time, the number of Serbian guests in Slovenia is constantly increasing; they have a special place among tourists because they know our main sights very well and they need to be offered something more; the varied Slovenian cuisine, which has evolved over the centuries under the influence of different cuisines: Italian in the west, Germanic in the north, Balkan in the south and Hungarian in the east. A special place in Slovenian gastronomy is occupied by wine, which is why we decided that this year’s reception commemorating the 28th anniversary of the statehood would include the presentation of typical representatives of nine Slovenian wine regions, at which visitors will be able to convince themselves of the diversity I just mentioned.

Also testifying to the importance of wine in Slovenian gastronomy and culture is the Slovenian national anthem itself. Entitled Zdravica [A Toast], its verses are written in the form of wine glasses. With the poem our greatest poet toasts all nations that work together with good intentions on a mutually cooperative basis. Well, here’s to the health of the Slovenian-Serbian friendship!

J U LY

|

177

| 3

INTERVIEW

ZDRAVKO POČIVALŠEK Slovenian Minister for Economic Development and Technology

Business Growing On Both Sides Economic cooperation between Slovenia and Serbia gets better each year, both in terms of exports and imports, but also in terms of investments. This is a result of the strong growth potential of technologically advanced Slovenian companies and the ability of Serbia's domestic market to offer strong opportunities for business development

A

lthough major European economies are bound to slow down due to the changing global environment, Slovenia need not to worry, despite Slovenia’s real term GDP growth of 3.2% in Q1 being the slowest since the final quarter of 2016, when it ran at 3%. But Is this a cause for concern or satisfaction, considering current EU trends?

“The growth of Slovenian GDP in real terms was 4.5% in 2018. The growth of the Slovenian economy also remained high in the first quarter of this year. It has been slowing down slightly, as you mentioned, but is still above the EU 4 |

177

| J U LY

average. I am an optimist, and it is our task as a government to maintain conditions that will continue to enable the economy to also achieve above-average economic growth in relation to the EU in the future”, says Slovenian Economic Development andTechnology Minister Zdravko Počivalšek. “We do all we can to raise the competitiveness of our economy and constantly take measures to create a stable, predictive and competitive business environment.”

The rising trade exchange, as well as the level of investments between Slovenia and Serbia, is a result of improved economic conditions in both countries.

• How close is Slovenia to the phase in which GDP growth will be more or less equal to mature EU economies? Where are the possibilities for more robust growth?

- It is my firm belief that we still have room for growth. Companies operating in Slovenia demonstrate every day that they can compete effectively on the global market, while at the same time exploring many local advantages.

We are committed to diversifying our exports further and developing products and services with high added value. In order to accelerate this process, we wish to attract investment with high-tech products and services.

STRENGHT

GOAL

COOPERATION

We have a digital and automation-intensive economy that delivers smart products on a daily basis

We are interested in improving land, sea and air connectivity with China and strengthening cooperation in the field of high technologies and innovation

Slovenian companies are extremely well acquainted with the Serbian market and business is consequently growing on both sides

economy, offering green, creative and smart solutions. The European Innovation Scoreboard lists us among the world’s strongest innovators. We have a digital and automation-intensive economy that delivers smart products on a daily basis.

As a pioneering country in the field of Artificial Intelligence, we are setting up an International Artificial Intelligence Research Centre with UNESCO. These are the main fields in which we are strengthening cooperation with Asian countries, apart from our traditional sectors

connect businesses from the CEE region with the Far East.

In short, we may be a small country, but we make great partnerships across the globe – due to our efficiency and progressive nature.

The Slovenian Government has adopted the Slovenian Smart Specialisation Strategy, which defines nine priority areas and within which we see a lot of possibilities for robust growth. These areas are smart cities and communities; smart buildings and homes, including wood chain; networks for the transition to a circular economy; sustainable food production, sustainable tourism; factories of the future; health – medicine, mobility and the development of materials as end products.

I think there’s also a lot of potential for development within digital technologies, which have huge potential for increasing the productivity of companies. That’s why we promote and implement measures that support digitalisation.

• How resilient is the Slovenian economy to external turbulences, considering that it is focused on the EU markets? To what extent have you managed to increase the presence of Slovenian companies in non- EU markets?

- It is important to be prepared for external turbulence, especially in this period when global trade tension is broadening. We are taking steps to further diversify our exports and increase our presence on non-EU markets.

The Slovenian government has adopted its internationalisation action plan, which encourages the systematic research of third markets and defines our priority markets and key measures to increase our exports to those markets. Slovenia traditionally trades the most with countries in the EU. However, exports to markets outside the EU have been increasing, which is also shown in the latest data for the first quarter of this year.

• What might the Slovenian economy offer when it comes to the forthcoming shift of global economic power to Asia? How do you envisage your role in China’s Belt and Road Initiative?

- Slovenia is an open, export-orientated

• After two years of construction, Japanese corporation Yaskawa – the world’s biggest manufacturer of industrial robots – has opened a new industrial robot production facility and a European centre for the development of robotics in Kočevje. Is Slovenia ready to attract more such investments?

Slovenia has the highest number of companies operating abroad in Serbia and the interest among Slovenian companies for business opportunities in Serbia is increasing

of the automotive, pharmaceutical and food processing industries, and green technologies, not to mention tourism, which is gaining more importance annually when it comes to incoming tourists from Asia.

Of course, among Asian countries, China is Slovenia’s largest foreign trade partner. As a result of deeper cooperation with China within the 16+1 initiative, bilateral trade between Slovenia and China has increased annually by more than 15 per cent since 2013.

Slovenia recognises the increasing relevance and benefits of synergies with the Belt and Road Initiative, which will further strengthen relations between China and Slovenia, widening economic cooperation.

We are especially interested in improving land, sea and air connectivity with China and strengthening cooperation in the field of high technologies and innovation. Specifically, Slovenia has a central geographical position at the heart of Europe. With modern infrastructure and via the Port of Koper, we

- Yes, definitely. We are ready and, as I mentioned, we are working systematically to attract more investments with high-tech products and services, like Yaskawa, to Slovenia. Companies operating in Slovenia can use the opportunity to cooperate with our institutions of innovative environment and our highly awarded research institutions, and thus benefit from our support environment and incentives for R&D. We have one of the lowest tax rates on corporate profits in the EU and many tax breaks and incentives for investors.

Among our comparative advantage, I always emphasise that people are our very important advantage; people who are highly motivated, educated and experienced, with good knowledge of language and strong regional connections. Slovenia is among the best performing countries regarding knowledge and skills. For example, in the recently published EBRD knowledge economy index, which measures instituJ U LY

|

177

| 5

tions for innovation, skills for innovation, innovation systems and ICT infrastructure, Slovenia occupies second place.

• How does the Slovenian government support domestic companies entering foreign markets?

- The Ministry of Economic Development and Technology devotes a lot of attention to supporting our companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, in entering foreign markets. We have been supporting them in cooperation with public

agency SPIRIT, and we recently introduced the voucher-based measurement system implemented by the Slovene Enterprise Fund. In addition to traditional measures like the co-financing of market research, visits to trade fairs and business events that encourage companies to enter foreign markets, we also support new forms of promoting the internationalisation of companies, such as the digitalisation of companies and introducing e-contents into business operations, supporting new business models in business operations, and partnerships with the goal of jointly entering a selected foreign market, to name just a few.

6 |

177

| J U LY

• Where are Serbia and the Western Balkans positioned on your map? To what extent is the Western Balkans suitable as your production base?

- Many Slovenian companies have already acknowledged the Western Balkans as their production base. With the Western Balkans, and especially Serbia, we have traditionally very close economic ties. Slovenian companies are extremely well acquainted with the Serbian market and, consequently, business is growing on both sides. For instance, last year we achieved commercial exchanges

worth 1.85 billion euros, which is 13 per cent more than in the previous year. Slovenia has the highest number of companies operating abroad in Serbia, and interest among Slovenian companies for business opportunities in Serbia is increasing. Among all foreign trade partners outside the EU, Serbia holds a very high place among Slovenian economic partners, both in terms of exports and imports, as well as investments, which serves to prove the consistency and quality of our cooperation.

• Who are your major partners when it comes to the exploration of new market opportunities in Serbia?

- Among different stakeholders, I would like to

mention the Slovenian Business Club, which works in cooperation with our embassy to help Slovenian companies on the Serbian market, as a meeting point of information, knowledge and influence. There are also good relations with other institutions, ministries and the entire Serbian government.

• After years of restrictions, Slovenia is now opening its doors to foreign workers.

Where (in which countries) do you see your hiring base?

- Indeed, with such economic growth, our companies are facing a lack of skilled workers in Slovenia. First, we are looking for new workers among unemployed and retired people. Second, we are also striving to enable younger workers to enter the labour market faster after finishing school. Of course, on the other hand, we had to opened our doors to foreign workers too. With certain countries, for example Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia, we have signed agreements regarding the employment of foreign citizens in Slovenia.

In Slovenian tourism in particular, especially in hospitality, there is a gap between the needs of the tourism industry and people being prepared to work in this sector.

Therefore, our tourism industry is in favour of employing waiters, chambermaids, cooks and people of other similar professions from EU countries, because they are easier to employ due to the internal market and free movement of people and services. Workers from the countries of the former SFRY are also very welcome, because the language and culture do not represent big barrier. I must admit that our tourist companies are very satisfied with employees from Serbia, because you have a very good quality of education for hospitality and tourism.

• On the occasion of World Tourism Day, you have said that tourism is at the forefront of digital innovation. How well is Slovenia prepared for these trends?

- There are some projects being carried out in Slovenia in the field of digital innovation in tourism, especially in cultural heritage offered to tourists. The biggest step in digitalisation has been taken by the promotion of Slovenian tourism, carried out by the Slovenian Tourist

Board. At the 2019 ITB fair in Berlin, Slovenia won four gold medals and two silvers under “The Golden City” for digital campaign.

• Although Slovenia is breaking records in tourism revenues each year, you’ve said there’s not time to rest, as tourism infrastructure still needs to be improved significantly.

We welcome both domestic and foreign investors. According to our tourism strategy, Slovenia is going to become an attractive green tourist destination for five-star experiences. In order to realise this vision, we need attractive tourist products, the highest quality tourist offer and, of course, modernised tourism infrastructure. Our government

Slovenia is going to become an attractive green tourist destination for five-star experiences. For the realisation of this vision, we welcome both domestic and foreign investors What does that mean in terms of investments and required facilities?

- We need some improvements and the modernisation of existing tourism infrastructure, as well as greenfield investments.

is taking an active role in the consolidation of Slovenian tourism companies with hotel capacities that are state-owned. First, we need to improve their performance and only then privatise responsibly. Something has

already been done in that direction, but we should not rest.

• Your strategy for the Sustainable Growth of Slovenian Tourism for 2017-2021 is somewhere in the middle of its implementation.

How satisfied are you with what’s been done to date?

- We are satisfied with the realisation of measures and actions taken to date. By creating four macro destinations in Slovenia, we managed to convince tourism stakeholders from each macro destination to cooperate in preparing tourist products and stories. Several five-star experiences have been created and will be promoted under the brand “Slovenia, Unique Experiences”. Regarding results achieved to date, I am pleased to say that we have already reached almost 15.9 million overnight stays, which we initially planned to reach in 2021. Therefore, I am optimistic regarding the achieving of our strategic goals and vision. ■

J U LY

|

177

| 7

INTERVIEW MARKO ČADEŽ, PRESIDENTOFTHE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY OF SERBIA

Both Quantity & Quality Of Cooperation Improving

Slovenian and Serbian companies are entering into increasingly complex forms of cooperation, creating consortiums for joint production operations and the joint development of products and services in almost all segments of business, from agribusiness, via industry to ICT, the creative industries and scientifictechnological cooperation

C

onsidering the growing mutual interest among the two countries’ businesspeople in connecting and expanding possibilities for cooperation, the Serbian Chamber of Commerce & Industry has decided that the first representative office in the region that it will renew will be precisely in Ljubljana. The results of the trade exchange, as well as the creation of new opportunities for operations and cooperation between Slovenian and Serbian companies, ensure that this decision is fully justified. Specifically, the trend of growing mutual trade, which has lasted for almost two decades – with the exception of certain declining results during the years of the global economic crisis – continued in the first months of this year.

8 |

177

| J U LY

“It is realistic to expect that we will this year surpass last year’s record-breaking trade exchange result, which, according to official Serbian statistics, amounted to 1.14 billion euros, or 1.65 billion euros if we count the exchange of services,” says CCIS President Marko Čadež. “However,” he continues, “for small economies like Serbia and Slovenia’s, apart from increasing the exchange, there is also growth in the number of companies trading mutually and the value of investments, both Slovenian in Serbia and Serbian in Slovenia, and it is particularly important that our companies, particularly SMEs, are increasingly connecting through joint projects.”

• Can you cite any specific examples?

- Footwear manufacturers DAG-CO from Serbia and Alpina from Slovenia are appearing jointly in Austria and Germany, while textile company STIM-IMPORT from Loznica is working together with its Slovenian partner in establishing a presence on the Swiss market.

Jointly approaching customers in Europe and the world are our manufacturers of personal protective equipment, furniture and honey, such as Serbia’s Medino and Slovenia’a Me-

dex. Winning over investors from elsewhere in the world are Slovene-Serbian start-ups Prospeh, with its application for the food industry, Origin Trail and LeanPay, which are focused on point-of-sale financing. There are also ever more film co-productions with the joint stamp of Slovenian and Serbian producers and filmmakers, who participate together in competing for support funding in both countries. We are also recording examples of consortiums of Slovenian and Serbian construction and design companies.

• In which areas does the most room exist for Serbian companies to further penetrate the Slovenian market and for cooperation among businesspeople from the two countries?

- According to CCIS analysis, the greatest chances for increasing exports to the market of Slovenia are among producers of foods, plastics and furniture, as well as the electrical and metal industries. Apart from the industrial branches in which we traditionally cooperate, potential areas of future cooperation and company networking, but also the expected new wave of Slovenian investments, are to be found in sectors such as IT, tourism – with an emphasis

on new tourism products and concepts, and the green economy, especially the recycling industry, municipal waste management and wastewater treatment.

• The most recent Serbian-Slovenian Business Forum, held in Belgrade at the beginning of this year, included plenty of companies hailing precisely from the IT sector and tourism.

Is it possible at this stage to provide some indication of possible volumes of cooperation in these domains?

- The possibilities are enormous when it comes to mutual connections and joint bilateral and regional projects in these areas. In Serbia, which is the region’s fastest growing IT market, there are almost 90 ICT companies with Slovenian capital already operating, while Serbian company Comtrade, the largest software company in Slovenia, now has more than 600 employees and centres in three locations in Slovenia - Ljubljana, Maribor and Nova Gorica, while the examples of joint start-ups that I’ve mentioned indicate that our innovative communities already collaborate and utilise opportunities to connect mutually.

In the field of tourism, Slovenia is a regional leader in ecological, rural, spa and wellness tourism, and is having great success in building the glamping [glamorous-camping] concept, which has been a trend around the world in recent years. This creates opportunities for Slovenian investments and the applying of

• Representatives of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Slovenia have also noted the possibility of cooperation in transforming the economies of the two countries towards Industry 4.0. Are the two chambers working on tangible steps towards realising this plan?

- Apart from Slovenia being one of Europe’s best examples of the digitisation of public administration, the Slovenian economy has also already reached a high level of digital transformation. Serbia has more than 200 manufacturers of automotive parts – automotive industry suppliers – and the Slovenian economy’s experience in digitising and automating operations in this segment is especially

We expect a new wave of Slovenian investments in IT, in tourism – with an emphasis on new tourism products and concepts – and in the green economy, especially the recycling industry

Slovenian experiences in Serbia. Simultaneously, with their investments, large Serbian companies have already become part of Slovenian tourism. Alongside its investments in Slovenian banking, Serbia’s MK Group also became the owner of the Kempinski Hotel and Portorož Airport, and is interested in further investments, while Delta Real Estate plans to build another hotel following its construction of the Intercontinental in Ljubljana.

useful for us, as its production processes are based on the basic postulates of Industry 4.0 and are aligned with the requirements of multinational companies. Slovenian companies that operate in Serbia apply the latest technologies in our country and transfer this concept to the local market through business arrangements with suppliers and partners.

We are grateful to the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Slovenia for using joint

activities with us to share their experiences, knowhow and recommendations for smart growth created through the European project INDUSTRY 4EU. With the Pomurje Technology Park and partners from another nine countries, we are finalising the Smart Factory Hub project, the main goal of which is to improve conditions for the application of new technologies and innovative solutions in factories, based on the Smart Specialisation Strategy.

• The CCIS is opening its first foreign representative office in Ljubljana. On which services can Slovenian and Serbian businesspeople rely?

- Our goal is to ensure that both Serbian and Slovenian companies – in direct contact and together with colleagues from the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Slovenia and the Slovenian Business Club in Belgrade – are as well informed as possible about the offers, needs and opportunities for trade, investment and other forms of cooperation on our markets, for us to promote opportunities and potential to invest in our economies, to encourage joint bilateral and regional projects, and joint appearances on world markets, to integrate our resources as best as possible and network companies, and to be as useful as possible in providing support for our businesspeople in establishing contacts, preparing and implementing investment projects, and in other business arrangements. ■ J U LY

|

177

| 9

INTERVIEW

DANIJELA FIŠAKOV, PRESIDENT OF THE SLOVENIAN BUSINESS CLUB IN SERBIA

Nursery Of Good Business Ties Last year's trade exchange between Slovenia and Serbia exceeded 1.5 billion euros, while this exchange has more than doubled over the past ten years. The Slovenian Business Club has for years represented a source of new ideas for the development of cooperation between the two countries' businesspeople

T

he Slovenian Business Club considers it an obligation to support cooperation between the Slovenian and Serbian economies and will continue to do that, as it always has to date, with dedication, says Danijela Fišakov, President of the Slovenian Business Club.

• Considering the experience of the companies gathered together in the SBC, how would you assess the possibilities of further developing cooperation between the two countries’ businesspeople?

- The Serbia-Slovenia Business Forum, which was held at the beginning of this year, as well as the number of companies interested in participating in it, i.e. the level 10 |

177

| J U LY

and number of over 600 business leaders present, best illustrate the importance of interconnectivity between the economies of Serbia and Slovenia. The level of trade achieved between the two countries and the fact that cooperation is on an upward trajectory indicates a favourable business climate that is improving every year. I believe that better mutual relations in the foreign policies of the countries will further contribute to even faster growth in the exchange than has been the case to date. The Serbian market constantly produces interest among Slovenian companies. Companies that were discouraged and at some point withdrew from Serbia are again interested in this market and relaunching their operations here.

We pride ourselves on the fact that our members are raising their own bar when it comes to planning future activities. When it comes to the experience of business leaders, there are many examples in which Serbia is the second most important market for Slovenian companies after Slovenia. In our ranks we have significant examples of good practise, that is, the successful conducting

of business in accordance with established goals. Such examples encourage other companies and I think that their number and the volume of exchange still remain far below realistic possibilities.

• To what extent are topics and speakers at SBC events changing with the expansion of cooperation between the two countries?

- The Slovenian Business Club demonstrates its engagement on a daily basis by monitoring all current affairs and trends in the development of cooperation between Serbia and Slovenia. This kind of activity is very important for our members who operate on these markets. With the aim of providing timely information and adequate support to its members, the SBC realises close cooperation with the chambers of commerce and industry of Serbia and Slovenia, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Slovenia and the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Serbia, as well as with other relevant state and other bodies in Serbia and Slovenia. The SBC also cooperates with other bilateral chambers.

With the high volume of work they perform on a daily basis, many companies find it difficult to always remain informed in a timely manner regarding all happenings. This is precisely where they are helped by the SBC, which primarily provides its members with information and invitations to attend conferences, fairs and similar gatherings.

Then the SBC also itself organises events that address current topics, and where relevant guests familiarise participants with the issues in question and answer their questions. The number of topics addressed has been increasing constantly over time, due to new ones constantly appearing, while many dating back to earlier periods still remain topical.

leaders of both countries were exchanged, while numerous opportunities for future cooperation in this area were mentioned.

• When it comes to digitalisation, how much has the SBC modernised its communication with members in this domain?

- The internet and platforms based on it represent a dramatic leap in the development of all industries, including those that deal with communication. Smartphones have

on the other, dictate the necessity to use all modern communication tools.

Of course, regardless of their undeniable usefulness, modern communication tools cannot completely replace direct conversation. A personal conversation between two people is irreplaceable. At the Slovenian Business Club we pay special attention to this activity.

New technologies have not only enabled us to communicate faster and better with our

• The business forum held between the two countries at the beginning of the year was sponsored by NLB Banka, which is an SBC member, while one of its main topics was the digital transformation of the economy and the state. Which forms of cooperation between the two countries’ businesspeople are possible in this domain?

- This year’s topic of the Serbia-Slovenia Business Forum, under the title “Digitalisation of Economy and State”, met with a great response among companies and the

With the high volume of work they perform on a daily basis, many companies find it difficult to always remain informed in a timely manner regarding all happenings, but in that they can always rely on the SBC

media. It seems to me that this response was the largest to date. A successful panel debate on the topic of the digitalisation of the economy and the state was organised within the plenary part of the forum. One of the participants in this panel discussion was NLB Banka CEO Branko Greganović, also a member of the SBC Management Board, who presented his bank’s operations in light of digitalisation.

In the opinion of those present, this panel debate received the highest rating. Significant and important experiences of the business

become virtual offices, while social networks are now interactive bulletin boards, accessible to users even in places where it was previously almost impossible to imagine.

The Slovenian Business Club keeps pace with all contemporary trends in this area and actively applies them in its communication with members. The broad geographical distribution of our membership and the plethora of obligations of leading people in member companies, on the one hand, and the large amount of information that needs to be made available to them in a timely manner,

members, but rather also, driven by ecological awareness, we minimise the use of paper within the scope of SBC activities and propagate such a practise among our members.

• This is the sixteenth year that the Slovenian Business Club in Belgrade has been striving to build business relations in the business domain with its members that are a close as possible to a friendship. In which primary areas can SBC members expect your help and support?

- The focus of the Slovenian Business Club is always on its members, and we try to create an atmosphere in which representatives of every member will feel free to express their needs and desires. And all of our activities are directed towards creating benefits for members.

The Slovenian Business Club in Belgrade strives to always get necessary information promptly and timely, as well as to find the appropriate contacts that are essential J U LY

|

177

| 11

for members to solve some problem they have. We encounter various situations in our daily work with members. We often direct members towards one another in terms of perceiving problems through specific business models and examples of good practise.

Every situation is always viewed individually and directed towards relevant people from a particular sphere or to find solutions through the channels available to us.

• How is your cooperation in Serbia with state institutions and organisations that deal with support for the development of business and employment?

- There is an ever increasing number of events at the national and regional levels that are focused on connecting the economies of Serbia and Slovenia. Various incentives for investment and new employment are current. Development agencies exert efforts

resentatives of the Support Unit of the Coordination Commission for Inspection Oversight. At the start of this year, we enabled our members to get informed about the possibilities of using EU funds, as well as about Serbia’s progress towards the EU. We achieve extremely close cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Serbia, the Tax Administration of Serbia and the development agencies of Serbia and Vojvodina. We will also transfer the positions built up into good practise this year as well. The reorganisation of several other events of this format is also planned.

• Given that you collaborate closely with the Embassy of Slovenia in exploring new investment opportunities in Serbia, can you tell us what the focus of your attention will be this year?

- Since its very inception, the Slovenian Business Club has achieved close cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia.

In our joint mission to support the work of Slovenian companies in Serbia, the SBC has organised a multitude of events together with the Embassy and provided support to many companies on various issues. When we

• Some new additions, such as individual advisory services for companies, proved to be good. In which way and how often do you advise members on changes to working formats?

- Business is a living organism and participants sometimes need time to direct their operations in the right way. Most companies, regardless of how much they’ve previously researched a market, face various challenges when launching operations in some different environment that can sooner or later ensure that primarily micro and small companies realign or redirect their operations to a segment, i.e. niche of business, that may differ from what they planned initially.

Our members, both at the start of their operations and in later phases of work, often address us in their search for solutions to the problems they encounter.

We adapt and change the formats of our activities in accordance with their needs.

Contact occurs daily, and we are open to suggestions.

12 |

177

| J U LY

In our ranks we have significant examples of good practise that testify to Serbia being the second most important market after Slovenia for many Slovenian businesspeople

to secure subsidy programmes and present businesspeople with conditions of current and future calls for subsidy applications, opportunities to gain state aid, possibilities of accumulating incentive measures etc.

Also contributing significantly to advancing cooperation are numerous bilateral meetings organised at different levels and in different forms. The SBC cooperates with all relevant bodies in both countries. We try, both at our own events and those of others, to provide members with the necessary information and to host people who cover areas that are of interest to members.

For example, at one of the events organised last year, the SBC hosted rep-

consider the Embassy of Slovenia in Serbia, we consider it as being extremely close to us, while I would say that we see ambassadors, economic councillors and other diplomatic staff members as friends. Since I’ve been working on this mission, this is now the third ambassador and third economic councillor with whom I’ve worked and this closeness is confirmed every day.

We recently implemented a joint project in the field of IT-digitalisation by organising a successful panel debate at the Technical Fair, and in the second half of this year we will organise a business forum in the field of IT-agriculture in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce of Vojvodina. ■

PROFESSOR JOVAN DESPOTOVIĆ, DIRECTOR OF CEKIBEO D.O.O. (LTD.), BELGRADE BUSINESS

Fusing Experience And New Technology The CEKIBEO team aspires to bridge the gap between civil engineering branch – such as hydraulic and structural engineering, transportation and hydraulics, roads-highwaybridges and hydraulics – topping them all with awareness of environmental issues

C

EKIBEO d.o.o. (Ltd.) provides civil engineering solutions based on the joint work of different civil engineers, using experience and modern, global technology.

• What are the basic principles upon which CEKIBEO was established, and what aspects were covered by the Slovenian partnership?

- CEKIBEO (Ltd.) consultants (CE-ntre of Quality–KI in Belgrade-BEO) arose from a shared need to work jointly from three directions: first from Canada, where experience in the development of the city of Toronto was brought by the late Miloš Jauković; second from Serbia and the civil engineers of Belgrade University – hydraulics (Jovan

design projects and as a reliable partner in major projects in Serbia, such as Corridors.

Are you satisfied and content?

- The common experience, knowledge and joint work of the partners promoted a modern approach to many water domains, such as urban waters for supply, rainfall run-off and flood protection, as well as waste water and solid waste management in cities, such as Maribor, Podgorica, Bijeljina, parts of Belgrade and other Serbian cities, and the airports of Podgorica and Belgrade.

In recent years, lots of work and supervision of hydraulic structures and the drainage systems of bridges and highways in Serbia and Slovenia (to a much lesser extent) have been done, for example with the Corridor 11 highway stretches.

We are familiar with modern Slovenian solutions for environmental protection at a general level, such as the management plan for the River Sava Basin Despotović), and structural (the late Petar Dulić); and thirdly and finally, from Slovenia, adding EU environmental experience and leadership gained at the Institute of Environmental Engineering (IEI) from Maribor (Uroš Krajnc and Željko Blazeka).

During the late 2000s, EU projects for Serbia and the Region seemed promising.

• Over the course of 15 years, CEKIBEO Ltd. became recognised for the high quality of its

Our mutual connections among disciplines of civil engineering are promising for projects, either for water engineering or hydraulic structures along major rivers in Serbia or regulation of Great War Island’s Galijas channel at the confluence of the rivers Sava and Danube in Belgrade.

Small rivers and streams, in conjunction with roads and highways, are also under construction. In those projects, CEKIBEO Ltd. Fused its rich experience with the latest technological

JOVAN DESPOTOVIĆ AND PETAR DULIĆ

innovations in conjunction with the University of Belgrade Faculty of Civil Engineering.

• Hydraulic and environmental engineering follow modern scientific and technological achievements. Is CEKIBEO capable of implementing such modern solutions in Slovenia, e.g. Maribor and Ljubljana, and also in Serbia?

- Technological advancements were successfully achieved in projects around Maribor, and serve as a starting point for implementing such ideas in other places, including Serbia, but also Ljubljana.

The most famous mathematical models were used for the development of the waste water system in Maribor. The same approach was used for the modelling of storm water drainage systems in Podgorica, Bijeljina, and along highways and bridges in Belgrade over the river Sava.

CEKIBEO tried to implement the Maribor waste water treatment plant experience in two Serbian cities, but they were severely flooded in 2014, thus postponing the implementation.

Our major references are the main and executive design projects of rainfall run-off drainage and treatment system tailored to local pluvial data for run-off water from bridges and highways. CEKIBEO has designed, managed and/or supervised drainage systems on several bridges in recent years, such as those over the river Sava: Gazelle, Ada, Ostružnica – with the highest environment protection standards, in cooperation with advanced technologies from Italy’s Stormwater, e.g. SWERMR. ■ J U LY

|

177

| 13

BUSINESS

BRANKO GREGANOVIĆ, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT NLB BANKA

We'll Repeat The Historically Positive 2018 NLB Banka Belgrade is part of the NLB Group, which operates on 12 markets with its 45 members. It represents a stable partner that enables the use of numerous financial products and services for every type of business, supports clients in different circumstances and fosters partnership relations with them

T

echnology is advancing and changing faster than ever before, and it is necessary to constantly improve the solutions that are offered to clients, enabling them to use all products and services in the simplest way, in the shortest possible time, and that is worked on every day at NLB Banka.

• The NLB Group generated profits of 203.6 million euros in 2018, while NLB Banka Belgrade made 5.2 million euros, which was 40% more than 2017. Do you expect such good results again this year?

- Last year was “historic” for all of us at NLB Group, due to the successful privatisation process, which was of the greatest possible importance to all of us. The new ownership structure enables us to continue operating in accordance with our plans and our ambition to become the most important regional bank in the countries where we operate. This is more important to us than financial indicators, although they were also really good. This year also started well for the NLB Group, which realised post-tax profits of 57.9 million euros in the first three months.

• Last year saw you invest almost 300 million euros, increase the level of issued credit by 35 per cent and deposits by 36 per cent compared to the previous year. Is this an in14 |

177

| J U LY

dicator that you have the trust of clients?

- The trust of clients is our most important imperative. Of course we want to achieve good business results, but the way we achieve them is also extremely important to us. We want to be a true partner to our clients, someone who can provide them with adequate solutions to all their financial needs at any moment. We believe that good business results are only the consequence of such an approach.

• Do you manage to adapt to most of your clients’ needs and to improve their user experience?

- That adaptation is a journey that never

• “NLB Organic” is a project of which you are extremely proud. What made you decide to support organic production?

- NLB Banka gives a special place in its operations to agriculture. Our concept is NLB IN THE FIELD - we don’t wait for clients in our offices, rather our advisors go to farms, analyse needs and opportunities together with clients, then advise them on the best solutions for their business. I would highlight the fact that, in the market of credits with subsidies from the Ministry of Agriculture, we were the bank with the largest number of approved loans last year. Our focus on agriculture is also reflected in our socially responsible operations, and we launched the

We have the knowhow and the will, and our goal is to be the first door that clients will knock on when they need advice in realising personal and business plans ends. On the same day last year we launched our new e-banking and m-banking platforms, as well as instant payments, and in this way we enabled our clients to more easily use the new generation banking services, to realise transactions without any time and geographical constraints and, finally, all of that with a new design, so that every contact they have with the bank will be as pleasant an experience as possible.

‘NLB Organik’ funding contest as far back as 2012. We reward organic producers and promote organic production, its importance to the preservation of soil, human health and potential, particularly in underdeveloped areas that have excellent conditions and lack other opportunities for growth and development. We are proud that nearly 400 projects have participated in our contest since its launch. ■

DEJAN TURK, CEO OF VIP MOBILE AND A1 SLOVENIA BUSINESS

Changes Are The Only Constant

Vip mobile, which is part of the international A1 Telekom Austria Group, the leading telecommunications provider in the CEE region, holds a leadership position in Serbia in different segments, despite being the youngest operator on the market. Having already amassed more than 2.2 million users, the company sees opportunities for further growth primarily in the development of digital services

T

his dynamic company, which has more than 1,000 employees, is known primarily on the market for innovation. A business policy that’s focused on innovation and listening to the needs of user has resulted in unique offers that were introduced first by Vip, and thus it stood out among the competition.

• You’ve been at the helm of Vip mobile for five years already, while for four years you’ve been the CEO/CMO of the new “Serbia and Slovenia” organisational unit within the framework of the A1 Telekom Austria Group, and you’ve spent three years as the CEO of both Vip mobile and Si.mobil. How would you summarise this period?

- The telecommunications industry is evolving and growing constantly, and it isn’t easy to

and providing numerous benefits for employees.

I can say that I’m proud to be at the helm of a company that is increasingly recognised, year on year, as being a driver of positive changes – both in telecommunications and in society as a whole. We are the first company in Serbia to hold the Family Friendly Enterprise Certificate, and we’ve spent many years improving the benefits with which we support employees in harmonising their careers with their family life. Nurturing all of these values internally led to the birth of our campaign “Mum, Welcome to the World”, which really brought something new to our market.

• Vip is a relatively young brand that has risen to the very top in a short period. You started from zero, from one base station, and now

With investments to date exceeding a billion euros, Vip represents the largest greenfield investment in Serbia summarise this period. Changes are the only constant, and that’s why it’s important to be innovative, courageous and unique in order to respond to market demands and operate successfully. We achieve that year after year, which I would single out as our greatest achievement.

If we summarise the values that we nurture, they can be covered by our slogan “different story”, which for us means creating unique offers for users, implementing significant CSR projects

your 4G network covers almost 97 per cent of the population. How important is that for the development of the economy, business operations and improving citizens’ quality of life?

- We are led in our operations first and foremost by the interests of users, of which we now have more than 2.2 million, and we see an opportunity for further growth primarily in the development of digital services intended for private users and businesses. That’s why we

already offer solutions like the smart home system Vip Čuvarkuća [House Guardian] and the application “Children’s zone for security on the internet”, while we are also working on the development of Narrowband Internet of Things technologies.

I consider that we contribute to the development of the economy through our successful operations, as well as by supporting the digital transformation of the society by investing in high quality networks and new technology.

• If we view the market from the business side, as opposed to the customer side, there is a trend of companies consolidating around the world. Do we also need reorganisation in all segments, including the field of telecommunications?

- The consolidation trend is definitely present, and in conditions of increasing competition and ever-faster changes to operations, this is one of the ways for many to additionally strengthen their position on the market. Moreover, merging companies can be useful in many ways, in the sense of sharing experiences and ideas, additional support and creating conditions for greater security and a better offer for users.

The fact that Vip is part of the international A1 Telekom Austria Group, the leading telecommunications provider in the CEE region, was of great importance to us taking over the leadership position in different segments, despite us being the youngest operator on the market. ■ J U LY

|

177

| 15

BUSINESS

ALEKSANDAR SPREMIĆ, DIRECTOR, HALCOM

We Have A Strong And Clear Focus Halcom is a pioneering company in the development of modern solutions for payment systems, and thanks to its rich experience and innovation, its solutions are used by more than 70 banks, as well as three central banks and clearing houses on eight markets across three continents

H

alcom is recognised on every market where it operates as a preferred partner, and we’re really proud of that. We are extremely committed to the quality and stability of solutions, which means a lot to clients, because the processes we cover are crucial to their operations, explains Halcom Director Aleksandar Spremić.

• Is the nurturing of relations with clients the secret of your success?

- Our main goal is a strong local appearance and a good business relationship with clients, and I would say that we have had great experience over the past 15 years on local markets, both with banks and with end users. Halcom’s palette of business solutions is today much wider than it was several years ago, when it was focused solely and exclusively on electronic banking for large companies. Our focus has expanded to encompass web and mobile solutions for digital banking for small businesses and entrepreneurs, solutions for the secure delivery of E-invoices and other documents, qualified certificates on cards and cloud, and solutions for central banks – clearing and central registers.

• Your Hal E-Bank represented the first ebanking solution in Slovenia, while it was simultaneously also one of the first in the world to operate on the basis of smart 16 |

177

| J U LY

cards. Things have changed a lot since then, but Halcom remains a leader... How do you succeed in that?

- This question sounds really nice, but maybe at the same time it’s just an answer. Being the first in anything means plenty. Being the first and then remaining among the best after 15 years is an achievement worth mentioning.

What Halcom has done in Slovenia, Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina is really significant.

The security of operations using smart cards – qualified electronic certificates – has impacted greatly on rapid growth in the number of users and banks. And why that is is very simple - because this way of using has enabled the solving of the main problem –

tronic Identification and Trusted Services in Electronic Commerce. How important is this step, both for our country and for companies?

- Yes, since 10th June Halcom has started issuing certificates in accordance with the new Law, and there are two important junctures here. The first is that our laws are being aligned drastically quicker with EU laws, and the other is that certification bodies must satisfy the strictest requirements and pass checks and accreditations by the state.

This really wasn’t a problem for Halcom, because we already have experience and compliance with EU laws in Slovenia, and the same standards had to be fulfilled in Serbia.

Halcom offered the first cloud-based solution when no one even knew what that meant, but banks and clients accepted it immediately trust. Qualified electronic certificates enable us to maximise the security of operations at a distance, both in digital banking and in any other relationship between a bank, a client and Halcom.

• As of 10th June this year, Halcom has begun issuing qualified certificates for electronic signatures that are in line with the Law on Electronic Documents, Elec-

It is very significant that the new Law brings much more than the aforementioned.

It defines qualified trust services that will bring a significant leap in efficiency and productivity to Serbia and all companies – we’ve gained a basis on which to work at a distance, whether that relates to the submitting of documents, contracting without signatures and stamps on paper, validation checks of certificates etc. ■

BOŠTJAN ŠKUFCA ZAVERŠEK, PRESIDENT OF PRVA GROUP BUSINESS

Voluntary Pensions Are The Future Prva Group, with its companies, is one of the biggest providers of voluntary and mandatory pensions in Southeast Europe. This group is also active in life and health insurance on some markets, and is thus being able to provide a full range of services for its 500,000 customers

T

he challenge for Prva Group is not only to increase its market share, but also to educate the market in a way that would result in better inclusion. From this perspective, the group’s activities on the market don’t relate only to growing the business, but rather it is equally important that they support the goals of the Government of Serbia.

• You took over the chairmanship of the management board just a few days ago, and did so following a very successful year for Prva Group.

Do you operate equally well on all markets?

- Last year was very demanding for financial markets, yet we managed to achieve yields that were among the best in every operating country. This helped us grow again, and now Prva Group has over a billion euros of assets

• You are striving to become the largest provider of voluntary and compulsory supplementary pension insurance in the region, with a market share of at least 25% in the countries in which you operate. How far away from achieving that goal are you?

- Our market share across the region ranges by market from 17% to over 50%, which indicates that every market is a challenge in itself. What could be defined as a common point is that the absolute growth potential is much more important than the struggle for relative shares on all markets. With high economic growth in Slovenia over the last few years, we believe that the increase in paid premiums mainly came as a result of the additional hiring of employees and had barely anything to do with new companies providing benefits to their

Pension companies like Prva Group are here to help and support with all their knowhow and experience under management – another sign of trust and importance for customers and the region in which we operate.

Being present in a region that has intense economic cooperation is also one of our advantages, as many companies are active on all these markets and seeking a partner that can support them. Markets vary, and we are the ones who can advise clients on how to best implement pension savings for employees.

employees. The same applies to all markets.

In Serbia, for instance, we are below our target market share, but we see the greatest issue as being in the relatively small number of businesses and the respective active population included in systems.

We notice that pension products are well recognised and well used in international companies, and partially also in public companies. Compared to Slovenia, the number of

companies included is a few times lower, which represents great growth potential in absolute terms for all market players.

Therefore, a trusted and experienced pension company such as our DDOR Garant in Serbia could be a great partner.

• Pension system reform was completed in Slovenia almost 20 years ago, while in Serbia it practically hasn’t even started.

What should our country do if it wants a sustainable system?

- We had two pension system reforms in Slovenia in less than 20 years, and now we are again facing another. Our latest change was the introduction of life cycle funds, which are suitable for attracting new participants into the system.

Based on our experience, one recommendation for the development of the pension system in Serbia is the introduction of life cycle funds. Another thing that’s important for supporting a sustainable system is the general acceptance of measures. People should grasp the rationale behind private pensions and the state should promote them.

Linking some tax reductions to pensions is a very good incentive, but that shouldn’t be the only one. Promoting from the top would mean that all public enterprises should be included in voluntary pensions. This would set the standard on the labour market and push all others to follow suit. ■ J U LY

|

177

| 17

ACTIVITIES OF THE SLOVENIAN BUSINESS CLUB

15 Years And Counting

T

he Slovenian Business Club in Serbia forms a stable, unbreakable bridge between the economies of Serbia and Slovenia that has been fulfilling its mission successfully for 16 years already. The club works on the continuous advancement of cooperation between the Serbian and Slovenian economies, as well as regional connections, with a focus on member companies and their needs.

The SBC, on the one hand, organises events at which members gather, network, exchange experiences and information, educate and create opportunities for future business cooperation, while – on the other hand – it works with companies to find solutions to specific problems and offer them support in finding potential partners for cooperation. ■

• LECTURE ON LEADERSHIP IN THE 21ST CENTURY

The Slovenian Business Club organised a working breakfast in May 2019 in cooperation with the Ljubljana Faculty of Economics, which is the third college worldwide to include neuro-leadership in its MBA programme. The main guest, Nikolaos Dimitriadis Ph.D., revealed to participants the ways in which the latest neuroscience discoveries can help leaders understand how brain functioning improves approaches to leadership, what the difference is between brain and mind 18 |

177

| J U LY

etc. The lecture was accompanied by a panel debate on leadership in the 21st century, with the gathering culminating in a cocktail reception.

• PANEL DISCUSSION: “INDUSTRY 4.0, SLOVENIA–SERBIA” Under the scope of the 63rd International Fair of Techniques and Technical Achievements in Belgrade, and under the joint

organisation of the Slovenian Business Club and the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Serbia, a panel discussion was held in May on the topic “Industry 4.0, Slovenia-Serbia, Digital Transformation of the Economy”. The panel discussion was opened by SBC President Danijela Fišakov, while those in attendance were addressed by H.E. Iztok Jarc, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to Serbia, and Goran Križ, economic advisor at the Embassy, while the panellists included representatives of companies operating successfully in Serbia.

The panel included discussions of the direction in which the digital transformation of industry is moving, the experiences of companies that apply Industry 4.0 solutions, and whether Serbia has the potential to export software solutions and technically demanding products worldwide.

In order to secure contacts for its members with representatives of the economies of other countries in Serbia, the SBC – in cooperation with the chambers of commerce of Germany, France, Switzerland, the UK and the Netherlands, the Belgian-Serbian Business Association, the Hellenic Business Association, the Croatian Business Club, the Italian-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, the Nordic and Japanese business alliances and the Canadian-Serbian Business Association – organised a very successful International Networking Reception. Best testifying to the significance of this event is the fact that it was attended by more than 300 companies.

• WORKING BREAKFAST ON NOVELTIES IN DIGITAL MARKETING

• INTERNATIONAL NETWORKING RECEPTION BRINGS TOGETHER 300 COMPANIES

J U LY

|

177

| 19

ACTIVITIES OF THE SLOVENIAN BUSINESS CLUB In cooperation with Belgrade-based agency and SBC member company Degordian, the Slovenian Business Club organised a working breakfast on the topic “Implementing Marketing Strategies on Digital Communication Channels”. Representatives of Degordian took the opportunity to present online strategies that should be implemented with the aim of raising brands’ digital visibility, while participants were also introduced to the goals of digital marketing.

number of participants. They included more than 600 people from around 400 Serbian and Slovenian companies from all sectors, mostly from the IT and tourism industries. More than 250 B2B meetings were held under the auspices of the forum.

• WORKING MEETING ON SERBIA’S PROGRESS TOWARDS EU ACCESSION

• BOTH PRESIDENTS ATTEND SERBIA-SLOVENIA BUSINESS FORUM

At its first working meeting of the year, held at the end of January, the Slovenian Business Club, in collaboration with the German-Serbian, Swiss-Serbian and Italian-Serbian chambers of commerce, hosted representatives of the European Union Delegation to Serbia. Discussion topics included Serbia’s advancement towards the European Union, opportunities to improve the business and investment climate in Serbia with the help of EU funds, environmental standards, the development of transport, border crossings, the importance of continuous work on the rule of law and media freedom in the Republic of Serbia.

• TRADITIONAL NEW YEAR RECEPTION HELD

The third, most important and highest-attended Serbia-Slovenia business forum, under the title “Digitalisation of Economy and State”, was organised at the Palace of Serbia on 28th January 2019. Opened by the respective presidents of the chambers of commerce of Serbia and Slovenia, Marko Čadež and Boštjan Gorjup, participants were then addressed by the presidents of both countries - Aleksandar Vučić and Borut Pahor.

President Pahor emphasised that his visit to Serbia was aimed at strengthening trust and mutual respect between the two countries, while President Vučić announced that relations between the two countries are very important and that trade between Serbia and Slovenia has increased two and a half times in the last 10 years.

Best illustrating the growing interest in cooperation among business leaders of the two countries was the record 20 |

177

| J U LY

The Slovenian Business Club celebrated 15 years of successful work and stable growth within the scope of its New Year’s reception at Belgrade’s Hyatt Regency Hotel. On this occasion, SBC President Danijela Fišakov presented notes of thanks

and gifts to individuals, institutions and companies that have provided specific contributions to the SBC’s development.

“From its inception until today, more than 600 companies have been among the membership of the Slovenian Business Club, while its events have been attended by more than 40,000 participants. Each of them inscribed some letter with their own style and handwriting, while some have even written entire pages in this success story of ours. I thank them,” said SBC President Fišakov.

• WORKING MEETING OF TWO MINISTRIES OF LABOUR

Business Association. In ten-minute one-to-one meetings, representatives of 41 companies presented their services and products, with the culmination of the meetings followed by a cocktail reception held in the hotel.

• MARTINOVANJE, THE HOLIDAY OF YOUNG WINES, CELEBRATED

On the occasion of the signing of a protocol on the implementation of the Agreement on Employing Citizens of the Republic of Serbia in the Republic of Slovenia, the Slovenian Business Club organised a working meeting in early November 2018 that was attended by Slovenian Labour Minister Ksenija Klampfer and representatives of the ministries of labour and social affairs of Slovenia and Serbia.

Under the organisation of the Slovenian Business Club, the fifth Martinovanje – a holiday marking the arrival of young wines – was held at Belgrade’s Ser Gilles Restaurant and attended by a record 220 guests. Martinovanje is celebrated annually in Slovenia on 11th November, but last year it was marked in Belgrade on 26th October. Martinovanje represents a form of promoting Slovenia as a tourist destination, and this time the event included the presenting of two of the country’s vineyard regions – Brda and the Vipava Valley.

• SPEED BUSINESS MEETING BRINGS TOGETHER 41 COMPANIES A fifth consecutive ‘speed business meeting’ was organised at Belgrade’s Hyatt Regency Hotel in October last year.

Alongside the SBC, the meeting also included representatives and members of the Japanese Business Alliance, the BelgianSerbian Business Association and the Canadian-Serbian J U LY

|

177

| 21

BUSINESS

TADEJ BEOČANIN, MAYOR OF AJDOVŠČINA

Awakening The Economy Of Ajdovščina Ajdovščina is situated in western Slovenia, alongside the border with Italy, and represents the economic, educational and cultural hub of the Vipava Valley.

Ajdovščina was hit quite hard by the economic recession, but the local economy has recovered with the great help of various grants and other stimulations

W

e have been introducing various measures to ease economic development and create an attractive and supportive business environment. Our opportunities lie in the area of tourism, the wine industry, outdoor activities, small businesses, entrepreneurship and agriculture, says Ajdovščina Mayor Tadej Beočanin.

• Considering the variety of actions, you can really boast of being capable of creating programmes and projects that improve the lives of all citizens and economic environment.

What are the main characteristics that form the basis of your tourism and the development of industry and entrepreneurship?

- Fertile soil, the strong influence of the Mediterranean climate, an abundance of water resources, coupled with a favourable transport position, create ideal conditions for the development of agricultural activities, industry and entrepreneurship. Our favourable natural conditions are perfect for growing vines (which in turn produce premium wines), indigenous Vipava cherries, apricots and peaches, which ripen earlier here than elsewhere in Slovenia.

As a result, a strong food processing industry developed in this region that’s growing continuously. So, considerable opportunities lie in the area of tourism linked to the wine industry (wine tasting and gastronomy) and outdoor activities (paragliding, hiking, downhill cycle racing etc.).

The Vipava Valley, in which the municipality is 22 |

177

| J U LY

located, was declared a Top 10 Best Europe destination by Lonely Planet. In the first six months of 2018, tourist visits were up 46% compared to the previous year, though there is a shortage of hotels, facilities for outdoor activities and additional restaurants.

• What about your local economy? How did you create a supportive business area following the economic recession?

- We have been introducing various measures to promote and facilitate economic development, and to create an attractive and supportive business environment. It is for these reasons that the Municipality allocates substantial funds each year for subsidies and grants... For example, the

in financing large projects due to the recent restructuring of the Slovene banking system.

• The development of the City of Ajdovščina is based on excellent integration of small business zones. In which part does the Municipality invest the most?

- Due to economic growth, the municipality has envisaged the building of a residential housing complex with 280 apartments, for which it is seeking investors both locally and internationally.

The Municipality also invites hi-tech companies to the region. The excellent integration of small business zones into the transport system enables dynamic operations at reduced operating costs. These small business zones boast modern

Ajdovščina has a favourable geographical and transport location – with close proximity to the border and large markets – and knowledge of the Western Balkan markets Municipality offers subsidised compensation for superficies of up to 100% for production, research and development facilities that are newly erected on land owned by the Municipality of Ajdovščina, [thereby] stimulating new investors and promoting new businesses, and consequently creating new jobs. The small size of the municipality (20,000 inhabitants) and its constant need to strive for recognition and promotion are key factors hindering faster growth. Moreover, banks are cautious

transport infrastructure linking them to Ljubljana to the east and Italy to the west, promoting the swift movement of goods and people. All small business zones are within a kilometre of motorway access and the local railway station, ensuring connections to all four corners of the world. Ours is an export-orientated economy that nurtures a supportive environment for new businesses that’s conducive to entrepreneurship, small business and, ultimately, job creation. ■

FRAGMAT S D.O.O. (LTD.) BUSINESS

Our Portfolio Says It All

F

ragmat S d.o.o. (Ltd.) Šid is a waterproofing and thermal insulation materials production company and one of the members of the system of TIM d.d. Laško, within the system of Ljubljanabased Fragmat.

Thanks to its knowhow and experience in the field of thermal and hydro isolation, Fragmat S has become the leading factory for the production of waterproofing materials based on modified bitumen, bitumen emulsions, polymer modified bitumen, PmB, for roads and waterproofing of bridge structures, as well as thermal insulation materials based on expanded polystyrene (EPS).

Fragmat S d.o.o.’s factory extends over an area of 5.6 hectares in the town of Šid, and since 2007 the company has also had distribution centre in Belgrade. That same year saw the product range expanded to include packaging based on expanded polystyrene.

Production processes adhere to the highquality ISO 9001 standard, with the company

possessing an official certificate which - along with the capabilities of workers – guarantees recognisable quality. The impressive Fragmat S portfolio includes a large number of successfully completed projects in Serbia and abroad, from exclusive business and residential buildings, via production and service facilities, to luxurious villas and hotel complexes. ■

www.aim.rs www.cordmagazine.com J U LY

|

177

| 23

TOURISM

Hidden Gem

PTUJ CASTLE

Tiny Slovenia is a veritable treasure trove of attractions and activities – from Venetian coastal towns to white-water rafting – that would rival a country many times its size. Despite being Slavic to the core, its cuisine, culture and even architecture have been influenced strongly by its neighbours – Italy, Austria, Croatia and Hungary. The incredible mixture of climates here brings warm Mediterranean breezes up to the foothills of the Alps, where it can nonetheless snow even during summer. And with more than half of its total area forested, Slovenia really is one of the world's greenest countries. The general and unerring impression is also that Slovenia is quietly conservative, deeply self-confident, remarkably broad-minded, extremely tolerant and very, very hospitable

S

lovenia can be called a “hidden gem” and still claim to remain hidden. But those who come to this tiny country that’s nestled between the Alps and the Adriatic feel like they’ve discovered a little-known paradise. While cheap flights 24 |

177

| J U LY

from Europe’s major cities have made it an easy weekend destination, and the capital of Ljubljana is popular on the stag and hen party circuit, the entire country boasts wonderland landscapes. Beyond the confines of the charming, Slovenia offers travellers a destination

that is easy to navigate, while it is one of the safest countries in Europe, and also the cleanest (it won National Geographic’s 2017 World Legacy Award as the most sustainable tourist destination, while Ljubljana was declared Green Capital of Europe in 2016).

THE SOČA VALLEY

Every season has its attractions in Slovenia. Spring is a great time to be in the lowlands and floral-carpeted valleys, while snow can linger in the mountains until late June. Summer is the ideal time for hiking and camping, while it’s also the peak season for visitors – when accommodation in Ljubljana and on the coast can be in rather short supply, so be sure to book ahead. Autumn is beautiful, particularly in the mountains of Gorenjska and Štajerska, and is also a great time for hiking and camping, particularly because it’s cooler.

Ljubljana in winter, under a light covering of snow, resembles a scene out of a fairy tale, while over Christmas and into January the illuminations on Castle Hill and the winter markets are magical. Otherwise, winter in Slovenia is perfect for skiers.

The twin lakes of Bled and Bohinj are Slovenia’s most talked about attractions.

Bled dazzles in all of its regal finery – an elegant church spire punctuates a lonely island in the middle, a crumbling stone castle sits high atop a nearby bluff, and open-air terraces line its banks to serve sunbathers.

Bohinj, on the other hand, prefers to flaunt her natural beauty. Stringently protected under the mandate of the Triglav National Park, it catches the reflection of the pinestudded mountains in its clear, emerald

waters. Ask any Slovenian and they’ll likely say they prefer Bohinj, though most tourists opt for the dramatic juxtaposition of history and nature at Bled.

Walkways are plentiful around Bohinj’s edge; most hikers choose to take in a bit of the lake before departing on a more vertical

traveller’s to-do list. Often called the Valley of the Seven Lakes (though there are actually 10) the Julian Alps’ most scenic trek eventually clears the tree line and features stony moonscapes dotted with cool blue lakelets.

River gorges, canyons, streams, meadows and forests cover the landscape in Slovenia’s only national park, which is home to the Julian Alps. You don’t need long in Slovenia’s small and slow-moving capital city, so heading to Triglav seems more than appropriate after a few of days of feasting on dumplings, goulash and cream cakes while strolling the leafy river’s bridges and touring the city’s castle. The park has hiking trails and mountain passes, along with the exhilarating Mount Triglav climb.

Hiking has a historical twist around Kobarid, which is situated not too far from Bovec.

Walking in the valley and up the ridges reveals its disturbing history from World War I, when the area was known as the Soča Front – a horrific zone of trenches and mines that divided Austro-Hungarian forces from the Italian army. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers lost their lives in the fight over the land – and today only hollowed out bunkers and exposed underground passageways remain.

The region of the Slovenian Riviera features a distinct blend of Roman, Venetian and Medieval architecture, with towns so closely clustered that they all blend together seamlessly hike into the surrounding mountains. Mount Vogel is a popular choice due to the views and amenities that await at the top, and, most importantly, due to its cable car that links Bohinj to its ridges. A thriving ski resort in winter, Vogel is a hiker’s paradise iduring the warmer months, with trails leading to compelling observation points in every direction.

Triglav National Park represents the essence of rural Slovenia, with the country’s highest peak that is a rite of passage for every Slovenian, but hiking its lake-lined gorges – which are well preserved within the limits of the national park – should feature high on any

In the evenings you can delight in one of Slovenia’s culinary treasures. The nation’s most famous chef, Ana Roš, was catapulted to international fame thanks to the Netflix series Chef’s Table. A seat at her restaurant is today the most coveted reservation around.

She approaches her locally-foraged, fished, and found ingredients in a less disciplined fashioned than the New Nordic chefs of Copenhagen – that playfulness is noticeable in the servers’ attitudes as well, as they pass your table filling your glasses with local wines.

Around a 40-minute drive from the scarred earth of war you will find the Brda J U LY

|

177

| 25

BLED

region, also situated along the Italian border, halfway between the snowy Alps and the breezy Mediterranean. Sliced up by international accords, the line drawn between the two countries is wickedly arbitrary, zigzagging as it does through private vineyards. During the Yugoslav era, soldiers patrolled grape fields to keep Slovenians well within the socialist side of the border, while their produce was managed by the state. The Brda region has today flourished and produces some of the world’s highest quality wines, largely due to the so-called ‘opoka’ soil beneath the vines – coveted marl-rich earth.

At Klinec, in the border village of Medana, you can sample the finest in home-cured hams, slow-stewed meats, a cavern of cheese and freshly baked bread – it’s everything you’d want from a meal in a small Italian hamlet, except you’re in Slovenia, so it’s delightfully untouristed. A vineyard visit down the street will take visitors deeper into the complexities of local winemaking, including a tasting of the locally celebrated rebula grape (ribolla in Italian) and an introduction to skin-contact wines – white blends made using a red blend technique.

The high-altitude glacial water ultimately drains out at the Slap Savica falls, which 26 |

177

| J U LY

possess. And in the south-western corner of the Julian Alps, almost every facade in the village of Bovec has been turned into a paddling operator selling heart-pumping trips down the white waters of the gorges. You can kayak through some of the calmer sections of the emerald river system, hop aboard a guided rafting trip down some Level 5 rapids, or try a canyoning adventure between the rock crevasses carved out by millions of years of stone-scraping glacial run-off.

Across the country, in Kreslin’s Prekmurje flatlands, you can taste the finest Styrian pumpkin seed oil, hand-pressed in century-old presses by the family and with such a flavour and delicacy that it is used not only to dress salads, but as a sauce for ice-cream and to flavour bars of dark chocolate. You can wind through the hills of Tolmin, above the emerald Soča,

LIPICA

feed the glassy tides of Lake Bohinj below.

Travellers with an accredited mountain guide can continue their ascent towards Mount Triglav and Mount Kanjavec, staying in prim-but-basic ‘bivis’ - permanent bivouac huts along the route – or at Savica, tumbling back to the inhabited valleys only to ascend along a different route the next day.

There’s something supernatural about the colour of the River Soča – it glows with an iridescent turquoise tint that only the finest and clearest water in the world could

experiencing a real-life Narnia and meeting a farmer bringing back the colossal, leopard-skinned Soča trout, with meat that’s so delicious that it is today served only raw, as a form of carpaccio.

At the salt flats near Piran, on Slovenia’s 46km of karst-land coast, you can meet families that have been harvesting salt for generations, from flats that date back to the Roman empire, when salt was used as form of payment (the term salary comes from salaria, meaning salt).

PIRAN, CAPE

The Slovenian Riviera refers to Slovenia’s small coastal region along the Adriatic, sandwiched between Italy and Croatia. Due to its location, this region features a distinct blend of Roman, Venetian and Medieval architecture, with towns that are so closely clustered that they blend seamlessly together. Here you won’t find classic beaches like those of other riviera regions, but there are still ways to connect with the water and bask in the glorious Slovenian sun.

Piran is one of the most visited beaches in the country among holidaymakers.

Steeped in red-roofed Renaissance architecture, it’s somewhat reminiscent of Dubrovnik due to it being enclosed by stone walls and situated immediately beside the waterfront.

Portorož is the jewel in the crown of the Slovenian Riviera – and also its most modern destination. Its ritzy Hotel Palace was a frequent getaway for Austro-Hungarian royalty, while its casino, beach and watersports options are loved by all.

Koper, located just five kilometres from the Italian border, is Slovenia’s main port city. It has an impressive array of historic architecture, ranging from the Venetian Gothic loggia, via its 15th-century palace to the 14th-century Cathedral of St Nazarius.

There’s something supernatural about the colour of the Soča River – it glows with an iridescent turquoise tint that only the finest and clearest waters in the world could possess Izola is an ancient Roman port that’s bursting with Venetian charm and historic stone architecture that ensure strolling through this quiet fishing village is a treat for the eyes.

Salt-making has been an important practise in Slovenia since at least the 13th century, so it made sense to protect the precious ecosystem that allowed the creation of such a prosperous market. Visitors to the Secovlje Salina Nature Park are today treated to glimpses of rare flora and fauna that are specially equipped to deal with these salty conditions, including a wide array of birds and the Etruscan shrew – the world’s smallest mammal.

The Strunjan Nature Park, just north of Piran, is a breath of fresh air away from Slovenia’s coastal towns. Covering a total of four kilometres of coastline and featuring a peninsula with rocky cliffs that tower above the waterfront, alongside is a long pebble beach that’s incredibly popular during the

summer months. There are also scattered salt pans and the chance to see all kinds of plants and wildlife that call this beautiful slice of coast home.

Piran has special hiking and cycling trail connections to other towns along the coast, as well as the lively Portorož. There’s even a 130-kilometre-long cycling trail known as Parenzana, which runs from Trieste in Italy right down to Croatia via a number of Slovenia’s coastal regions.

Predjama Castle, which is not strictly on the riviera but is close enough for an easy excursion, is a spooky looking castle that appears as if it’s come straight out of a fairytale, carved into a hillside and surrounded by green, sloping fields and a network of underground tunnels. Built into the mouth of a cave and representing the largest cave castle in the world, today you can visit between May and September, but beware of the family of bats that has laid claim to its shadowy walls. ■ J U LY

|

177

| 27

COMPANY REGISTER

ABC NEPREMIČNINE D.O.O. Tivolska 48, 1000 Ljubljana tel: +386 1 3000000 andrej.kuplenk@abc.si www.abc.si ACTAUL I.T. D.O.O. Zelengorska 1g 11070 New Belgrade tel: +386 5 662 27 00 marko.milotic@actual-it.si www.actual.si ADVOKATSKA KANCELARIJA JOKSOVIĆ, STOJANOVIĆ&PARTNERI Internacionalnih brigada 38 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 344 03 74 milan@jsplaw.co.rs www.jsplaw.co.rs

ADVOKATSKA KANCELARIJA ODI D.O.O. Kneza Miloša 64 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 24 30 407 serbia@odilaw.com www.odilaw.com AGENCIJA ZA PREVOĐENJE ZORAN POPOVIĆ PR Berbersko, Ciglana b.b 23000 Zrenjanin tel: +381 23 533 591 zorandxb@gmail.com www.prevodjenje.rs AIGO BUSINESS SYSTEM D.O.O Kneginje Zorke 25-27 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 20 90 800 ivana.djokovic@aigo-bs.com www.aigo-bs.com AKTIVA FITEP A.D. Patrijarha Dimitrija 24

28 |

177 162

11090 Belgrade tel:+ 381 11 219 40 15 office@aktiva-fitep.rs www.aktiva-fitep.rs AKTON D.O.O. BELGRADE Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 6/16 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 22 00 661 vladimir.kosanovic@akton.rs www.akton.rs ALCA TRGOVINA D.O.O. Belgradeska 7 11272 Dobanovci tel: +381 11 205 44 00 info@rs.alcagroup.com www.alca.rs ALEDJO D.O.O. Borčanskih žrtava 1914, 53 11000 Borča, Belgrade tel: + 381 11 33 22 486 snezana.aledjo@gmail.com www.aledjo.rs ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA D.O.O. Mekenzijeva 67 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 245 05 08 m.vidakovic@aim.rs www.aim.rs APO PLUS D.O.O. Bulevar Mihaila Pupina 6/15 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 220 06 35 office@apo.rs www.apo.rs ASCALDERA D.O.O. Koste Glavinića 2, 11000 Belgrade tel: +386 5 915 71 94 irena.jaksa-zupancic@ ascaldera.com www.ascaldera.com

| JAUPLRYI L

ASEE D.O.O. Ljubice Ravasi 16 21000 Novi Sad tel: +381 11 3640 740 office@asee.biz bgoffice@asee.biz www.asee.biz

CABLEX-S D.O.O. Slavka Adamovića 32 22420 Platičevo tel: +381 22 215 05 15 goran.mikanovic@ cablex-group.com www.cablex.si

ATLANTIDA ROGAŠKA D.O.O. Atlantida Boutique Hotel5* Cvetlični hrib 1 3250 Rogaška Slatina tel: +386 3 620 1600 danijela@ atlantida-rogaška.com www.atlantida-rogaska.com

CASH BACK IMO D.O.O. Stevana Mirkovića 8 11080 Belgrade tel: +381 11 307 66 40 cashbackbelgrade@eunet.rs www.refundacijapdv.com

COLOR MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS D.O.O. PETROVARADIN Štrosmajerova 3 21132 Novi Sad tel: +381 11 404 49 63 ruza.ristanovic@color.rs www.color.rs

CBS INTERNATIONAL D.O.O. Omladinskih brigada 88b 10070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 225 8777 office@cw-cbs.rs www.cw-cbs.rs

COMTRADE SOLUTIONS DENGINEERING D.O.O Savski nasip 7, 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 20 15 603 info.si@comtrade.com www.comtrade.com

CELJSKE MESNINE Z DEŽELE D.O.O. Autoput Belgrade-Novi Sad 96 11080 Zemun, Belgrade tel: +381 11 375 02 27 celjskemesnine@mts.rs www.celjske-mesnine.si

CONFIDA CONSULTING Knez Mihailova 22 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 303 91 04 office@confida.rs www.confida.rs

AVIO CHEM D.O.O. Jurija Gagarina 231, lokal 328, 11000 Belgrade mob: +381 69 349 31 33 info@avio-star.com www.avio-star.com BEOTIM D.O.O. (SLOTIM GROUP - ĆERKA FIRMA U SLOVENIJI) Sarajevska 40/23, 11000 Belgrade tel:+381 11 361 17 19 marko@beotim.net www.beotim.net BIMEX D.O.O. Đorđa Stanojevića 9A 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 630 78 80, dusica@bimex.si www.bimex.si BTS SER COMPANY D.O.O. Bulevar vojvode Mišića 14 Belgradeski sajam, hala 6 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 26 56 068 milan.mihailovic@btscompany.com www.bts-company.com

CENTER POSLOVNE ODLIČNOSTI EKONOMSKE FAKULTETE V LJUBLJANI Kardeljeva ploščad 17, 1000 Ljubljana tel: +386 1 5892 749 cpeof@ef.uni-lj.si www.cpoef.si CINKARNA CELJE D.D. BELGRADE Resavska 76 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 265 94 84 d.barba@yubc.net www.cinkarna.si

COFACE PKZ D.D. Davčna ulica 1, 1000 Ljubljana tel: +386 1 2005 800 natasa.arko@sid-pkz.si www.sid-pkz.si

D.R. GILBERT CENTAR GROUP Vojvode Savatija36 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 404 28 09 d.ristovski@ drgilbert-centar.com www.drgilbert-centar.com DATA D.O.O. Dunajska Cesta 136 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenija tel: +386 1 600 15 30 data@data.si www.data.si DATALAB SR D.O.O. Bul. A. Čarnojevića 99v 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 404 86 00

info@datalab.rs www.datalab.rs DDESIGN AGENCIJA Majke Jevrosime 7 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 286 17 01

agencija.ddesign@gmail.com

DDOR GARANT A.D. BELGRADE Maršala Birjuzova 3-5 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 303 61 42 aleksandar.siljegovic@ garant-penzije.eu www.garant-penzije.eu DEGORDIAN D.O.O. Generala Anrija 26 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 64 121 44 57 igor.grmusa@ degordian.com www.degordian.com DETEL.COM D.O.O. Bulevar Mihaila Pupina 10ž, lok br.28 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 383 56 95 office@detel.rs www.detel.rs DHL INTERNATIONAL BELGRADE D.O.O. Jurija Gagarina 36 v 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 310 55 00 info-rs@dhl.com darko.babic@dhl.com www.dhl.rs DOBA FAKULTET MARIBOR Prešernova ulica 1 2000 Maribor, Slovenija tel:+386 2 228 38 90 polona.baloh@doba.si www.vpms.si www.doba.rs

DON DON D.O.O. Bulevar Zorana Đinđića 144b 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 267 09 35 office@dondon.rs

www.tvojih5minuta.rs

EKO-METAL D.O.O. Grobljanska 2 22408 Vrdnik tel: +381 22 465 306 office@ekometal.com www.ekometal.com

DRI D.O.O. Terazije 23 11000 Belgrade tel: +386 1 306 81 42 ales.hojs@dri.si www.dri.si

EKSPOGRUPA D.O.O. Tomšićeva 3 1000 Ljubljana tel: +386 5 905 1410 miha.cebulj@messe-berlin.si www.messe-berlin.si

DSV TRANSPORT D.O.O. Struževo 90, 4000 Kranj tel: +386 31 381 736 primoz.sirok@si.dsv.com www.dsv.com

ELITON BG D.O.O. (TONELI) Miloša Pocerca 30/21 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 361 09 42 info@elitonbg.rs www.toneli.si

FENIKSŠPED D.O.O. Zgornji Brnik 130e 4210 Brnik Aerodrom, Slovenija tel: +386 4 201 68 02 Belgrade@fenikssped.si www.posta.si/o-nas/ skupina-posta-slovenije/ fenikssped

ESOTECH SOLUTIONS D.O.O. Španskih boraca 52, 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 233 01 94 esotech.solutions.bg@ gmail.com www.esotech.si

FERROČRTALIČ D.O.O. Bulevar Arsenija Čarnojevića 94, lok.4 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 312 29 72 prodaja-srbija@ ferrocrtalic.com www.ferroecoblast.com

ETI B D.O.O. Zvečanska 56/17 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 369 10 92 miodrag.stojkovic@etib.rs www.eti.si www.etib.rs

FLOOREKSPERTS D.O.O. Koče Popović 6 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 228 14 09 vladimir.miletic@alpod.si www.floorexperts.com

EBM PAPST D.O.O. Konjovićeva 78, 25000 Sombor tel. +381 63 890 1500 info@rs.ebmpapst.com www.ebmpapst.com E-DISTI D.O.O. Učitelja Miloša Jankovića 2, 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 383 5349 zoran@e-disti.com www.e-disti.com EKAPIJA.COM D.O.O. ZA ELEKTRONSKE KOMUNIKACIJE Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 10A 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 715 22 40 urednik@ekapija.com www.ekapija.com EKO DEŽELA D.O.O. Trojarjeva ulica 20, 4000 Kranj tel: +386 41 505 092 tomaz.cepon@mojpes.com www.ekodezela.si www.mojepes.si

ETOL JVE D.O.O. Bulevar Vojvode Stepe 40 21000 Novi Sad tel: +381 21 630 20 11 ernest.kremzar@ etol-jve.co.rs www.etol.com EUROCOM INTERNATIONAL D.O.O. Batajnički drum 211B 11185 Belgrade

thomas.mori@fridro.si www.fridro.si

tel: +381 11 41 55 000 radoslav.salipurovic@ eurocom-bg.rs www.eurocom-bg.rs

G4S SECURE D.O.O. Viline vode 6, 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 209 79 00 office@rs.g4s.com www.g4s.rs

EUROTRANSLATE D.O.O. Vrtlarska 35b, 11080 Zemun tel: +381 11 314 96 17 tina.zucko@eurotranslate.rs www.eurotranslate.rs

GASTOL TST D.D. Čiginj 63, 5220 Tolmin tel: +386 5 380 12 80 tadeja.trtnik@gostol-tst.eu www.gostol-tst.eu GORENJE D.O.O. Milutina Milankovića 7 11070 Novi Belgrade tel: +381 11 353 41 00 officeBelgrade@gorenje.com www.gorenje.com www.gorenje.si

FOCUS FACTOR PLUS D.O.O. Vladimira Popovića 6/A209 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 26 94 922

office@focusfactor.rs www.focusfactor.rs FRIDRO D.O.O. Obrtniška ulica 12 2360 Radlje ob Dravi, Slovenija tel: +386 2 88 79 144

tel: +381 11 225 98 14 ozuvic@ tulipinnputnikbelgrade.com www.tulipinnputnikbelgrade.com

ninko.tesic@impol.rs www.seval.rs INEA SR D.O.O. Batajnički drum 10/ deo 1b, 11080 Belgrade tel: +381 26 461 54 01 info@inea.rs www.inea.rs

HSE BALKAN ENERGY D.O.O. Milutina Milankovića 27 11070 New Belgrade Drago Skornšek, direktor tel:+381 11 311 55 86 balkan.energy@hse.si www.hse.si

INFINITIV STUDIO ZA UČENJE STRANIH JEZIKA Đorđa Stanojevića 9a, 11070 New Belgrade mob: +381 69 77 06 03 studiojezikainfinitiv@ gmail.com www.infinitiv.rs

HYUNDAI SRBIJA D.O.O. Milutina Milankovića 7v 11070 New Belgrade tel : +381 11 22 52 301 office@hyundai.co.rs www.hyundai.co.rs

GRAH AUTOMOTIVE D.O.O. Kneza Miloša Obrenovića 9A 34227 Batočina tel: +381 34 501 060 aca.zlatic@ grah-automotive.com www.grahautomotive.rs

IB INTERBILANZ CONSULTING & AUDIT D.O.O. Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 115 E/4. sprat 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 655 70 43 office@ibgroup.rs www.ibgroup.at

HALCOM A.D. Belgradeska 39, 11000 Belgrade tel:+381 11 330 65 02 info@halcom.rs www.halcom.rs

IKTI Ljuba Vučkovića 28 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 39 72 632 dragan.cakarevic@ikti.rs www.ikti.rs

HOFF D.O.O. Nehruova 188, 11070 New Belgrade mob: +381 60 3219003 office@hoff.rs www.hoff.rs

IMAGINE D.O.O. Gosposvetska cesta 84 2000 Maribor, Slovenija tel: +386 2 320 60 60 prodaja@imagine.si www.imagine.si

HOTEL PUTNIK BELGRADE D.O.O. Palmira Toljatija 9, 11070 New Belgrade

IMPOL SEVAL D.O.O. Prvomajska bb 31205 Sevojno tel: +381 31 591 101

A PJ U R LI LY

INFOSTUD 3 D.O.O. Vladimira Nazora 7, 24000 Subotica tel: +381 24 415 56 15 poslovi@infostud.com www.infostud.com INTRA LIGHTINIG D.O.O. Jurija Gagarina 26 V III, 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 2698 476 tadej.agrez@ intra-lighting.com www.intra-lighting.com

IOLAR D.O.O. Bulevar Arsenija Čarnojevića 102/22, 11000 Belgrade tel. +381 11 2601 192 gregor.osovniker@iolar.com www.iolar.com IPB D.O.O. Jurija Gagarina 36D/1/15 11070 New Belgrade tel:+381 11 27 55 110 info@ipb.rs www.ipb.rs

|

162 177

| 29

COMPANY REGISTER ISTRABENZ PLINI D.O.O. Sermin 8a, 5000 Koper tel: +386 5 663 46 00 info@istrabenzplini.si www.istrabenzplini.com ITPNET D.O.O. Bulevar Mihaila Pupina 102 6/22 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 260 78 75 nenad.mijatovic@itipo.net www.itipo.rs JANKOVIĆ, POPOVIĆ & MITIĆ A.O.D. Palmotićeva 16a 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 20 76 850 info@jpm.rs www.jpm.rs JUB D.O.O. Dositejeva 5, 22310 Šimanovci tel: +381 22 409 999 vladan.milovanovic@jub.rs www.jub.si KOLEKTOR ETRA D.O.O. Svetosavska 394d, Barajevo, Belgrade tel: +381 11 355 21 66 simon.palfi@kolektor.com www.kolektor-etra.rs KORONA D.D. Cesta v Mestni Log 88a 1000 Ljubljana tel: + 386 1 28 03 500 korona@korona.si www.korona.si KOSTAG D.O.O. Bulevar Zorana Đinđića115 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 328 22 11 office@kostag.rs www.kostak.rs KOVINTRADE D.O.O. Batajnički drum 23, 11000 Belgrade tel : +381 11 362 27 22 info@kovintrade.rs www.kovintrade.rs KOVIS BP D.O.O. Industrijska zona bb 24000 Bačka Palanka tel: +381 21 754 186 info@bp.kovis-group.com www.kovis-group.com KRAS BEO D.O.O. Bosanska 22, Novi Banovci 22304 Stara Pazova tel: +381 22 341 072,

30 |

177 162

nikic.milutin@pivka-s.co.rs www.kras.si LAMARGO D.O.O. Dunajska Cesta 136, 1000 Ljubljana mob: +381 63 7112 750 nikola.vasovic@vasovic.com www.lamargo.info LAW OFFICE MARIĆ Bulevar oslobođenja 78 21000 Novi Sad tel: +381 21 661 81 19 adv.rajkomaric@gmail.com www.lawyermaric.com MARK MEDICAL S.P.A. Partizanska cesta 109 6210 Sežana, Slovenija tel: +386 5 70 70 200 info@mark-medical.com www.mark-medical.com MARKAT MEDIA D.O.O. Bulevar kralja Aleksandra 137 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 2417 916 natasa.lozovic@ markatmedia.rs www.markatmedia.rs MARMOR HOTAVLJE D.O.O. Ustanička 128 a 11010 Belgrade tel: +381 11 3474 183 igor.pribakovic@m-h.si www.marmor-hotavlje.si MATICA MB D.O.O. Aškerčeva ulica 17a, 1230 Domžale, Slovenija tel: +386 5 99 58 319 ana@maticamb.si www.maticamb.si MDM D.O.O Brnćićeva 17, 1231 Ljubljana – Črnuče tel: +386 1 2004 930 info@mdm.si www.mdm.si MEDIA SKILLS Novopazarska 28/10 11000 Belgrade tel: +3811 11 32 33 300 office@mediaskills.rs www.mediaskills.rs MERCATOR-S D.O.O. Termerinski put 50, 21000 Novi Sad tel: +381 11 2202 600 office@mercator.rs www.mercator.rs

| JAUPLRYI L

MGM UNIT D.O.O. (MARK HOTEL) Žanka Stokić 42, 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 65 33 45 014 office@ markhotelbelgrade.com www.markhotelbelgrade.com

NBGP PROPERTIES D.O.O. (CROWN PLAZA BELGRADE) Vladimira Popovića 6, 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 22 04 115 lenka.dmitrovic@ihg.com www.crowneplaza.com

MILOŠ KLINIKA BELGRADE Božidara Adžije 25, 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 245 57 59 info@milosklinika.com www.milosklinika.com

NETPLANET D.O.O. Maksima Gorkog 50/1, 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 744 62 79 office@netplanet.rs www.netplanet.rs

MK MOUNTAIN RESORT DOO KOPAONIK Takovska 45a 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 36 5471 055 nikola.avram@ mkresort.com www.mkresort.com MOJ UPRAVNIK D.O.O. Jurija Gagarina 73 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 41 21 308 office@mojupravnik.rs www.mojupravnik.rs MPP JEDINSTVO A.D. Prvomajska bb 31205 Sevojno, tel:+381 11 237 01 45 officebg@mppjedinstvo.co.rs www.mppjedinstvo.co.rs

OVEN ELEKTRO MARIBOR D.O.O. Vetrinjska ulica 2 2000 Maribor, Slovenija tel: +386 2 220 07 82 miroslav.presern@ oven-em.si www.oven-em.si

N.T.S. D.O.O. Vladimira Popovića 34, 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 60 735 22 22 velimir.kuzmanovic@ nts-international.net www.nts-international.net OMNISOFT D.O.O. Vojvode Stepe 129 11000 Belgrade tel: + 381 11 4047 100 branislav.cicak@omnisoft.rs www.omnisoft.rs

PANTEON PLUS D.O.O. Španskih boraca 24a/6L 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 26 06 106 info@rs.panteongroup.com www.panteongroup.com

NEW COMPANY D.O.O. (IN HOTEL) Bulevar Arsenija Čarnojevića 56; 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 310 53 00 office@inhotel-belgrade.rs www.inhotel-belgrade.rs

OPŠTA BOLNICA BEL MEDIC Koste Jovanovića 87, Viktora Igoa 1, 11000 Belgrade tel:+ 381 11 309 1000 belmedic@belmedic.rs www.belmedic.rs

NEW MOMENT NEW IDEAS COMPANY D.O.O. Hilandarska 14 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 322 99 92 zarko@newmoment.com www.newmoment.com

OPŠTINA SUBOTICA Trg Slobode 1 24000 Subotica tel: +381 24 626 877 ler@subotica.rs www.subotica.rs

NLB BANKA BELGRADE A.D. Bulevar Mihaila Pupina 165v 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 222 51 00 kabinet@nlb.rs pr@nlb.rs www.nlb.rs

OPŠTINA VRNJAČKA BANJA Kruševačka 17a 36210 Vrnjačka Banja tel: +381 36 612 627

predsednik@ vrnjackabanja.gov.rs www.vrnjackabanja.gov.rs

PERUTNINA PTUJ D.O.O. (PERUTNINA PTUJ - TOPIKO A.D.) Petefi bragade 2 24000 Bačka Topola tel: +381 24 715 855 office@perutnina.rs www.perutnina.eu www.poli.rs

PETRIKIĆ I PARTNERI A.O.D. Krunska 73, 11000 Belgrade tel. +381 11 32 08 900 belgrade@cms-rrh.com www.cms.law PETROL D.O.O. Patrijarha Dimitrija 12v, 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 71 52 230 petrolbg@petrol.si www.petrol.si

POŠTA SLOVENIJE D.O.O. Slomškov trg 10 2000 Maribor tel: +386 2 449 2000 vinko.filipic@posta.si www.posta.si

RIKO D.O.O. Bizjanova 2 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenija tel: +386 1 581 63 00 riko@riko.si www.riko.si

PRISTOP D.O.O. Milutina Milankovića 136A/I 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 71 51 750 bojan.jelacin@pristop.rs www.pristop.si

RLS MERILNA TEHNIKA D.O.O. Poslovna cona Žeje pri Komendi, Pod vrbami 2 SI-1218 Komandi, Slovenija tel: +386 1 527 21 00 mail@rls.si www.rls.si

PRO KOLEKT D.O.O. Internacionalnih brigada 59 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 24 02 866 office@prokolekt-serbia.com www.prokolekt-serbia.com PROFIL GROUP D.O.O. Kralja Petra 45, 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 263 87 05 zoran.lazukic@ profil-group.com www.profil-group.com PRVI FAKTOR - FAKTORING D.O.O. Bulevar Mihaila Pupina 165v 11070 New Belgrade tel:+381 11 4040 761 zeljko.atanaskovic@ prvifaktor.rs www.prvifaktor.rs PSC AUTO D.O.O Dragoslava Srejovića 2C, 11060 Belgrade tel: +381 11 41 41 720 info@psc-auto.com www.psc-auto.com RCL INT. D.O.O. Prizrenska 7, 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 3623 114 relja.mirovic@rcl-group.com www.rcl.si RDEČA ORANŽA Titova Cesta 2A, 2000 Maribor tel: +386 5 169 18 62 martin.korosec@oranzd.si www.oranza.si REPRO KOLINSKA D.O.O. Središka 5, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenija tel: +386 1 472 17 91

bojan.fink@reprokolinska.si www.reprokolinska.si

ROTO GROUP D.O.O. Blok 16 bb, 26310 Alibunar tel: +381 13 641 690 alibunar@roto.si www.roto-alibunar.rs SAOP D.O.O. Kotorska 64, 21000 Novi Sad tel. +381 21 631 00 64 info@saop.rs www.saop.rs SAVA NEŽIVOTNO OSIGURANJE A.D.O. Bulevar vojvode Mišića 51 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 36 44 804

kabinet@sava-osiguranje.rs www.sava-osiguranje.rs SGS BELGRADE D.O.O. Jurija Gagarina 7B, 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 715 52 75 sgs.Belgrade@sgs.com www.sgs.rs ŠD MEDIA ŠPORT Slovenčeva ulica 23 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenija tel: +386 4 041 40 00 slavko.sakelsek@ mediasport.si www.mediasport.si SI-CARGO LOGISTICS DOO Jurija Gagarina 32 II, 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 35 32 815 office@slo-zeleznice.co.rs www.slo-zeleznice.si SIMIČ & PARTNERJI D.O.O. Parmova ulica 53 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenija tel: +386 1 300 06 00 info@simic-partnerji.si ivan.simic@simic-partnerji.si www.simic-partnerji.si SIQ D.O.O. Cara Dušana 266 11080 Zemun

tel: +381 11 316 93 96 siq.Belgrade@siq.si www.siq.rs SLATINA SPA D.O.O. Slatinski venac 16, 36000 Vrnjačka Banja tel: +381 36 200 630 info@hotelslatina.rs www.hotelslatina.rs SOFTNET D.O.O. Vladimira Popovića 40 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 422 02 00 info@softnet.rs www.softnet.rs SR RE D.O.O. Bulevar Mihaila Pupina 165v, 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 222 5374 office@ream-srbija.com www.nlbrealestate.com STELKOM D.O.O. Špruha 19 1236 Trzin, Slovenija tel: +386 1 620 22 00 info@stelkom.si www.stelkom.si TAB BATERIJE D.O.O. Zemunska 301 bb 11277 Ugrinovci tel: +381 377 44 52 mihailo.puzic@tabbaterije.rs www.tabbaterije.rs

TECHNOCONSULTING Antifašističke borbe 15/20 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 311 74 52 mvtechno@eunet.rs TRANSPORTŠPED D.O.O. BELGRADE Omladinskih brigada 19 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 318 57 29 office@transportspred.co.rs www.transportsped.co.rs TREVIS D.O.O. Cara Dušana 91, 11080 Zemun tel: +381 11 219 58 39 prodaja@trevis.rs www.trevis.rs TRIGLAV OSIGURANJE A.D. Milutina Milankovića 7a 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 330 51 00 office@triglav.rs www.triglav.rs TURISTIČKI SVET D.O.O. Požeška 65b, 11030 Belgrade tel: +381 11 305 07 89 turistički svet.press@ gmail.com www.turističkisvet.com UNIOR TEOS ALATI D.O.O. Subotička 23, 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 744 03 30 office@uniorteos.com www.uniorteos.com

VUKOVIĆ I PARTNERI A.O.D. Vladete Kovačevića br. 2A 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 2642 257 info@vp.rs www.vp.rs

UNIVERSAL EXPRESS D.O.O. DISTRIBUTIVNI CENTAR INTEREUROPA DOBANOVCI Zemunska 174 11272 Belgrade – Dobanovci tel: +381 11 442 61 80 office@intereuropa.rs www.intereuropa.rs

WEISHAUPT D.O.O. Omladinskih brigada 88 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 3533 430 info@weishaupt.rs www.weishaupt.rs

VENKA VOJO D.O.O. Vojkovo nabrežje 23 6000 Koper – Capodistria tel: +386 51 228 856 info@venkavojo.si www.venkavojo.si VIP MOBILE D.O.O. Milutina Milankovića 1Ž, 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 225 3002 ceo.office@vipmobile.rs www.vipmobile.rs

VESIMPEX D.O.O. Patrijarha Dimitrija 24, 11090 Belgrade tel: +381 11 404 9070 info@vesimpex.rs www.vesimpex.rs WORLD TRANSPORT OVERSEAS SERBIA D.O.O. Viline vode bb L 14-6 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 785 02 56 manager.adriatic@wto.rs www.wtogroup.eu

VISAN D.O.O. Jerneja Kopitara bb 11080 Zemun tel: +381 11316 11 55 visan@visan.rs www.visan.rs

ZAJEDNIČKA ADVOKATSKA KANCELARIJA TSG Carice Milice 3 11000 Belgrade tel: +381 11 328 51 53 office@tsg.rs www.tsg.rs

VIZIJA RAČUNOVODSTVO D.O.O. Zelengorska 1g 11070 New Belgrade tel: +381 11 220 16 05 info@vizija-racunovodstvo.rs www.vizija-racunovodstvo.rs APRIL

|

162

| 31