VIP Vojvodina in Focus | the Investors Guide | 67
68 | the Investors Guide | Vojvodina in Focus
Vojvodina in Focus | the Investors Guide | 69
72
Positive trends despite the crisis
88 89 90 91 92
k ovačica
Bojan PajtiĆ, President of the Government of AP Vojvodina
k ovin
75
We have a five-year business plan for operations in Serbia,
Contents
100 101
sremska mitrovica srbobran
k ula
Cameron Read, Plant Manager at Norma Group JIE
m ali iđoš
76
We have reason for optimism
n ova crnja, novi bečej,
Branislav BugarskI, Director of the Vojvodina Investment Promotion Fund - VIP
82 83 84 86 87
novi kneževac
b ačka topola, bela crkva, bački petrovac
b eočin, čoka, irig
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subotica
i nđija
stara pazova
k anjiža
titel, vrbas, vršac
k ikinda
šid zrenjanin
78
Supporting agricultural entrepreneurship Teodora VlahoviĆ, Director of the Guarantee Fund of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodin
79 80
a da, alibunar, apatin
Information as the Basis of a Good Business Decision
Žarko Galetin, Director General of the Novi Sad Commodity Exchange
81
b ač, bačka palanka, bački petrovac
70 | the Investors Guide | Vojvodina in Focus
93 94 95 96 98 99
n ovi sad, odžaci, pančevo
o povo p ećinci r uma p landište, sečanj, senta s ombor, sremski karlovci, temerin
109
žabalj, žitište
auction see auction south east europe
Vojvodina in Focus | the Investors Guide | 71
interview Bojan PajtiĆ President of the Government of AP Vojvodina
Positive trends despite the crisis years. Our ambition is to continue along that path and, when it comes to capital investments, place an emphasis on those investments that have specific developmental features. At the same time, we will continue encouraging investments that will make it possible to implement the highest European healthcare standards. Following construction of one of the most modern emergency centres in this part of Europe, Vojvodina will also gain a state-ofthe-art clinical centre. We are also going to develop new technology programmes, as well as programmes aimed at creating new jobs. There is also a strategically important plan to build a tunnel under Mount Fruška Gora, which is important to the everyday lives of the population of the Srem District and the whole of Vojvodina,” says Bojan Pajtić, president of the provincial government.
Political stability in the country and the stability of its institutions are of exceptional importance. I expect the formation of the new Serbian government and for it to work with strategic orientation on legislative matters, the tax policy and state subsidies, in order to foster a predictable investment climate and ensure that this positive trend will continue.
“F
ollowing the elections, our plan is to ensure that each municipality has an industrial zone or a technology park in the next four years, so that we can achieve even better results in attracting foreign investments. We will continue to advance our infrastructure, since the constitution envisages the allocation of sufficient funds for the implementation of the biggest investment cycle in the province in the last 30 72 | the Investors Guide | Vojvodina in Focus
• Vojvodina has had great success in attracting foreign investments over the past few years, as recognised by The Financial Times. What kind of investment trends will you continue to develop until year’s end? The award given to Vojvodina by the most prestigious business magazine, The Financial Times, simply confirms that the measures we implemented at the local, regional and state level were productive and, as such, a great recommendation to all foreign investors. Vojvodina was ranked fourth among 110 regions in Europe. The ranking criterion was investment efficiency, which is of exceptional importance to us because 85% of investments made here come from Europe. As a result of those investments, 50,583 people found work, which equates to 77% of the total number of employees in foreign companies in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. However, in order for this number to be even higher, towns and municipalities need to continue investing in infrastructure and creating even better conditions for doing business, which is something we are going to work at together. • Considering that investments in Vojvodina account for about 45% of all investments in Serbia, do you think Vojvodina receives sufficient support from the Serbian government when it comes to implementing infrastructure projects aimed at expand-
ing this investment market, which obviously has very high potential? Our communications with foreign investors have been excellent and their remarks and experiences were very positive. Immediately after we received this recognition from the Financial Times and Serbia gained EU candidate status, the interest expressed by foreign investors increased. Political stability in the country and the stability of its institutions are of exceptional importance. I expect the formation of the new Serbian government and for it to work with strategic orientation on legislative matters, the tax policy and state subsidies, in order to foster a predictable investment climate and ensure that this positive trend will continue.
The office in Brussels has made it possible for us to use 97% of the money that was allocated to us by the European funds, which is a record-breaking sum in this part of Europe. In the last few years we have welcomed
• Since 2004, i.e. during your mandate, the number of unemployed persons in Vojvodina has dropped by 80,000, from 280,000 to 200,000. What kind of employment trends do you expect to develop by year’s end? Despite the economic downturn of the previous period, we still managed to lure a One of the latest substantial number of foreign investors to developments is the Vojvodina. We have also succeeded in canopening of Petroland, the celling out the impact of the global economic biggest and most modern crisis through our employment programmes and managed to reduce unemployment comwater park in the Balkans pared to 2004. Our actions were responsible €6.3 billion worth of FDI and serious, without any scandals or affairs. If we considand the main task of our er the global recession and great problems that European office in Brussels is to apgovernments have had to deal with, our results are a repeal to even more foreign al feat. Following the formation of the government of the investors and support the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, I expect us to continprovince’s development ue implementing development projects. by increasingly participating in European Union de• Vojvodina was the first province to open a regionvelopment funds. al office in Brussels. When do you expect this endeavour to achieve its full potential? • Construction is underway on a gas powered therThe office has already reached its full potential and the mal power plant in Bač and we are also expectresults of its work are visible. Only a few days ago, during ing wind farms to become operational. When will the annual forum of the Knowledge Economy Network Vojvodina get more seriously involved in the en(KEN) in Maribor, the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina ergy system? received an award for exceptional accomplishments and The number of facilities that use Vojvodina’s natural reimplementation of the highest standards in multi-culsources, which were previously treated as harvest debris, tural education. This acknowledgement is a direct result is growing. The facility in Bač is a project harmonised of the work of Vojvodina’s representative office. The ofwith the highest environmental standards that will crefice officially presented the standards that Vojvodina had ate new jobs and will use 100% natural biological matebeen implementing in this area on several occasions and rials, which are not harmful to the environment. this was actually the main reason we were nominated Most of the power produced by this thermal power plant, and later received the award. The office was opened in which is expected to be operational by late May 2013, order for the province to be able to access as much fiwill end up in homes and local companies, as well as benancial means from European funds as possible once ing used for various services in the production of elecSerbia became an EU candidate. Vojvodina in Focus | the Investors Guide | 73
tricity and heat. This project is currently Slovakia’s biggest renewable energy investment in the region. The project is in its very infancy and in three months’ time we will complete two biogas facilities, one in Vrbas and the other in Ilandža. The installation of a biomass boiler facility (15 megawatt output) in Sremska Mitrovica is nearly finished, so next winter the residents of this town will get their heat from biomass. In terms of wind potential, we have issued three location permits so far
tential. With its monasteries, which represent a unique cultural and historical heritage and play an exceptionally important spiritual and tourism role, coupled with is wonderful ambiance, 14 little-known lakes and other natural potentials, Fruška Gora will certainly take an important place on the tourist map of Vojvodina and the wider region. One of the latest developments is the opening of Petroland, the biggest and most modern water park in the Balkans. It sprawls over 20 hectares of land and, apart from swimming pools and other entertainment programmes for kids and grown-ups, the park will also have a spa, wellness and fitness centre and hotel accommodation with a rich tourist offer. We have been working a lot to promote tourism and tourist potentials, not only through largescale projects, but also through cooperating and supporting smaller creative projects in our municipalities. All of these different projects make Vovjodina’s tourist offer a very rich one indeed and are creating a unique image of Vojvodina. For instance, in the last two years, through the
Following construction of one of the most modern emergency centres in this part of Europe, Vojvodina will also gain a state-of-the-art clinical centre and are about to issue a permit for construction of a wind farm in South Banat District. It is important to mention that a set of laws was adopted late last year to regulate energy issues and define investment opportunities for local authorities through public-private partnership formats. This set of laws also brings legal security, which is of utmost importance to investors. As such, in the next four to five years I expect significant investments to be made in biomass, hydro and wind energy. • When in comes to tourism, Vojvodina’s rivers and lakes, as well as Mount Fruška Gora, have great potential. However, it seems that the EXIT Festival is still the leader in this area. What are your plans for tourism, given that this is not an area requiring huge investments, but one that employs a lot of people and guarantees a good global image? The EXIT Festival is the leader and every year more and more foreign media dub it one of the world’s best summer festivals. This year many foreign tourists from Europe and the wider world will again come to Novi Sad to attend EXIT. Fruška Gora also has great potential and, with the implementation of the Master Plan for Sustainable Development of Fruška Gora in the Period from 2012 to 2022, this mountain will fulfil not only its tourist potential, but also its cultural, historical and environmental po74 | the Investors Guide | Vojvodina in Focus
Vojvodina government’s female empowerment programme, the Labour, Employment and Gender Equality Secretariat helped establish 11 souvenir shops. These shops are supposed to help rural women’s associations to gain financial strength and are an excellent vehicle for promoting our tourism offer. • What strategic projects do you plan to complete during your political mandate? The most important things for Vojvodina’s citizens are to live in peace, to be able to work and to live a normal life with the money they earn. It is also important for them to have the kind of education, healthcare and social standards that are enjoyed in developed European countries. This is what I consider our task and, together with my associates, I want to fulfil this to the best of my abilities. ■
interview Cameron Read Plant Manager at Norma Group JIE
We have a five-year business plan for operations in Serbia “We opened our new production plant in Serbia in July 2011 in order to further expand our global network and strengthen our presence in Eastern Europe. At that time we employed 40 people in Subotica. In 2011 our focus was on setting up our process, training our people and satisfying our new customers by delivering high quality products on time. As a consequence, the number of employees grew to more than 130 by June 2012. We have a five-year business
Running at full capacity, the plant is expected to generate annual sales of around €30 to €50 million in the coming years plan for operations in Serbia to be running at full capacity and intend to increase the number of employees to 350 as the factory becomes progressively filled,” says Cameron Read, Norma group JIE Plant Manager.
• You are planning to export Norma’s entire production in Serbia to the markets of Western and Central Europe. What value of exports do you expect to realise and which other markets are you still planning to conquer? NORMA Group established its new facility in Serbia to satisfy the increasing demand for our fluid system products on all European markets. All of our third party sales will be realised through export to customers in Western and Central Europe. Additionally, we will sell products to customers in the Middle East and Africa, Asia-Pacific, as well as in the U.S. and South America. Running at full capacity, the plant is expected to generate annual sales of around €30 to €50 million in the coming years.
• Norma’s investment is the fourth major German investment in Serbia and German Ambassador to Serbia, Mr Maas, said recently that German compa-
nies like to invest in Serbia. What do you think of the current investment climate in Serbia? Our decision to invest in Serbia was taken almost two years ago and we are very happy with it. A strong management team has been assembled in Serbia and was well supported by experts from other NORMA Group facilities. We have also been very pleased with the support received from Serbian agencies in the realisation of this project in a short period of time. In Serbia we are focusing on manufacturing our NORMAFLEX joining elements to the highest quality. The local team has already acquired its first renowned customers and will contribute to further NORMA Group’s sales growth in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region.
• Norma Group is a world leader in the field of engineered joining technology, offering around 35,000 high-quality products and solutions to 10,000 customers in more than 90 countries worldwide. How are current opportunities on the global market, in terms of demand for your products, and who are your main competitors in the region? NORMA Group has seen steady growth over the past few years. This shows that we are moving in the right direction and that our business model is working very successfully. In 2011 we significantly expanded our emerging markets presence by opening new locations not only in Serbia, but also in Russia, Thailand and Brazil. This provides solid foundations for the future. In 2012 NORMA Group opened a representative office in Vietnam, a country with huge growth potential, followed by further branches in the Philippines and Indonesia. Going forward, we will continue to invest in our company and actively increase capacities to ensure further growth, with a particular focus on the emerging markets of Brazil, Russia, India and China.
• Norma Group chose to implement its investment in Serbia, as opposed to opting for Turkey, Bulgaria or Romania. What do you think the new Serbian government should do to attract more major new investments like yours? If the new Serbian government is able to be meet the needs of investors and provide the same level of support offered to NORMA Group during all stages of our investment, then I think Serbia still offers good opportunities for those considering investing. ■ Vojvodina in Focus | the Investors Guide | 75
interview Branislav Bugarski Director of the Vojvodina Investment Promotion Fund - VIP
We have reason for optimism No one can accurately predict the global economy’s movements today, but personal experience, the projects we are working on now and the new inquiries we receive, all tell us to be optimistic
"D
espite fighting the short-term impact of the crisis, major international companies have not withdrawn significant funds and remain committed to expanding their presence abroad. According to our records, when it comes to Vojvodina during this year and the last two years, investment contracts with
• During 2012 Vojvodina received numerous awards, including an award at Cannes for being the fourth ranked region in Europe in the category of the effectiveness of investment costs. Does such recognition lead to increased interest of foreign investors in the region of Vojvodina?
The competition "European Cities & Regions of the Future" is organised by FDI Intelligence magazine, part of the Financial Times Group, and is important for everyone who’s promoting their location. At the same time, it is also a source of information for the media, those who analyse trends and, most importantly, those seeking new business locations. With that in mind, we did not allow this award to pass unnoticed and ensured we carried out a good camIn addition to the priority sectors paign abroad, and that must have (agribusiness, metal-machinean impact. Of course, it is difficult to automobile and IT), we have also "measure" the results of such a comdefined priority countries that we petition. We are currently working on 34 will actively target. projects that could potentially bring €322.8 million of FDI and create more than 6,300 jobs. As foreign companies worth over €880 million have been signed many as 20 of those projects are planned for this year, though and are expected to lead to the creation of over 10,000 new only a few of them have planned investments for now, worth jobs. We estimate that the announced projects should be im€297.5 million and about 4,000 jobs. One of these projects plemented by 2015. So at the moment we have no reason is a large scientific/technological park, which, if realised, will to doubt that the positive trend FDI won’t continue,” says bring €160 million of FDI alone and create 3,500 jobs Branislav Bugarski, director of VIP Vojvodina
• Has Vojvodina received new investors of late? Last year saw agreements on investments of major companies, such as Bosch, Continental, Swarovski, Norma Group, Lamesa, Magna, Embassy Group, BIG CEE ... The number of reinvestments is also significant and includes Siemens, Draexlmaier, Eaton Moellaer, Carlsberg, CGS Mytas, Hint Tech, Litostroj, Fresh & Co, Calzedonia, EIX Hotels, Albon, Henkel, Alltech Fermina, JUB colour, Heineken and others. From that perspective 2011 was an extremely positive year for us and we view 2012 with much optimism. 76 | the Investors Guide | Vojvodina in Focus
• T hree other Vojvodina municipalities, Inđija, Sremska Mitrovica and Subotica, were also awarded by the Financial Times in the same category. How do you plan to extend this trend to other municipalities? The VIP Fund is a partner of all Vojvodina municipalities in the process of attracting investment – from devising and developing of infrastructure, through creating presentations for investors, to establishing industrial zones and business incubators, of which five has so far opened: in Novi Sad, Subotica,
Zrenjanin, Senta and Bački Petrovac. An important part of that collaboration is the educational project "Knowledge to Investment", which includes a series of seminars for local governments aim at making them more competitive in attracting foreign investment. Some of the topics included Preparing an attractive location for investors, Marketing locations and gaining exposure at trade shows, Public-private partnerships, Improving the competitiveness of the workforce, Industrial parks, the Law on Construction and so on. We are now waiting to see at what point we will restart the training in the municipalities once the change comes. I hope it will be as successful as it has been so far, as the previous cycle of seminars were attended by more than 2,000 local government representatives.
• Which directs projects does VIP have to further promote Vojvodina as a major target for foreign investment? In addition to the priority sectors that we have defined: agribusiness, metalmachine-automobile and IT sectors, we have also defined priority countries that we will actively target. Those are, primarily, Austria, Germany and Italy, as our traditional investors, but we are also starting with Scandinavian countries, Turkey, Japan etc. The last event where we had a successful promotion was the international fair of real estate, EIRE, in Milan, where Serbia was only represented for the second time and where we introduced Vojvodina’s potential in the field of developing commercial and industrial real estate. Compared to last year, EIRE was much more successful for Serbia this time. Interest was much higher and VIP Fund held a series of successful meetings. We are also planning to attend Frankfurt’s Automechanika Fair, because there we have a long tradition and already have more than 50 companies present in the automotive-machine-metal sector. It is also important for us to attend one of the largest agricultural trade shows, SIAL in Paris, because more than 50 companies in Vojvodina, employing about 12,100 people, confirm that this is certainly one direction we should go in.
• Bojan Pajtić, president of Vojvodina's provincial government, opened an office in Brussels last year. How long will it take for this office to be recognised as an address for potential investors from the EU?
and verification of chips and printed circuit boards, as well as the development of so-called ‘embedded software’. Investors usually decide to realise a presence in Vojvodina through smaller projects, but then later – when they become more familiar with the environment – they tend to slowly increase the number of people they engage. What is particularly significant is the increasing interest in implementing production projects in the electronics sector, which was lacking in the previous period.
• Where and in which sectors do you see the greatest potential for investment in Vojvodina in the immediate future? Some of the most promising sectors in Vojvodina have already being singled out and are show excellent results. Firstly there is agribusiness, with 53 foreign companies, more than €2 million of investment and 12,103 employees. In terms of levels of investment, agribusiness is immediately followed by the financial sector, construction industry, energy and oil industries, as well as the auto industry, metal processing and machinery sectors. When it comes to locations, in addition to providing planning documents and infrastructure, there must also be a local workforce with the basic knowledge necessary for the investors’ sectors, which can then possibly be upgraded. ■
This office will certainly have an effect on the investment climate and they have already focused their activities on analysing the area and identifying available funds. The regions that have good contacts in Brussels also receive information about funds and how to make good EU projects. This office focuses on infrastructure projects, renovation and the construction of roads, harbours and marinas, for which there is a good chance funding will come through the Danube Strategy and the EU Structural Funds, because they go beyond local and even national frameworks and importance. In addition to this, we work in very close cooperation with the Office in Brussels and our main task is to bring Vojvodina closer to business associations and the professional public that is generally present in the capital of the European Union. That is a very important step for the further socioeconomic development of our province.
• India’s Embassy Group also began construction of its IT business park in Inđija two months ago. Are they in your plans and can you announce any new investments in Vojvodina, in terms of information technology? Several small-scale projects are currently being implemented in the ICT sector in Vojvodina in areas such as software development, but also design Vojvodina in Focus | the Investors Guide | 77
interview Teodora VlahoviĆ Director of the Guarantee Fund of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina
Supporting agricultural entrepreneurship An increasing number of young people are launching their own businesses with the Fund’s support
T
he Guarantee Fund of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina was founded with the aim of facilitating access to financial markets and providing better loan conditions than those offered by banks. This task is being fulfilled through the Fund’s core activity, which is issuing guarantees to banks as collateral for the reg-
With the support of the Guarantee Fund, an increasing number of young women are launching their own businesses and young farmers are buying their first pieces of land or agricultural machinery ular repayment of loans. Some of the other important tasks of the fund include increasing employment and living standards, achieving more dynamic and balanced regional development of Vojvodina, in accordance with the Republic of Serbia’s National Economic Development Strategy, as well as supporting export and enhancing the competitiveness of local businesses. • In April you announced the launch of a competition through which guarantees would be issued to SMEs, entrepreneurs and farmers for the acquisition of new equipment. What has been the response so far and which banks have decided to join the project? In late April the Guarantee Fund of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina launched a competition to provide guarantees to loans that will be used by SMEs, entrepreneurs and farmers to purchase new equipment. One of the competition rules was for applicants to have been operational for at least three years. The aim of the competition is to provide required financial means for development projects implemented on the territory of Vojvodina and thereby stimulate economic activity and the creation of new jobs. The Vojvodina Development Bank provided a credit line, while the Guarantee Fund also expanded its portfolio of farmer support to include allocating guarantees for purchasing new equipment. As well as supporting the acquisition of agricultural machinery, this activity is being carried out in cooperation with five commercial banks. 78 | the Investors Guide | Vojvodina in Focus
• The 79th International Agricultural Fair took place in Novi Sad this May. What activities did the Guarantee Fund present at the Fair? The International Agricultural Fair is an event that enjoys a great reputation and demonstrates great dedication. This year saw many conferences and expert meetings take place, during which farmers could have found out more about many innovations in agriculture. They were also able to gain information about the support measures provided by the state and provincial bodies and institutions. The Guarantee Fund presented its own line of activities, considering that one of its main tasks is to provide favourable loans for agricultural producers in Vojvodina and issue guarantees which substantially expand the credit potential of Vojvodina’s farmers. Of the 1,130 guarantees we have issued, close to 1,000 of them were given to support agriculture and rural development. • One of the Fund’s aims is to help women and young people set up and develop agricultural facilities. Do you think the current climate in Serbia is conducive to that? We have taken important steps toward improving the investment climate in Serbia. Vojvodina is ranked fourth in Europe when it comes to efficiency of foreign investments. The development strategy, which covers the 2008 to 2013 period, has been harmonised with the Law on SMEs, which was adopted by the European Commission. Many financial and non-financial support programmes for small businesses are being implemented at the local, regional and national levels. However, during this period of economic downturn, when many small companies are folding, we need to devise new measures and link them to existing ones, in order to gain a comprehensive system of continual support. One of the main hurdles in setting up and developing SMEs is the difficulty of accessing financing resources. It is women and young people who have the toughest time when it comes to obtaining loans. The Guarantee Fund considers supporting female entrepreneurship one of its priorities. We have approved 170 guarantees for loans granted by Banca Intesa. Our female entrepreneurship support programme also won an award from the Council of European Regions in 2008. With the support of the Guarantee Fund, an increasing number of young women are launching their own businesses and young farmers are buying their first pieces of land or agricultural machinery. ■
Ada
alibunar
apatin
Marina for Extensive Smaller Vessels road network
International Marina
The municipality is a regional centre of the textiles and metal processing industries
Alibunar has a well developed network of roads and there is also a rail network
Apatin is one of the most developed and most attractive municipalities in Serbia
Ada is a municipality in Serbia’s northern province of Vojvodina. Agriculture is the main industry, followed by the food processing industry. The municipality is a regional centre of the textiles and metal processing industries. It covers an area of 228.6km2 and has 18,998 inhabitants. The municipality has a well developed transport network. There are high quality local roads, which is particularly important for transit traffic through the centre of Ada. As regards rail transport, the municipality is crossed by the regional Bečej-Senta-Ada railroad, which is currently out of service. There is also the River Tisza, which is navigable in both directions throughout the year and has a well-designed marina for smaller boats 800 metres from the centre of Ada. Some 700 meters from the centre of Ada towards the Tisza is also a runway for light aircraft. The industrial zone is located just 75km from Novi Sad, 150km from Belgrade, 45km from the Hungarian border and 65km from the Romanian border. It covers a total surface area of 105 hec-
Alibunar Municipality is located in the central part of South Banat, though it belongs administratively to South Backa District. The municipality covers an area of 602 km2 and is located at the intersection of roads leading from Belgrade to the border with Romania. It consists of 10 towns and villages: Alibunar, Banatski Karlovac, Vladimirovac, Dobrica, Ilandža, Janošik,
Located in western Bačka, Apatin covers an area of 333km2 and has 32,813 inhabitants. It is on Pan-European Corridor 7 (the River Danube), while Corridors 10, 5 and 4 are nearby. This makes Apatin a very accessible municipality. Plans are in place to construct a port that will have international status and will be included in an integrated regional transport network. Developments in the sectors of tourism, sport and recreation have made this one of the most developed and most attractive municipalities in Serbia. The town of Apatin has a spa and wellness centre. The municipality has an industrial zone that covers 160 hectares and has complete internal road and utility infrastructure on the periphery of the zone. The possibility exists to develop other free zones and industrial parks. The most important investment in the municipality is the building of an intermodal (retail and transport) centre and port. Apatin has the first international marina in Serbia with 400 berths
tares. The Municipality owns 45 hectares, in addition to 40 hectares within the existing zone, while the remaining 70 hectares is privately owned. It is equipped with a water supply system, supplied with gas, electricity, a sewage system, telephone lines and internet links, while the local road leads to the R122 regional road, which is nearby.
Lokve, Nikolinci and Seleuš. It is home to nearly 23,000 inhabitants. Alibunar has a well developed network of roads and there is also a rail network with the main line Belgrade-Vršac-Romania. The municipality encourages the development of agriculture, industry and tourism, as well as creating favourable conditions for the promotion of private entrepreneurship and SMEs. The municipality has 44,000 hectares of arable land, of which 34,000 hectares are under private ownership. The municipality does not have business parks, but it does have four industrial zones: Alibunar 1 (95 hectares), Alibunar 2 (three hectares), Alibunar 3 (83 hectares), Banatski Karlovac (two hectares). The industrial zones are registered as "undeveloped land". Land lease is possible and the necessary plans and regulatory documentation already exists. The Municipality will issue a building permit within eight days, provided the investor submits all required documentation. Special local incentives do not exist.
(120 specially designed for yachts). In addition to this facility, the municipality has a port for Danube cruise ships. In addition to stimuli for domestic and foreign investors, the Municipality provides incentives in terms of payment of utility fees, leases of construction land plots and exemptions from local taxes for urban planning and building permits.
contact Djerdj Horti,
contact Slаđаnа Vukајlоvić,
contact Snеžаnа Мilеšеvić,
assistant of the municipal president for investment Address: Тrg Оslоbоđеnjа 1, Аdа 24430 Теl: 024 852106; Fаx: 024 853342; Mob: 062 265004 Еmаil: prеdsеdnik@аdа.оrg.rs; Url: www.аdа.оrg.rs Foreign languages: English, German and Hungarian
technical secretary Address: Тrg Slоbоdе 4, Аlibunаr 26310 Теl: 013 642105 Еmаil: аlskupstinа@hеmо.nеt; Url: www.аlibunаr.оrg.rs Foreign languages: English and German
coordnator of the Office for local economic development Address: Srpskih Vlаdаrа 29; Аpаtin 25260 Теl: 025 772122, ext. 618; Моb: 069 2526028, 064 2169941 Еmаil: snеzаnа.аrh@gmаil.cоm; Url: www.sоаpаtin.оrg Foreign languages: English, German and Italian Vojvodina in Focus | the Investors Guide | 79
interview Žarko Galetin Director General of the Novi Sad Commodity Exchange
Information as the Basis of a Good Business Decision The legend of the ancient Greek messenger Philippides, who ran 42,195 metres from the Marathon Field to Athens to bring good news about the Athenians winning a battle against the Persians, is still a perfect example of persistence and tenacity today, but is also an example of just how important information is when it comes to forming public opinion. • What are the priorities of the Commodity Exchange? The best example of how speed has become a relative category is today's communication system, which relays news from one part of the world to the other almost instantaneously, as an event happens. This ensures business people are addicted to fast, reliable and good quality information. News about exchange rates on
clearly defines the quality of goods, their price, the pick up point and other elements found in a sales order, while a buyer expresses his intention to buy goods of a certain quality, at a certain price and at a certain pick up point. In the situation where you apply the same criteria to the buy and sell orders, they become a perfect match and business is done. Simply put, the stock exchange sales system has enabled the conducting of business in a true market way, since a price that is determined in such way is a real market price, i.e. the price that is referential for the market covered by the market's organiser – in this case the exchange.
News about exchange rates on the global stock exchanges spreads in real time and brokers have to react quickly, with the situation on the market able to change in a matter of minutes the global stock exchanges spreads in real time and brokers have to react quickly, with the situation on the market able to change in a matter of minutes. In such an environment the main task of a market institution, or an institution that considers the organising of a market the imperative of its existence, is to provide timely and accurate information about important events, so that users of stock exchange services can draft their business strategies in the best possible manner. In the last few years the Novi Sad Commodity Exchange has made this one of its top priorities.
• Why is information provided by the Commodity Exchange considered relevant? The first, and perhaps most important, part of this information-analytical concept is importance of the information generated on the Commodity Exchange. The answer lies in the way in which this information is devised. The exchange's prices are formed on a real market, i.e. through sales. By offering the goods via sales quotes, a salesman 80 | the Investors Guide | Vojvodina in Focus
• What else needs to be done to devise a real market approach in both the mid- and long-term?
We need price information from the international markets, as well as information about the most important factors that create a market. The Novi Sad Exchange has been sure to gather these pieces of information and make them available in one place. This is information about the global production, consumption and stock balances of certain goods, which affect the prices of agricultural produce, political factors and prices on financial markets. In order to make the whole story even more tangible, let us use the soybean market as an example. The current price of soybean on the Novi Sad Commodity Exchange is 53 dinars per kilogramme excluding VAT. At the beginning of the harvest this price stood at 33 dinars per kilogramme, but by year’s end it had climbed to 34 dinars. On the other hand, the global soybean price is also growing, so the latest price on the Buenos Aires Exchange is $560 per tonne, which equates to around 53 dinars per kilogramme when you convert U.S. dollars into Serbian dinars. What can we expect in the future? The three biggest global soybean producers – the U.S., Argentina and Brazil – have produced 25 million tonnes less, while global figures show that consumption exceeded production by as much as 30 million tonnes. ■
Bač
bačka palanka
bački petrovac
Successful companies
Textile Industry
Rural Tourism
Municipality with 7,000 hectares of forestland suitable for hunting
The municipality is linked to Croatia by a Danube bridge and the territory is crisscrossed by many canals
There is already one industrial zone, with the construction of three more planned
The municipality of Bač covers an area of 365km 2 and its territory is traversed by the Danube-Tisza-Danube (DTD) Canal, which connects the municipality with ports in Bogojevo and Novi Sad. Bač is close to major transport routes, including corridors 10 and 7. The municipality is 62 kilometres from Novi Sad and 140 kilometres from Belgrade. The dominant economic sector, and certainly the biggest generator of revenue for the municipal budget is agriculture, with arable land in Bač covering a total of 24,000 hectares. The manufacturing ranks second, followed by construction and transport. Manufacturing is mainly based on food processing. In the municipality there is also metal processing and manufacturing of electrical equipment. There are plenty of successful construction companies, such as Slovan Progres, Bager Promet and others. The municipality has 7,000 hectares of forestland suitable for hunting The small business zone in Bač (so-called work zone) covers 24 hectares but is insuffi-
The municipality of Bačka Palanka covers an area of 579 km 2 and has a very favourable geographical position thanks to its close proximity to the Danube and the fact that the municipality is located at the crossroads of important roads. The municipality is linked to Croatia by a Danube bridge and the territory is crisscrossed by many canals of the DanubeTisza-Danube (DTD) system. Bačka Palanka is a
The municipality of Bački Petrovac is located in the Vojvodina’s South Bačka district. It spreads over 158 km2 and is bordered to the south by the M7 Bačka Palanka-Novi Sad national road. The Novi Sad-Bogojevo (Sombor) railroad also passes through the municipality, as does a navigable Karavukovo - Bački Petrovac Canal, which forms part of the Danube-Tisza-Danube system. It is 25km from Novi Sad, 30km from the border with Croatia and 90km from neighbouring Hungary. The future R102 regional bypass road passes through the industrial zone, which is 30km from Corridor 10 highway E75. Agriculture is well represented here, while recent years have also seen the development of rural tourism. The industrial zone is located in the southern part of the town towards Gložan and is envisaged to eventually cover about 143 ha. Its position sees it served by the main road transport route, while the zone is also passed by a high voltage 10 kV electricity line and plans will see the building of a power transfer station. Three more industrial zones are also planned: an area of 60 ha in Maglić, 31 ha in Gložan and a
ciently utilised, despite an excellent location. The local authorities are engaged in promoting the competitive advantages of the zone, securing benefits for production start-ups and incentives when it comes to choosing the appropriate plots, as well as incentives for obtaining the necessary approvals and building permits.
border municipality of the Republic of Croatia, separated only by the river bank. The Danube has transport and tourism potential. The municipality and town of Bačka Palaka have traditionally engaged in economic sectors such as textiles (carpet manufacturer Sintelon), production of electrical installation materials, the leather processing industry, metal processing, food processing and tourism. The starting price for leasing land owned by the municipality and town of Bačka Palanka is very low, almost symbolic in the first zone. The price to purchase land is between 1,142 and 1,543 dinars per square metre, while in Čelarevo it is just 306 dinars per square metre and in the municipality’s other towns and settlements the price is 36.5 dinars per square metre. The price for leasing office space is 180 dinars per square metre or €1.5 per square metre for production facilities. The price to purchase unused brownfield production facilities ranges from €300 to €500 per square metre.
40 ha zone in Kulpin beside the DTD Canal. Incentives offered include grants for planning, staff training programmes, incubator centres for new businesses, financial assistance and tax breaks. Building permits are issued under the shortest possible deadlines. There is also the Agrogrnja Business Park, which is under private ownership.
contact Nikola Banjac,
contact Miroslav Rodić,
contact Tanja Varga,
Address: Тrg Dr Zоrаnа Đinđićа 2 Place & postcode: Bаč 21420 Теl: 021 770170, Fаx: 021 770330 Url: www.bаc.rs; Еmаil: prеdsеdnik@bаc.rs, infо@bаc.rs Foreign languages: English and Slovakian
Address: Krаlја Pеtrа I 16, Bаčkа Pаlаnkа 21400 Теl: 021 7559192, Fаx: 021 6045587 Еmаil: prеdsеdnikоpstinе@bаckаpаlаnkа.оrg.rs Url: www.Bаčkаpаlаnkа.rs Foreign languages: English
Address: Kolarova 6 Place & poost code: Bački Petrovac 21470 Tel: 021 781378; Fax: 021 780571 Email: opstina@backipetrovac.rs; Url: www.backipetrovac.rs Foreign languages: English and Slovakian Vojvodina in Focus | the Investors Guide | 81
BAČKA TOPOLA
bela crkva
bečej
Industrial tradition
Recreation and Agriculture
Top Quality Land
The first industrial park and logistical centre in Vojvodina has been built in Bačka Topola
The municipality’s most important economic branches are agriculture and tourism
Situated at the crossroads of rail and road routes, Bečej lies on manmade canals and the River Tisza
Bačka Topola is located in central Bačka and the municipality covers an area of 596km 2. It is 32 kilometres from Subotica and 40km from Sente. There are 38,000 residents, with a total workforce of 24,328. The municipality has a long industrial tradition and is home to several successful companies that could attract the inflow of further working capital. Agriculture is the major sector, with
The municipality of Bela Crkva is a Danubian lowland border municipality located in the northeastern part of Serbia. Geographically, the municipality is surrounded by the hills of the Carpathian Mountains, the Vršačke Mountains, the Danube, and partially by the Pannonian Plain. Bela Crkva covers an area of 353 square kilometres and is comprised of 14 smaller towns and villages. The municipality’s population is 20,637, is 106 kilometres east of Belgrade and has numerous transport links. The municipality’s most important economic branches are agriculture and tourism. Arable land is the biggest natural resource in the municipality, covering 77% of the municipality’s total territory. The entire area stretches across 35,345 hectares, with 21,499 hectares covered in plough land, 6,158 hectares in pastures and meadows, 160 hectares in vineyards and orchards, and 2,704 hectares in forests. As for tourism development, the biggest potential lies in seven crystal- clear lakes covering 150 hectares. Also, there is the Labudovo Okno locality, which covers 360 hectares of the Deliblatska Sand Pit. This location
There has been a large settlement since time immemorial on the right bank of the Tisza. It is the Pannonianstyle town of Bečej. With a favourable location, it is situated at the crossroads of rail and road routes and lies on manmade canals and the River Tisza. The municipality of Bečej belongs to South Bačka District and covers an area of 487 km2 (including 44,007ha of agricultural land and 271ha of forests). The town of Bečej is the centre of the municipality,
several active industrial branches. When it comes to the metal processing industry, there is a steel foundry, the manufacture of wood cutting tools, lock and key making, electro metal processing and metal chain production. Bačka Topola also has great tourism potential. The first industrial park and logistical centre in Vojvodina (VIP – LK) has been built in Bačka Topola. The park has direct rail access and is located 146 kilometres from Belgrade and 71 kilometres from Novi Sad. National Investment Plan envisages the construction of several new roads here. The industrial zone covers 124 acres, though 119 acres are already occupied. The possibility exists to extend the zone by an additional 500 hectares. The existing zone is equipped in terms of infrastructure and plans are in place to add infrastructure. The deadline for issuing permits is between 30 and 60 days. The local government is available to assist all potential investors.
is suitable for hunting, fishing, sports, and recreational activities. The Nera Industrial Park is located in the existing industrial zone, which covers an area of over 14.26 hectares. The zone, with its existing infrastructure, is perfect for developing business, production, and warehouse facilities. The municipality offers the lowest lease rates.
which is home to 38,000 inhabitants – 10,727 of whom are employed. Some 897 entrepreneurs and 293 companies are currently operating in the municipality. Of these there are six large, 18 medium and 269 small enterprises. The predominant economic activity is primary agricultural production, processing of agricultural products and livestock breeding, followed by the manufacture of construction building materials, metal processing, rubber production, the oil industry, wood processing, textiles and services. Bečej’s industrial zones are located in the southwest of the town beside the DTD canal and comprise an area of 437.40ha. The Žabalj-Senta railroad divides the area into two separate units. The older zone has existing facilities of companies Sojaprotein, Fadip, Pik-Bečej, Bečejka, 8th October and others, over a total area of 97.38ha. The remaining area of 307.63ha is classed as undeveloped construction land. All built structures are production, storage or subsidiary production facilities, with the exception of an existing farmstead in Južna Street and two PIK agricultural complexes occupied by agricultural and residential buildings.
contact Nebojša Kuzmanović,
contact Željko Crnogorac,
contact Péter Knézi,
Address: Svеtоsаvskа 1; Bаčkа Тоpоlа 24300 Теl: 024 713506; Fаx: 024 715918 Еmаil: nebojsa.kuzmanovic@viplc-bаckаtоpоlа.cоm Url: www.btоpоlа.оrg.rs Foreign languages: English and Hungarian
President of the Municipality of Bela Crkva Miletićeva 2, 26340 Bela Crkva Tel: +381 (0)13/ 851-224, Fax: +381 (0)13/851-346 E-mail:opstinabc@neobee.net, Website: www.belacrkva.info Languages: English and Romanian
President of the Municipality of Bečej Address: Trg olobodjenja 2 Place & postcode: Becej 21220 Tel: 021 6811888 Url: www.becej.rs
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beočin
čoka
irig
City of cement
Multiethnic Community
Small Diverse Economy
The Municipality of Beočin is one of the most important industrialised municipalities in Vojvodina
Čoka is a multiethnic community with a majority Hungarian population 51.56%, followed by Serbs (37.36%).
Irig is one of Vojvodina’s smallest municipalities, covering an area of 230 km2
Beočin is located on the banks of the Danube at the foot of Mount Fruška Gora, 17 kilometres from Novi Sad. The municipality covers an area of 183km2 and has a population of 16,398. The entire municipality enjoys an excellent geographical position and good transport connections. The 107 regional road (‘B’ class) leads through the municipality to the border with Croatia. The Municipality of Beočin is one of the most important industrialised municipalities in Vojvodina. As well as a good geographical position and mild continental climate, it has high quality sol suitable for a variety of commercial crops. As much as 46.5% of the total area of the municipality (18,587 ha) is agricultural land. This area is ideal for organic food production and the municipality is also renowned for its wines. The Municipality of Beočin can offer land for lease in a 20-hectare industrial park with complete infrastructure, a port and freight railroad that operates within the complex of cement company Lafarge. The local authorities can also provide secured
Čoka is located on the left bank of the River Tisza in northern Vojvodina. At the heart of the municipality is an old village and the most famous site of valuable archaeological material is called Kremenjak. Because of the unique nature of the discovered material, the term “Čokan culture” has emerged. Located 180km north of Belgrade, 100km from Novi Sad, 170km west of Romania’s Timisoara, and 60km south of Hungary’s Szeged, it is bordered by
Irig is one of Vojvodina’s smallest municipalities, covering an area of 230 km². The town of Irig is the municipal administrative centre. The municipality of Irig is 60 km from Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla International Airport and 20 km from Novi Sad. Irig is well-connected to all major transport arteries. This multi-ethnic municipality has a population of 12,329. Irig’s economy is very diverse, the most dominant branch being agriculture. Aside from agriculture, there are other economic branches like food and metal processing industries, retail, construction, and catering with developing tourism. The strategic development aim of agriculture in Irig is to adjust the production structure to natural conditions. The ultimate goal is to provide top-quality raw material for the processing industry from primary agricultural production. The metalworking industry is primarily concentrated in Vrdnik, while the Fruška Gora National Park occupies the major part of the municipal territory and is one of the most attractive places in Serbia. The working zone in Irig covers an area of 162
reduced infrastructure costs. Beočin has available plots in the industrial zone that are suitable for both industrial and retail operations. In collaboration with the Belgrade Institute for Agricultural Economics, the local government has compiled a significant document for the development of the municipality and future investors under the title: Strategy for the Development of Beočin municipality.
the municipalities of Novi Kneževac to the north, Kikinda to the east and Senta and Ada to the west. The municipality covers 321km2 and, according to the latest census, is home to 13,832 inhabitants The main industrial sectors in the municipality are: agriculture, metal processing, primary tobacco processing and manufacturing of plastic products. Agriculture is the dominant sector, while municipal revenues from processing and production are below the national average. Agricultural land (arable and fallow) covers an area of 29,000 hectares, or almost 90% of the entire municipality. State-owned land accounts for 12,000 hectares and is mostly used by agricultural enterprises. Čoka has an industrial zone registered as a “vacant construction plot”. The zone is located between Senta and Čoka, just 50 metres from the M24 national road and rail lines and three km from the river Tisza. Tone infrastructure is under construction. The shortest period for obtaining all necessary permits and approvals for construction in this zone is five months.
hectares, with 23 hectares owned by the municipal authorities. There is a plan to build an infrastructure in this zone, suitable for small enterprises. The zone is located near the M-21 main road (Novi Sad – Ruma – Šabac). The zone has electricity and water supply, and the gas supply pipeline is partially complete. All documents and permits can be obtained within 45 days.
contact Desanka Jovičić,
contact Emil Poljak,
contact Vladimir Petrović,
Address: Svеtоsаvskа 25 Place & postcode: Bеоčin 21300 Теl: 021 870537 Еmаil: desanka.jovicic@bеоcin.rs; Url: www.bеоcin.rs Foreign languages: English, German and Russian
Address: Pоtiskа 20, Čоkа 23320 Теl: 0230 71000, Fаx: 0230 71175 Еmаil: оpstinа@cоkа.rs, Url: www.cоkа.rs Foreign languages: English
municipality’s president 1, Vojvode Putnika, 22406 Irig Tel: +381(0)22/461-010, Fax: +381(0)22/462-035 E-mail: soirig@neobee.net, Website: www.irig.rs Languages: English and Russian Vojvodina in Focus | the Investors Guide | 83
inđija
European City Of The Future Inđija is in the region connecting the Danube and Sava basins and is an unavoidable junction on Pan-European Corridor 10 rail and road links. It is also close to Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Airport
Goran Ješić President of the municipality of Inđija
“Inđija was declared the second best destination in Europe at the beginning of March 2012”
Inđija is located in Srem on the southern Anyone seeking a site to launch their new foothills of Fruška Gora. It is located half way business would be best advised to opt for between Belgrade and Novi Sad at the interInđija and enjoy being at the centre of a market section of significant European corridors: highof three million people within a half-hour radiway E75 (Corridor 10) and the River Danube us - in the cities of Belgrade and Novi Sad. They (Corridor 7). This ensures that the town and would also find themselves in a town traditionmunicipality have a very favourable position ally renowned for its craft and industry experin terms of tourism and logistics. According to tise and strong work ethic, located on the wide the 2011 census, it has a population of around plain of central Srem in the region connecting 50,000. the Danube and Sava basins that is also an unaInđija municipality is one of the most devoidable junction on Pan-European Corridor 10 veloped municipalities in Serbia and its leadrail and road links, is close to Belgrade’s Nikola ing economic branches are agriculture, indusTesla Airport and represents a municipality with try, trade and tourism. Inđija is also one of the efficient and modern administration and develmost successful cities in Serbia when it comes oped infrastructure. Nobody here will ask you to attracting investments. what you can do for Inđija, but what Inđija can Inđija owns two fully functional, utility do for you! equipped industrial zones which also have exInđija Municipality does not hesitate over ceptional geographic and transport positions decisions and is ready to meet the needs of in(42km from Belgrade, 35km Novi Sad, 35km vestors, assisting and intervening with the highest state authorities on their beTransparency and publicity in the work half. Inđija’s administration will of the local administration, as a way for be on the side of its investors in negotiations with banks, sup- citizens to measure the performances of the pliers and distributors, domestic local government, have been implemented and international financiers, pothrough the introduction of the online tential partners and consumers.
SISTEM 48
contact: Inđija Municipality Address: Cara Dušana 1 Place & postcode: Inđija 22320 Tel: 022 561311 Fax: 022 560304 Email: kabinet@indjija.net, gjesic@indjija.net Url: www.indjija.net
84 | the Investors Guide | Vojvodina in Focus
from Nikola Tesla Airport, connections to the country’s main transport routes: Corridor 10 (E75 highway: Belgrade-Novi Sad, E-70 highway: Belgrade-Zagreb), the M22/1 national road, R109 regional road: Ruma-Stari Slankamen, as well as rail routes Belgrade–Inđija-Novi Sad-SuboticaBudapest railway and Belgrade–Inđija– Zagreb-Ljubljana, as well as being close to the River Danube. This ensures Inđija is at the very top of Serbia’s offer when it comes to economic potential and investment activities. The main factors of economic development of Inđija, aside from agriculture, are industry and micro businesses. In order to provide space for industrial and micro business development, Inđija’s General Urban Development Plan envisages two city development zones to northeast and southeast of the town of Inđija. Forming industrial zones has enabled the construction of new capacities and the possibility of permanent relocation of all production capacities from the central and residential part of the settlement, which is primarily reflected in the quality of the environment in the town and the quality of work and production conditions. The biggest foreign investors in Inđija are Henkel, Thyssenkroupp, Grundfos, Terraproduction, Metal Cinkara, Energozelena, IGB Automotive, Embassy Group, Fashion Park Outlet centre, Izoterm Plama, Gombit, Tehnoeksport, Martini Construction, Farmina pet foods, Invej, Tradeunique, Gas-teh and many others. Around half a billion euros of FDI have been invested in the Municipality of Inđija, which is the highest percentage of direct investments per capita in the country, earning Inđija the title of the best municipality anywhere in Serbia. Improved conditions for the efficient implementation of projects are provided thanks to the efficiency of the Municipal administration and the simplification of administrative procedures: documents are obtained within a few minutes, business permits are issued on the same day and construction permits are issued within 60-90 days of application, making Inđija’s local administration the most efficient in Serbia.
The planned longterm development of land set aside for the implementation of investment projects (city construction plans – general and detailed), full construction of modern infrastructure, constant increases in the level of efficiency of local administration in the process of project implementation, balanced new incentive measures for investors in accordance with the development plans of the local community, investors’ needs and the planning and management of environmental proInđija owns two fully functional, utility tection. equipped industrial zones which also have Local subsidies exceptional geographic and transport positions and incentives for in42km from Belgrade and 35km Novi Sad vestors are intended to support the hirsues of importance to the functioning of ing of local unemployed workers and inthe local community. This has maximised clude deferred payments of local taxes, rethe efficiency of authorised bodies, pubduced land lease charges and infrastruclic enterprises and establishments tasked ture costs at the investor’s location, diswith resolving such problems within 48 counts for advanced payment for purchase hours or publically establishing a deadline or lease of the location and costs of infrafor resolving the issue in question. structure on the investor’s location, exThe Town of Inđija, as the centre of emptions from obligatory local taxes and one of the most progressive municipalities contributions, based on the increase of the in Serbia, is a town of culture and sport, number of new jobs, investments in devela town that cherishes its sporting spiropment and production increases (tax loan it and has organised major sport events in the amount of new investments), subsi(Universidad 2009, World U17 Football dies on interest rates for investors’ longChampionships etc). term investment loans intended for furIn 2008 Financial Times magazine prether development and free consultancy sented the Municipality of Inđija with an and advisory services for investors in the award and placed it on the list of the top process of project implementation provid25 European destinations for foreign ined by the Local Economic Administration vestments.Inđija Municipality was also Department. declared the second best destination in Transparency and publicity in the work Europe at the beginning of March 2012 as of the local administration, as a way for citpart of the European Cities and Regions of izens to measure the performances of the the Future contest. local government, have been implementWE DON’T PROMOTE OURSELVES. OUR ed through the introduction of the online INVESTORS ARE OUR BEST PROMOTERS.... SISTEM 48, which enables citizens to get SEE YOU IN INĐIJA! ■ involved in the daily resolving of key isVojvodina in Focus | the Investors Guide | 85
kanjiža
Tisza top potential Kanjiža has a river border crossing for commercial vessels and the River Tisza represents a potential international navigable waterway
T
Mihalj Njilaš President the of Municipality of Kanjiža
“A personal assistant is allocated for every investment project”
contact: Address: Glavno trg 1 Place & postcode: Kanjiža 24420 Tel: 024 873442 Fax: 024 873016 Mob: 064 806 2093 Email: invest@kanjiza.rs Url: www.kanjiza.rs/invest Foreign languages: English, German and Hungarian 86 | the Investors Guide | Vojvodina in Focus
vestments: through a five-hectare industrial complex, he municipality of Kanjiža is a border region of disused greenhouse facilities, a range of agricultural northern Vojvodina on the right bank of the River plants or purchases of bankrupt enterprises. Tisza that comprises 13 settlements. It is located The Horgoš Industrial Park covers an area of 25ha alongside Pan-European Corridor 10 and Corridor EGK and is owned by the Municipality of Kanjiža. It has a 4 (River Tisza), while good links with the surrounding detailed regulatory plan and is intended for clean inarea ensure Kanjiža municipality has a favourable podustries, logistics and services. It has direct access to sition: parts of the E75 international highway, national Corridor 10 (highway E75) and the R119 regional road. roads M22.1 and M24, as well as regional roads R119, The River Tisza is nearby and the border crossing with R111 and R119.3. Hungary is just four kilometres away. Construction of Kanjiža has a river border crossing for commerthe entire infrastructure is in progress. cial vessels and the River Tisza represents a potential The Kanjiža Zone covers an area of 3ha and is also international navigable waterway available to counowned by the Municipality. tries on the Danube. A dock It has a detailed regulatofor cargo ships is located in ry plan and is intended for Santa, just 25km from the clean industries and servicseat of Kanjiža Municipality. es. It is passed by two regionThe territory of the mual roads and the River Tisza, nicipality covers an area while the border crossing of 400km2 and is home to is 14km away. The nearest more than 27,000 inhabittrain station is just 500 meants. tres away. The administrative cenThe former GIK tre of the municipality is The municipality of Kanjiža’s Budućnost industrial comthe town of Kanjiža, which traditionally strong industries plex covers an area of five has a population of around are: agriculture, food hectares and is also intend11,000. This town is becomprocessing, production of ed for clean industries, logising ever more recognisable as a centre of regional sigbuilding materials, domestic tics and services. It is accessible via two regional roads nificance, which is contributand international goods (R119 and R111), is two kiled to by the proximity of the haulage and spa tourism ometres from the River Tisza River Tisza and the fact that 14km from the border crossing with Hungary and 500 the Horgoš border crossing (Serbia - Hungary) forms metres from the nearest train station. part of the municipality. The local investment and economic development The municipality of Kanjiža’s traditionally strong office works according to the One-Stop-Shop system. industries are: agriculture, food processing, producIt is characterised by its highly skilled professional tion of building materials, domestic and international staff, efficiency, transparency and the provision of a goods haulage and spa tourism. personal assistance for every investor. The fertile land hides rich reserves of oil, clay, gas Investors are offered specific incentives and exand thermal water below. However, the Municipal auemptions, depending on the level of investment and thorities are conscious of the importance of a healthy number of jobs created. environment and are fully supportive of so-called Depending on the type of investment, permits and green energy alternatives that have the potential for licenses are issued within a few days or a maximum of future projects. six months, according to the One-Stop-Shop system. In addition to exceptional greenfield investment The local Office for Investments and Economic opportunities in the area of the Horgoš Industrial Development provides a personal assistant for every Park (24ha) and the three-hectare Kanjiža Industrial investment project. ■ Zone, there are also opportunities for brownfield in-
Oil & Gas
kikinda
The territory of the district has an extensive road network, with 644 km of asphalted roads, which ensures that Kikinda is well connected to all major transport routes and corridors
K
as such, plays an important role in the economic ikinda is the largest town of the North development of Vojvodina and Serbia. Banat administrative district and alIndustry in the municipality of Kikinda represo its centre of business and administrasents a priority area and is based largely on the tion. Located on the border with Romania, the availability of raw material, production capacities Hungarian border is only 80 kilometres away. and high-quality human resources. The territory of the district has an extensive Industrial production is very diverse and road network, with 644 km of asphalted roads, available production facilities are mainly of a which ensures that Kikinda is well connected to processing nature, with a high degree of prodall major transport routes and corridors. uct finalisation. The municipality of Kikinda is situated on Crude oil production on the territory of the Szeged-Kikinda-Jombolia rail route and the Kikinda accounts for nearly 40% of total crude Kikinda Railway Station is also an internationoil production in Serbia, al border crossing where a while production of natuphyto sanitary inspection ral gas accounts for around operates. 50% of all natural gas proWhen it comes to waduction in Serbia. ter transport, Kikinda is The most significant inpassed by the Danube-Tisadustrial branches here are Danube Canal and has a the metal industry, reploading dock with a capacresented by the Cimos ity of 300-500,000 tonnes Foundry, the construction of bulk cargo. materials industry, through According to the 2011 company Toza Marković, census, Kikinda municipalthe Kikindski mills, food ity has 60,698 inhabitants. industry player Banini, Of that number, accordThe territory of Kikinda ing to data from February municipality is extremely Agropromet Kikinda etc. The Municipality of 2009, 17,773 people are rich in oil and gas, as well as Kikinda has a partially employed and 6,250 are high-quality clay equipped industrial zone unemployed jobseekers. covering an area of 40ha, an 18-hectare agriculInterested parties can access more information tural work zone area, as well as a 43-hectare area about the structure of the workforce via the web intended for sports and tourism facilities. More presentation of the municipality. information about the infrastructure and conIn terms of mineral resources, the territory of ditions for use of these zones can be accessed Kikinda municipality is extremely rich in oil and via the web presentation of the Municipality of gas, as well as high-quality clay. Natural resourcKikinda. es also include fertile land, with arable lad acA One-Stop-Shop has been established uncounting for 70,596ha. der the auspices of the municipal service centre. Solar energy is a particularly interesting reHere investors can obtain all relevant information source, considering that Kikinda is a leader in required for the investment process and launchSerbia regarding the annual number of suning operations in one place. The Municipality of ny hours. This resource has been recognised by Kikinda also offers interested investors all necesseveral foreign solar energy companies that the sary legal, administrative and technical support Municipality of Kikinda is currently negotiating in the preparation and implementation of investjoint investments with. ment activities. ■ Kikinda is an industrially developed area and,
“Openness to investment is the foundation of the municipality’s development”
contact: Department for projects Address: Trg srpskih dobrovoljaca 12 Place & postcode: Kikinda 23300 Tel: 0230 410158 Fax: 0230 410158 Email: borislav.cucic@kikinda.org. rs, info@kikinda.org.rs Url: www. kikinda.rs Vojvodina in Focus | the Investors Guide | 87
Kovačica
Municipality with tourism prospects Purchasing benefits for investors
I
Miroslav Krišan President of the municipality of Kovačica
“It has access to the main roads (R110 and M24)”
contact:
Miroslav Krišan, president
Municipality of Kovačica Address: Maršala Tita 50, 26210 Kovačica Tel: 013 661 122; Fax: 013 661 047 Cabinet of the municipal president: ext. 112 kabinet@kovacica.org Municipal manager for investment: ext. 121 manager@kovacica.org Department for the economy and development: ext. 130 (department head) and ext. 126 (project department, industry, agriculture, tourism) razvoj@kovacica.org 88 | the Investors Guide | Vojvodina in Focus
• As incentive measures for the development of n south-eastern Vojvodina, covering an area of economic activities, the Municipality waives pay419 km2, is the Municipality of Kovačica. To the ment of special environmental protection charges south lies the Municipality of Pančevo, to the for the year of registration for businesses launching east is the municipality Alibunar, to the northeast income activities. (Official Kovacica Gazette 3/2010) is Sečanj Municipality, north is the Municipality of • Registered entities and entrepreneurs who esZrenjanin and to the west lies the Municipality of tablish a company or workOpovo. shop are exempt from the It is located 50 km from company signage tax for one Belgrade, 90 km from Novi year from the date of comSad and around 30 km from pany registration (Official Pančevo. This proximity to maKovacica Gazette 13/2009) jor consumer centres makes it The Municipality of attractive for the development Kovačica’s potential lies in of larger enterprises. tourism, agriculture, food The municipality comprisproduction and processing es eight settlements: Kovačica, (health food, animal fodder inPadina, Debeljača, Crepaja, The Municipality of Uzdin, Samoš, Idvor and Kovačica’s potential lies in dustry), the footwear industry, construction, wood processing Putnikovo. According to the tourism, agriculture, food and the IT sector. As such, inlast census, Kovačica is home production and processing vestment is recommended in to a total of 25,259 residents. (health food, animal fodder these sectors. Some 6,264 of those live in Within the local Services the Town of Kovačica itself. industry), the footwear Its main characteristic industry, construction, wood Centre is a one-stop counter all information and is its great patchwork of naprocessing and the IT sector. offering forms for obtaining building tionalities, with different reppermits and other authorizations. resentatives of various nations and nationalities: The so-called Banat Highway, regional road 41% Slovak, 33.9% Serb, 10.5% Hungarian, 7% M24, passes through the municipality and the setRomanian and other nationalities. The Municipal tlements of Uzdin, Kovačica and Crepaja. All the muStatute of guarantees equal use of the languages and nicipality’s villages are connected via high-quality scripts of Serbs, Slovaks, Hungarians and Romanians local roads. The Kovačica Industrial Zone is in the southwest Kovačica is very well connected to Pančevo and of the town in a designated construction zone. It has Belgrade via the buses of transport company ATP access to the main roads (R110 and M24) and rail Pančevo and private entrepreneurs from Kovačica routes in the municipality. It is also traversed by a ca(bus, van, taxi). nal for industrial purposes. Kovačica, along with the three settlements of Kovačica’s Block 12 Commercial Zone is located Crepaja, Debeljača and Uzdin, are situated along the in the eastern part of the town of Kovačica in a desregional railway line Pančevo-Zrenjanin-Kikinda, or ignated construction zone. Pančevo-Novi Sad (via Orlovat). The East Zone is located in the eastern part of The Municipality of Kovačica is 80 km from Kovačica and exits directly onto regional road R110. Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Airport, though this will It is necessary to re-designate land. Benefits be shortened further upon completion of the come from buying a plot and forming building lots to Debeljača-Opovo road and the so-called “Chinese meet the needs of investors. Bridge” over the Danube. MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL INCENTIVES: This municipality does not have business parks. ■ • No building land development fees!
Plots Awaiting Investors
Kovin
Alongside good road links, Kovin is well connected by rail and has a port on the Danube
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border with neighbouring Romania. ovin occupies a very important strategic loThere is excellent potential for the development cation. The most southerly municipality in of hunting and fishing tourism (Ada Kovin on 650ha, Vojvodina, it is 50km from Belgrade, 30km from Deliblato Sands), while there are also exceptional conPančevo and 12km from Smederevo (less than 15km ditions for generating alternative wind energy. from the Belgrade-Niš Corridor 10 highway). The muThere is an existing military airport that is nicipality is also situated on pan-European Corridor 7 equipped with infrastructure (runways and other faand has 44 km of Danube coastline. cilities) and could be converted for commercial use. The municipality is one of the largest in Serbia The Municipality exempts investors from payterritorially, covering an area of 730km2, including construction land development fees and disposal ing 27,000 hectares covered by the Deliblato Sands charges, as well as offering the option of paying obligSpecial Nature Reserve and 40,000 hectares or araatory charges in several instalments. ble land. Permits are issued within legally-determined timeThe structure of the local economy is represented frames. by the metal processing and pharmaceutical industries, The main investors in production and processing of this municipality are: West medicinal plants and the proPharmaceutical Services, duction of ethyl alcohol and Hemofarm Stada, TE compost for growing mush"Controls" Žilina, Welde garooms. sellshaf mbH, Vienna, Lukoil, The Block 119 Industrial OMV and Continental Wind Zone project is earmarked Partners LLC, London. entirely for the function of All settlements are coneconomic development and nected to the seat of the musustainable use of existing nicipality by a developed resources in the municipality. The spatial plan of the road network and boast elecA detailed regulatory Municipality of Kovin has tricity networks, a gas pipeplan for the Block 119 Zone allocated 300 hectares line and water supply syshas been adopted. The protem, while work is also uncedure for forming plots has of construction land, 120 also been carried out, while hectares of which has been set derway to connect the few the main project design has aside for constructing a port communities currently lacking direct access to the sewbeen completed and conand ancillary facilities. er system. struction permits issued. Significant resources have been invested in infraThe fully-equipped zone will be completed by 2013, structure over the last 3-4 years: construction of 40+ though three quarters of work will be completed durkilometres of roads (local roads and streets in urban ing 2012. A total of 220 million dinars has been proareas) and 80+ kilometres of arterial roads, as well vided for this first phase, with 180 million provided on as the revitalisation of over 90 km of canal networks the basis of a co-financing decision from the Capital and the construction of wind belts. Investment Fund of AP Vojvodina and 40 million from All of this indicates that it is possible to integrate the local budget. all modes of transport in one place close to Belgrade According to the spatial plan of the Municipality of – from road, to water to air – which would be of straKovin, 300 hectares of construction land has been altegic importance not only to Kovin, but the whole of located, 120 hectares of which has been set aside for the South Banat District. constructing a port and ancillary facilities. A fresh investment in ideas that have a realisThe site available for construction and investment tic basis in the exceptional qualities and potential is located two km from the town beside the Danube of the Kovin region would lead to the creation of a and national road Kovin-Smederevo across the bridge unique business and tourist destination in southern over the Danube, while part of it merges with the R113 Vojvodina. ■ regional road (Pančevo-Kovin-Bela Crkva) toward the
Slavko Branković President the of Municipality of Kovin
“The Block 119 Industrial Zone project is earmarked entirely for the function of economic development and sustainable use of existing resources”
contact: Municipal President
Slavko Branković
Address:J.N.A. br.5 Place & post code: 26220 Kovin Tel: 013 742 114; Fax: 013 742 322 Email: predsednik@kovin.org.rs Url: www.kovin.rs
Vojvodina in Focus | the Investors Guide | 89
Kula
Open to New Investors Kula has great agricultural sector potential which has yet to be fully utilized
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Mr Milić Vulović Municipality of Kula
“Great agricultural sector potential which has yet to be fully utilized.”
contact: Mr Milić Vulović
Municipality of Kula Lenjinova 11 25230 Kula Serbia Email: vulovic.milic6@gmail.com; rzdrnja@so-kula.com Tel: + 381 25 751 113; 25 722 273 Url: www.kula.rs 90 | the Investors Guide | Vojvodina in Focus
two years, as well as exemptions from water supply he Municipality of Kula is located in the district and sewerage system connection costs. Potential inof West Bačka on the fertile Vojvodina plains. It vestors can count on receiving all necessary permits has great investment potential, an excellent geand documentation within a deadline of eight to 30 ographical location and is ready to meet the needs days from the submission of valid requests. of new investors Positioned at a crossroads between Novi Sad, Special advantages Sombor and Subotica, it connects the rivers Danube 1. The Municipality of Kula will set aside or lease and Tisa. Some 66 km from the border with Hungary, building land for a rental price below the market valit lies 38 km from the River Danube and the Bogojevo ue or without charge, in accordance with the Law on Port (border with Croatia). The Great Bačka Canal Planning and Construction: runs through the settlements, providing very favour• free of charge, proable conditions for agriculvided the investor employs tural development, tourism 100 or more workers and river transport. • at reduced prices, with Kula has a municipal arreductions of 10 to 90% beea of 481 km2. According low market value, dependto the preliminary results of ing on the number of newthe 2011 census, the municly employed workers ipality’s seven settlements 2. Building land develare home to 44,539 inhabopment fees reduced by: itants. • 50%, provided the inThe E-75 internationvestor employs 100 or more al highway is 14 km away, workers while the M-3 nationThere is also a very suitable • between 35 and 45%, al A-road passes through the municipality. An inter- location for the development provided the investor emnational rail route (Vienna- of spa, sport and recreational ploys between 10 and 99 Budapest-Belgrade) passes infrastructure near the village workers 3. Tax relief for inves10 km from Kula, while the of Kula tors from municipal fees for municipality is traversed by company signage and the protection and advancethe local Sombor-Sivac-Crvenka-Kula-Vrbas railway ment of the environment. (58 km line). 4. Exemption from water supply and sewerage Thanks to its climate and water resources, Kula system connection charges. has great agricultural sector potential which has yet to be fully utilized. Transport The municipality has a total of 91 km of categoIndustrial zone rised roads: 18 km of national roads, 36 km of reDue to its high level of unemployment, the mugional roads and 37 km of local roads, as well as nicipality is willing to meet the needs of potential in12 km of uncategorised roads interconnecting local vestors by forming plots within the industrial zone communities. that will cover a surface area that satisfies the reThere is also a very suitable location for the dequirements of investors. velopment of spa, sport and recreational infrastructure near the village of Kula, on an area covering 25 Investor incentives hectares (under municipal ownership) within the The municipality has also prepared business in"Razvala" tourist and recreational area. centives for investors, offering reductions of up to The Municipality of Kula is a multiethnic and 50% on building land fees, exemptions from municmulticultural community where diversity is fostered ipal taxes for company signage, charges for environand protected. ■ mental protection and advancement over the next
Business park developing – third investor arrives
MALI IĐOŠ
The Municipality of Mali Iđoš is one of the smallest municipalities in Vojvodina, covering just 18,100 ha and comprising three settlements: Mali Iđoš, Lovćenac and Feketić.
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a pole transformer station that can be utilised by investors. Early 2011 saw the completion of construction of a water source provider, with water now sourced and water mains currently being developed throughout the zone. From 2012 metropolitan netaccess to major cities works have been secured and construction of the Mali Iđoš is located 48 km from Subotica and 50 main road through the zone "European Way" has km from Novi Sad. been completed and now links The municipality’s commuthe park to regional road M22 nities are connected via the via a roundabout. M22 Subotica-Belgrade motorProperty can be designed way, while a kilometre from the and reconstructed, while village of Feketić is the new innew facilities can be built. ternational highway E75, which Engineering, financial and tax connects Serbia and Hungary consulting, market research, and is currently the most importrade sales and marketing activtant link between Southern and ities etc. are also carried out at Central Europe. This highway the business park. has an entry-exit ramp near the Investors can receive convillage of Feketic and a future struction and reconstruction entry-exit ramp at Mali Iđoš. The permits within 48 hours, proclose proximity of an internavided their main project matetional EU border provides very rial is complete. favourable conditions for the Incentives for investors in construction and development the zone: a five-year waiver on of the business park located in a triangle between the highway The municipality’s economy company signage taxation. The municipality’s economy E75, regional road M22 and the is largely based on southern outskirts of the village agriculture, with companies is largely based on agriculture, with companies and local farms of Feketić. and local farms producing producing wheat, corn and sugThe municipality is well connected with the surrounding wheat, corn and sugar beet. ar beet. Agricultural production is of great importance to the further development of smaller municipalities of Vrbas, Srbobran and Backa the food industry, but there are also opportunities Topola, which are just 12 to 16 km away. for the establishment of small and medium-sized craft enterprises. Business park The municipality has a large number of skilled At the very heart of Vojvodina, in the triangle workers in the leather, metal and food industries, between Highway E75, regional road M22 and the which are already traditional sectors in the municsouthern part of the village of Feketić, is the Small ipality. Steps Industrial Park, which has been prepared comSignificant companies that have so far inpletely for lease by local and foreign investors. vested in our community include: PTP Julia Mlin The industrial zone covers an area of 40 hecLtd., Wienerberger, Agrokons, Građamont, Montel, tares in the initial phase, with half the area equipped Montrom, Chik-Prom, Big-Chick, Agriromagna and in terms of infrastructure. DTD Ribarstvo (Fisheries). ■ Since 2010 the centre of the park has boasted he municipality is located near the international highway linking Belgrade and Budapest, which eases travel and transport.
Róbert Csóré President the of Municipality of Mali Iđoš
“At the very heart of Vojvodina”
contact: Zita Nagy
project manager, Small Steps Industrial Zone Address: Glavna 32, Mali Iđoš, Vojvodina, Serbia Tel: 024 730 214 Email: opstina.maliidos@gmail.com; small.steps.doo@gmail.com Url: www.maliidos.com; www.kishegyes.com; www.small-steps.com Languages: Serbian, Hungarian, English, German Vojvodina in Focus | the Investors Guide | 91
nova crnja
novi bečej
novi kneževac
Agriculture dominant
Welcoming Investors
Urban and Rural Opportunities
More than half of the population (52.7%) earns a living from agriculture and related activities
The municipality of Novi Bečej disposes of two industrial zones
The municipal authorities can offer substantial incentives to potential investors
The municipality of Nova Crnja is located in northeast Banat and belongs to the district of Central Banat. To the west and northwest it borders the municipality of Kikinda, to the south it neighbours the municipality Žitište and to the east the municipality is bordered by Romania. Nova Crnja municipality covers an area of 273km2 and is home to 12,924 inhabitants. The residents of Nova Crnja are mainly en-
The municipality of Novi Bečej is situated in the valley of the Tisa River. It covers an area of 60,860 hectares, and lies on the left bank of the Tisa River, 66 kilometres from the Danube estuary. Novi Bečej is the only town whose centre is located on the river itself. The municipality has a well-developed infrastructure, including road and railway transport, energy, utilities, telecommunication and IT facilities. Aside from the international river route, Novi Bečej is connected to the Danube River via a network of canals. A railway line passes through all towns and villages in the municipality connecting Belgrade and Timisoara via Pančevo, Zrenjanin and Kikinda, and Szeged via Subotica. Although Novi Bečej is mainly an agricultural municipality, there are only a few plants processing agricultural produce. The most developed industrial branch is the production of construction materials, while there are also textile, chemical, metal and food processing industries. There are clay deposits suitable for the production of construction materials, thermal springs, natural carbon-dioxide and gas deposits, as well as an abundant cultural and histor-
The municipality of Novi Kneževac is located in the far north section of Banat County. The state border with Hungary is also the municipality’s north border. In the south, the municipality borders with Čoka. In the east, it borders with Romania, while the Tisa River constitutes its western border. The bridge on the river (between Novi Kneževac and Kanjiža), along with the one between Čoka and Senta, plays an important role
ganged in agriculture, with more than half of the population (52.7%) earning a living from agriculture and related activities. The Municipality has 2,600ha of arable land, which is normally available to lease. The municipality has four sites suitable for industrial zones. The first covers more than five hectares and has complete infrastructure. The second is an area of 11ha suitable for the processing industry. The third area covers 10ha with complete infrastructure and is the most suitable location for tourist indusrtry investments, due to its thermal springs that have been included in a feasibility study complete with data on water composition, quality and temperature. The fourth site is a former sugar refinery. It is fully equipped in terms of infrastructure and has excellent manufacturing facilities. Reasonale prices for construction land are an advantage for potential investors. The local authorities recommend investments in land regulating and the tourism industry. All required local permits can be obtained within a month.
ical heritage. The municipality of Novi Bečej disposes of two industrial zones. In order to stimulate economic growth, investments. and the preservation of cultural heritage, and to create new jobs and improve environmental protection, investors can be exempt from paying a land development fee, providing they meet certain criteria.
in connecting north Banat to Bačka. Also, this section is a part of an international transit route that leads to the Horgoš-Reske border crossing. Currently, a road between Crna Bara and Novi Kneževac is being built, which is a section of the future Banat Highway. Municipal authorities recommend the following branches for investing: food processing, agriculture, and production of compost and bio-gas from agricultural waste. Due to the municipality’s proximity to Hungarian and Romanian border, there is a great potential for development of tourism, both urban and rural. There is a work zone in the municipality which stretches across 12 hectares. The various land plots are suitable for light industries like food processing. The industrial zone has a partial infrastructure. The municipal authorities can offer substantial incentives to potential investors, including a reduced rent fee for land plots, dependant on the number of local people employed.
contact Pеrа Мilаkоv,
contact Miša Vrebalov,
contact Dragan Babić,
Deputy Mayor, Vlаdimir Brаkus, Local Economic Development Office, Address: ЈNА 110, Nоvа Crnjа 23218, Теl: 023 815030, Fаks: 023 815722 Еmаil: sоnc@gimеlnеt.rs, Url: www.sоnоvаcrnjа.оrg.rs Foreign languages: English and Hungarian
Deputy President of Municipality 8, Žarka Zrenjanina, 23272 Novi Bečej Tel: +381(0)23/772-320 Fax: +381(0)23/772-550 Website: www.novibecej.rs
President of the Municipality Kralja Petra I Karađorđevića 1, 23330 N. Kneževac Tel: +381(0)230/81-031, Fax: +381(0)230/82-076 predsednik@noviknezevac.org.rs, www.noviknezevac.rs Languages: English and Hungarian
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novi sad
odžaci
pančevo
Incentives for Investors
Favourable location
Exceptional Strategic Position
All investors operating in Novi Sad and its surroundings have duty-free access to a market of a billion consumers
Developing agricultural is one of the municipality’s key development goals
City-owned construction land is not occupied for the most part
Novi Sad is a regional administrative, academic, business, cultural, tourism and trade fair centre, with a proactive city government that stimulates and supports the development of a modern economy. With 48,000 students, the University of Novi Sad is the second largest university centre in Serbia, enabling the city to offer a skilled workforce in many areas. An exceptional geographical position on the Danube (Corridor 7) and Corridor 10 (highways E70 and E75), excellent transport links, developed infrastructure, existing free zones and international FTAs allow duty-free access to markets of over a billion consumers. Novi Sad has attractive locations available for various activities in seven industrial zones equipped in terms of infrastructure. Access the city’s list of available sites with descriptions via www.novisadinvest.rs/sh/ slobodne-lokacije. The City offers investor incentives in the form of significant reductions on charges for land development, as well as
Odžaci is located in West Bačka County. It covers an area of 41,115.89 ha, 85.56% of which is arable land, while 4.94% is covered by forests. According to the latest census, the municipality is home to 30,196 residents. Odžaci has an extremely favourable geostrategic location thanks to its proximity to international borders with the Republic of Croatia (23 km from the Bogojevo-Erdut cross-
The town of Pančevo is located in southern Vojvodina at the estuary of the Tamiš and Danube rivers and is the economic, cultural, and administrative centre of South Banat and one of the most important industrial centres in Serbia. The town covers an area of 755 square kilometres. It is only 15 kilometres from Belgrade, and 40 kilometres from Nikola Tesla International Airport. Since the pan-European Corridors 7 and 10 run through this area, the town of Pančevo has an exceptional strategic position. It also has goodquality road and railway links to Belgrade. Also, the town lies at the estuary of the Tamiš and Danube rivers. The most important economy branches here are oil processing, production of plastic materials, mineral fertilizer production, agriculture, and the textile and fashion industry. It also has one of the biggest municipal budgets in Serbia. Pančevo is the biggest petro-chemical centre in the Balkans, as well as a metal processing centre. Pančevo has 60,000 hectares of high quality arable land. City-owned construction land is not occupied
financial incentives for job creation. The City also offers long-term leases under beneficial conditions in newly constructed production facilities and office buildings in the Rimski Šančevi Zone. The dominant branches are manufacturing/processing, trade, transport and the ICT sector.
ing) and Hungary (60 km from the Bački Breg crossing). The Municipality of Odžaci has nine commercial zones, the most attractive of which as an investment destination is the industrial zone. This zone is located 35 km from Corridor 10 (highway E75) and regional road M3. The predominant industries are chemicals, food and textiles. The local Sustainable Development Strategy of Odžaci recognises the development of agricultural as one of the municipality’s key development goals. The most common educational profiles in the municipality relate to economics, textiles, chemicals and trade. The municipality currently offers incentives in the form of reduced construction land development charges. Investors can receive all necessary permits and documentation within 60 days of applying. This municipality does not have business parks.
for the most part, while detailed spatial plans have been drawn up. The locations’ advantages are their close proximity to the river and port on the Danube River. If we are talking about infrastructure, there are water and sewage systems in place, as well as a telecommunications network, a high voltage electricity grid, a gas supply (in most locations), and good access to main and regional roads.
contact Zoran Ivošević,
contact Predrаg Cvetаnović,
contact Vesna Martinović, Mayor,
Office for local economic development Trg slobode 1, 21000 Novi Sad Tel: 021 480 77 10 Email: kler@novisad.rs Url: www.novisadinvest.rs
Address: Knez Mihаjlovа 24, Odžаci 25250 Tel: 025 5743 211, Fax: 025 5742 396 Email: klerodzaci@gmail.com Url: www.odzaci.rs
Andjelija Cvetić, LER Andjelija.cvejic@pancevo.rs 2-4, Trg kralja Petra I, 26000 Pančevo Tel/fax: +381(0)13/346-393; 343 222 E-mail: gradonacelnik@pancevo.rs, Website: www.pancevo.rs Vojvodina in Focus | the Investors Guide | 93
Opovo
Healing Mud Mud from this site can be used to treat rheumatic and genitourinary disorders
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Milorad Soldatović President the of Municipality of Opovo
“Opovo cultivates the white pumpkin, which is synonymous with healthy organic food”
contact: Milorad Soldatović
Address: Borisa Kidriča 10 Place & post code: Opovo 26204 Tel: 013 681030 Fax: 013 6810202 Email: midola@3dnet.rs Foreign languages: English
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New plots are intended for the development of povo municipality is located in South business facilities ranging from 900m² to 1800m² Banat district, just 30km from Belgrade on a total area of 35,490m². and Pančevo and 40km from Zrenjanin. The location of the industrial zone is in the viIt covers an area of 203km² and is inhabited by cinity of the Zrenjanin-Pančevo regional road. 11,016 inhabitants in four settlements: Baranda, A rich raw material base and favourable loOpovo, Sakule and Sefkerin. All settlements are location provide the opportunity for development cated on the left bank of the River Tamiš. of the food processing industry. Farms in the muThe Belgrade-Zrenjanin regional road is situatnicipality of Opovo produce up to 10,000 litres ed three kilometres from the centre of the municof milk per day, 7,000 units of fattening pigs per ipality, as is pan-European Corridor 10. The R124 year (700 tonnes of meat), thus there is a reasonVršac-Pančevo-Zrenjanin regional road also passes able basis for investment in industrial plants for through the municipality, while Belgrade’s Nikola the wholesale purchase and processing of milk Tesla Airport is 50km away. and the construction of processing facilities. The Thanks to its natural resources, the most comMunicipality does not have mon industry is agriculture. any business incubators. The River Tamiš, with its reIt is also important serves of medicinal mud to note cultivation of the and ethno-cultural heritwhite pumpkin, which is age, provides a genuine basynonymous with healthy sis for the development of organic food. tourism. The Municipality A site of healing mud believes tourism could be (peloids) can be found an engine for growth and in the village of Baranda. places special emphasis on Analysis has confirmed the interconnectedness of that mud from this site agriculture and tourism. A high quality road network may be used to treat rheuThe municipality has an links settlements and there matic diseases, genito-uriextremely favourable location and is well connectare good road links and access nary diseases, conditions ed to other urban centres, to existing industrial zones, as caused by physical trauma similar disorders. meaning it could be interwell as water, telephone and andThe main idea is to utiesting and attractive to pointernet networks lise this medicinal mud in tential investors. the context of a modern spa centre. The construction of industrial zone is planned The project ‘Regulation of the Tamiš banks for beyond the existing construction area on land lofishing tourism’ envisages the construction of a cated on the territory of MZ Baranda, some two kilchalet settlement and other facilities. The intenometres from the town of Opovo and a kilometre tion is to take full advantage of the potential of from Baranda on a surface area of 15.14ha. the Tamiš. Plans envisage supporting new commercial A high quality road network links settlements zones with the forming of a complex with 25 new and there are good road links and access to existbuilding plots intended for warehousing facilities ing industrial zones, as well as water, telephone for raw materials and finished products. The zone and internet networks. A project has been develis earmarked for activities including the processoped to construct a sewerage network within the ing, production and storage of raw materials and IPA cross-border cooperation programme with finished products, with support facilities related to Romania and in the near future the Municipality production and employment. will provide funding for the construction of sewRaw materials to be used within new commerers – with only around 100 connections currentcial complexes in the industrial zone would be ly in the narrow centre of the village of Opovo. ■ sourced from domestic agricultural production.
Low Taxes
pećinci
All investors receive the same treatment, which means that from the first contact they gain the support of the local government
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vestment in the municipality to date, in terms of he Municipality of Pećinci is located in volume of jobs created and level of investment, Srem and has a very favourable geographis that of German company Bosch. ic location. Close to Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Until the year 2000 the municipality had a Airport, diversified natural resources and close low level of infrastructural development, but proximity to Obedska Bara nature reserve are since then the allocation of significant resourcjust part of the natural and economic potential es has seen much done to improve water supof Pećinci. The northern part of the municipality ply and electricity, as well as is traversed by highway E70, revitalising the road network. part of Pan-European Corridor The installing of sewage and 10, a major European transgas supply networks is unport route communication derway. Of course, much rethat connects Pećinci with mains to be done to bring inmarkets of millions. frastructure to a satisfactory The municipality has level in all areas of the muabout 2,000 hectares of land nicipality. plots intended for the conPećinci is well connectstruction of commercial builded to the road network, esings that are spread throughpecially Corridor 10, Nikola out the territory of the muTesla Airport and also large nicipality. The greatest interurban centres Belgrade and est is certainly in those areNovi Sad. The River Sava runs as that are along the highway The greatest interest through the southern part of corridor and the Municipality is certainly in those the municipality and the lois continually equipping these areas that are along cal government plans to uticommercial zones, thereby lise part of the Sava and take creating conditions for the arthe highway corridor rival of investors. and the Municipality is advantage of the opportunioffered by river traffic. All investors receive the continually equipping all tiesThe Municipality is comsame treatment, which means commercial zones mitted to establishing comthat from first contact to the mercial zones in the true sense of the word, as commencement of operations they are supthey provide much broader opportunities for ported by the local government’s Agency for the doing business, from manufacturing to the servDevelopment of the Municipality of Pećinci. The ice sector and logistics centres. Municipality is committed to providing efficient Two things not yet mentioned that demand administration and low local fees for land developattention are tourism and agriculture. Tourism is ment in order to create conditions for job creation. developing because the territory of the municiSpatial planning documents have been compality includes the Obedska Bara special nature piled and corridors have been provided for the reserve, as well as 10,000 hectares of forestconstruction of necessary infrastructure, in acland and important cultural and historical moncordance with the requirements of investors, uments. Agriculture is another important segthus enabling the rapid issuing of building perment, simply because the municipality relied mits. Provided complete documentation is subheavily on agriculture until the year 2000 and mitted, the Municipal Administration can generstill has 30,000 hectares of agricultural land. So ally issue building permits in a shorter period far the local government has run programmes than the eight days specified by law. aimed at advancing agricultural production and About fifty companies operate on Pećinci’s plans to continue to do so in ever greater volterritory and all investors are deemed important ume in the future. ■ by the Municipality. The latest and biggest in-
SINIŠA VUKOV President the of Municipality of Pećinci
“Tourism is developing because the territory of the municipality includes the Obedska Bara special nature reserve”
contact: Siniša Vukov
municipal president Address: Slobodana Bajića 5 Place & pstcode: Pećinci 22410 Tel: 022 400740 Email: opstina@pecinci.org Url: www.pecinci.org Vojvodina in Focus | the Investors Guide | 95
RUMA
Rubber Industry The Municipality sees a significant advantage in major energy resources and electrical energy facilities are almost unlimited, which provides stability and safety
T Gоrаn Vukоvić President of the municipality of Ruma
“Infrastructure across the territory of the municipality is excellent”
contact: Gorаn Vuković
Address: Glаvnа 155 Place & postcode: Rumа 22400 Tel: 022 478314 Fax: 022479588 Mob: 069720130 Email: predopruma@ruma.rs Url: www.ruma.rs Foreign languages: English, German, Italian and Russian
96 | the Investors Guide | Vojvodina in Focus
he Municipality of Ruma is situated at the heart of the flat and fertile plains of Srem, between the rivers Danube and Sava, at the foot of Mount Fruška Gora. It covers an area of 582km² and is home to around 56,000 inhabitants – half in the town of Ruma and half in the municipality’s remaining 16 settlements. Ruma differs from other Vojvodina primarily due to its excellent geographic location. Situated between the country’s two largest cities, Novi Sad and Belgrade, Ruma is only 30km from Nikola Tesla Airport and has large industrial, cultural and tourism potentials. The fact that highway E70 and the international railroad (Corridor 10) pass the outskirts of the town ensures that the municipality of Ruma is directly linked to western and southeast Europe. Ruma’s close proximity to the Fruška Gora National Park, the Sava and Danube rivers and the Gomolava and Basijana archaeological sites, as well as the Borkovac urban resort, ensure that Ruma has excellent tourism potential and could become a tourist and sports centre with facilities for rest and recreation. Great tourism potential also relates to the nearby Fruška Gora’s 18 monasteries, which represent a unique cultural heritage. The local economy is traditionally linked to the rubber and associated footwear industries. The largest company in the municipality is the former Rumaguma, which now operates under the auspices of Czech company Mitas.
Alongside the rubber industry, the most common sectors are footwear manufacturing and leather processing, while wood processing has also begun developing recently. The local education structure covers three secondary schools specialising in vocational training in electrical, mechanical, textile and footwear industries, as well as all profiles related to the agriculture and food industries. High schools providing four years of secondary education in Ruma include the town’s High School and School of Economics. The average gross income per capita for April 2012 totalled 51,792RSD. The Municipality of Ruma has several industrial zones. The Rumska Petlja (Ruma Junction) Industrial Zone is location at the junction of the highway E70 and the M21 national road (Novi Sad - Šabac). It covers an area of 238 hectares and is owned by the Municipality. Equipped with an electricity network and a water supply system, it is serviced by an access road and a project to install gas connections is currently being implemented. The zone is divided into blocks with internal service roads and can be used for all commercial/industrial activities ex-
The Borkovac urban resort and lake is currently being fitted with one of the most modern sports facilities in the Balkans, including an Olympic swimming pool
a strong work ethic and high culture of work. Corridor 10 highway E70, which connects Ruma cept the production and transportation of hazWith 6,000 workers currently unemployed in to western and southeast Europe. ardous materials. Ruma, selecting required staff is possible and The entire territory of the municipality is covIndustrial Zone West (Zapad) is fully the available workforce should be able to meet ered by an electricity network, water supply sysequipped in terms of infrastructure and is also the needs of various employers. tem and gas infrastructure. The town has a sewowned by the Municipality. This industrial zone is It is certainly worth noting that investors age system, while work on a project to install a already home to some of Ruma’s most important who decide to invest in Ruma are provided sewage network to service rural settlements is industrial facilities and the construction of new with the maximum state subsidies for hiring underway. The entire municipality is covered by ones is currently being carried out by UK companew workers. internet and telephone connections. ny Agena, Insert d.o.o. (producer of footwear upPotential investors are offered certain inpers for the world's largest footwear brands) and The municipality’s southern boundary is centives that vary depending on the envisAdriana (part of Italy’s Calzedonia Group) . the River Sava (37km) and the construction of aged number of employees and relate to redocking facilitates in neighbouring Šabac and The South (Jug) II Industrial Zone was reduced/deferred fees for the allocation of availSremska Mitrovica ensure river transportation cently formed. It sprawls over an area of 400 ha and is a joint venture owned partly by the state and partly by private owners. The zone is currently being equipped in terms f infrastructure, with all necessary utility connections already reaching the edge of the Jug II zone. The Municipality sees a significant advantage in major energy resources, with electrical energy facilities almost unlimited and a twoway supply provided, which ensures stability and safety. All of the municipality’s settlements and industrial zones are fitted with gas con- Potential investors are offered certain incentives that vary depending nections, thus ensuring gas eneron the envisaged number of employees and relate to reduced/ gy is available to all potential invesdeferred fees for the allocation of available construction land tors. Reserves of thermal water with able construction land. It is also possible to rea temperature exceeding 60ºC are present at is available to businesses. duce or waive local utility connection taxes – depths and in quantities suitable for exploitaApart from industry, the potential of touragain on the level of investment and number tion. This water also represents an extremely ism in Ruma is also significant. The Borkovac of jobs created. reliable energy resource. urban resort and lake is currently being fitted The time required to obtain all local municThe tradition of industrial production that with one of the most modern sports facilities ipal permits is reduced to a minimum and only developed here in the second half of the 20th in the Balkans, including an Olympic swimming lasts as long as it takes the applicant to prepare century guarantees a quality workforce with pool, tennis courts and pitches for volleyball, and submit all required documentation. basketball, football and handball. This project Several significant investors have alcreates new possibilities for the development ready started doing business in Ruma, includof sports and recreational tourism. ing: Czech company Mitas, which successfulThe Municipality of Ruma has launched ly privatised Rumaguma, the Agena company, a major revitalisation project for the Trskovac which is currently building a factory in the West Swamp – a nature reserve of rare plant and anIndustrial Zone, company Adriana, which is part imal species. of the Calzedonia Group, and many more. The close proximity of Mount Fruška Gora and the Basijana and Gomolava archaeological Infrastructure across the territory of the musites represent an opportunity for the municinicipality is excellent. As well as a comprehenpality of Ruma to develop cultural tourism. sive network of local and regional roads linking Ruma is also known as a city of festivals, Ruma to all neighbouring municipalities (Inđija, with such events regularly organised. These inŠabac, Sremska Mitrovica etc.), there is also the clude local or international festivals of great M21 national road connecting Ruma with Novi tambura orchestras, choirs, folk ensembles and Sad, the Mačva district and neighbouring Bosnia amateur theatres. ■ & Herzegovina and, of course, Pan-European Vojvodina in Focus | the Investors Guide | 97
plandište
sečanj
senta
Advantageous Land Leasing
Transit Tourism Potential
Dock on the Tisza
The land lease price is favourable and is linked to the type of facility and length of lease
The municipality of Sečanj is situated in the northeast part of Serbia in Central Banat County
The Municipality of Senta is located in northeast Bačka, in the northern part of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina
The Municipality of Plandište is in the north-eastern part of South Banat District and is surrounded by the municipalities of Sečanj Alibuar and Vršac. To the east it borders Romania, while to the west of the municipality is the Danube-Tisza-Danube Canal. Plandište is home to about 12,000 inhabitants in 14 settlements. Agriculture is the most important economic branch. The area was once known for its textiles and plastic mass industries. According to the records
The municipality of Sečanj is situated in the northeast part of Serbia in Central Banat County, in the east of the autonomous province of Vojvodina. It takes up 523 square kilometres and has 16,377 inhabitants. Sečanj is the administrative centre of the municipality. The municipality borders with Romania and the municipalities of Žitište, Zrenjanin, Kovačica, Alibunar, and Plandište. Sečanj is located on the first-class state route M-7.1 and the Zrenjanin-Sečanj-Plandište-Vršac railway line. Sečanj is 95 kilometres north of Belgrade, 87 kilometres from Novi Sad and is also only 14 kilometres from the border with Romania. The municipality disposes of natural potentials like arable land, water resources, rawmaterials, substantial deposits of clay used in brick production, and has all the prerequisites for hunting, fishing, sports, recreational, cultural, and transit tourism development. The main economic activity here is agriculture. There are available capacities for oil plants and crop storage and the municipality has a plan to create a fishing location and open a beach in Krajišnik, as
Senta covers an area of 293.4 km2 and is home to 25,568 inhabitants. The municipality is traversed by the M24 national road and regional road R140, which connects with international highway E75 some 38 km from Senta. An international dock is located on the River Tisza here and is equipped to handle all kinds of general cargo. The main commercial activities in the municipality cover haulage, storage and communication, tour-
of the National Employment Service, most adult residents have completed primary and secondary education. There is a commercial zone covering 26 ha. Part of it is already under lease, but around seven hectares are still available. The zone is equipped with access roads and sewers/drainage, while the construction of substations and connection to the water substation is currently underway. The land lease price is favourable and is linked to the type of facility and length of lease. It ranges from 0.08 to 0.14 dinars per squaremetre per month. The municipal authorities can issue a building permit within two days of application, provided the investor has all required documentation. Renewable energy companies Vindija Varazdin and Elektrovind Ltd. are present in the municipality and a wind farm is under construction. In terms of infrastructure, we have electricity, utilities (water, gas, sewage) and telecommunications networks. Plandište has no business parks. The M7/1 road (33 km), the Vršac-Zrenjanin rail route and the Danube-Tisza-Danube Canal all pass through the municipality.
well as one on the Tamiš River. Currently, the municipality is pinning its hopes on making the Northwest Work Zone in Sečanj functional. The zone covers 52 hectares of land (36 hectares available for lease). Municipal authorities have drawn up a detailed regulation plan, the zone has electricity, and works are being done on connecting it to the gas supply.
ism, hospitality, wholesale and retail trade, construction, power generation, water and gas, agriculture, forestry and water management. Senta Municipality has four industrial zones that are all fully equipped. Industrial Zone West (Zapad) Zone size: 38 ha, Occupied area: 37 ha Available area: 1 ha Industrial zone south (Jug) Zone size: 125 ha, Occupied area: 79 ha Available area: 26.5 ha Industrial zone Senta Zone size: 20.31 ha equipped like the previous two zones Occupied area: 0 ha Available Area: 20.31 ha The main facilities of the Kasarana zone cover an area of three hectares, with rhe land having been returned in May of this year. The complex is located in the urban part of town and the facilities are to be used for the purposes of developing and fostering economic investment.
contact Rodika Grujesku,
contact Dejana Milošević,
contact Dragana Radonjić, Head
Address: Vojvode Putnika 38, Plandište 26360 Tel : 013 861033, 861035, Fax: 013 861134, 861035 Email : centrala@3dnet.rs,Url: www.plandiste-opstina.rs Foreign languages: English, Russian, Romanian, Hungarian, Slovakian
Head of the Economy Department Vožda Karađorđa 57, 23240 Sečanj, Tel: +381(0)23/842-066, Mob: +381(0)64/802-34-14, E-mail: mdejana@beotel.net, Website: www.sosecanj.rs.
of the Office for Local Economic Development Address: Glavni Trg 1, Senta 24400 Tel/Fax: 024 655462, Mob: 064 19 225 25 Email: odeljenjezaprivredu@zenta-senta.co.rs Url: www.zenta-senta.co.rs
98 | the Investors Guide | Vojvodina in Focus
sombor
sremski karlovci
temerin
Transport and Food
Economically Diverse
EU Border Nearby
The military airport is designed to cater for civilian traffic and could be an alternative airport
The municipality of Sremski Karlovci is the smallest municipality in the autonomous province of Vojvodina
Temerin is only 100 kilometres from the EU border, 80 kilometres from Belgrade, and 7 kilometres from Novi Sad
The City of Sombor is situated in the far northwest of Serbia. It is linked to neighbouring Croatia via the Bezdan and Bogojevo border crossings and Hungary via the Bački Breg border. It is 175km away from Belgrade. Located between pan-European corridors 7 and 10, it links regional road and rail traffic with the international river port and customs at Bezdan on Corridor 7 (the River Danube). It has a developed
The municipality of Sremski Karlovci is the smallest municipality in the autonomous province of Vojvodina, it covers an area of 5,054 hectares. The municipality has an exceptionally situated. It lies at the very northeastern part of Srem County at the foot of the Fruška Gora along the bank of the Danube River. Novi Sad is 10 kilometers away and Belgrade only 65 kilometres. The economic branches in Sremski Karlovci are diverse and include construction materials production, metal processing, textile industry, transport, and retail. Tourist capacities in Sremski Karlovci are also continuously developing. A master plan for the development of tourism has been written. The municipality has four separate areas for various purposes. The first area (3.23 hectares) and is ideal for tourist and sports activities. The second area, nearly 3 hectares, is also suitable for sports and recreational activities. The third area (6 hectares) is ideal for tourist and general-purpose business activities. 1.5 hectares is designated for a beach. The fourth area (5 hectares) is an ideal loca-
The municipality of Temerin covers an area of 170 square kilometres, has a population of approximately 20,000 and is located in the southeast part of Bačka. In the east, it borders with the municipality of Žabalj, in the north with the municipality of Srbobran, in the west with the municipality of Vrbas, and in the south with the city of Novi Sad. Temerin is only 100 kilometres from the EU border, 80 kilometres from Belgrade, and 7 kilometres from Novi
network of local, regional and national roads, as well as a passenger and freight rail hub. It neighbours Subotica, Vrbas, Bogojevo and Apatin. The military airport is designed to cater for civilian traffic, thus the possibility exists to develop air transport and it could have a role as an alternative airport. The production of healthy and fresh food, which could be delivered to any part of Europe within 24 hours, has excellent prospects in the Sombor area. The industrial zone covers an area of 500 ha in the vicinity of the Great Bačka Canal and is almost fully equipped. Potential investors are provided with various benefits and all interested investors are allocated a person responsible for assisting in the implementation and monitoring of investments. Sombor has no business parks. The Municipalty grants operating licenses within 24 hours of the submission of applications that include all required documentation. Sombor has potential for the development of agriculture, tourism and traditional crafts.
tion for fishermen and weekend houses. The municipality has a work zone covered by a detailed regulation plan. The Provincial Secretariat for Science and Technology Development provides incentives in terms of giving grants for equipment used by investors that invest in the municipality of Sremski Karlovci. The condition is that investments have to be made in advance technology.
contact Mihael Plac,
contact Milenko Filipović,
Address: Trg Cara Uroša 1, Sombor 25000 Tel: 025 468111 / 468160, Fax: 025 468156 Email: klersombor@gmail.com Url: www.sombor.rs
Municipal President , Vladimir Žeravica, Economy and Agriculture Executive Officer Trg Branka Radičevića 1, 21205 Sremski Karlovci Tel: +381(0)21/6853-000, Fax: +381(0)21/6853-077 E-mail:sremkarl@eunet.rs, Web: www.sremski-karlovci.org.rs
Sad. Having Novi Sad, the most developed economic centre in Vojvodina, nearby has certainly contributed to the municipality’s development so far and will continue to be a driving factor in its growth. The biggest economic potentials lie in agriculture, metalworking, trade, services, and others. When it comes to the revenue it generates, agriculture is a very important economic branch. The municipality of Temerin disposes of 15,748 hectares of agricultural land, which represents 92.8% of the entire municipality’s territory. Most of this land is plough land and vegetable gardens. Orchards and vineyards comprise 100 hectares. Following agricultural reforms, cooperatives were established and they currently manage 27% of the entire agricultural land, including land owned by the municipality of Temerin (2,746 hectares of it). Today, there are close to 1,000 enterprises in the municipality, employing over 1,700 workers. The shortest possible period necessary for obtaining all required building permits and approvals is six months.
contact Guszton András, President of the Municipality of Temerin. 326, Novosadska, 21235 Temerin Tel: +381(0)21/843-888; Fax: +381(0)21/842-792 predsednik@temerin.rs, www.temerin.rs Languages: Hungarian and English Vojvodina in Focus | the Investors Guide | 99
sremska mitrovica
City Of Roman Emperors The dominant branches of industry are manufacturing and food processing, wholesale trade, agriculture and, recently, the automotive industry
S
Branislav Nedimović President the of Municipality of Sremska Mitrovica
“Sremska Mitrovica was founded on the site of the ancient Roman city of Sirmium”
contact: Danijela Međedović
Svetog Dimitrija br. 13 22000 Sremska Mitrovica Tel: 022/610-572 Fax:022/610-562 E-mail : smkler@gmail.com www.sremskamitrovica.org.rs
100 | the Investors Guide | Vojvodina in Focus
located alongside highway E70. remska Mitrovica is located in northwest • Jezero (Lake) Industrial Zone – 240,000m2, Serbia and southwest Vojvodina. It has direct consisting of six parcels, owned by the Municipality access to highway E70 and indirect access to of Sremska Mitrovica, located alongside the R103 highway E75 via Belgrade. It also has direct access Sremska Mitrovica – Šabac regional road. to the international rail line connecting Vienna All industrial zones are covered by required and Thessaloniki, which is part of Pan-European planning acts and the Town offers investors exCorridor 10. Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Airport is loemptions from paying fees for construction land cated 50km from the centre of Sremska Mitrovica. development, provided the investor is building a It is also connected to Corridor 7 (River Danube) facility of at least 2,000m2 and hiring 100 or more via the river Sava. The border with Croatia is 40km workers (the construction land development fee is away, while the border with neighbouring Bosnia & €15/m2), as well as the possibility of paying the Herzegovina is around 35km away. construction land development fee in 12 monthThe dominant branches of industry are manly instalments or, if the investor pays the construcufacturing and food processing, wholesale trade, tion land development in one agriculture, hunting and forinstalment, a reduction of estry, transport and storage, 20%. electrical industry and, more The Town is currently recently, the automotive inmost dedicated to attracting dustry. companies from the automoAccording to the edutive industry. cation structure of the loConstruction permits and cal workforce, 4.80% have other licences are issued in a completed further educadeadline of around 60 days. tion, 4.05% have completSremska Mitrovica has ed higher/college education, It is important to note that, well developed infrastruc42.29% have graduated from upon agreement with a major ture, including roads, elecsecondary school. Almost all investor, new vocational tricity, gas, heating and water vocational profiles are repcourses can be introduced supply networks, as well as resented: economists, lawtelephone, internet, fibre opyers, managers and organisto specialised schools in ers, computer scientists, stat- order to train the future staff tic cables, drainage and sewage systems. isticians, administrators, surrequired The town has an excelveyors, architects, planners, lent geographic location and both road and river builders, upholsterers etc. transport routes are developed. In terms of road It is important to note that, upon agreement transport, it is directly connected to highway E70 with a major investor, new vocational courses can (Corridor 10) and the M18 and M21 national roads. be introduced to specialised schools in order to Sremska Mitrovica is connected to Corridor 7 (River train the future staff required. Danube) via the river Sava. The Town of Sremska Mitrovica currently has Sremska Mitrovica was founded on the site of three industrial zones that are fully equipped in the ancient city of Sirmium (capital of the IV Roman terms of utilities infrastrucure: Empire), which was the birthplace of six Roman em• Sever (North) Zone - 130,000m2, owned by perors and is on Serbia’s route of Roman Imperial the Municipality of Sremska Mitrovica, located imculture. Today "parts" of Sirmium are preserved mediately alongside highway E70; and most certainly the most important Roman site • Sever II Zone - 150,000m2, consisting of is the Imperial Palace, which has been restored and three parcels (possibility of further dividing plots), is an extremely interesting site for visitors. ■ owned by the Municipality of Sremska Mitrovica,
The Municipality has two industrial zones
srbobran
Commercial activities in the municipality cover agriculture, furniture manufacuring, production of insulation materials and the food industry
T
he Municipality of Srbobran is located in network and construct a network of hydrants and central Vojvodina, 33 km from Novi Sad and new substations. around 100 km from Belgrade. The municiA solution to transport issues is provided by pality has 16 268 inhabitants. convenient access to each plot, as well as the The municipality is traversed by highway E75, possibility of building industrial sidings and denational roads M3 and M22, as well as regional veloping necessary harbour facilities. roads R129 and R120. The Danube-Tisa-Danube The other installed infrastructure systems Canal also passes through the municipality and can (water, electricity and TT networks, gas) are set carry barge vessels with a load capacity of 1000 up to improve the operating conditions for existtonnes and a 2.2 m draft to ing facilities and provide all the Bezdan Port. necessary conditions for the The geographical posioperation of new facilities. tion of the municipality, couThe green landscaping pled with its raw material plan provides adequate probase for the food industry, tection of green areas and arroad network and proximity eas intended to improve the to Novi Sad, provide the preaesthetic characteristics of requisites for the constructhe zone. tion of industrial facilities in the municipality. 2. WEST SIDE INDUSTRIAL Most of the city lies on ZONE, located in a greenbelt the left and smaller on the area extending close to highright bank of the Grand The Municipality of Srbobran way E75 and the M3 nationBačka canal. Srbobran geo- can currently offer potential al road. A detailed regulatory graphical location is very fainvestors plots in the south plan has been developed for vorable. Apart from the wapart of this area, covering 60 side industrial zone terway Grand Bačka Canal ha. Installing utility infrastrucwhich is across the Danube and Tisa associatture and equipping the zone is currently underway. ed with global waterways, pass through it and two very important land road that intersect in ADVANTAGES the city center. The Municipality of Srbobran can currently offer potential investors plots in the south side industrial zone that are state-owned and can be The Municipality of Srbobran has two LEASED FOR 80 YEARS, WITHOUT FEES, provided industrial zones: the investor employs at least 17 residents of the 1. SOUTH SIDE INDUSTRIAL ZONE, which is on Municipality of Srbobran, 1 ha. the outskirts of the Srbobran construction zone and is located beside the M22 national road and GAINING PERMITS R129 regional road. It occupies an area of apAll necessary permits are issued within the leproximately 90 hectares, about 30 ha of which gally prescribed deadline on the basis of submitis state-owned land that the municipality has the ted documentation, an act of planning conditions right to utilise. or a summary of the plan within 30 days, while This zone is equipped with a utilities infrabuilding permits are issued within 15 days. ■ structure and there are plans to expand the road
Branko gajin President the of Municipality of Srbobran
“Installing utility infrastructure and equipping the zone is currently underway”
contact: Address: Trg slobode 2, Srbobrаn 21480, Tel/Fax: 021 730 020; 731 079 Email: srbobran@eunet.rs Url: www.srbobran.rs Investor contact person: Drаgаn Šаrčev, Head of Municipal Adminstration, Srbobran Tel: 021 730 080 Fаx: 021 731 079 INVESTORS IN THE MUNICIPALITY Investors in this municipality include Austrotherm ltd. Srbobrаn, Phiwa Suboticа and Merkаtor
Vojvodina in Focus | the Investors Guide | 101
subotica
At The Intersection The city has a number of industrial zones: Eastern Zone, South-eastern Zone, Southern Zone, South-western Zone, Zorka Zone, North-eastern Zone, Palić Zone and the Mali Bajmok Zone
T
Saša Vučinić President of the municipality of Subotica
“The city has developed road and rail links”
contact: Simonida Pavićević
Simonida Pavićević, Head of the Local Economic Development Office Address: Trg slobode 1 Place & postcode: Subotica 24000 Tel/Fax: 024 666677 Email: mayor@subotica.rs
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he City of Subotica is located in the far north of Serbia’s northern province of Vojvodina n the North Bačka Distrct. It lies along the border with Hungary at 46º 05’55” north latitude and 19º 39’ 47” east longitude. The city covers an area of 1,008km2 and includes 19 suburban settlements. Subotica is located at the crossroads of several major European transport routes, such as PanEuropean Corridor 10, including its "Y" branch (Kelebija international border crossing), the E85 International Railroad (Budapest-Subotica-BelgradeNiš-Skopje-Athens) and the Subotica-Szeged (Hungary) and the Subotica-Sombor-Vinkovci (Croatia) rail routes, as well as the M24 national road Subotica-Kikinda-Timisoara (Romania) and the M17.1 national road Subotica-Sombor-Osijek (Croatia). Subotica is 100km north of Novi Sad, 190km northwest of Belgrade and 190km south of Budapest. In addition to its favourable location, the Subotica region has a number of logistical advantages, such as two international border crossings (Kelebija - 10km and Horgoš - 30km), the Bajmok interstate border crossing (35km from the city), a logistics centre on an area of 40ha, a railway station for freight transport, developed telecommunications and IT networks, public and bonded ware-
houses, a well-developed network of local roads connected to main international motorways and good links to three international airports: Belgrade (165km), Budapest (190km) and Osijek (120km). Beside the food industry, intensive development has been seen by the electro-metal complex, the chemicals and textile industries, leather processing and footwear manufacturing, hosiery, printing and construction. More or less intensive development of these sectors can also be expected in the future, as the city has adequate resources for that (capacities, know-how and experience, required workforce, a raw material base, available components and market access). Recent years have also seen the start of intensive development of activities related to the automotive industry in Subotica. The city has a number of industrial zones (Eastern Zone, South-eastern Zone, Southern Zone, South-western Zone, Zorka Zone, North-eastern Zone and Palić Zone). The City of Subotica currently boasts the Mali Bajmok Industrial Zone, which covers 53ha of land designated for greenfield investments. Around 60% of this zone is currently covered in terms of utility infrastructure (water, sewer, gas, electricity, roads and lighting), while ongoing construction works should see the zone fully equipped by the end of 2012, on the basis of planned dynamics.
op, promote and guarantee a lasting performMetro Cash & Carry (Germany) - greenfield The City of Subotica offers a range of incenance of operations related to the management investment worth €10 million, tives, most notably grants for the development/ of state-owned construction land that the City Studio Moderna (Slovenia), adaptation of bespoke/development locations, of Subotica has ownership or usage rights for. Petrol stations (EKO, Europetrol, OMV, MOL) workforce training programmes, incubator cenThese sites are located in business zones dedgreenfield investments worth €8 million, tres for new businesses (BIS Business Incubator icated to manufacturing, business or commerLeonardo (Italy) - brownfield investment Subotica), financial assistance and tax exempcial activities. The company manages the conworth €2 million, tions. struction and maintenance of infrastructure in Masterplast (Hungary) - greenfield investAll necessary local permits required by inbusiness zones, providing general and specialment worth €6 million, vestors are issued under very short deadlines, ised services and other service required by busiElektroremont (Italy) - brownfield investdepending on the investors’ dynamics of project ness parks users (complete logistical support to ments worth €700,000, preparation and the flow of the investment (for investors); marketing activities aimed at promotTatravagonka Brotherhood (Slovakia) example, building permits are issued within a maximum of 4 to 7 days from the date of application, provided all required documentation is submitted). The following investments were carried out in Subotica between 2003 and 2011: Phiwa (Germany) - greenfield investment worth €40 million, Siemens (Germany)- investment worth €9 million, Rodić Mega (Serbia) - greenfield investments worth €10 million, IDEA (Croatia) - greenfield investments worth €8 million, KTC (Croatia) - greenfield investIt is also essential to note the existence of a duty free zone run by ment worth €4.5 million, the company Slobodna zona Subotica d.o.o.(Free Zone Subotica Ltd.), MAXI (Serbia) - greenfield investments worth €9 million, which covers both private and state-owned land Dunkermotoren (Germany) ing the investment offer of the city, as well as atbrownfield investment worth €5 million, greenfield investment worth €1.5 million, tracting local and foreign investment. FINAT (Italy) - investment worth €500,000, Norma Group (Germany) - greenfield investLeonardo (Italy) – reinvestment worth ment worth €12.5 million, It is also essential to note the exist€100,000, Continental Contitech (Germany) - greenence of a duty free zone run by the compaElektroremont (Italy) – reinvestment worth field investment worth €10 million, ny Slobodna zona Subotica d.o.o.(Free Zone €300,000, Subotica Ltd.), which covers both private Other greenfield and brownfield investland and land belonging to the Mali Bajmok ments worth a total of €15 million. Industrial Zone and offers a number of benThe total amount of funds invested in efits for investors (exemption from customs Subotica during this period is €171.7 million. duties, VAT and tax on profit). In terms of transport infrastructure, Subotica It is also important to note that Subotica has well developed road and rail transport. Air boasts very serious and structured educational transport is not developed, but the Ivan Sarić airinstitutions, which directly provide the skilled port for light aircraft is located nearby and is curlabour necessary for the implementation of inrently registered as an aero-sports club. Efforts vestment projects. The city includes 11 secare underway to reregister the airfield as an airondary schools and 10 colleges and universiport for civil air transport for light aircraft (up to ties (5 private and 5 state-owned). This all con5.7 tonnes) under the “On Demand” principle. tributes to nurturing highly quality workers covIn addition to the aforementioned, the existering almost all educational profiles. During the ence of public company "Business-Technological 2011/2012 academic year, the high school of Parks of Subotica" is also deemed as being very Subotica are attended by a total of 6,141 puimportant. Established by the City Assembly pils, while state universities and colleges have of Subotica in January 2010, it aims to devel4,853 students (total for all years of study). ■ Vojvodina in Focus | the Investors Guide | 103
stara pazova
Entrepreneurial Area Around 900 SMEs and more than 2,500 craft shops operate successfully in the Municipality
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Goran Jović President the of Municipality of Stara Pazova
“The municipality’s road links will be complete following construction of the Nova Pazova junction”
contact: Natalija Karadžić
Address: Svetosavska 11 Place & postcode: Stara Pazova 22300 Tel: 022 316341 Fax: 022 310000 Email: Natalija.karadzic@starapazova.eu Url: www.starapazova.eu Foreign languages: English and French
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ture; Block 25 – fully equipped in terms of inhe Municipality of Stara Pazova is located in frastructure; a multi-functional work zone - not the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and equipped; Northern Industrial Zone – several is bordered to the east by the River Danube equipped facilities, but not yet fully equipped (24km). According to the 2011 census, the municin terms of infrastructure; Western (old) Zone – ipality is home to 67,674 inhabitants and covers equipped with utilities infrastructure; Southern an area of 351km2. Zone – partial infrastructure coverage, traversed It is intersected by Serbia’s most important by highway E70 and the central zone beside transport routes: highway E70 (15km from the highway E75 - not equipped with utilities infracentre of the town of Stara Pazova), highway E75 structure. (5km from the centre of the town of Stara Pazova), The Municipality offers stimuli in the folnational road M22/1, regional roads R106 and lowing areas: construction R121, the international railway land development fees (the from Bar (Montenegro) to Stara amount is reduced dependPazova, local rail routes Stara ing on the number of new emPazova-Šid and Stara Pazovaployees, level of investment, Subotica (the Stara Pazova payment methods etc.), propRailway Station is two kilomeerty tax reductions (the tax tres from the centre of town) rate decreases as the value of and Pan-European Corridor 7 the property increases) com(River Danube). pany signage tax (the lowest The Municipality of Stara in the local region). Pazova is just 25km from Investors can obtain all Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Airport necessary permits and docuand 32km from the Port of mentation within 15 days of Belgrade. The closest border crossings are at Šid (Croatia – The Municipality of Stara submitting all required docto the municipal 90km), Sremska Rača (Bosnia – Pazova has seven industrial umentation administration. 95km), Srpska Crnja (Romania zones, five of which Major foreign investors – 148km) and Horgoš (Hungary are fully equipped with operating in Stara Pazova in– 167km). The municipality’s road excellent infrastructure, clude Muehlbauer, Alumil, Nestle, Volvo, Mercedeslinks will be complete folwhile two are awaiting Benz, Gorenje Tiki, Husqvarna, lowing construction of the the completion of Milsped, Greiner, Packaging, Nova Pazova junction of the documentation JP, Grubin and Delta Agrar. Belgrade - Novi Sad highway. Existing industrial zones have excellent infraThe municipality of Stara Pazova is a tradistructure, though it is necessary to equip the two tional entrepreneurial area. Today around 900 new zones and documentation for doing so is alSMEs and more than 2,500 craft shops operate ready being prepared. successfully in the municipality. The structure of According to the Municipality of Stara the local economy, by sector, is dominated by inPazova’s educational structure, 10.19% of adult dustry (34.42%), trade (26.80%) and agriculture residents have completed higher education, (21.01%), followed by construction (4.65%), fi67.24% have completed secondary education nancial and other services (4.36%), real estate and 22.57% have only primary education. There (3.88%), crafts and trades (2.53%), transport are several secondary schools, such as Branko and haulage (2.19%) and hospitality and tourism Radičević High, which provides general direction, (0.12%). Local GDP per capita totals $3,930 the Vuk Karadžić Economic and Trade School and The Municipality has seven industrial zones: the Technical Mechanical Engineering School. ■ Eastern Zone – equipped with utilities infrastruc-
titel
vrbas
vršac
Agriculture dominant
Heart of Backa
Renowned Fligt Academy
Work zones almost completed
A favourable location means Vrbas is considered the centre of Bačka, despite being in the south of the district
The City is intensively developing SMEs in several industrial branches
Titel is situated in Southeast Bačka between the Danube and Tisa rivers. Aside from these two navigable waterways, Titel also border rivers and two main roads – one of which connects Novi Sad, Zrenjanin and Belgrade. Titel’s good geographical positition ensures it is also connected to Belgrade via the Danube, while there is a road and rail bridge over the River Tisa and the municipality is connected to the District of Srem via the bridge near Kovilj. When it comes to investor incentives, the Municipality of Titel currently offers relatively cheap construction land equipped with the relevant utility infrastructure. Agriculture is the dominant commercial branch in Titel, accounting for 80 per cent of the municipality’s revenue. In terms of industrial production, metal processing and construction material manufacturing are prevelant. There is also a micro factory producing plastic materials. In terms of tourism, the municipality is
The municipality of Vrbas is located in South Bačka district and extends over an area of 376km2. It is home to 45,755 residents. The municipality is located at the intersection of roads including the Sombor-Vrbas-Bečej road, the Vrbas- Bačka Palanka road and the Vrbas-Subotica road. The international Belgrade-Budapest railroad and local rail lines Novi Sad-Sombor and Sombor-Bečej pass through Vrbas. The territory of the municipality is also crisscrossed
The Municipality of Vršac covers the foothills of the Vršac Mountains to the northeast of Belgrade, 83 km along the international highway to Romania, the border of which is 14 km away. Vršac is the regional centre of economic activity, with the intensive development of SMEs in the chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food & beverage, confectionery and construction industries, as well as production of wine and beer and agriculture. The city’s Northern Industrial Zone covers an area of 120.5 ha; the South – SME distribution centres covers 286.5 ha; the Uljma site has 7 ha, while the Vršac Centre (offices, warehouses) covers an area of 400m2 and the Vršac railway station (offices) covers 220m2 + 60m2 (storage, warehouse) over an area of 900 m2. There are no special local incentives for investors. Necessary permits to commence operations are issued in the shortest possible time. Infrastructure in the Municipality of Vršac is at a satisfactory level, as is the local road network. The navigable route of the DanubeTisza-Danube Canal allows vessels with a draft of up to two metres and a load capacity of 700 to 1000 tonnes. This waterway has two makeshift docking ports. There
best known for sports, hunting and fishing tourism, which are enabled thanks to the local land relief and close proximity to the rivers Tisa, Danube and Begej. The biggest investments in the municipality to date have been made by Titel Agro Ltd. and Res Trade, which building a training centre for John Deere agricultural machinery.
contact Zora Petrović, Associate in the Department for local economic development Address: Glavna 1, 21240 Titel, Vojvodina, Tel: 021 860 186, Mobile: 064 114 5420, Email: opstinatitel@ptt.rs; municipalitytitel@gmail.com, Url: www.opstinatitel.rs
by a network of canals. Vrbas has developed transport links and is the commercial and administrative centre of the district. Agriculture is the main economic branch, with some 90% of available land agricultural and the majority of that, as much as 96.98%, is arable. The municipality have 17 industrial zones that are suitable for investment. They are under public ownership and are located in and around the town, while rural areas are under both public and private ownership. Business zones have relevant spatial planning documents and operations there are carried out on a commercial basis. The advantages of these areas are low land prices, possibilities of paying in instalments, complete or partial infrastructure and proximity to good transport links. The local department of spatial planning is obliged to issue all necessary permits and documentation within 8 to 15 days, provided the potential investor has submitted complete documentation. If this is not the case, a waiting period of 30 to 45 days applies for permits.
is also air transport via the local airport that has existed for over 70 years. The Flight Academy has its own programme for training pilots. A control tower has also been built to cater for air traffic. It is connected by road and rail to Belgrade, Timisoara and Novi Sad, while the Vršac Industrial Technology Park covers an area of 27ha and is located along the Belgrade - Vršac – Timisoara rail line.
contact Nenad Velicki,
contact Aleksandar Ćirin,
Office for Local Economic Development Address: Маršаlа Тitа 89, Vrbаs 21460 Теl: 021 7954000 sоvrbаs@еunеt.rs, vrbаs@еunеt.rs, www.vrbаs.nеt Foreign languages: English, Hungarian and Russian
coordinator of the Office for Economic Development Address: Trg Pobede 1, Vršac 26300 Tel/fax: 013 800561, Mob: 064 8443017 Email: acirin@vrsac.org.rs, ler-vrsac@vrsac.org.rs Vojvodina in Focus | the Investors Guide | 105
šid
Border Municipality Towards the Republic of Croatia there are two international border crossings in Šid, one at Batrovci and the other at Ljubi towards Ilok, while crossings into Bosnia’s Republika Srpska are via Sremska Rača and the ferry over the River Sava in the village of Jamena
Nataša Cvjetković President of the municipality of Šid
“River traffic is not significant on the territory of the municipality and relates only to the River Sava, as the rivers and Bosut and Studva are shallow”
The Municipality of Šid is located in southwest Vojvodina and belongs to the district of Srem. To the north it borders Bačka Palanka (approx. 15km), to the east and southeast is the municipality Sremska Mitrovica (approx. 45km), south and southwest of Šid is Bosnia’s Serb republic (16.5 km) and west and north is neighbouring Croatia (110 km). The municipality covers an area of 687km2, representing 3.2% of the territory of the province, and has a population of 35,470 (according to the 2011 census), of which 22,922 (63.3%) are of working age and 8,641 are employed. Towards the Republic of Croatia there are two international border crossings in Šid, one at Batrovci on highway E70 and the Belgrade-Zagreb railway line, and the other towards Tovarnik on national road M18/1 at Ljubi towards Ilok. There are also two border crossings with Bosnia’s Republika Srpska – rail links via Sremska Rača and the ferry over the Sava in the village of Jamena. More intensive border traffic is concentrated at the border crossing with Republika Srpska. The Spatial Plan of the Republic of Serbia calls for modernisation and the building of a highspeed rail link from Belgrade to Šid to the national border, as well as the resolving of rail transport in Šid, including expansion and modernisation of
the Šid Railway Station, as well as a new border station and construction of a new single-track line from Šid, through the state border to Vukovar. Šid’s municipal road network consists of 19.5km of highway, 38km of national roads, 63km of regional roads and 56.5km of local roads. The municipality is crossed by Highway E70, Belgrade-Zagreb (19.5 km), two national roads: M18 Bačka Palanka-Ilok-Erdevik-Kuzmin-Bijeljina (16 km) and M18/1 Croatia-Sot-Berkasovo-ŠidAdaševci-E70 (22 km) and three regional roads: R106 Erdevik-Bingula-Sremska Mitrovica (8 km), R103 Croatia (Tovarnik) -Šid-Gibarac-BačinciKukujevci-Kuzmin (22 km) and R128 Republika Srpska-Jamena-Morović-E70 (33 km). The local road network has satisfactory standards and interconnects all villages in the municipality and the town of Šid. The territory of the municipality is a traversed by the main rail line Belgrade-Šid-national border, which links Serbia to Croatia, and the single-track Šid-Bijeljina rail line, which connects Serbia and Bosnia’s Serb republic. The main Belgrade-Šid-national border railway is a double track, electrified system. River traffic is not significant on the territory of the municipality and relates only to the River Sava. This part of the river has no regulated port or docks, except for makeshift gravel and
The Municipality of Šid has almost 42,000ha of agricultural land, 21,024ha of forested area, water surface area of 838ha, as well as hunting grounds, fish ponds and reservoirs – all of which provide great potential for developing tourism
contact: Nataša Cvjetković
Municipal President Address: Karađorđeva 2 Place & postcode: Šid 22240 Tel: 022 712544, Fax: 022 715708 Email: kabinetsid@open.telekom.rs
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sand docks on the banks at Jamena. Jamena also has a river ferry to and from Republika Srpska and relevant customs and police services are located there. The rivers and Bosut and Studva are not navigable by freight vessels, due to their shallow depth. The local electricity network meets the current needs of industry and the population, providing a sufficient high quality and reliable supply of electricity throughout the municipality. The manufacturing, food processing, chemical and construction industries are all represented in Šid. The municipality does not possess bespoke business zones, but available industrial zones include the Adaševci Zone, covering an area of 123ha alongside Corridor 10 and the Šid-Bijeljina railroad tracks, the Industrial Zone at Erdevik, covering an area of 28.10ha u, and the Block 34 - Vašarište Industrial Zone in the vicinity of the Šid - Tovarnik Hempro border crossing, covering an area of 3.70ha. Potential investors are offered high quality agricultural land suitable for different branches of agriculture, while there are natural, cultural and historical sites for the potential development of different forms of tourism, as well as an excellent geographic location. The fee for construction land development for commercial/production facilities is reduced by between 30 and 99 percent on the basis of the number of employees hired, or by 50 to 99 percent on the basis of the level of investment. The consensus in the Municipality is to suggest that investors primarily concentrate on the processing industry (especially agriculture) and energy (renewables), while there are also possibilities for other types of investment, depending on the interests and aspirations of the investor. Required permits are issued within a 30-day period. Local and foreign investors who have
The territory of the municipality is a traversed by the main rail line Belgrade-Šid-national border, which links Serbia to Croatia, and the single-track Šid-Bijeljina rail line launched operations in the municipality of Šid over recent years include Victoria oil (edible oil), Tim Izolirka, Hempro (paints and varnishes, school tempera), Beocapra (organic goat milk processing), Valdom, Pro Team Balkan (production and sales of plasterer and bricklaying tools), Agropapuk and L.A.A.B Group. The water system is supplied from the Batrovci source and is under the competence of local PUC Vodovod. The following settlements are connected to this water supply system: Batrovci, Šid, Vašica, Berkasovo, Gibarac, Bačinci, Erdevik, Bingula and Kukujevci. The Batrovci source consists of 10 drilled wells, with water extracted from aquifers at depths of 100m, 150m and 200m. The water quality is such that it can be used for human consumption directly, without treating. When it comes to energy, the latest development is that the municipality is currently being installed with a gas supply pipeline. The official completion of works is scheduled for December 2013, but most populated places in the municipality will receive gas connections prior to that (Spring 2013). There
is no pipeline infrastructure installed in Šid. Consumers on the territory covered by the plan are supplied with electricity from the substation TS Šid, 110/35/20 kW, with a builtin power transformer 31.5+20 kWA. The telecommunications infrastructure is, on the whole, not satisfactory in terms of quality and capacity. Rich in natural resources, the Municipality of Šid has almost 42,000ha of agricultural land, 21,024ha of forested area (municipality with the greatest forest coverage in Vojvodina), water surface area of 838ha, as well as hunting grounds, fish ponds and reservoirs – all of which provide great potential for developing tourism. Conditions are also very suitable for the development of viticulture (Erdevik village has a long tradition of grape growing and wine production). Potential investors are offered high quality agricultural land suitable for different branches of agriculture, while there are natural, cultural and historical sites for the potential development of different forms of tourism, excellent locations, good infrastructure and skilled and diligent workers. ■ Vojvodina in Focus | the Investors Guide | 107
zrenjanin
Banat’S Economic Hub Zrenjanin has one of the biggest industrial zones in southeast Europe, which opened in July 2010.
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Mileta Mihajlov President the of Municipality of Zrenjanin
“The city has very well developed transport links towards both Europe and Asia”
contact: Predrag Stankov
deputy mayor Address: Trg Slobode 10 Place & postcode: Zrenjanin 23000 Tel: 023 3150094 Email: investments@zrenjanin.rs Url: www.zrenjanin.rs Foreign languages: English
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cated in the immediate vicinity of the city transit he City of Zrenjanin is in Serbia’s autonoroutes, the port, airport and railway lines. mous province of Vojvodina, 75km away Business incentives exist at the national from Belgrade and 100km away from the level and relate to free trade within the CEFTA Romania city of Timisoara. Due to its favourable region, duty-free trade with Russia, the EU, geographical position, it has developed transTurkey, Belarus and the U.S. There are also sigport links – including railways, a network of nificant tax breaks and incentives for employnavigable waterways and a road network – and ment, as well as a series of financial aid packis an important transportation link between ages (state grants). Europe and Asia. With a population of 140,000, The City of Zrenjanin offers organised supZrenjanin is the cultural and economic hub of port for investors through special assistance the Banat district. in obtaining permits, selecting building site The biggest C-class airport in the Balkans, shapes, sizes and locaAirport Zrenjanin, is locattions, infrastructure and ed in the immediate vicinconnectivity acording to ity of the city and in May investors’ plans, with ef2007 it received permisficient, friendly and comsion to handle passenger mitted administration and and freight traffic. the Zrenjanin free zone In 2008 the World (free zone regime optionBank declared Zrenjanin al within industrial zones, as the most attractive lowith the ability to reduce cation for investment in costs by up to 40%). Serbia and the second Alongside its indusbest location for investtrial zone, Zrenjanin also ment in southeast Europe. The City of Zrenjanin offers Some of the most organised support for investors has a duty free zone, one significant investors through special assistance in of only seven in Serbia. Special motivation is proin Zrenjanin include: obtaining permits, selecting vided for those with busiDraeklmaier (Germany) building site shapes, sizes nesses within the busi- manufacture of parts and locations, infrastructure ness incubator. Some 25 for the automotive industry, Mehler BAPS AG and connectivity acording to percent of the total area is offered for free use, while (Germany) - production investors’ plans free wireless internet is of ballistic equipment, also provided in the centre of town. Cooperation GEZE (Germany) - Mechanics and Control, Fulgar with the regional chamber of commerce is also (Italy) - production of polyamides and polyesvery well developed. ters, Pompei (Italy) - Production of underwear Zrenjanin is an open and progressive city that and socks. not only encourages industrial development, but In addition to the Bagljaš-Elemir industrial also stimulates advances in its agriculture seczone, Zrenjanin also has the Ečka industrial zone, tor, which has a long tradition in the area. which has locations available to rent or buy Zrenjanin has about 100,000 ha of quality through an auction procedure following an open land for primary agricultural production, favourcall. The construction of goods’ handling transable climatic conditions, crop hybrids with highport centre is planned for a site across the river ly developed genetic potential customised to loBegej on an area of 120ha. Some 72ha of the incal conditions, a developed system of cooperdustrial zone is completely equipped in terms of atives, as well as highly qualified professionals infrastructure and there is a possibility to extend and skilled workers. ■ the zone to 1,100ha. The industrial zone is lo-
žabalj
Good rail network
žitište
Bordering Romania
The municipality has good road links and developed rail infrastructure
The municipality of Žitište is a border municipality, in the east, it borders with Romania
The municipality of Žabalj is located in the Šajkaška area of South Bačka and has a population of 27,513. The municipality covers an area of 400km2 in the very heart of Vojvodina. Žabalj is located west of the River Tisza, between the municipalities of Bečej, Srbobran, Temerin, Novi Sad and Titel. To the east it borders the municipalities of Novi Bečej and Zrenjanin. The municipality has good road links and
Numerous thermomineral springs are yet to be sufficiently exploited The municipality of Žitište is a border municipality, in the east, it borders with Romania. The municipality of Žitište stretches across 525 square kilometres and has 21,000 inhabitants. The transport infrastructure here is quite developed. The Timisoara–Kikinda–Zrenjanin– Belgrade railway is some 18 kilometres away. Also, there is the Begej Canal. Agricultural production is the foundation of Žitište’s economy. There are several fish ponds with developed sport fishing, as well as a pheasant farm nearby. Numerous thermomineral springs are yet to be sufficiently exploited. Municipal authorities have drawn up the ‘Study on Exploitation and Utilization of Thermo-Mineral Springs,’ which shows thermomineral springs containing healing substances scattered all over the municipality’s territory. There are opportunities for investing in production of biomass and dehydration of agricultural produce, as well as in the food industry, plastic product production, construction materials production, and the textile industry. The industrial zone is owned by local authorities.
developed rail infrastructure, though this is only used for freight transport. Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla International Airport is 80km away. There are many waterways in the municipality, such as the Tisza, Stara Tisza and River Jegrička, as well as a network of canals belongisng to the DanubeTisza-Danube system. The Tisza is suitable for both domestic and international river traffic. The most important industrial branches in the municipality are agriculture, the processing industry, wholesale and retail. Arable land covers 32,255 hektara.The Žabalj Istok (East) Work Zone is an exceptional location situated on the M7 main road, 20km from Novi Sad, 25km from Zrenjanin and 80km from Belgrade. The zone is covered by a regulatory plan and relevant technical documentation. Issuing local permits can take up to 15 days, during which investors can acquire information about locations, location permits and other required documents. it also takes up to 15 days to receive a building permit.
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There are two locations in the zone: LOCATION 1 - Site: Industrial zone Plastika; Total area: 3 hectares; Type of ownership: state owned; Intended use: construction of industrial plants. LOCATION 2 - Site: Industrial zone Bioferm; Total area: 15 hectares; Type of ownership: state property; Intended use: construction of industrial plants and smallscale industry premises.
contact Čеdоmir Bоžić,
contact Dragan Milenković,
President of the Municipality Address: Nikоlе Теslе 45, Žаbаlј 21230 Теl: 021 831035, Fаx: 021 831094 Еmаil: cеdоmirbоzic@gmаil.cоm, Url: www.zаbаlј.rs Foreign languages: English, German and Russian
Municipal President, Diana Kostić, assistant to the municipality’s president Cara Dušana 15, 23210 Žitište Tel: +381(0)23/821-306 E-mail: kosticdiana@yahoo.com Website: www.zitiste.org Language: English Vojvodina in Focus | the Investors Guide | 109
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