Invest in Vojvodina by Diplomacy&Commerce magazine

2019

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NOVI SAD

IDEAL FOR BUSINESS MEETINGS AND FINE DINING Less than one hour drive towards north from Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Airport is the second largest city in Serbia, Novi Sad. As an administrative center of Vojvodina, Novi Sad is an attractive destination for congress tourism and the right place for organizing congresses, seminars, meetings and other events. More than two hundred different events take place in this city annually. Among the most significant events is the Agricultural Fair, during which 1500 exhibitors from 50 countries exhibit their offer at the open and closed area of the Novi Sad Fair, on a total surface of 58,000 m2. Almost every weekend, and during the summer practically every day, you can attend an event, whether it’s cultural, music, entertainment, sport or business event. Novi Sad can boast an enviable number of congress capacities. A modernly equipped Congress Centre Master, which is a part of the Novi Sad Fair, and other congress capacities like the Sports and Business Centre Vojvodina (SPENS), NIS, University’s Rectorate Building, will satisfy the most diverse requirements of business 2

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visitors. For those who want a one-of-a-kind, unusual event for a selected group of people, there are special venues like the Serbian National Theatre, Cultural Centre of Novi Sad, Gallery of Matica Srpska, Museum of Vojvodina, City Museum of Novi Sad and two new cultural stations, opened in the spaces of former silk factory and the former Eđšeg Castle, where cultural and educational events regularly take place. A large number of hotels with their wellness & spa offer, and increasingly more high-category hotels, among which is the newly opened Sheraton Hotel, provide the right atmosphere and rest after an active day. Novi Sad has a long tradition of organizing business events, and the reasons for this is the attractive tourism offer that include cultural and historic sights, sightseeing tours of the city and its surroundings, as well as wine tours. Even though business tourists don’t have a lot of free time, they should definitely experience the city and its unique gastronomic offer, and relax in it. One of the places to visit is the famous Petrovaradin

Fortress, where visitors most often enjoy the restaurants with a view of the city, visits to underground military galleries, or the chatting with artists from the unofficially largest art colony in Europe. Along the Danube is Ribarsko ostrvo, which accommodates cafes and fish restaurants on boats moored on the riverbank. We strongly suggest that you spend your free time on one of the river fish restaurants, where, aside from fish specialties, you can also enjoy the local wines from Fruška Gora. Near the city is Fruška Gora, the oldest national park in the country, a favorite destination for picnickers, as well as for the fans of cultural and historical heritage. Throughout the history, 30 monasteries were built in this area, in the period from the 15th to 18th century, and 16 of them have been preserved to this day. Also, this place is important for the lovers of local wines produced here. Sremski Karlovci is the home to numerous family wineries. Aside from the different varieties of white and red wine, original dessert wine bermet is being made here. This is a sweet, scented and aromatic wine that is

produced in a special way, by using more than 20 different herbs and spices. Some ten kilometers north of Novi Sad is Čenej – known as the village of farmsteads (salaši). They farms are rural households in Vojvodina that preserve the spirit of the past times, where you can enjoy the traditional way of life, home-made food and horseback riding. With its available capacities and services, Novi Sad is always ready for business activities and organization of congresses, fairs and exhibitions. Aside from this, gastronomic pleasures and exhibitions are easily available to every business tourist. Find out why visitors from all over the world like to stay in Novi Sad, and why Novi Sad proudly holds the title of European Capital of Culture 2021.

Welcome!

Tourist Organization of the City of Novi Sad INVEST IN

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DIVERSE

SALAŠI

Vojvodina is ethnically, culturally and linguistically diverse, with more than 26 different ethnic groups and six official languages.

Vojvodina farmsteads (salaši), scattered across the fields, made the move from agriculture to tourism a long time ago. Isolated from the rest of the world, they captivate visitors with their old-worldly charm and preserve the traditions of Vojvodina.

06 THE LARGEST SANDY TERRAIN IN EUROPE

05 4

BLOOMING OF THE TISA RIVER

In June, a great number of people visit Kanjiža to witness the natural phenomenon of the blooming of the Tisa river and to enjoy the love dance of the Tisa Mayfly aquatic insect.

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The Deliblato Sands is the largest sandy terrain in Europe, once part of a vast prehistoric desert, having originated from the withdrawal of the Pannonian Sea. They are home to many endemic species of plants and animals which are rare or endangered in Europe and globally.

ONE MOUNTAIN

FruĹĄka Gora, the only mountain in the Vojvodinian plain, is not just a national park and a place rich in natural attractions, but is also the home of 17 Orthodox monasteries, well-known for their architecture, rich stores of treasures, libraries and frescoes, some of which date from as early as the 12th century.

04 NATIONAL DISH

Gomboce as a national dish, a treat from Vojvodina, as those older and more experienced housewives tell us. It has been in existen for over 100 years.

07 BERMET

Unique in the world, bermet desert wine from Sremski Karlovci has impressed the most famous courts of the medieval Europe so that it was even used for bribing. Not even the passengers of the Titanic could resist its flavors.

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INTERVIEW

IGOR MIROVIĆ Head of the Government of the AP Vojvodina

WE HAVE SET IN MOTION A HUGE INVESTMENT TIDE W We have built a large number of industrial zones, defined new measures of development policy level

e talked to Igor Mirović, Head of the Government of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, about the current business climate, new investments from Japan, the operational plan of the newly-founded Capital Investments Commission of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, exporting Vojvodina's wines to China and other topics.

You have been at the helm of the Government of the AP Vojvodina for three years now. In that timeframe, what has been done and what remains to be done? — The three years of great work are behind us, primarily on the implementation of the Provincial Government Programme. The main goals were related to economic development and today - with clear results - we can talk about Vojvodina, which, together with all levels of government, has managed to secure new

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jobs, reduce unemployment to under 10% and attract many significant investors (like the German ZTF) to come here, along with generating an exceptional demand and great interest from new and domestic and foreign investors in developing their business in Vojvodina. For three years we have been working on improving the business environment. We have built a large number of industrial zones, defined new measures of development policy through the Vojvodina Development Agency (RAV), and stabilized the public finances in the Province, which are now well-regulated. In the report, compiled by the State Audit Institution (DRI), the Province's finances were the only ones that received a positive opinion at the local self-government level. In short, the focus was on economic development. At the same time, we set in motion a huge investment tide. We have succeeded in realizing all the investments we had prepared in

the field of infrastructure, health care, renovation of elementary and high schools, as well as in many other segments. We can confidently say that we have realized over 90% of our programme. What remains to be done is all the things that were planned but unfinished and the ones we are planning to do next year. In the coming period, it is especially important to prepare all the projects for the National Investment Plan, announced by the President of Serbia.

In June, the provincial government formed the Capital Investments Commission of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina with you at the helm. What prompted you to form such a commission and what are its goals? — The goals of this commission are to systematize all proposals of local self-governments, that is all local projects and all regional projects while taking into account the importance of individual investments for several municipalities in certain parts of the province. The next goal is to present investments of provincial and national importance on the territory of the AP Vojvodina, such as large infrastructure corridors. The Commission is formed along with the same format as the national Capital Investment Commission, headed by the Prime Minister of Serbia. We must prepare project documentation on time. The budget liquidity is at a desirable level and the public debt is either stagnant or falling, which means that we need to use some of our money faster on public investments, as this will contribute to the further growth of certain segments such as construction, production of construction materials and other segments that need to further fuel the GDP growth.

the secondary money market as an additional source. At the moment, there is no indication if or when this law will be enacted, but, undoubtedly, if the law is adopted, in the light of the current political sphere often promoted by political parties in the opposition, it would enter the sphere of a predictable and clear framework that would serve as a lever for economic development. Therefore, the idea is for the law not to complicate the relations between the central and provincial governments, but to simplify, regulate and use them as an argument to counteract those who would like to disrupt the single economic space through this law and thus continue adding fuel to the fire of conflicts in the future too. On the contrary, we are in favour of a completely different solution.

The Agreement on Establishing and Developing Friendly Relations and Cooperation between Vojvodina and the Hainan Province was also signed. How is this collaboration progressing?

WINE

OUR WINE PRODUCERS HAVE ALREADY STARTED EXPORTING THE REQUIRED QUANTITIES OF THIS BEVERAGE TO THE RENOWNED HOTEL CHAINS IN HAINAN

— The cooperation agreement signed by Vojvodina and the Chinese province of Hainan has already yielded concrete results; primarily in terms of marketing agricultural products to this fast-growing Chinese province, which has a population of ten million and is poised to become one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world, given their plans and development speed. Hainan is a large island in Southwest China and as guests of this province, we have had the opportunity to see for ourselves the pace of development and the concept that will position the province as one of the most significant levers of development since Hainan will be turned into a free economic zone and it has been developing in line with all environmental standards. Our wine producers have already started exporting the required quantities of this beverage to the renowned hotel chains in Hainan. This is only the first step and we expect that the cooperation to continue because we will nurture the established contacts and will be very concrete in the implementation of common projects.

Any announcements of new investments? Which countries do potential investors come from? — The RAV and the City of Novi Sad have received a letter of intent stipulating implementation of an extremely significant investment from Japan on the territory of Novi Sad, which would entail an investment of 200 million euro and creation of 3,000 new jobs. This is a strong tech company from Japan that deals with hardware elements in high-tech develop-

How far along are you with adopting the Law on Financing of Vojvodina? — The Republic of Serbia’s National Assembly passes laws. The provincial government has repeatedly referred to the need to pass this law that would clearly define a predictable financing model, primarily for Vojvodina’s development needs, create an orderly model of revenue collection, and a regulated, additional model of expenditure control in the AP Vojvodina. At the same time, the law could also define additional sources of financing that Vojvodina does not use, which is quite relevant. By that, I mean securities and everything that can be found in INVEST IN

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ment. Hopefully, good news will ensue. There are announcements for investments in other parts of Vojvodina too, but Novi Sad is a city with a high birth rate, a city that many people are moving to and that needs such a strong company, even though Lear, Delphi and Continental and many other companies are already developing their business here. We will do our utmost to help this company to launch its business in Novi Sad because this would be the final rounding off of the economic, developmental and technological potential of our city. It is no accident that this company has chosen Novi Sad. They chose us at the Expo Real in Munich last year, which means that our mechanism of presenting our potential at the most important trade shows in the world is working. If this company, based on our investment in the presentation of our potential, comes here and realizes its investment, this will also mean that all our investments were justified too.

What can Vojvodina offer to companies? What would you like to single out as the biggest advantages compared to the rest of Serbia? — First and foremost, Vojvodina offers fully equipped industrial zones. Today, following my initiative since I have personally managed a few projects, we have locations (fully equipped ones) where investors can invest and do their business. At the same time, we have developed mechanisms via the RAV that are primarily targeting domestic companies, whereby we financially assist the realization of investments by encouraging job creation, as well as the procurement of brand new equipment through appropriate competitions. In this way, through the RAV alone, we have created more than 2,000 new jobs in two years, while providing significant funding for brand new equipment with the help of highly accurate mechanisms. All funds placed by the RAV are covered by commercial bank guarantees, which eliminates the possibility of misuse or channelling funds to something else. Concurrently, Vojvodina offers a very good infrastructure, well-maintained roads and good work habits. Thanks to its university, Vojvodina also has the scientific potential essential for the development and investments by new businesses, which is our advantage. We work very well with local governments to build and implement whatever an investor is

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looking for when they want to invest in an area, whether it is the infrastructure, utility elements or helping them to find the best locations. All this together comprises Vojvodina’s advantage.

now under the jurisdiction of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, and the President has given his support to its implementation. The following months are decision months.

A memorandum on the construction of the Fruška Gora Corridor was signed this year while the contract is supposed to be signed by spring 2020. How important is this project and when is it going to be implemented?

Are you satisfied with the cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the provincial government? Do you think there is room for improvement or is the cooperation strong enough already?

P OT E N T I A L

VOJVODINA OFFERS A VERY GOOD INFRASTRUCTURE, WELLMAINTAINED ROADS AND GOOD WORK HABITS — The Fruška Gora Corridor is extremely important for the city of Novi Sad, for its economic development, for Petrovaradin, Irig, Ruma and the Ruma industrial zone which is already fully equipped in this segment, has 160 hectares of land and is located on the Ruma motorway interchange. The project also envisages a bridge on the Danube, stretching from Tekija to Kovilj. A great amount of work is being spent on this project which is one of the priorities in the implementation of large investments through the National Investment Plan. The project is no longer managed by the provincial government, though it has been prepared by us, and I have personally coordinated the project for several years. The project is

— We cooperate daily and have a really good collaboration with most ministries on the implementation of numerous projects in the AP Vojvodina. In this way, our provincial budget gets 7% which complies with the Constitutional provision on the amount of revenue generated by the AP Vojvodina. Furthermore, concrete joint projects with the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the line ministries also generate additional money for the province. There are numerous examples of this: construction of the water and wellness park in Palić near Subotica, construction of the Science and Technology Park, the BioSens Institute, renovation of hospitals and construction of numerous other facilities on the territory of Vojvodina. One part of the investments is managed by the provincial government and the other by the Public Investment Office. Simply put, we have demonstrated seriousness and a high degree of professionalism in project preparation. I also think that the Government of the Republic of Serbia has a good enough reason to use this cooperation as an example of a good collaborative effort when implementing projects with other government levels.

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INTERVIEW

EVERY YEAR IS INCREASINGLY BETTER ECONOMY-WISE

BOŠKO VUČUREVIĆ President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vojvodina

When it comes to Vojvodina, its food, pharmaceutical and mechanical industries have and are already utilizing their potential, but the results could be even better

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he Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vojvodina is marking a significant anniversary this year 100 years of establishment. We spoke with the President of the Chamber of Commerce of Vojvodina, Boško Vučurević about the investment climate in Vojvodina today, which sectors are the most promising and how has this year been for the province.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vojvodina (PKV) celebrates a centenary this year. How much obligation does this carry? — On 1st February 1919, in the Main Hall of Matica Srpska, the representatives of merchants and artisans formed the Merchant & Artisan Chamber of Commerce of Novi Sad, which was the foundation of today’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vojvodina. PKV’s centenary proves that Vojvodina has an exceptional entrepre-

neurial spirit. Great entrepreneurs were members and presidents of the PKV. We owe them all our gratitude for keeping the Chamber going in difficult times and for promoting its work. The Chamber is not just us, who are gathered under its auspices today. The Chamber is the trust that business people put in it, which continues to this day. For this reason, the PKV has a task and an obligation to expand the network of contacts, and to improve the existing one; i.e. to connect business people through business forums, international conferences and trade fairs. We cooperate with chambers of commerce and relevant institutions in over 30 countries all over the world, and every year, the list of countries where we find quality business partners is expanding. Bilateral meetings of our business people are a key segment of the international business forums we organize. In our work, we place special emphasis on the coop-

eration with regional chambers of commerce in the neighbouring countries, because developed regions are synonymous with strong countries.

How would you rate the business climate in Vojvodina? — Macro-economically speaking, the business climate in Vojvodina is stable. Global monetary and fiscal indicators, which are defined at the country level as a whole, are favourable, with the inflation and exchange rates fluctuating within projections. There is a rise in employment, earnings and turnover in retail. When the business climate is analyzed on a sectoral basis, we hope that, in the second half of this year, the manufacturing industry will start to recover, primarily in the production of petroleum products, chemical products and the textile industry. Positive developments are noticeable in agriculture and the food industry, where solid growth is achieved, which, in turn, has mitigated the general decline in industrial production. This year, the value of Vojvodina’s external trade, including exports, has increased. What do these data tell us and what are your expectations for the rest of the year? — Year-on-year, the value of total external trade, including exports, has been growing in the entire region. The total value of external trade generated by the region of Vojvodina in the first six months of the current year stands at 6.2 billion euro, which is an 8.5% increase over the same period in 2018, with the exports

RECOVERY

WHEN THE BUSINESS CLIMATE IS ANALYZED ON A SECTORAL BASIS, WE HOPE THAT, IN THE SECOND HALF OF THIS YEAR, THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY WILL START TO RECOVER growing by 8.3%. The manufacturing sector’s exports have contributed 3.9%, which has influenced the fluctuations in exports for the most part. According to the external trade data, manufacturing industry’s exports grew in 16 out of 23 segments and the most pronounced growth was recorded in the production of tobacco products (+ 107.3%) and manufacture of computers, electronic and optical products (+ 47.8%), year-on-year. On the other hand, overhauls at the oil refinery in Pančevo and Petrohemija resulted in a decline in exports of petroleum products (-19.5% y-o-y) and chemical products (-29.1% y-o-y). Exports of pharmaceutical products (-3.6% y-o-y) have also contributed negatively. In the first half of 2019, Vojvodina's total external trade represents 51.2% of last year's trade, while the realized export makes 51.9% of last year's exports,

which speaks in favour of an increase in the value of external trade parameters. Favourable trends are also noticeable in the external trade deficit, which, in the first six months of the current year, accounts for less than half, more precisely 40.8%, of Vojvodina's deficit last year. As all indicators show favourable trends, we expect to continue the same trend by the year-end.

Which goods from Vojvodina are exported the most and to what markets? — In the first six months of the current year, the ignition conductor sets are the product that has the biggest share in Vojvodina's exports (9.1%) and are mostly exported to the EU Member States, more specifically to Germany (48.4% of the total value of exports of the said product), Hungary (18.5%), Sweden (14.4%), Romania (12.6%) and Austria (4.1%). Maize ranked second in value (excluding seed) with a share of 6.0% in the region's total exports, and has been exported mainly to Romania (57.7%), Italy (19.9%), Austria (12.5 %) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (4.4%). Next are circulation pumps for heating systems and the like (2.7%) exported by Vojvodina's companies mainly to the Netherlands (50.5%), Hungary (11.3%), Great Britain (10.4%), Turkey (9.8 %) and the Russian Federation (8.6%), followed by medication sold in pharmacies (2.3%) which is mostly exported to Germany (30.8%), the Russian Federation (22.2%), Italy (7.4%), Belgium (5.3%) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (4.6%). Parts and accesINVEST IN

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sories for motor vehicles (1.8%) occupy the fifth place in the list of products and are mostly exported to Germany (41.7%), Austria (15.6%), Italy (8.8%), Hungary (8.2%) and France (5.8%).

Which sectors have potential but need a bit of push? — When it comes to Vojvodina, its food, pharmaceutical and mechanical industries have and are already utilizing their potential, but the results could be even better. There is always a need for assistance, but these are business segments that have formed strategies, policies and corporate culture. For them, the greatest "help" is operating in a stable economic environment and predictable business elements, and of course, that they all have equal treatment, regardless if they are domestic or foreign. The IT sector is constantly talked about and the results are visible. It is still somewhat unclear whether this sector requires assistance or whether the free market environment without significant state influence suits them more. Agriculture is a very important business segment in Vojvodina. What do you, as a chamber, offer to agricultural and food companies? — The share of agriculture in the formation of the gross domestic product in Vojvodina is significantly higher than the share in the country as a whole. The difference is almost six percentage points and the share stands 13.2%. At the same time, the industry recorded a share of

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36.4%, which is five percentage points higher than for Serbia as a whole. Considering that the manufacturing industry is the most important part of the industry as a whole and that the food industry accounts for almost 20% of the manufacturing industry, the significance of such a widely observed activity of primary food production and its processing into food products becomes clear. Bearing this in mind, a significant part the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vojvodina's activities, mostly done by the Agriculture Association but also of other associations - the Industry Association and the Service Association - is directed towards improving the functioning of business entities in this sphere. The activities are reflected in the relentless work of the relevant association groups, exerting influence on the regulations in respective fields, as well as in numerous business meetings, forums, bilater-

TRADE

IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2019, VOJVODINA'S TOTAL EXTERNAL TRADE REPRESENTS 51.2% OF LAST YEAR'S TRADE, WHILE THE REALIZED EXPORT MAKES 51.9% OF LAST YEAR'S EXPORTS

al talks and meetings with various institutions, which all have a single common goal - to open new markets and neutralize and mitigate problems that may arise. We are very pleased that the data from the first half of this year show the vitality of Vojvodina's food industry and an increase relative to the same period last year, which unfortunately was not the case with Serbia as a whole. It is very important that in parallel with the existence of large market stakeholders that have their own rules of business, a strong segment of small and medium-sized companies has been created with a clear business strategy and product programmes aimed at premium users and a larger customer segment. We believe that our activities will help positive trends to continue.

What did you propose to institutions in terms of improving the economic environment? Is there a need for new legislation? — Within the framework of the common chamber system and following an initiative from our members, our task is to constantly influence the improvement of the economic environment, which we are working on, together with our members. The regulation is in a constant process of change. We estimate that, in the medium term, the activities of the relevant state authorities towards reducing salary tax, boosting the legal cash flow and increasing workers' wages, as well as devising measures and arrangements regarding the free flow of goods in external trade are all very significant.

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C O R P O R AT E

NEOPLANTA - THE TASTE THAT DRIVES EVERYTHING The leader in Serbia in terms of volume sales of meat products

ith a tradition of over 130 years, Neoplanta is proud of its superior quality products, made according to the traditional recipes brimming with unique Vojvodinian flavours. Relying on continuous technological innovations in the production process, the quality of Neoplanta's products has been recognized by consumers which validates the company's leading position in the Serbian market. All products in the Neoplanta Delikates category are prepared slowly, in a typical Vojvodinian way, which demonstrates how much the authenticity of this region contributes to the authenticity of the product itself. Neoplanta Delikates includes four product categories (durable sausages, semi-durable smoked products, hams and vacuum sausages), which all have the highest quality in the meat product segment. Their sales have grown significantly over the last four years, which is a clear indication that Neoplanta is heading in the right direction. Neoplanta is also the leader in Serbia in terms of volume sales of meat products and is the most prominent in the ham segment with the last year's market share of 23.3%. Product quality is an absolute priority for the company and customer satisfaction is the ultimate goal. Neoplanta listens to its customers and is constantly fulfilling their needs. In this regard, a new product was recently launched â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Zicer sausage

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- made from 70% pure pork meat, without flavour enhancers and added colours. The sausage contains carefully selected spices which are characteristic for the Vojvodinian cuisine - garlic, pepper, onion, coriander, caraway, nutmeg... With this product, Neoplanta has further exceeded the requirements prescribed by the Quality Rulebook, thus, we can confidently claim that the Zicer sausage is a truly unique product in Serbia. In terms of the product quality and authenticity, Neoplanta's Pipi hot dog sausages are made from raw materials obtained with the help of the innovative German Baader chicken meat separation technology. Owing to the combination of this technology, superior quality and safety of the raw materials used, Neoplanta offers consumers a product of higher quality. Also, Neoplanta's Gudi Hot Dog Sausage is the recipient of the 2017/2018 BEST BUY AWARD in the Best Value for Consumers category. In addition to the constant concern for

PRIORITIES

PRODUCT QUALITY IS AN ABSOLUTE PRIORITY FOR THE COMPANY AND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL

the quality of all products, but also the improvement of the production process, Neoplanta pays great attention to educating consumers so that they can properly understand the difference in quality in certain products. For example, in addition to the company being legally obliged to state on the product label the share of meat used in the production of fermented products, Neoplanta deliberately opted for providing additional information, to focus on the quality of the product and the quantity of meat it is made from. This decision is made so that consumers are given the correct and complete information that will influence their decision to buy a particular product. Neoplanta complies with all applicable laws and regulations in all of its processes, as well as standards relating to safety and quality of products and the overall business, occupational safety and health and environmental protection. Neoplanta is certified with the IFS, ISO 9001: 2015, HALAL and HACCP standards. Besides, the company participates in various humanitarian campaigns and supports activities aimed at developing the local community in which it operates. Neoplanta underlines that it wants to be the keeper of the authenticity of Vojvodina so that everybody can enjoy and savour its unique tastes. The company is proud of its employees who create tastes that drive everything thus benefitting the company and everybody else.

INTERVIEW

MILOŠ VUČEVIĆ Mayor of Novi Sad

NEW PAGE IN NOVI SAD'S DEVELOPMENT S We strive to do our best, to hire the best experts, to apply the highest world standards, and to constantly listen to the needs of Novi Sad's citizens because their quality of life is the measuring unit for success

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erbian Athens, one of the monikers of Novi Sad, is developing daily, winning new titles and attracting new investors. We have talked to Novi Sad's Mayor, Miloš Vučević about plans, the importance of Novi Sad being declared the European Culture Capital and various other topics.

What do you consider to be your biggest success as Mayor of Novi Sad? — Success could also be a small matter if it influences the lives of Novi Sad's citizens for better. Today, success is that each of our first-grade pupils has received textbooks, a backpack and school supplies as a gift from the city. Success is measured by both the number of babies born and jobs created. Success is also an enthusiasm that I have not lost, even though, regarding some plans, I have been slowed down by the administration. We strive to do the best for Novi Sad, to hire the

best experts, to apply the highest world standards, and to constantly listen to the needs of Novi Sad's citizens because the quality of their lives is the measuring unit for success.

What infrastructure works are ongoing and which are yet to start in Novi Sad? — We have entered the final stages of the implementation of numerous capital projects: construction of a new music and ballet school with a concert hall, Science and Technology Park, the building of the Biosens Institute, the Radio and Television of Vojvodina (RTV) building, the culture and youth centre in the so-called Chinatown, improving utility infrastructure in parts of the city and building cultural stations, which are a new project that validates our policy that every part of Novi Sad is equally important to us, and that all people in Novi Sad are equally important, regardless of where they live –

in the centre or on the outskirts. This is one of the biggest investment cycles in the history of Novi Sad, and our goal is to finish all the started projects and launch new ones; to build new bridges. Novi Sad was waiting for 19 years to regain what was destroyed during the NATO bombing. I won't allow us having to wait for that many years again. We are preparing projects for the construction of at least two new bridges: one that will connect the city to the Srem bypass and the future Ruma - Sabac motorway, and the other that is intended for pedestrian and cyclists, that will rest on the pillars of the old Francis Joseph Bridge that will link the quay to the Petrovaradin Fortress. An urban - architectural competition for the preliminary design of the bridge has recently been launched. The design should include a tunnel and accessible bicycle and pedestrian paths on both banks of the Danube. We are also preparing a major project which entails the urbanization of the riverbank, the construction of a modern marina, rowing trails, and business and residential buildings, in the most beautiful location in Novi Sad, on the Danube bank. This is a new page in the development of Novi Sad that has been just a thought for decades. Of course, we are also preparing for the implementation of the European Capital of Culture project in 2021, and devising how our city can benefit permanently from two European titles it has been given.

A lot of commotion was called in Belgrade

concerning the renovation of streets in the town centre. The same happened in Novi Sad but regarding SPENS (Vojvodina Sports and Business Centre). What is going on with that? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Yes, something is finally going on with SPENS after decades of the building's destruction and degradation. I had various ideas about what to do with SPENS, and now I have a solution that I believe Novi Sad's citizens will be pleased with. Specifically, a study is being drafted to determine whether SPENS' energy efficiency and reconstruction issues should be addressed through a combination of financial support and a public-private partnership or a monetary arrangement with a financial organization. The renovation of SPENS should begin in the spring. A document on cooperation was recently signed by the City of Novi Sad and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which will also participate in procuring new city buses and developing an action plan for a cleaner city. Drafting of a feasibility study regarding the renovation of SPENS will be funded by the

INVESTMENTS

IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, NOVI SAD HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST ATTRACTIVE LOCATIONS FOR INVESTORS

European Bank, and the reconstruction itself could cost up to 4.5 billion dinars. We have an idea to reconstruct SPENS in such a way that it ensures at least another 40 years of its vitality. Works will begin on a new energy mantle for SPENS which entails replacing the staircase and roof, followed by the works on air-conditioning and heating of the sports halls, swimming pool and public spaces. In addition to the renovation of the building, our idea is also to transform a segment of the interior into a High Technology, Artificial Intelligence and Information Technology Centre and we have officially submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Education for such centre to be established in Novi Sad. If SPENS had such a purpose, that would be a big deal for Novi Sad, especially since our city has all the capacities to open something like that. Furthermore, SPENS has a good location as the University and Science and Technology Park are nearby.

Why would you recommend investors to invest in Novi Sad? What is your strategy for attracting them? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The best recommendation is the investors who are already operational in Novi Sad; i.e. multinational companies such as Lear and Aptiv, cumulatively employing over 5,000 people, and Continental, which has opened a Research and Development Centre, and already employs over 300 young engineers. The fact is that Novi Sad has become one of the most attractive locations for inves-

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tors in recent years. We have completely equipped the new Industrial Zone North 4, located along the E75 motorway, we have built new boulevards, a bypass and the bridge at the site of the demolished Žeželj Bridge over which the Belgrade Budapest fast railroad will pass. The new owner of the Port of Novi Sad - P&O Port Dubai – is starting with the reconstruction of the wharf. We have been the first to successfully implement the e-licensing system, we have numerous incentives for entrepreneurs, and another extremely important thing to mention is that the city is financially and politically stable.

New foreign investors are coming. Are you currently negotiating with other investors? What investments are going to be made in the upcoming period? — There are many interested investors, but (bringing an investor) is a long process and I would not like to prejudice anything until a final agreement is reached. The residents of Novi Sad need to know that we have received an additional incentive for our city to a city with the best utility infrastructure. We will have as much as 127 million euro available for this from the state's new investment plan, which is almost half of the city's budget. We will complete the construction of a water supply and sewage network in all parts of the city, and a central sewage treatment plant which will be built to the highest

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environmental standards. Soon we will start afforestation of the city, with the assistance from consultants from the Faculty of Agriculture. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will finance the drafting of an action plan for a cleaner city. We have signed a Certificate of Commitment to devise a Green City Action Plan. As part of this, an investment project will be launched,

SPENS

WE HAVE AN IDEA TO RECONSTRUCT SPENS IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT ENSURES AT LEAST ANOTHER 40 YEARS OF ITS VITALITY focusing on the implementation of the highest environmental and energy efficiency systems: low-carbon buildings with climate resilience, water protection and wastewater and solid waste treatment, modernization of urban transport, street lighting, implementation of a municipal energy system and renewable energy infrastructure.

How important is the title of the European

Culture Capital 2020 for Novi Sad? — This means that many doors are open to us for further development in all segments of life, not only in culture because this is a project of national importance. In addition to the many cultural activities that are going to be realized and that we want to involve as many citizens of Novi Sad as possible in, culture stations will be built in many parts of the city, abandoned factories such as Svilara and the so-called Chinatown will be transformed into places for artists and the creative industry, we are renovating building facades and we restoring the streets below the Petrovaradin Fortress, and we are improving the Theatre Square and the old town centre. Which performances did you attend at the EXIT Festival? Who would you like to see perform next year? — This year's EXIT Festival has broken all records, and it has long been a matter of prestige to perform on the Fortress and especially to perform at one of the world's largest festivals. This year, I watched performances by to Van Gogh, Tom Walker and Greta van Fleet. I would never interfere with the lineup because there is always something for everyone's taste. We need to let them do their job as usual. I also know that next year, when EXIT celebrates its 20th year, there will be great surprises.

ojvodina is the heart of oil business in Serbia. This is evidenced by the fact that the most important capacities of our oil company – Naftna industrija Srbije – are located in that part of the country. Most of NIS’ oil and gas fields, as well as one of the most modern refineries in this part of Europe, Pančevo Oil Refinery, are located in Vojvodina. This company also owns the Amine natural gas processing plant in Elemir, in which HiPACT (High Pressure Acidgas Capture Technology) is applied. Amine natural gas processing plant in Elemir is the first plant of this kind working in Europe. In addition, Novi Sad is the location of NIS' Science and Technology Center (NTC), which is a part of the company in charge of business innovation. A large number of NIS retail facilities is located in Vojvodina, and one of the most modern petrol stations within the GAZPROM brand, not only in Serbia but also globally, has recently been opened in the municipality of Stara Pazova. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AS A BASIC PRINCIPLE However, not only good business results are important for the business of modern companies, but also efforts to contribute to positive changes in society and improve the quality of life of citizens. Investing in the community where a company operates, as well as focusing on the needs of all its members, especially the youngest of them, is one of

C O R P O R AT E

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY Investing in the community where the company operates and focusing on the needs of all its members, especially the youngest of them, is one of the postulates on which NIS' social responsibility is based, as this company is a responsible member of our society the postulates on which NIS' social responsibility is based, as this company is a responsible member of our society. The company has recognized the importance of caring for the community, and implemented Together for the Community programme through which it has been investing significant funds in municipalities and cities across our country for the last 11 years. So far, more than 780 projects that improved lives of citizens have been implemented in Vojvodina through Together for the Community programme. Investments were made in the reconstruction of kindergartens, parks, playgrounds and schools, equipping school laboratories and classrooms, as well as the implementation of

FOCUS

THIS YEAR, TOGETHER FOR THE COMMUNITY CORPORATE PROGRAMME OF NIS COMPANY IS FOCUSED ON SUPPORT TO HEALTHCARE, AND ALL FUNDS ARE DIRECTED TO SUPPORT THE IMPROVEMENT OF HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS THROUGHOUT SERBIA

projects in the fields of education and science, culture, ecology, sports, public health and social protection. This year, Together for the Community corporate programme is focused on support to healthcare, and all funds are directed to support the improvement of health care institutions throughout Serbia. NIS has allocated RSD 116.5 million for this purpose, of which RSD 80 million have been allocated to the territory of Vojvodina for reconstruction and adaptation of children's dispensaries, procurement of modern medical equipment and appliances and medical vehicles in 10 health care institutions. These investments will improve not only the efficiency and effectiveness of work, but also the quality of health care in our country. We would like to remind that this company has so far donated more than RSD 100 million for the procurement of modern medical equipment throughout Serbia, especially in children’s health care institutions. Some of them are located in Vojvodina, such as the Institute for Child and Youth Health Care in Novi Sad and Childbirth Centre Betanija in Novi Sad. As a company with a strategic commitment to corporate social responsibility, NIS will continue to invest its business development and good business results in supporting projects and initiatives that contribute to improvement and protection of the community in which the company operates, in order to provide better living conditions for citizens in our country. INVEST IN

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INTERVIEW

WE ARE TRYING TO HELP THE LEAST DEVELOPED MUNICIPALITIES Investors are focusing on Vojvodina because of competitive operating costs, quality workforce, financial and tax benefits, as well as access to a market of a billion people thanks to free trade agreements

NIKOLA ŽEŽELJ Director of Vojvodina Development Agency Novi Sad

he Vojvodina Development Agency encourages the influx of foreign and domestic investments and provides professional services to companies that want to invest. In this interview, the director of the Vojvodina Development Agency, Nikola Žeželj talks about the economic potentials and existing resources, as well as the proposed measures to support economic development.

In the two years since the establishment of the Vojvodina Development Agency, over one billion dinars have been invested in

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the development of the economy and new jobs. What are your plans and projects? — The Vojvodina Development Agency (RAV) conducts tenders for the purchase of equipment and job creation together with the Provincial Secretariat for Regional Development, Interregional Cooperation and Local Self-Government. The funds allocated for the aforementioned competitions were provided by the decisions made by the Provincial Assembly, through the Budgetary Fund for the Implementation of the Development Policies of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina.

INVESTMENTS

THIS YEAR, 142 MILLION EURO WORTH OF FDI HAVE BEEN MADE AND CLOSE TO 500 NEW JOBS HAVE BEEN CREATED, BUT SOME OF THESE INVESTMENTS HAVE YET TO BE REALIZED

Since the RAV's establishment, there have been six competitions: two for the purchase of equipment and four for job creation. The total value of appropriations amounts to about one billion dinars and the result is that 1,774 new jobs will be created in the coming period. In addition to employment, these competitions aim to help our companies cope with open market conditions and strong competition, modernize production and introduce new technologies with one of the more important goals is certainly a balanced regional development. Regarding the plans for the next period, we expect that a call for tenders will be for the procurement of equipment solely for cooperatives to be launched, while other plans depend on the provincial budget, and we'll talk about that when we get concrete information.

Emphasis is also placed on employing people in less developed local self-government units so they will stay there to live. What is the current situation like, i.e. how many people are employed and how much more is waiting for work? — Yes, we are trying to help the least developed municipalities in Vojvodina; those that are classified categories 3 and 4, with a level of development of 60% to 80% of the national average, or below 60% of the national average. One way to do this is through the aforementioned competitions. As much as 60% of the total allocated funds following the competition for the creation of new jobs are intended exclusively for municipalities in categories 3 and 4. Regarding statistics, I can only tell you that there are about 100,000 unemployed persons in Vojvodina (as this figure varies daily). According to the data collated by the National Employment Service from July this year, 27.3% of the unemployed persons come from local self-government units that belong to the groups 3 and 4 considering their development level.

model of social entrepreneurship that plays a significant role in creating a stable social economy, helping small businesses to expand and improve production, and to find a market, especially internationally. Their advantage is that they appear in the market together, and at the same time, they have reduced costs and can influence price formation, which is especially important in the agricultural sector, which is characterized by fluctuating prices. After the state started giving grants to agricultural cooperatives last year, it was perfectly logical for new cooperatives to emerge as a result. If I'm not mistaken, more than 300 new cooperatives were founded in Serbia last year, and we will see how many of them will exist until the year-end; the forecasts show that the number could go up to 500. However, for them to accomplish business results and enter the domestic and

T R A D E FA I R

IN SEPTEMBER, WE WILL ATTEND A FOOD AND BEVERAGE FAIR IN MOSCOW AND WILL BRING WITH US PRODUCERS OF FRESH AND FROZEN FRUITS, HIGH-QUALITY VIRGIN OILS, HONEY AND AROMATIC AND MEDICINAL HERBS

foreign markets, they must be visible, they must offer and negotiate, have a continuous product, and they have to be proactive in the same way clusters or companies are. We called almost all of them to participate in the Suppliers Day - Agribusiness, but the response was poor. Hopefully, more of them will come next time.

The influx of foreign capital and foreign direct investments are also important for having a stable economy. How many foreign companies operate in Vojvodina today? How many new ones have launched a business this year? — Today, 368 foreign companies are operating in Vojvodina, which, according to our information, have invested just over 9 billion euro and employed about 85,000 people. This year, 142 million euro worth of FDI has been made and close to 500 new jobs have been created, but some of these investments have yet to be realized. We are also counting on re-investments, such as those of JT International in Senta or Schneider Electric DMS, but also of new companies. ZF Friedrichshafen AG coming to Pančevo is also considered a significant investment. The company has opened a factory that will produce electric motors, switches and generators for electric vehicles. This is an important investment because it brings state-of-theart manufacturing, as well as a scientific development centre, which will help with alleviating brain drain. What we certainly need is more high-tech investments, and this again requires a special environment, which Vojvodina is quickly becoming. We have excellent universi-

Based on what was happening on your Suppliers Day, and this tender for the acquisition of equipment that could be launched in the coming period, it seems that you have been focusing on cooperatives as well. — I can't talk about the competition until it is launched, but I can say the following: yes, of course, the RAV is also there for cooperatives. They are an important INVEST IN

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ties and research centres; the University of Novi Sad offers special programmes tailored to the needs of investors; we have a Business Incubator in Novi Sad and an ICT cluster, while the construction of science and technology park is near completion.

In the past, RAV has taken representatives of domestic companies to trade fairs abroad. What are the results and how many deals have been made at these fairs? — We are really very pleased with all the trade fair performances that we have had since the Agreement on Joint Appearance at International Fairs was signed between the Provincial Government, RAV, Novi Sad, Subotica, Zrenjanin, Pančevo, Sombor, Sremska Mitrovica, Vršac, Kikinda, Pećinci and the Chamber of Commerce of Vojvodina. In 2018, we attended the following expos the China Tourism Fair, Automechanika, EXPO REAL and Fruit Logistica. This year we went to the Berlin Tourism Fair, the first food and beverage fair in Moscow, and again EXPO REAL and Fruit Logistica, at which we exhibit frequently because these are prestigious global fairs in their respective domains. Our goal is to showcase Vojvodinian towns and companies that come from them with their specific projects and potential. I cannot speak about the impressions on behalf of those companies, but I can tell you that results have been achieved. For instance, the international fair of fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables in Berlin, Fruit Logistica has proven to be a particu-

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IN NUMBERS

368 FOREIGN COMPANIES ARE OPERATING IN VOJVODINA, WHICH, ACCORDING TO OUR INFORMATION, HAVE INVESTED JUST OVER 9 BILLION EURO AND EMPLOYED ABOUT 85,000 PEOPLE

larly good trade show for our companies. Following the fair, some of the companies immediately started exporting while some are planning to export to Germany, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Qatar and other countries. In September, we will attend a food and beverage fair in Moscow and will bring with us producers of fresh and frozen fruits, high-quality virgin oils, honey, aromatic and medicinal herbs, bean and chickpea spreads, etc. Good companies, good booth and good preparation will hopefully bring good results.

Vojvodina is located on the border with the EU, so it is profitable for foreign companies to distribute products to the region from here and gain quick access to the global market. What are the other reasons for investing in the province? — In addition to what you mentioned, investors have been focusing on Vojvodina because of competitive operating costs, quality workforce, financial and tax benefits, as well as access to one billion people through Serbia's free trade agreements with CEFTA, EFTA, Turkey, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, a transitional trade agreement with the EU and a preferential agreement with the US. At the risk of sounding braggadocious, I think it's important that there are institutions like the RAV - not in the sense that we are the reason why they choose to invest, but because we do everything in our power to direct them to here and highlight all these benefits.

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C O R P O R AT E

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ith its powerful, almost healing energy the Kopaonik Mountain is not picky about the reasons you want to visit it or your age or a season to endlessly enjoy it. This is a destination that certainly knows how to charge your batteries. Clean mountain air, beautiful sites, natural attractions, streams, conifer scent, forested slopes and that perfect mountain tranquillity have become increasingly appealing to companies and their employees in recent years. When we burden ourselves too much and feel crushed by the rat race, we often have a desire to escape from everything that surrounds daily - stress, noise, pollution and fast lifestyle, but also a desire to enjoy green landscapes, peace and quiet. We think that becoming one with nature

will bring us a much-needed release from tension, frustration and negative energy. On the other hand, it is clear that good relationships among employees improve the work environment and contribute to their satisfaction, and thus affect higher productivity. For this reason, in recent years, many companies have been applying a new business philosophy of promoting and improving interpersonal relationships, known as team building. The Kopaonik Mountain is one of the top destinations, which, in addition to skiing, good fun and summer activities, has devised a quality offer for organizing a wide variety of corporate events and team building. Kopaonik provides a stimulating natural environment, far from hustle and bustle of work.

MK Resort offers companies the opportunity to train their team for success. Your host on the Sunny Mountain, as the Kopaonik is often called, also has novelties that will particularly appeal to business groups like yoga which is an integral part of the team-building offer for companies and that can be used as a tool for stress management, learning about holistic methods and the use of nature to reinvigorate the spirit of both teams and individuals. All of these novelties are recognized as tools that can be used to improve the work environment and bolster team spirit. When it comes to organizing such

events, what sets MK Resort and Hotel Grand apart is a good blend of modern conference facilities, the ability to accommodate a large number of participants in one place and the natural environment in the heart of the National Park, which provides innumerable opportunities for organizing innovative team building activities. The organizers have access to numerous sports and entertainment facilities in the hotel and outdoor facilities that will complement any business event programme. Safari tours, mountain biking, orienteering, archery, picnicking in nature, quad rides, rafting and many other activities, draws the employ-

ees out of the business stereotype and transports them into a natural environment where business processes are simulated through various exciting games. On the other hand, the Grand Hotel’s conference centre is one of the most popular and the most contemporary conference centres in Serbia, and it is no wonder that it hosts around 250 national and international events each year. More than 70% of these meetings are made up of team-building groups. The number keeps going up year-on-year, not only in terms of international companies but also domestic ones that have recognized the benefits of investing in their employees.

AUTUMN TEAM BUILDING PACKAGE – HOTSPOT AT THE GRAND HOTEL • Team building games of your choice: Escape Kopaonik, trophy hunting, archery training, team building training ground • Outdoor yoga • Conference facilities and equipment • Sports facilities inside the hotel basketball volleyball and handball tournaments • Bowling tournament • Spa & Wellness facilities • Free massages for the winners of team building games

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EVENT

Robert Čoban, Djordje Milićević, Boško Vučurević

THE GOOD INVESTMENT CLIMATE IN SERBIA AND THE AP VOJVODINA “O On September 3rd, the Deputy Head of the Provincial government, Djordje Milićević opened the Invest in Vojvodina conference at which the representatives of embassies, foreign chambers of commerce and other participants from the country and abroad were presented with the investment potential of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina

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verall, Serbia and Vojvodina have had a good investment climate over the last few years. This is evidenced by the figures and accomplished results, which is why we had a 4.5% growth of the gross domestic product last year, the highest in the previous decade. The fact that the Financial Times has declared Serbia the number one destination for foreign direct investments in 2018 shows that we are heading in the right direction”, Mr Milićević said, adding that the evidence that a really good investment climate was created could be seen in the fact that our companies were doing well and that external trade, industrial production, service sector and tourism were growing. Mr Milićević also pointed out that, in the last three and a half years, i.e. since the current Provincial government came to power, serious strides have been made in creating an investment environment

in Vojvodina. As he pointed out, the Vojvodina Development Agency was formed, which helps and encourages investments of both domestic and foreign investors with its incentive measures. These measures, as Mr Milićević said, encourage and subsidize new employment or procurement of new equipment, technological modernization, etc. “These are all good signals, but we must not stop there. I believe that this conference will also give some answers to the questions regarding how to proceed and what measures, steps and instruments we need to implement to increase the number of investments and perpetuate the dynamic economic growth,” Mr Milićević added. He also underlined that the GDP growth was expected to reach 3.5% this year and that a good year for agriculture would further boost that growth. “Figures in the first six months show

Dejan Vidić, Gordan Bakota,Oana-Cristina Popa, Sergio Monti

that positive trends are continuing in the food industry, where an 8.8% growth was recorded in Vojvodina. The value of the external trade in the same period amounted to 6.2 billion euro, of which our exports amounted to 2.9 billion euro and are growing at a rate of 8.3%,” the Deputy Head of the Vojvodinian government, Djordje Milićević said, adding that our economy was recovering and growing and that he believed that that process would be further expedited in collaboration with the business sector. On behalf of the organizers, the President of the Chamber of Commerce of Vojvodina, Boško Vučurević, and the President of the Color Press Group, Robert Čoban also addressed the conference. Mr Vučurević underlined that the measures implemented at the state and provincial levels, in cooperation with chambers of commerce and other institutions, gave very good economic results. The fact that the trade growth amounted to 10% in the first seven months of this year, that is, to over 7 billion euro, of which exports from Vojvodina amounted to 3.5 billion euro, means that things are done well. Robert Čoban underlined that the conference brought together everybody who could contribute to a more active increase of foreign and domestic investments in

Pal Nemeshi, Borko Djurić, Boško Vučurević, Kostas Georgakos, Branko Azeski

our economy, including the media representatives, the chamber of commerce system, all levels of government, ambassadors and representatives of the business sector. The Invest in Vojvodina conference was held in the form of three panels – an ambassadorial one, which brought together ambassadors from the region and beyond who exchanged experiences and gave examples of good practice, followed by a chamber panel and a panel dedicated to the circular economy. The first panel was attended by the Romanian Ambassador H.E., Oana-Cristina Popa, Croatian Ambassador, H.E. Gordan Bakota, Deputy Head of the Italian Diplomatic Mission, Sergio Monti and Economic Advisor to the Slovenian Embassy, Dejan Vidić. They discussed bilateral relations, economic cooperation, as well as opportunities for improving relations. The conclusion was that these relations were good, but there was always room for improvement. The next panel dealt with inter-chamber cooperation as an opportunity for growth. Panelists included Boško Vučurević, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Vojvodina (PKV), Branko Azeski, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Macedonia, Borko Djurić, President of

the Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Srpska, Kostas Georgakos, President of the Greek-Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Pal Nemeshi, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Csongrad County. The panel was moderated by Chief of Staff of the PKV President, Milna Stojanov. All participants agreed that the chambers of commerce in the region were one of the key factors in creating the investment environment. The conclusion is that the economic potential of the entire region is high, but that growth has been slowed down due to several obstacles that must be constantly worked on. The theme of the last panel was the circular economy. The panel was moderated by Zoran Trpovski, MSc, secretary of the PKV Industry Association, and the participants were Milan Veselinov (CirkEkon), Miroslav Filep (Dogma, Zrenjanin) and Zoran Pomoriški (Biolerektra, Botoš). They underlined that the initial premises of this concept were significantly different from the widely accepted system of linear economy and that it will take a long time and determination to make this system prevalent globally. The conference was attended by numerous guests from the economic and diplomatic life of Serbia.

Zoran Pomoriški, Miroslav Filep, Milan Veselinov

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INTERVIEW

VOJVODINA HAS ALWAYS BEEN EXTREMELY ATTRACTIVE About 70 Italian companies are active in Vojvodina and employ more than 13.000 workers

CARLO LO CASCIO Ambassador of Italy to Belgrade

taly is one of the largest economic partners of Vojvodina. We spoke with H.E. Carlo Lo Cascio, Ambassador of Italy to Belgrade, about how satisfied they are with their cooperation so far and future plans.

How interesting is Vojvodina to Italian investment companies? — Vojvodina has always been extremely attractive for our businessmen. Thanks to the proximity to our Country, to the high-skilled workforce available and to the great collaboration with the local Authorities, Italian companies were among the first in the past decades to believe in the development of the Region. The Italian investments rank third among FDIs (with almost 900 million euros), with a share in the total direct investments of around 10%. Our companies can count on the assistance of the Italian Institutions working in Serbia side by side with the Italian Embassy, like ICE (Foreign Trade Agency) the Italian-Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Confindustria Serbia, without forgetting the precious collaboration of our Honorary Vice Consulate in Subotica. We also very much value the work of the local Serbian Authorities, the Development Agency of Vojvodina (RAV) and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vojvodina. How many Italian companies are currently operating in Vojvodina? Any announcements of new investments? — So far, about 70 Italian companies are active in Vojvodina (no other Country has

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more companies here) and employ more than 13.000 workers. We are the second foreign employer in the Region and that makes us very proud. Italian companies invested mostly in the financial sector, textile industry, agribusiness and metallurgical sector, but our presence spans to the services, automotive, electronic, pharmaceutical, plastics and construction industries, as well as in wood processing, chemical and paper industries. Regarding upcoming projects, a new factory for the production of high quality shoes and

PA R T N E R

LAST YEAR ITALY WAS THE 4th TRADING PARTNER OF VOJVODINA, THANKS TO AN EXCHANGE OF 1,05 BILLION EUROS semi-finished shoe parts will soon be built in Sombor by Italian investors already present in Serbia. We are also optimist about a growing Italian presence in the agri-sector, thanks to the positive spillover effects of our traditional participation to the International Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad. This year we were the partner country of the Fair and we will continue to be present in the next years.

Do you have any information on trade between Italy and Vojvodina?

— Last year Italy was the 4th trading partner of Vojvodina, thanks to an exchange of 1,05 billion euros (4th trade partner). I strongly believe that there is a margin for increasing these figures, as shown by the data of the first 4 months of 2019, that have registered a positive trend, with about 360 million euros of bilateral trade and a double-digit percent growth compared to the same period of last year. Considering that in 2018 the total bilateral trade between Serbia and Italy exceeded for the first time 4 billion euros, I am sure that Vojvodina has the potential to participate with an even more important role in the total trade between our two Countries.

Which segments have room for better cooperation between Italy and Vojvodina? — I think that there is room for improvement in every sector. From agriculture to manufacturing, from alternative energies to ITC. In agriculture. As for the agribusiness, I would like to mention that the National Association of Italian Co-operatives (AGCI), Confindustria Serbia and the Cooperative Union of Vojvodina signed a Protocol on Cooperation with the Provincial Secretariat for Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry. To conclude, we are very pleased with the level of cooperation with Vojvodina, in the framework of the excellent partnership with Serbia. At the same time, we are sure we can do more. We are here to support our Serbian friends and share our expertise with Serbian companies, in order gain benefits for both sides.

INTERVIEW

FOUR AREAS AS A PRIORITY Following on the initiative of the Vojvodina government to focus on water management, this sector has the potential to become another priority area as ambitious targets have been set H.E. OANA – CRISTINA POPA Romanian Ambassador to Serbia

.E. Oana - Cristina Popa, the Romanian Ambassador to Serbia, talks about the priorities of Romania-Vojvodina cooperation.

How developed is cross-border cooperation between Vojvodina and Romania? Which projects are we implementing together? — The Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Romania – Serbia has achieved remarkable success with over 95% of allocated funds successfully implemented. It follows four priority pillars focusing on economic and social development; environment and emergency preparedness; promoting people-to-people contacts and technical assistance. During the 2007-2013 financial framework, the Cooperation Programme summed up projects amounting to 53.1 million euro. The IPA programme will continue during the 20142020 framework following the approval of the Common Monitoring Committee on 9th September 2014 and it has adopted by the governments of the two countries and the European Commission with a total budget of 88.1 million euro. The project proposals for the 2014-2020 period have been prepared by a joint working group for strategic planning and programming of the Romanian management authority (The Ministry for Regional Development and Public Administration), the Serbian counterpart responsible for cross-border cooperation and the Joint Technical Secretariat of the Regional Office for Cross-Border Cooperation in Timisoa-

ra. Some of the projects in the pipeline have a strategic importance, such as the Bega River Channel with a budget amounting to 13.88 million euro and projects focusing on improving socio-economic conditions, rehabilitating hospitals (in Požarevac, Pančevo, Vršac, Reșița and Timisoara), equipping and modernizing firefighting stations (Zrenjanin), and reconstructing and equipping sports facilities in numerous towns.

The Eco Timis tourism project in Vojvodina is being implemented together with Romania. How high is tourism on the list of priorities for cooperation? — Tourism is high on the cross-border cooperation agenda between Romania and Serbia under IPA II. A total of 18 million euro or 20% of the total allocated funds. ECO Timiș is a project launched in July 2017 aiming to develop tourism alongside the Timiș River valley, implemented by four partnering organization across the border: the Association for Promoting Tourism of Timiș County; Association Miltonia from Timișoara; The Center

C O O P E R AT I O N

TOURISM IS HIGH ON THE CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION AGENDA BETWEEN ROMANIA AND SERBIA UNDER IPA II

for Voluntarism and Movement for Protection of Nature from Pančevo and the Regional Chamber for Commerce and Industry from Pančevo. It promotes ecologically sustainable tourism through identifying and marking bicycles paths along the old access roads near the Timiș River, developing beaches and sites for fishing, installing benches and building picnic shelters, as well as bird watching observation posts in the Satchinez Natural Reservation and the Macedonia Forrest. The project aims to make the river banks accessible for bicycles, canoes and catamarans, as well as for strolls.

Which segments have the potential for better cooperation between Romania and Vojvodina? — Romania and Vojvodina have defined four priority areas under IPA II, building on the success of previous financial cycles. These are sustainable development and job creation (over 18 million euro); environment protection and risk management (21 million euro), increasing mobility (21 million euro) and developing sustainable tourism (18 million euro). Following the initiative of the Vojvodina government to focus on water management, this sector has the potential to become another priority area as ambitious targets have been set (management of river beds and clearing debris, as well as wastewaters management) with expertise available. In Romania, there is several registered companies which specialize in this field and have extensive experience and European certification. INVEST IN

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INTERVIEW

SATISFIED WITH THE COOPERATION H.E. GORDAN BAKOTA

Investments are also one of the important segments in which I see the space and the opportunity for further strong growth, while at the same time, I am also referring to the investments by entrepreneurs from Serbia in the tourism and production sector in the Republic of Croatia

Croatian Ambassador to Serbia

ince Croatians are the nearest neighbours of Vojvodinians, we have spoken to the Croatian Ambassador to Serbia, H.E. Mr Gordan Bakota about the cooperation between Croatia and Vojvodina and the opportunities for growth.

What potential lies in Vojvodina and Croatia jointly applying for European funds? — The objective of cross-border cooperation is to address common challenges that have been identified jointly in border regions. The programme is defined by two priorities: Sustainable Socio-Economic Development and Technical Assistance. The potential for Vojvodina and Croatia is clear. The total programme budget for the seven-year period from 2014 to 2020 for the European Territorial Cooperation and the Croatia - Serbia programme is EUR 40,344,930, of which EUR 34,293,188 comes from the European Regional Development Fund and EUR 6,051,174 from national co-financing. I also find it extremely important that minority communities are more strongly involved in cross-border cooperation programmes. What cross-border cooperation projects are currently being implemented? — IPA Cross-border Co-operation Program Croatia-Serbia 2014-2020 is a continuation of cooperation between the two countries, i.e. border regions, from the previous programming period. Under the framework of the first Interreg IPA

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CBC Croatia-Serbia Call 2014-2020, the Joint Monitoring Committee has selected 24 projects to be funded. The analysis of priority axes has shown that the biggest number of applications (41) was submitted for priority axis 2 "Protecting the environment and biodiversity, improving risk prevention and promoting sustainable energy and energy efficiency", fol-

WORKFORCE

THE LACK OF SKILLED LABOUR IS AN INCREASINGLY PRESSING PROBLEM ACROSS EUROPE AND ONE OF THE POSSIBLE OBSTACLES TO FURTHER GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENT OF ECONOMIC COOPERATION lowed by the applications under priority axis 3 “The contribution of tourism to the preservation of cultural and natural sites" with 35 applications.

How would you rate the current relationship with the provincial authorities in Vojvodina? — We are pleased with the cooperation, but of course, there is always room for

improvement. Cooperation is primarily related to resolving issues regarding the daily life of the representatives of the Croatian national minority, which is mostly settled on the territory of AP Vojvodina, and to participate in various economic events organized by the provincial authorities.

Could economic cooperation become even better and in what segments? — There is room for further improvement of economic cooperation between Croatia and Serbia and can be found in almost all segments. Even though the current growth of trade is not as high as in some previous years, it is important to point out that our trade balance has continued to grow and has practically doubled in the past five years. There is room for further growth in this segment as well, and one of the important prerequisites is the completion of the harmonization of Serbian regulations with the EU’s. Investments are also an important segment in which I see space and opportunity for further strong growth. I am also referring to the investments by entrepreneurs from Serbia in tourism and production sector in the Republic of Croatia. I see the lack of skilled labour as an increasingly pressing problem across Europe and as one of the possible obstacles to further growth and improvement of economic cooperation. I believe that appropriate steps could be taken in this area as well.

INTERVIEW

EXCELLENT RELATIONS Slovenian companies operating in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina are pleased with the cooperation; many of them even more so because they are still boosting their market presence and hiring new people DEJAN VLADIĆ Economic attaché at the Slovenian Embassy

e talked with Dejan Vladić, the economic attaché at the Slovenian Embassy, about the topic of this year's joint session of the Slovenian and Serbian government and whether Vojvodina would be one of the topics too.

What will be the agenda of the joint session of the governments of Serbia and Slovenia, scheduled for the end of this year? — It is up to the Serbian government to suggest the date of the next joint government session and its agenda. This will likely be in early December, as other political parties have commitments regarding elections in Serbia next year. Economic relations between the two developing countries always have a special place on the agenda of our two governments, as do the external trade and investments. To preserve this level of cooperation, we need to maintain regular and open communication between the government and representatives of business, especially those with high investment potential. Is Vojvodina going to be one of the topics of the joint session? Are you satisfied with the cooperation between Slovenia and Vojvodina? — Slovenian companies operating in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina are pleased with the cooperation; many of them even more so because they are still boosting their market presence and hiring

new people. The Slovenian Embassy also has excellent relations with the provincial government and we are regular visitors of economic forums, trade fairs and other events in Vojvodina. I must also point out that Slovenia, as developmentand innovation-oriented economy, is noticing a significant growth of companies from the information technology and

GROWTH

I MUST ALSO POINT OUT THAT SLOVENIA, AS A DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION-ORIENTED ECONOMY, IS NOTICING A SIGNIFICANT GROWTH OF COMPANIES FROM THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND DIGITALIZATION SECTORS IN VOJVODINA digitalization sectors in Vojvodina. This is how a strong digital economy is being created naturally, which has a high level of added value. This is very important for engaging experts and for Serbian engineers working abroad to return to Serbia where they can do important engineering jobs and also be better paid.

Could you tell us more about Slovenian innovations in the field of mobility and energy efficiency? Is there room for cooperation? — There is room for collaboration and that is our next goal. Also, for the next joint government session, we are planning to introduce Slovenian innovation and development in the field of electro-mobility and energy efficiency and other modern technologies. The Slovenian Automotive Industry Association and its e-mobility branch have already presented themselves in Belgrade this May at the Smart City SEE conference. At that time, they already presented initiatives for cooperation on the so-called Living Lab SEE mobility project, Green Balkans and Green Adriatic. In which areas can Slovenia and Vojvodina improve their relations further? — There is always room for improvement in marriage, in friendships and in relations between two states. Searching for new opportunities and ideas and the concretization of this makes us stronger, more successful and happier after all. In terms of economics, the potential for new collaboration exists at a research and development level where the potential, globally speaking, is enormous. We need to target globally from the beginning, instead of focusing on our countries because our markets are quite small. The know-how, expertise in providing services and innovative solutions have no boundaries, hence we must not set them ourselves. INVEST IN

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C O R P O R AT E

THERE IS NO MAGIC SOLUTION The timely response and early submission to treatment for the diseases of addiction greatly increase the chances of a positive result of treatment

MILAN VLAISAVLJEVIĆ Special Hospital for Addiction Diseases “Vita”

n increasing number of people face uncertainties every single day. While some manage to cope, others are broken by their weaknesses and as a result, turn to stimulants. Often, in the inability to overcome everyday problems, we turn to what seems like a solution at that moment, namely alcohol, drugs, gambling and other compensations for a more beautiful reality. Failing to see how this “beautiful reality” is increasingly pulling us towards rock bottom and the abyss, we seek help at the very last moment, unfortunately. There is a specialized institution in Novi Sad that has been dealing with all these problems for years.

The Special Hospital for Addiction Diseases “Vita” has conducted its traditional research on risky behaviours this year too, this time focusing on young people aged 15 to 18 and the topic of drug, alcohol and gambling abuse. Can you tell us what kind of results you came up with? — The results showed that there was a significant level of drug abuse in high school students, with every sixth respondent having experienced some drugs. 80% of the survey participants tried marijuana, ecstasy and amphetamines, while 54% tried only marijuana. The high-risk environment in which young people are growing up today is also evidenced by the fact that as many as 66% of them confirmed that they knew someone in their immediate surroundings who was using narcotics. 43% were offered drugs directly by the age of 18. In terms of alcohol

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abuse, compared to a similar study from 6 years ago, we have seen an increase in the level of abuse by some 10%, with as many as 92.7% of high school students experiencing alcohol by the age of 18, 69.5% got drunk, and as many as 58.5% of high school students more or less regularly consume alcohol, most often when going out on weekends. A total of 45% of high school students surveyed have experienced gambling. The most common form of betting is bookmakers, in 49.3% of cases, followed by slot machines 21.4% and roulette 20%. In the case of underage survey participants, almost half of them (as much as 48%) did not encounter any ban on gambling, despite clear legislation on the subject.

You founded the hospital in 2009, ten years ago. What has changed since then? — Drugs have become more accessible and thus became more of a challenge for young people during growing up period. Trends in drug choices are also changing, so for example, heroin has been less prevalent in recent years while, on the other hand, we have an expansion of abuse of various forms of synthetic drugs. A special problem is the so-called new or designer drugs, mostly based on synthetic marijuana or amphetamines, which, in addition to not showing on “the legal radar”,

CHALLENGE

DRUGS HAVE BECOME MORE ACCESSIBLE AND THUS BECAME MORE OF A CHALLENGE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE DURING GROWING UP PERIOD

are prepared, as a rule, in some makeshift laboratories where neither the composition nor the amount of active substance is known, which can be fatal to a young person even after taking just one dose of such drug.

What is the indicative duration of treatment at your hospital and what does it entail? — There are no magic or quick solutions in the treatment of such a complex problem as an addiction. Although there are significant individual differences, it is necessary to comply with all the laws of recovery from the disease of addiction, which requires approximately 1-2 years of treatment. The first step is to establish abstinence, detoxification and psychophysical stabilization, to continue the treatment through intensive psychotherapy work, relapse prevention and family therapy to deal with the bottom line of the disease and with the active participation of the family as a collaborator in the treatment. The ultimate goal of treatment is to change the lifestyle of the individual as a prerequisite for the continued preservation of the patient’s stable condition. What advice would you give to people who have addicted individuals in their surroundings? — Addiction is a disease, and when it develops it is no longer someone's choice or whim. Such people need professional help instead of resorting to ignoring, improvizing or stigmatizing. Unfortunately, due to the many biases in practice, the addiction problem goes on for ten years, on average, before the addict asks for help. The timely response and early submission to treatment for the diseases of addiction greatly increase the chances of a positive result of treatment.

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ECONOMY

AHEAD OF EVERYBODY ELSE V Every fifth municipality in Vojvodina has attracted more than 10 investments in the past five years, and another quarter between 4 and 10, which exceeds the Serbian average

ojvodina is known for being the most developed part of Serbia. For centuries, people have been calling it “a bridge to Europe” and the same can be said today. Facts also show that municipalities in Vojvodina surpass the Serbian average and even the Financial Times has recognized Vojvodina’s good approach to attracting investments.

GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises make up 96% of the total number of business entities in Vojvodina. The 2.5% growth in the physical volume of industrial production in Vojvodina in 2018 is slightly lower than the seven-year average (3.5%) but is still higher than the average in Serbia. During 2018, the growth trend of Vojvodina’s industry was slower, driven mainly by the growth of the manufacturing industry, which recorded a year-on-

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year growth of 2.6%. Growth in physical volume of industrial production in Vojvodina in 2018 at the rate of 2.5% is slightly lower than the seven-year average (3.5%) but still has a higher level of growth trend than the average level of industry in the Republic of Serbia. The growth of Vojvodina’s industry was slower in 2018 and determined mainly by the growth rate of the manufacturing industry, which recorded a year-onyear growth rate of 2.6%. Activity growth was also recorded in the Energy Supply Sector, with the y-o-y growth of 15.0%. The mining sector (which is determined by the level of activity in the segment of crude oil and natural gas) recorded a y-o-y decline of 2.2%, continuing the long-standing negative trend. The manufacturing industry of Vojvodina, also in year-on-year terms, was stimulated by the growth of the physi-

cal volume of production in 13 production segments, which make up 47% of the processing industry in the region. The largest contribution to the growth of the manufacturing industry in 2018 came from the increased volume of motor vehicle and trailer production, the production of petroleum products and metal products. The most significant negative impact was caused by the slowdown in the food, tobacco, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, as well as in the production of electrical equipment. In 2018, the sales of retail products in the region of Vojvodina region grew by 5.8% compared to the year before. Expressed in current prices, the growth of turnover in retail trade in Vojvodina went up by 8.7% relative to the previous year. Unemployment dropped by 42% last year. The decrease in the number of unemployed persons was mostly recorded in the South Bačka District (-4,965 persons) and the South Banat District (-3,125 persons), which together account for almost half (42.0%) of the decline in unemployment. The year ended with 14.6% more employees. In 2018, there were 545,854 formally employed persons in Vojvodina, which is 4.1% (21,262) more than in the previous year. Employment has increased in the segment of legal entities and small businesses. In year-on-year terms, employment in legal entities in Vojvodina (431,288) increased by 4.2% or 17,548 persons, and in small businesses (92,550) by 6.2% or 5,415 persons. The number of registered individual farmers (22,016) decreased by 7.2% or 1,700 persons. Viewed by the sectors, employment in 2018, compared to the previous year, increased in the manufacturing industry by 13,066 employees or 10.0%, in the hospitality and tourism sector by 1,584 or 10.1%, in the transport and storage sector by 1,791 or 6.2%, in the construction sector by 1,540 or 7.8%, in the retail sector for 1,332 employees (2.6%), and in the information and communication sector for 890 employees. Employment declined in the electricity, gas and steam supply sector (353 employees), in the financial and insurance sectors (169 employees), and in the agriculture sector (428). Vojvodina's total external trade in goods in 2018 amounted to EUR 12.1 billion, an increase of 17.3% compared to the previous year. Vojvodina's exports recorded a year-on-year growth of 13.7% and amounted to 5.66 billion euro. At the

same time, imports increased at a yearon-year rate of 20.7% to 6.45 billion euro. The external trade balance is in deficit (EUR 792.2 million). In 2018, Vojvodina’s exports accounted for 34.8% of total exports of the Republic of Serbia, while imports of the region accounted for 29.4% of total imports. Vojvodina's deficit represents 14.0% of the total state deficit. The export to import ratio stood at 87.8% and was lower than in the previous year when it stood at 93%.

MUNICIPALITIES STAND OUT

Vojvodina, Srem and local government units, such as Sremska Mitrovica, Indjija, Zrenjanin, Sombor, Pančevo, Ruma and Stara Pazova, have been ranked among the top 10 European investment regions and cities by the Financial Times for years. NALED's 2018 survey showed that Vojvodina's local self-government units are ahead of the rest of Serbia. Namely, every fifth municipality in Vojvodina has attracted more than 10 investments in the past five years, and another quarter between 4 and 10, which exceeds the Serbian average – the survey showed. The survey also notes that it is necessary for them to enhance cooperation with busi-

TRADE

VOJVODINA'S TOTAL EXTERNAL TRADE IN GOODS IN 2018 AMOUNTED TO EUR 12.1 BILLION, AN INCREASE OF 17.3% COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR nesses and to strengthen the role of local economic development offices (LERs). Local self-governments have already been working on that with 89% of them having an LER office. However, their importance has not been sufficiently recognized by local administrations – the National Alliance for Local Economic Development points out. On the other hand, almost half of the municipalities have not formed an economic council, which, together with businesses, would search for solutions to improve business conditions, since local companies are their best promoters.

It is worth mentioning that Vojvodina's cities and municipalities are trying to systematically approach economic development, and as much as 97% of them have a long-term development strategy and have opted for encouraging investments in agriculture, mechanical and textile industries, as well as in the hospitality industry.

TOURISM AS AN OPPORTUNITY

In 2018, the total number of recorded tourist arrivals in Vojvodina increased by 8.9% and the number of overnight stays by 13.4% compared to the previous year. A total of 538,472 tourists visited the region of Vojvodina, with domestic tourists accounting for 51.6% and foreign tourists 49.4%. The Vojvodina Assembly has adopted the Tourism Development Programme covering the period until 2022. This strategic document is of great importance for the promotion and development of tourism in Vojvodina. The Tourism Development Programme was prepared by the Provincial Secretariat for Economy and Tourism in cooperation with world-renowned experts in the field. Four tourist destinations have been highlighted - Novi Sad area (Fruška Gora and Sremski Karlovci), Subotica area (Palić and Potisje), the Danube region (the Upper Danube region and the Lower Danube region), as well as Banat with Vršac. Accordingly, the Programme, which has been drafted on the back of a strategy, contains the description of the position and basic characteristics of the planning area, an analysis of the situation, resources of the planning area, SWOT analysis, strategic directions and stages of tourism development in Vojvodina, problems of sustainable development of the planning area, proposals and measures to solve them, as well as a way to monitor the implementation of programme activities. This strategic document primarily defines key investment projects such as Palić spa resorts, health, wellness and wine resorts, a thematic amusement park, and the construction of a variety of recreational grounds and facilities. In terms of projects aimed at the public sector, the Programme underlines the key role of privatization, that is, the modernization of existing spas, then urbanization of Vojvodina city centres, tourist development of archaeological heritage, and the revitalization of Petrovaradin Fortress and Podgradje. INVEST IN

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Photos: Tourist Organization of Novi Sad · www.novisad.travel

C U LT U R E

EUROPEAN CULTURAL CAPITAL V Why is the European Capital of Culture title important?

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ojvodina’s city of Novi Sad is the first city outside the European Union to be named European Cultural Capital 2021. In 1985, Melina Mercouri, Greek Minister of Culture and Jack Lang, French Minister of Culture, came up with an idea to pick a European Capital of Culture once a year, in order to connect people in Europe and to raise awareness on common history and values. The project officially started in the same year, after the resolution of EU Ministers of Culture. This initiative soon became one of the most prestigious events in Europe. Since then, more than 40 European cities have held the title European Capital of Culture. Each year, the selected cities (in 2015 these were Plzeň and Mons) are examples of richness and diversity of European cultures.

The European Capital of Culture was established in order to emphasize the richness and diversity of European cultures, to strengthen cultural connections between citizens of Europe, connect people from different European countries, meet other cultures, promote mutual understanding

NEW BRIDGES

THE PROGRAM CONCEPT OF “NOVI SAD 2021” COMPRISES FOUR AREAS FUSED TOGETHER UNDER THE SLOGAN “4 NEW BRIDGES”

and strengthen the sense of Europeanism. The most important heritage of the project is placing culture in the very center of social development and seeing culture as the key factor for economic development of a society founded on knowledge, innovation and creativity. Many capitals of culture used this opportunity to develop cultural infrastructure, enable wider access to culture, improve image of their cities, develop tourist economy, and strengthen cultural and creative industries during the project and after it. The City of Novi Sad has made the decision to bid for the title of European Capital of Culture in 2021, when it will be available for cities and countries outside the European Union for the first time. Following positive experiences of other capitals, the Novi Sad 2021 Project is envisaged as a platform for development of cultural and creative potentials of the city, whose goal for the following

TO U R I S M

THIS PRESTIGIOUS TITLE HAS A HUGE SIGNIFICANCE FOR PROMOTION AND BRANDING OF OUR CITY, IT IS SIGNIFICANT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF BOTH CULTURAL TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT OF OTHER FORMS OF TOURISM

period is to strengthen cultural vitality of the city, enable urban regeneration, and to improve international image and tourist offer of Novi Sad. In this way, while working on the candidacy for the European Capital of Culture in 2021, the City of Novi Sad would develop its local concept and strategy of sustainable development of the cultural sector focusing on: strengthening of the institutions of culture, preserving cultural heritage, improving cultural participation, developing cultural and creative industries, decentralization and inter-sector cooperation. The Novi Sad 2021 Project is designed as a platform for the development of cultural and creative potentials of the City, which aims to strengthen cultural vital-

ity of the city, enable urban regeneration and improve the international reputation of the tourist offer of Novi Sad. Through the Novi Sad 2021 Project, the City of Novi Sad will develop its local concept and strategy for sustainable development of the cultural sector with a focus on: strengthening of the institutions of culture, the reconstruction of cultural heritage, strengthening of cultural participation, development of cultural and creative industries, decentralization and inter-sectoral collaboration. The program concept of “Novi Sad 2021” comprises four areas fused together under the slogan “4 New Bridges”. Among 200 cultural events taking place in Novi Sad every year, “the first among equals” is the EXIT Festival, which is the laureate of 2018 Best European Festival Award. Awarding of the title of the European Capital of Culture opens new big doors for further development of Novi Sad and the entire country not only in the field of culture. This prestigious title has a huge significance for promotion and branding of our city, it is significant for the development of both cultural tourism and development of other forms of tourism so that in the future period we expect further increase in the number of domestic and foreign tourists from the region and the world and this is yet another positive image of Novi Sad that we send to the world. In 2021, Novi Sad will share the title with Timisoara, Romania, and Eleusis, Greece. INVEST IN

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TRADITION

THE BREAD SMILLING AT THE MOON Cipovka is the Cultural heritage Vojvodina

very region of Europe takes pride in its own, characteristic type of bread. These are not ‘special occasion’ breads made for a particular celebration or ritual. These are the breads served daily. All of these ‘take-pride-in breads’ are the result of a culture’s baking skills and differ according to how they are prepared, type of flour used, shape, taste and smell. In the south-east region of Finland it

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THE SECRET

HOWEVER, THE SECRET IS IN THE MAKING, THE SKILL OF THE BAKER PASSED ON FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION

is Kalakukko (bread made with small lake fish); in Tuscany, Italy, they are proud of Schiacciata, Galicia has Pan Gallego, in Northern Wales they make Bara Brith, Mallorca’s is called Mallorca Ensaimadas, in Moscow they bake Borodinsky bread, and in San Francisco it is Sourdough bread. Traditional, everyday ‘take-pride-in’ bread in Vojvodina is called Cipovka! Vojvodinian peasants, and later on pro-

fessional bakers, prepared white bread with yeast. What’s typical for this bread is its exceptionally pleasant smell and taste, easy digestibility and freshness of several days. The size of the bread depended on the number of household members and its average weight was 3 to 5 kg. It is believed that the name ‘cipovka’ comes from a Hungarian word “cipo” (special type of bread). It is first mentioned in literature in the writing of Melhior Erdujhelji “The History of Novi Sad” (1894). According to historical data, until the opening of first bakery shops in Novi Sad bread was made by housewives. They would then take it to the market and sold it as homemade bread. Hungarian women also came to the market with their variety called ‘pupushke’ (rounded loaf ends). There is even a ruling from 1799 allowing women to sell bread on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays and – during summers – on Sundays. One of the biggest Hungarian holidays is St. Stephen’s Day (Szent Istvan), celebrated on 19th and 20th of August. It is dedicated to the founder of the Hungarian state, its first crowned king who was proclaimed a saint after his death. At the same time, it is also the traditional holiday of ‘The Day of the New Bread’ when ‘cipovka’ breads are made from newly harvested wheat. The ingredients of a typical ‘cipovka’ are: white flour, yeast, lukewarm water

and salt. However, the secret is in the making, the skill of the baker passed on from generation to generation. First, yeast is put into lukewarm water to soften. When soft, a little flour is added and a teaspoon of salt. After some time (about 15 minutes) when the yeast mixture is done, flour, sugar and lukewarm water are added. The dough should be kneeled for quite some time by turning it constantly until it stops clinging to the hands and bubbles start appearing. When the dough becomes sourly it is re-kneeled by pressing. After this, the dough is covered with a linen cloth and left to rise for about 45 minutes. Then it is re-kneeled, shaped into a bowl and left to rise once again, about 60 minutes. The specific shape of a typical ‘cipovka’ is achieved by cutting in a ball-like piece of dough (at the top of the dough ball). The cutting is done by a sharp knife and on the side, immediately before putting

L I T E R AT U R E

IT IS FIRST MENTIONED IN LITERATURE IN THE WRITING OF MELHIOR ERDUJHELJI “THE HISTORY OF NOVI SAD” (1894)

the bread in the oven. The bread is baked for about 60 minutes at 240 degrees C. The extra quality comes from the indirect method of making bread, as well as from direct firebox of the oven where corn cobs and stalks were used for fire. Once ‘cipovka’ is removed from the oven it is ‘washed’ with clean water and put on a wooden shelf to cool. Cipovka must have a thick, caramel colored crust in order to keep the humidity of the bread and remain fresh for several days. That is how bread that smiles at the Moon is made. Cipovka has always been one of the most popular and appealing food products due to its superior sensorial and textural characteristics. For years, it was traditionally made according to the household recipe and culture. However, the production of cipovka and its popularity among consumers has declined considerably due to global social and scientific modernization and increasing customers’ demands. Also, in general, the decrease in bread consumption that has been recorded is influenced by the changing eating habits and a wide selection of different types of bakery products. According to the world, the market value in Vojvodina is being maintained by the growing interest in premium priced traditional and specialty breads, such as cipovka.

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C U LT U R E

PANNONIAN FAIRYTALE W Castles, summer residences, legends of noble families, luxuries and sad love stories, stories about bales – all this still exists in Vojvodina. All you have to do is to organize a weekend tour and experience the romance of past times this autumn

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hat would it be like to live in the court? Maybe you are wondering if you are a romantic or if you fantasized as a child what it would be like to play hide-and-seek in an endless building, with plenty of halls, rooms and a huge garden. What it would be like to dine at that long table while the servants bring before you delicious meals, sleep in a huge bed in a room with large windows, wander through long corridors while the wooden floor squeaks beneath your feet… organize and attend bales and wander through the labyrinth of court intrigues. This was the life in the 18th and 19th century in Serbia as well, mainly in Vojvodina, and this was witnessed by the grandiose buildings – castles, guardians of history and architecture. The richness of architectural, historical, cultural, economic and tourist heritage is based on the diversity of cultural assets, where castles and summer residences of Vojvodina, as

well as their parks, hold a special place. As part of cultural identity of the nations that lived in this area, castles and summer residences are deeply woven in the history, culture and tradition of Vojvodina. Even though historical events in the 20th century did not go in their favor. At least one legend that talks about the mystical lives of noble families is tied to each one of these beautiful buildings. Castles used to be intended for occa-

LEGEND

AT LEAST ONE LEGEND THAT TALKS ABOUT THE MYSTICAL LIVES OF NOBLE FAMILIES IS TIED TO EACH ONE OF THESE BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS

sional or permanent stay (rest and entertainment) of higher and rich social classes. Most of them were built after the Turks left these regions and after the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy occupied the territories north of Sava and Danube at the end of the 18th and during the 19th century. This is when the middle class and the gentry emerged, and consequently the large feudal estates where these large buildings were built. People were quick to keep up with life in the monarchy, they sent their children to schools, wealthier citizens acquired noble titles and prestige and began to live just like the Austrian nobility - which meant that they had houses similar to theirs. The time of aristocracy has passed – around sixty Vojvodinian castles and summer residences waiting to be admired by you are witnesses to this.

MOST FAMOUS CASTLES

Castles of the Dunđerski family are some of the most famous in Vojvodina. The Fantast castle was built by Bogdan Dunđerski, and it is located near Bečej. It kept the authentic appearance of a noble residence from the early 20th century and it is open to visitors. Bogdan Dundjerski was in good relations with Uroš Predić and when he decided to erect the Church of St. George in this estate, he entrusted Predić with the iconostasis. Bogdan Dunđerski was buried there in 1943, and baptisms and weddings are now being organized in the chapel. In addition, the estate also has stables with about 80 horses in six paddocks, and there is a track for train-

FA C T S

MOST CASTLES WERE BUILT AFTER THE TURKS LEFT THESE REGIONS, AND AFTER THE AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN MONARCHY OCCUPIED THE TERRITORIES NORTH OF SAVA AND DANUBE AT THE END OF THE 18TH AND DURING THE 19TH CENTURY ing gallopers. The spacious French and English-type park features numerous walking trails, tennis courts, and they are in the process of landscaping the nearby lake. The castle is a cultural monument of great importance. Kulpin has accommodated yet another part of the estate of the Dunđerski family. It used to belong to the Stratimirović family, one of the most reputable Serbian noble families in the monarchy. The land was purchased from the Stratimirović family in the 19th century by Lazar Dunđerski, and we can still see parts of genealogy of the Stratimirović and the Dunđerski families. The estate has a large and a small castle, and the smaller castle originates from the 18th century. Both edifices are cultural monuments of great importance. Zobnatica outside Bačka Topola was

owned by the feudal family Terlei and it was built in the 19th century. The Terlei family bred horses, and this tradition was maintained to this day. Zobnatica can take pride in its thoroughbreds, but also in the castle which is in excellent condition. The building was built in the late classicism style, it was declared a cultural asset and it’s open to visitors. At the very center of Bačka Topola is the Kaštel castle which was owned by the Kraj family. It was built in 1806, and the heart of Kraj Pal, head of the family who died in the battle of Pest, was built into the foundation of the building. A legend about a family curse is tied to the Kraj family. Since the son of Kraj Pal decided to leave his military profession a curse fell upon the family, and Kraj’s son died under suspicious circumstances on the anniversary of the father’s death, and a year later the grandson also died. With this, the Kraj lineage disappeared. Nevertheless, the building remained to this day, it has been restored and tours can be organized. The Patriarchate Court and the Castle of Seminary are the pearls of Sremski Karlovci. The Patriarchate Court is open to public, and it accommodates the museum of Serbian Orthodox Church. Today, it is the residence of the Bishop of Srem, it was built at the very end of the 19th century. Vojvodina also has many other castles. Most feudal houses were turned into administrative buildings and libraries after 1945. They were changed to this end, but most of them preserved their authentic appearance.

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Photos: Tourist Organization of Novi Sad · www.novisad.travel

TO U R I S M

A TREAT F FOR ALL Fruška Gora is an ideal destination for everyone, whether you want an active holiday or maximum relaxation and enjoyment for all senses

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ruška Gora was an island in the former Pannonian Sea. Today, this 539-meter-high mountain is the dominant landmass of the entire Pannonian Plain. Thanks to its natural potential, geographical location, and rich history Fruška Gora offers a lot of content for different types of tourism. The untouched Nature of the National Park has a wide range of interesting destinations ideal for all eco-tourism enthusiasts, while the clean air and healthy natural surroundings of Fruška Gora are a great precondition for a pleasant holiday. The Wine Route of Fruška Gora is an indispensable route for all those who want to enjoy quality wines made according to traditional family recipes of the old winemakers of this area, while the beautiful Danube meets all the appetites of aficionados of river tourism. Wherever you come from, a trip to Fruška Gora is something you shouldn’t miss out on, because the trip itself will pay off as soon as you breath that Fruška Gora air, try

some local food and watch the sunrise on the slopes of this mountain. Fruška Gora is abundant in locations for a picnic which provide many opportunities for an active holiday thanks to their content, and it’s up to you to decide which option suits you the most.

WINE

THE WINE ROUTE OF FRUŠKA GORA IS AN INDISPENSABLE ROUTE FOR ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO ENJOY QUALITY WINES MADE ACCORDING TO TRADITIONAL FAMILY RECIPES

WHAT TO SEE

Popovica is a mountain peak on Fruška Gora, and the site is extremely suitable for camping and enjoying the nature surrounding this place. The Popovica picnic area includes the Popovica Lake – a spring, but also a viewpoint with a beautiful view of Novi Sad and the Danube. Thanks to the vast area of this resort, Popovica is the place where the Fruška Gora Marathon is held every spring. In addition, the large area of Popovica provides all visitors with the opportunity to enjoy hiking, running and other activities. In the immediate vicinity of Popovica is also the popular Orlovo gnezdo (Eagle’s Nest) mountain hut. Stražilovo is also a popular Fruška Gora resort, which offers plenty of opportunities for its visitors to perfectly spend the day. When it comes to Stražilovo, the mountain hut is a place that attracts the most attention of the visitors, besides its beautiful nature. It is located in middle of the

forest, and it offers educational, sports and recreational and tourist segments. This location offers many opportunities for active holidays and really exciting adventures. In addition, there are numerous terrains for futsal, volleyball, badminton, a paintball court, and there is also a climbing wall for interested climbers. Iriški Venac is a place where almost all the routes that lead to the most popular picnic sites on Fruska Gora intersect. It accommodates a number of hiking trails that offer a number of opportunities for physical activities and active holidays, for both individuals and families to enjoy equally. Walking, jogging, climbing or cycling through these parts of untouched nature with lush vegetation represents a fantastic way to spend your day, to charge yourself with positive energy and leave all bad thoughts behind you. There is also plenty of space for camping, so the atmosphere in nature can be at the highest level. Zmajevac is located on the highest parts of Fruška Gora, and this magnificent place offers an unusual view of the entire Srem. This is one of the favorite destinations for all nature lovers and those who want to spend a perfect day in such an environment. Between Zmajevac and Letenka is a Partisan (ridge) road that leads to Brankovac and reaches Crveni Čot, the highest peak of Fruška Gora at 539 m above sea level. Brankovac provides a wonderful view of Srem and Bačka, as well as of Novi Sad. When you turn left from Crveni Čot, you reach the Bešenovac

Lake. Near the lake is a wooden chapel that resembles the Bešenovo Monastery. The lake is extremely clean, transparent and turquoise. The ridge path from Crveni Čot leads to Letenka. Letenka is one of the most famous picnic sites on Fruška Gora. It is located at 456 m above sea level and is surrounded by unspoiled nature, woods and meadows. This is an ideal place to stay in nature because at the same time it provides education and relaxation as well as the possibility of enjoying the natural beauty of the National Park Fruška Gora. Andrevlje is a tourist destination on Fruška Gora, and this area is characterized by a very large meadow, or a clearing within a large dense forest, which is one of the favorite destinations for numerous hikers and campers. There is also a running track, as well as football fields, volleyball courts, and an improvised park for children with swings and seesaws. This is an ideal place for a perfect holiday, but also for recreation and staying in nature.

THE VIEW

ZMAJEVAC IS LOCATED ON THE HIGHEST PARTS OF FRUŠKA GORA, AND THIS MAGNIFICENT PLACE OFFERS AN UNUSUAL VIEW OF THE ENTIRE SREM

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Andrevlje is also known as the place where human health is especially taken care of, and all those who come to this resort have at their disposal a spa center, breathing exercises, hiking and trekking, field trips… Breathing exercises are ideal for anyone who wants to free themselves from accumulated stress and refresh and purify their body and spirit. In addition to proper breathing, clean air is important for good health, and the beautiful setting of the Fruška Gora National Park provides the best opportunities for cleansing one’s lungs. The atmosphere is completed by the stay in the Andrevlje picnic area, which represents a true oasis of peace and tranquility. Due to the ideal geographical position (between Belgrade and Novi Sad, on the southern slopes of Fruška Gora) Banja Vrdnik has become the most popular tourist destination in Vojvodina. What is especially interesting when it comes to the Vrdnik Spa are the pools, both

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OASIS

FRUŠKA GORA IS A TRUE NATURAL OASIS AND A PLACE WHERE EVERY MOMENT SPENT THERE IS ADDITIONALLY APPRECIATED indoor and outdoor. All these pools are filled with thermomineral water, whose temperature is about 30 degrees Celsius. For this reason, this spa is also a popular health resort, but also a kind of attraction for all those who want to swim in warm water. The location of this spa and the nature surrounding it offer a possibility for one of the most common types of active tourism on Fruška Gora, which is hiking. Hiking trails surrounded by untouched nature provide a sense of

peace, tranquility and maximum relaxation, which relaxes both the body and the spirit. Fruška Gora is a true natural oasis and a place where every moment spent there is additionally appreciated. Large spaces, unpretentious nature, and fresh air are the perfect combination for all those who want to walk, run, ride a bike, exercise or just relax and enjoy the charms of nature. Fruška Gora is a very important site, primarily because of its turbulent geological past and a true treasury of flora and fauna in this area, but also its priceless cultural and historical heritage, and it is not surprising that this area has been a national park for decades already. The tourist potential of this mountain and the surrounding towns has long been recognized, so now this area is a meeting place of a large number of people who want to enjoy the beautiful nature, but also to pursue numerous physical activities outside.

DID YOU KNOW

DONKEY CHEESE MOST EXPENSIVE IN THE WORLD pecial Nature Reserve of Zasavica in Srem promoted “donkey cheese” a few years ago, and a 50g package of this cheese costs 65 Euro, while one kilogram sells for 1,000 Euro. The cheese making procedure is complicated, and that’s why the price is high. This is a one-of-a-kind product. Namely, there is only one donkey farm in the world that is larger than the farm in Zasavica, but they don’t make cheese. Donkey milk is very similar to human milk, because it contains only 1% of fat, so even small children can drink it. It also has a high percentage of vitamin C, as well as an array of medicinal qualities. It was proven to be beneficial in the treatment of bronchitis and asthma, both in children and adults, and this is an authentic Serbian and Vojvodinian brand.

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C O R P O R AT E

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DISCOUNT

30% DISCOUNT ON ONLINE PURCHASE OF TRAVEL HEALTH INSURANCE

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