CorD Magazine, October 2019, issue no. 180

Ambassador of Spain to Serbia

German Ambassador to Serbia

Serbia Is The Master Of Its European Future

www.cordmagazine.com

Spanish Support Remains

H.E. THOMAS SCHIEB

KYLE SCOTT

U.S. Ambassador To Serbia

Opposition To Participate In Fair Elections

OCTOBER 2019/ ISSUE NO. 180

H.E. RAUL BARTOLOMÉ MOLINA

interviews opinions news comments events COMMENT: MILAN MIŠIĆ

Blunders

IN THE GULF FOCUS

Looming Challenges Require Bolder Political Responses

Exclusive

783002 771451

Rice With Black Lentils

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AND GIULIANO ARGENZIANO

ISSN1451-7833

MARINA ABRAMOVIĆ

CONTENTS

COMMENT

MILAN MIŠIĆ

BLUNDERS IN THE GULF More than previously – or so media dramatisation makes it seem to us – the world stage is witnessing unexpected twists and turns that are tense and implicitly dangerous

10 RICE WITH BLACK LENTILS

MARINA ABRAMOVIĆ AND GIULIANO ARGENZIANO

22 LOOMING CHALLENGES REQUIRE BOLDER POLITICAL RESPONSES

ELECTION YEAR 2020 AND REFORMS Focus

26 ON PEACE, LOVE AND COMMUNICATION 12TH WEEKEND MEDIA FESTIVAL

27 BUSINESS DIALOGUE 14 SPANISH SUPPORT REMAINS

H.E. RAUL BARTOLOMÉ MOLINA Ambassador Of Spain To Serbia

44 LESS OBVIOUS LANGUAGE

CHILEAN CONTEMPORARY ART

48 FACES & PLACES 51 GENERAL PRACTITIONER CARTOONIST JUGOSLAV VLAHOVIĆ Artist

40 JAPAN’S WACKIEST INVENTOR YOSHIHIRO NAKAMATS Enterpreneur

56 CHILL OUT WWW.CORDMAGAZINE.COM

@CORD_MAGAZINE

@CORDMAGAZINE

CORD MAGAZINE

58 EDGY AUTUMN 18 GLOBAL DIARY 20 WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE NEWS? ALEXANDRA BORCHARDT Opinion

43 PROBLEMS ARE CHALLENGES FOR YOUNGSTERS

GORDANA DANILOVIĆ GRKOVIĆ Acting Director Of Science Technology Park Belgrade

FASHION

60 CULTURE CALENDAR 62 AFTER WORK

Cover photo by Vasso Vu

EDITOR IN CHIEF: Miroslava Nešić-Bikić m.bikic@aim.rs DESIGNER: Jasmina Laković j.lakovic@aim.rs CONTRIBUTORS: Rob Dugdale, Maja Vukadinović,

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Mirjana Jovanović, Miša Brkić, Ljubica Gojgić Radmila Stanković, Steve MacKenzie, Zorica Todorović Mirković, Sonja Ćirić, Miloš Belčević EDITORIAL MANAGER: Neda Lukić n.lukic@aim.rs PHOTOS: Zoran Petrović COPY EDITOR: Mark Pullen

TRANSLATION & EDITING MRP EDITORIAL Halifax Translation Services SALES MANAGERS: Biljana Dević, b.devic@aim.rs Nataša Trifunović, n.trifunovic@aim.rs Vesna Vukajlović, v.vukajlovic@aim.rs Mihailo Čučković m.cuckovic@aim.rs

OFFICE MANAGER: Svetlana Petrović s.petrovic@aim.rs

DIRECTOR: Ana Novčić a.novcic@aim.rs a.novcic@cordmagazine.com

FINANCE: Dragana Skrobonja finance@aim.rs

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GENERAL MANAGER: Maja Vidaković m.vidakovic@aim.rs

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Phone: +(381 11) 2450 508 Fax: +(381 11) 2450 122 E-mail: office@aim.rs office@cordmagazine.com www.cordmagazine.com www.aim.rs ISSN no: 1451-7833 All rights reserved alliance international media 2019

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Comment

Blunders

In The Gulf

BY MILAN MIŠIĆ XX

W

ith the exception of the (also surprising) drama around the recently launched impeachment process against the U.S. president, which is an American internal affair that has global ramifications, the main multilateral hotspot remains that of the Middle East, where an unprecedented spectacle was staged in mid-September, in the form of the attack on Saudi Arabian oil facilities using as many as 17 attack drones and cruise missiles.

Where they were launched from has yet to be determined precisely – Yemeni rebels have claimed responsibility – but the chief suspect (so far without proof ) is Iran, which has led to it being accused of committing an “act of war” by the head of diplomacy of the world’s most powerful country.

Whatever actually happened, this attack threatened to escalate the crisis, caused disruption in the world oil market and threatened to spark a wider fire of conflict, only to show that none of the players that made belligerent statements was really keen on going to war.

Instead, America opted for the tactic of “maximum pressure” on Iran, stepping up its “blunt” soft-war weapons of economic sanctions. In this context, the missile strike on Saudi Arabia was Tehran’s response, which also had the effect of applying maximum pressure.

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More than previously – or so media dramatisation makes it seem to us – the world stage is witnessing unexpected twists and turns that are tense and implicitly dangerous This crisis was actually triggered in May 2018 by the U.S. president with his decision – whether due to his aversion to multilateral arrangements, pressure from his allies in the region (Saudi Arabia and Israel) and “hawks” in his own circles – to revoke America’s signature to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action ( JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran Nuclear Deal, which was initially signed in July 2015 by both the U.S. and Iran, but also other members of the UN Security Council (the UK, France, Russia and China), plus Germany.

The deal was the result of painstaking negotiations, the outcome of which was a compromise: Iran committed to halting its nuclear weapons development programme and surrendering the nuclear fuel it produced and for sanctions to be lifted in return.

Trump justified his withdrawal from the JCOPA in the belief that it was the case of a bad deal made by his predecessor, Barack Obama, and that he – as a “deal-making

Paradoxically, Iran’s nuclear programme began in 1957 with the assistance of the United States, which provided it with its first nuclear reactor

artist” - would do a better job, but he didn’t find any understanding for this move either internationally or among his domestic public.

European co-signatories have resisted U.S. pressure to also withdraw from the Iran Nuclear Deal for almost a year and a half, while Iran has only threatened to renew its progress towards building a nuclear bomb, as a kind of “insurance policy” patented by North Korea.

This restraint, however, is ever less sustainable, both due to the increasingly unbearable sanctions that are plaguing Iran’s economy – a country of 82 million inhabitants that once exported 2.8 million barrels of oil per day and today exports less than a million – and due to the increasingly sharp political rhetoric being exchanged between Washington and Tehran.

Trump’s instincts, which he relies on more than strategic and intelligence analysis, discourage him from waging a war that would inevitably be complicated, lengthy and costly.

He is more inclined to theatrical gestures, like the political events he staged with his meetings with the North Korean leader, but the problem is that no Iranian leader is willing to have his picture taken with Trump unless he first secures something in return.

It remains to be seen who will blink first, and until then, the stumbling and blundering in the Gulf will continue.

Interview Exclusive

Photo by: Vasso Vu

Rice With Black Le We sat down and spoke with the grandma of performance, arguably the most successful performance artist in history, and Giuliano Ardenzo, director of Marina Abramovic LLC. - an art historian with a sense for business 10

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By Anđela Ignjačević, Photo by: Vasso Vu

Marina, given that CorD magazine covers mostly news on diplomacy, business and finance, what do you think the average businessman can learn from you? You’ve explored the restrictions of body and mind - how do art and discipline combine so well?

Marina, you once stated that If you can’t count rice for three hours, you can’t do anything good in life. Can you explain the exercise to our readers?

Rice is mixed with black lentils. The first part of the exercise is to separate the rice from the lentils and then count both. It is partly about concentration, but it is mostly about commitment and doesn’t necessarily need to be three hours, but before you

GIULIANO ARGENZIANO (SECOND FROM LEFT)

A businessman? Nothing. This is why I need other people to take care of the business side. For me only my work is important. I wouldn’t say that discipline is the key, but rather determination.

You first need to decide what you want to do and that is where discipline comes in. Once you know what you want, you need to be disciplined to realise the how.

ntils MARINA ABRAMOVIĆ AND GIULIANO ARGENZIANO

Giuliano, what does your average work day look like? Is there a sort of routine, or is every day a chapter in itself?

No and that’s what I like about my job - everyday is different. I can work from New York, London, Paris, my hotel room - a 9-5 job would never work for me, I like the changing environment. Every day is a changing chapter, because, basically, every day I take a little time for myself, but the moment I open my laptop, every email is different, I say - what’s happening today? And it’s always something new.

In a way, I see myself as a man of the future, because my job is projected into the future, not to the present. With all the projects that we’re working on, my mind is always on the next thing.

start the exercise you need to commit to count until you finish the amount you took from the pile... even if it takes three hours. Giuliano, what has working with the greatest artist of our time taught you? Have you counted rice? Has it changed your perspective and perseverance?

I might be a proud person, I am - because I always like to think of Marina and I as two people learning from each other, I learn from her, of course, but she also learns from me - that’s what makes this relationship so successful and productive. She has taught me how to improve this set of skills that I already had. I did count the rice - Marina wants everyone who works with her to go through the Marina Abramović method, to go through the journey themselves, because how else are you gonna talk to clients about it? So, she organised this workshop upstate (New York), and of course I counted the rice, but I also went through these five days - we were not eating, not talking, no clocks, laptops, no phones, nothing at all, we were just immersed in silence in our thoughts, engaging in

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Photo by: Vasso Vu

Find out how art and finance mix when these two passionate temperaments enter the office.

Interview Exclusive a lot about this – how to reconcile my point of view and hers. Our points of view are not always aligned, sometimes they are and we understand each other really well, but other times they are not and that’s when we need to work more on finding a common ground. If we don’t find it, sometimes she’ll say ‘I want to do it my way’, and then she’ll own the success or failure of the project she decided to do.

This is something I also learned from Marina – how not to fear failure. As the director of Marina Abramovic LLC, I never contemplate failure, and she knows - I can be success and I can fail, and if I do fail, never mind. This is something that I admire.

Photo by: Vasso Vu

Marina, you’ve brought performance art – as an immaterial art form that was always marginalised by the art establishment – into museums, making it almost commercial in a way. Was it intentional; was it a goal of yours?

these exercises - Marina gave everyone huge piles of rice and lentils to separate, and it really was a huge pile, and I think maybe she realised that maybe it was too much, so she rang the gong and said, okay, this exercise is done. I thought, I was not done - not to finish wasn’t an option for me. I had to finish - it took me six and a half hours to finish.

So the perseverance - I had it in me. I’ve spent seven years with Marina and it’s really been an evolution. Marina, did your strict upbringing impact on your life as an artist in a good way? Now that you dictate your own life, are you still strict on yourself?

I’m not sure if it impacted me in a good way, but it made the rules that needed to be broken more obvious. Sometimes I am strict, sometimes not.

When I work I’m always very strict, but privately I love to eat chocolate and watch stupid films. Giuliano, being the director of Marina Abramovic LLC, are you in a way curating the artist’s everyday life?

The day to day things Marina does is handled by the other three people who work in our office. The

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appointments, schedule, storage, logistics, that kind of thing. I am more like the frontman; I’m the one who meets with clients, starts talking about projects, understands what a project is like so that I can also see the financial outcome of it, then I’m the one that does negotiations, for the finances, fees, but also for the contracts. In that way, I’m projected into the future because, for me, this project in Belgrade was already done, because I already signed the contract – I’m already onto the next thing. How does Marina being Serbian and Giuliano a Neapolitan - both very passionate temperaments - translate into your work relationship?

Marina: It is very emotional from the first day, precisely because we are similar, and this made us become a family. The same passion applies when discussing business decisions.

Giuliano: I am a Neapolitan original, both very passionate characters. Yes, we are very passionate and very confrontational with each other, I cannot deny that. It’s a relationship that’s very particular, very special, but in the end it’s not about the conflict, but rather about the solution. We speak

I never intended to make it commercial, but I always wanted to bring it into the museum, to make it official and recognised. Commercial is something different, it means you can sell it, but selling something immaterial is an art in itself.

Rice mixed with black lentils is partly about concentration, but it is mostly about commitment and doesn’t necessarily need to be three hours, but before you start the exercise you need to commit to counting until you finish the amount you took from the pile, even if it takes three hours. Giuliano, what is the most demanding part of your job?

The most challenging part of my job is to foresee whether the project we are being proposed makes sense both financially and also artistically, and it’s really important to balance the two. Because a project that only makes sense artistically - well,

By Anđela Ignjačević, Photo by: Vasso Vu

Marina, you said you hated the expression “retrospective” because it implies that the artist is going to die in a few years and that their work is over – is your show “The Cleaner” a rebirth of sorts?

I wouldn’t use the word rebirth. The Cleaner title refers to cleaning of the past, memories, work. It also symbolises making room for something new.

“A LIVING DOOR"

that’s a problem for me. I have to think of Marina’s work as something that also gives a good financial outcome, because in New York things aren’t easy we have overheads, we have expenses, the company costs money. How do you pick a project; how do you speak with Marina about the project; how do you agree about a project? Generally, we need to agree because it needs to make sense financially for me, but it needs to make sense artistically for her. I would say that the bonus part in all of this is that we often speak the same language, because I’m an art historian with a sense of business. I have a deep knowledge of Marina’s work and you can’t imagine how much this helps me navigate situations with directors and curators of institutions.

It helps to understand the market of her work, to understand her value – of her work, but also of her as a person. Let’s not forget, performance art is immaterial and Marina *is* her own work. When you see her, her presence, that is – she is carrying her own work. That part also has a price for me; it has a price tag. Marina is an artist, she doesn’t think about finances, she wants to make art, she’s a people person, she wants to be with people, but for me what’s also important is to have an outcome.

It took a very long time.This has been a retrospective that started with two big institutions - Moderna and Louisiana, and then other institutions showed interest. When we started The Cleaner, with the opening in February 2017 at the Moderna in Stockholm, we didn’t have all seven institutions lined up already, they jumped in little by little. The truth is that we started organising it in 2013. It’s a retrospective – we needed to figure out what to do with this huge amount of work. My office needed to organise the archive in a completely different way. The archive was very clear to Marina – she’s the artist, but how do you make it accessible to the curators and directors of museums? You have to create a system, to streamline. Marina, how can one develop the qualities you mention – a willingness to fail, courage, silence, resilience, endurance?

Can you work them like a muscle, or is it something ingrained?

People are afraid to fail, and so they try to avoid it at all costs. They think their world will end if they fail. So, the first thing to do is to fail for the first time and then you will see that the world doesn’t end. This will develop courage – you won’t be so afraid to fail again. And trying over and over again will build resilience and endurance. Silence is a different matter entirely. Giuliano, is there a performance of Marina’s that you’ve enjoyed more than others, one that relates to you more than others?

This is a tough one… “Confession” - although made for the camera, I consider that a performance, when she’s facing the donkey. She was communicating with the donkey, telling him the story of his life and she wouldn’t leave the space before he left, so it was an exchange of energy.

Another one I really like is “The Onion”. We

Photo by: Vasso Vu

Photo by: Vasso Vu

Giuliano, how long did organising “The Cleaner” take?

did a parody of her work for her birthday and I performed it. It was intense. The metaphor of the onion itself, complaining about life – in the end we are all the onion, we are all complaining about our life. Life to me is the onion, the many layers of it the way we face them, the way we complain, the way we overcome them… I am very attached to that work. Marina, after 40 years without a performance in your home country, how do you feel?

Very emotional. And nervous. It still feels so exciting to be here. Lastly, Marina, if the audience and performer make the piece together, if it’s a dialogue, will the dialogue be different or more emotional in the city of your birth?

It will definitely be more emotional. but also different. Our people judge by their gut feeling. They either feel the work or they don’t, and this is the real indicator of the quality of a piece. This makes our audience a very tough crowd, so I really hope they will enjoy the show.

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Interview H.E. RAUL BARTOLOMÉ MOLINA AMBASSADOR OF SPAIN TO SERBIA

Turning to experiences from his country, Bilbao-born Ambassador Raul Bartolomé Molina says that he believes “national identities should be guaranteed within broader and diverse states”. Spain supports the continuation of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, but isn’t changing its stance on Kosovo’s unilaterally declared independence or on whether Kosovo can become a member of international organisations like Interpol, says Ambassador Molina. Spain’s new ambassador arrived in Serbia this summer and agrees that bilateral relations are excellent, but that there is also room for progress in the area of economic cooperation, which will among his priorities. Your excellency, you belong to a larger group of ambassadors who arrived in Serbia

Spanish

Support Remains Not playing along with the majority is always difficult in life. Spain’s stance on the Kosovo issue is too well known in the international community and among our other partners in the EU. And although it sometimes has some costs to our country, Spain will continue supporting Serbia on the Kosovo issue and working constructively to ensure peace and stability in the whole region, since we do strongly believe that is the right thing to do according to international law - Raul Bartolome Molina 14

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NEWS

Direct flights between Belgrade and Madrid and Barcelona that started last June are excellent news

this summer. How were your first impressions?

These past months have allowed me to confirm the impression I got when I first visited Serbia in 2018, with then Spanish Secretary of State for European Affairs, Mr Jorge Toledo.

Serbia is a hidden treasure with its wonderful landscapes, welcoming people, a vibrant and lively cultural scene and tasty food. Someone told me that Serbia and its people are almost Mediterranean in spirit, and I cannot but confirm that.

IDENTITIES

I do believe national identities should be guaranteed within broader and diverse states

could you say something about those possible calls to adhere to the stance of the majority?

Not playing along with the majority is always difficult in life. Spain’s stance on the Kosovo issue is too well known, in the international community and among our other partners in the EU. And although it has sometimes led to some costs for our country, Spain will

NORMALISATION

What normalisation means is precisely the goal of the dialogue in process between Belgrade and Pristina

continue supporting Serbia on the Kosovo issue and working constructively to ensure peace and stability in the whole region, since we do strongly believe that is the right thing to do according to international law. And, of course, we also support the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina under the auspices of the EU, in order to find a comprehensive solution to this issue.

Your predecessor described relations between Serbia and Spain as “exceptional, with mutual sympathy, cordiality and respect”.

What are your plans for the next four years?

In my first meetings with Serbian authorities I had the chance to confirm that my predecessor was absolutely right: our political relations are excellent. Nonetheless, in the economic arena there is still plenty of room to manoeuvre. Although bilateral trade is increasing continuously, figures do not match those you would expect between two very close friends. Therefore, in the coming years I will personally strive to foster our economic ties and bring Serbian and Spanish companies closer together. In that sense, the direct flights between Belgrade and Madrid and Barcelona, which started last June, are excellent news. You stated in your first meetings with Serbian officials that Spain won’t change its stance regarding the issue of Kosovo and that your country will continue offering support to Serbia in defending its national interests. During previous years, we’ve gained the impression that your partners in the international community – particularly in the EU – have been seeking a change in that stance. Given that you were engaged in EU affairs prior to your arrival in Belgrade,

It does not mention that Serbia must recognise Kosovo as an independent state. It says that relations between Serbia and the territory of Kosovo should be normalized

You were born in Bilbao – the largest city of Spain’s autonomous Basque community. Bearing in mind the experiences of your country, do you believe that issues of national identity can be resolved without changing borders?

History has shown us that changing borders is a never-ending story. I do believe that national identities should be guaranteed within broader and diverse states. There are mechanisms to allow different identities to live together

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Interview Serbia and the territory of Kosovo should be normalised. What normalisation means is precisely the goal of the dialogue underway between Belgrade and Pristina. You served for several years in Spain within the cabinet of the State Secretary for the European Union. How does the EU look to you today? Is it stronger or weaker following the elections for the new parliament and European commissions?

The EU is immersed in a process of inner reflection regarding how it wants its future to be. I don’t think it is a question of strength or weakness, but one of updating a project funded more than 60 years ago and adapting it to the current international context. Of course, the EU is facing different challenges, but one could not say that they are more difficult or threatening than the ones overcome in the past. What is your opinion on the conclusion of the Brexit situation – will there be a deal or no-deal exit of the UK?

and cooperate within the same borders (i.e., autonomous regions, federal states, etc.). And we live in a globalised world where national borders are ever less important. Interpol has announced that Kosovo’s request to join this organisation will be considered again this autumn. What will Spain’s stance be in this regard?

We will act as in past occasions. No doubt about it. Upon taking on your new post in Serbia, you reiterated that Spain supports Serbia’s European integration process. Do you believe that Serbia can become an EU member state if it rejects calls to recognise Kosovo’s independence?

Spain believes that Serbia must be a member of the EU family. It belongs to Europe and it is the only way for Serbia to achieve greater political stability and economic prosperity. But

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I hope there is a deal exit of the UK from the EU, for the sake of both parties and our future bilateral relations. In every divorce it is easier when both parties reach an agreement. Nonetheless, the EU (and Spain) has adopted all necessary measures in order to face a no-deal exit.

In every divorce it is easier when both parties reach an agreement. Nonetheless, the EU (and Spain) has adopted all necessary measures in order to face a no-deal exit Serbia must implement the reforms necessary to pursue the objective of full integration into the EU. And that means that all the negotiating chapters should be screened and implemented, not only the Kosovo issue. The Kosovo issue is only one of those chapters, number 35. And it does not mention that Serbia must recognise Kosovo as an independent state. It says that relations between

There have been plenty of comments in the region on the selection of experienced Spanish diplomat Josep Borrell as the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Advocates for the independence of Kosovo ask what kind of position a Spaniard will take if he takes over the coordinating of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue?

As an experienced politician, Mr Borrell is fully aware that, as the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, he does not represent Spanish points of view in international affairs, but those of 28 (or 27) member states. And that sometimes means juggling with different (or even opposing) positions on delicate issues like the Kosovo one. When assuming your duties as ambassador, you spoke about the strengthening

of economic cooperation and announced a meeting between businesspeople from Spain and Serbia. Do you see any ways of generating interest in investing in Serbia among Spanish companies?

Incredible as it may seem, Serbia is still a country that’s yet to be discovered by Spaniards. During my mandate in Serbia, I will be devoted to reversing this fact, and in this sense the direct flights I mentioned previously will definitely help in bringing both countries closer together. It was mentioned during your recent meeting with the Mayor of Belgrade that Spanish companies are interested in construction of a Belgrade metro. How serious is that interest?

Spanish companies in this field have a worldwide reputation for their state-of-the-art technology and the quality of their services.

They have been involved in the construction of metros and light rail trains in the biggest cities around the world: London, Toronto, New York,

Spanish companies are of course interested in the Belgrade metro, in the conviction they would contribute to Belgrade having an outstanding and modern metro Riad, Hong Kong… Spanish companies are of course interested in the Belgrade metro, in the conviction that they would contribute to Belgrade having an outstanding and modern metro. The Spanish culture centre in central Belgrade is extremely active. Are plans already in place for the next season when it comes to collaboration in the domain of culture?

We have been in talks with Air Serbia from the very beginning and I am sure this dialogue will bear fruit and will materialise in lasting collaboration. I am very satisfied with the functioning of the Spanish Instituto Cervantes in Belgrade. It has spread the Spanish culture and language in this country over the years.

We are now reflecting on how to deepen this task, reinforcing our cooperation with Serbian cultural institutions and the Spanish-speaking countries represented in Belgrade. Alongside your accreditation as ambassador to Serbia, you also perform the same function in Montenegro. Have you had an opportunity yet to familiarise yourself with that country?

Due to the fact that I have not yet been formally appointed as Ambassador of Spain to Montenegro, I have not had the chance to visit it yet, but I am willing to travel there soon and enhance our cooperation with a country that is a NATO member state and an EU candidate.

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GLOBAL DIARY

New Deal

“We will be following that very closely and clearly if we are asked, either by the Saudis or by the Americans, to have a role, then we will consider in what way we could be useful.” – BORIS JOHNSON, U.K. PRIME MINISTER

”OSCAR OF SCIENCE” FOR THE WORLD’S FIRST BLACK HOLE IMAGE The 347 scientists who collaborated to produce the first image of a black hole were awarded a $3 million prize that presents itself as the “Oscars of Science”.

The international Event Horizon Telescope team, led by American Shep Doeleman, made headlines across the world on April 10 by publishing the image of the M87 black hole.

It is unprecedented resolution of astronomical observation that has made it possible to see the silhouette of the black hole in detail, for the first time in history, and to confirm theoretical predictions about the structure of these celestial objects.

The Breakthrough Prize was launched by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs to reward breakthroughs in basic research YALE’S ARTHUR L. HORWICH AND COLLEAGUE F. ULRICH HARTL FROM THE MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE WILL SHARE THE $3 MILLION BREAKTHROUGH PRIZE and is now in its eighth year.

ANGELA MERKEL OPENS NEW BAUHAUS MUSEUM IN DESSAU The German chancellor Angela Merkel was in the small eastern German town of Dessau to open the brand new Bauhaus Museum, marking the 100th anniversary of the movement that shaped 20th-century art, design and architecture.

The German chancellor said it was a “wonderful thing” that the new museum’s comprehensive exhibit would show the many achievements of the Bauhaus school, from art and architecture to household objects.

Two and a half years and €28 million in the making, the new museum, which was completed on schedule, will be home to the 49,000 exhibits that make up the Bauhaus foundation’s collection.

DUTCH KING ISSUES BREXIT ‘PROFIT WARNING’ The Dutch King Willem-Alexander has issued a “profit warning” for his country amid concerns about the effect of Brexit and global trade conflicts in his annual speech marking the opening of Parliament.

In the speech from the throne, written by the coalition government of Prime Minister Mark Rutte, King Willem-Alexander said Tuesday that the strong Dutch economy will enter a period of more moderate growth in coming years.

He says that the Dutch economy, which is reliant on exports, “is vulnerable to disruptions in the global market, particularly as a result of trade conflicts” and added that the looming “Brexit casts its shadow over the future.”

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GENEVA PRESIDENT ANTONIO HODGERS (L), SWISS FOREIGN MINISTER IGNAZIO CASSIS (C) AND GENEVA MAYOR SAMI KANAAN (R)

Activity

“On the eve of President Hassan Rouhani’s visit to the United Nations — which sits in the middle of New York City, it would be stupid for Iran to engage in such activity.” – MOHAMMAD JAVAD ZARIF, IRAN’S FOREIGN MINISTER

FIRST POST-SOVIET LUXURY LIMOUSINE Russia is marketing its first postSoviet luxury limousine under the Aurus brand, a car used by President Vladimir Putin at his inauguration last year. The car, reminiscent of a Rolls-Royce limo, isn’t officially based on any existing model, but it is said that German companies Porsche Engineering and Bosch were key AURUS SENAT 2019 advisors.

Putin’s limo 7.5 meters in length and is priced at 18 million rubles (€242,000). And at that price, Aurus is targeting customers mainly in North Africa and the Middle East and China.

The Russian state has invested a lot in the project, both financially and in terms of brand credibility. Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said Moscow invested 12.4 billion rubles in the project since 2013.

THOMAS COOK TRAVEL COMPANY COLLAPSES Hundreds of thousands of vacationers were left stranded when one of the world’s oldest tour companies, Thomas Cook, abruptly announced on September 23rd, with some of its flights still in the air, that it was going out of business.

Amid scenes of confusion at European airports, British officials scrambled to bring home 150,000 travelers, chartering dozens of jets to bring people home from as far away. It was described as the largest peacetime repatriation effort in the country’s history.

SWISS 100 YEARS OF MULTILATERALISM The Swiss authorities have signed a joint declaration reaffirming their commitment to so-called “International Geneva” and the, which is celebrating its centenary in the Swiss city.

Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, the president of canton Geneva, Antonio Hodgers, and the mayor of Geneva, Sami Kanaan, signed a joint declaration underlining their commitment to “Switzerland’s role as host state for International Geneva”. It was concluded in the presence of the new United Nations Director General Tatiana Valovaya.

The ceremony in Geneva was organised to coincide with the celebration of 100 years of multilateralism in Genevaexternal link. 1919 marked the creation of the League of Nations, which a year later moved its secretariat to the Swiss city together with that of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

October

19

Opinion

What’s Wrong With The News?

The rise of data analytics has made journalists and their editors confident that they know what the people want. Why, then, did almost one-third of respondents to the Reuters Institute’s latest Digital News Report say that they regularly avoid news altogether?

T

he British public can’t get enough news about Brexit – at least, that’s what news platforms’ data analytics say. But, according to the Reuters Institute’s latest Digital News Report, 71% of the British public tries to avoid media coverage of the United Kingdom’s impending departure from the European Union. This disparity, which can be seen in a wide range of areas, raises serious questions about news organizations’ increasingly data-driven approach to reporting.

The rise of data analytics has made journalists and their editors confident that they know what people want. And for good reason: with a large share of news consumed on the Internet, media platforms know exactly which stories readers open, how much they read before getting bored, what they share with their friends, and the type of content that entices them to sign up for a subscription.

Such data indicate, for example, that audiences are interested in extraordinary investigative

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October

journalism, diet and personal-finance advice, and essays about relationships and family. They prefer stories with a personal angle – say, detailing an affected individual’s fate – rather than reports on ongoing conflicts in the Middle East or city hall coverage. And they are drawn to sensational stories – such as about US President Donald Trump’s scandals and antics – under “clickbait” headlines.

But if newsrooms were really giving audiences what they wanted, it seems unlikely that almost one-third (32%) of respondents in the Digital News Report, the world’s largest ongoing survey of online news consumption, would report that they regularly avoid news altogether. But they did, and that figure is up three percentage points from two years ago.

The most common explanation for avoiding the news media, given by 58% of those who do, is that following it has a negative effect on their mood. Many respondents also cited a sense of powerlessness.

Moreover, only 16% of participants approve

of the tone used in news coverage, while 39% disapprove. Young people, in particular, seem fed up with the negativity bias that has long been regarded as a sure-fire way to attract audiences. For many, that bias feels disempowering. Conversations indicate that the problem is compounded for young parents, who want to believe that the world will be good to their children. Younger generations also feel consuming news should be more entertaining and less of a chore.

One reason for disconnect between the data and people’s self-reported relationship with the news media may be the “guilty pleasure” effect: people have an appetite for voyeurism, but would prefer not to admit it, sometimes even to themselves. So, even as they click on articles about grisly crimes or celebrity divorces, they may say that they want more “quality news.”

When newsrooms indulge readers’ worst impulses, the consequences are far-reaching. Media are integral to support accountability by anyone wielding power or influence, and to mobilize civic

By Alexandra Borchardt

engagement. Democracies, in particular, depend on voters being well informed about pressing issues.

News organizations thus have a responsibility to report on serious topics, from political corruption to climate change, even if they are unpleasant.

That does not mean that readers’ complaints about media’s negativity bias should be disregarded.

On the contrary, if people are to be motivated to confront challenges that are shaping their lives, they should not be made to feel powerless.

This is where so-called solutions journalism comes in. By balancing information about what needs changing with true stories about positive change, news organizations can fulfill their responsibility both to inform and to spur progress. This means occasionally recognizing that over the long term, living standards have improved globally.

Reconnecting with audiences will also require media organizations to broaden their perspectives. In much of the West, it is largely white, male, middle-class journalists who decide what

Audiences prefer stories with a personal angle – say, detailing an affected individual’s fate – rather than reports on ongoing conflicts in the Middle East or city hall coverage

to cover and how. This limits news media’s ability to represent diverse societies fairly and accurately.

In fact, only 29% of Digital News Report respondents agreed that the topics the news media choose “feel relevant” to them. A joint study by the Reuters Institute and the Johannes

Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany, indicates that the key to increasing this share is to increase diversity in newsrooms.

At the same time, news media need to do a better job of contextualizing and otherwise explaining the news. While 62% of Digital News Report respondents feel that media keep them apprised of events, only half believe news outlets are doing enough to help them understand what is happening.

At a time when nearly one-third of people think that there is simply too much news being reported, the solution seems clear: do less, better.

This means listening to readers, not just studying the data analytics. It means balancing good news with bad news, and offering clarifying information when needed. It also means representing diverse perspectives. Media organizations that do not make these changes will continue to lose trust and relevance. That is hardly a sound strategy for convincing consumers that their work is worth paying for.

Source: Project Syndicate

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October

21

Focus

Election year 2020 and reforms – are we already feeling the impact?

Looming Challenges

Require Bolder Political Responses Although Serbia has for years been living in a state of permanent election campaigning, current developments are adding new steam to political dynamics, thus capturing the attention of the international and national public, and making the upcoming 2020 elections a hotter issue than previous votes. However, political responses are failing to address strategic societal and economic challenges that require the close attention of the incumbent government and political contenders

E 22

lection years in every country are traditionally seen as a time when governments refrain from launching bold reforms, opting instead to play it safe so as not to upset the electorate. We asked our interlocutors to October

comment on how Serbia’s 2020 election year will shape reform prospects and the business environment. Both politicians and economists offered their views on matters that impact on the process.

ALEKSANDAR VLAHOVIĆ

PRESIDENT OF THE SERBIAN ASSOCIATION OF ECONOMISTS

WE OVERESTIMATE SUCCESSES & UNDERESTIMATE RISKS STRUCTURAL REFORMS REQUIRE LONG-TERM COMMITMENT, SACRIFICES AND CONSTANT WORK, AND DON’T BRING POLITICAL POINTS, SO THEY ARE MOST COMMONLY DELAYED SUBSTANTIALLY DURING AN ELECTION YEAR. For someone who’s unfamiliar with the political situation in Serbia, it would be very difficult to distinguish between an “election” year and a “regular” year. That’s because a continuous campaign s present on the political scene, and also due to the fact that some “fatefully crucial” elections take place every year. This certainly also has its impact on decisions related to the implementation of economic policy, but also on the implementation of projects from the so-called structural agenda.

Generally speaking, there is an overestimation of the significance and impact of

CVIJETIN MILIVOJEVIĆ

DIRECTOR OF PR AGENCY PRAGMA

ELECTIONS AND “ELECTIONS” THE CONDITION OF ALL CONDITIONS FOR A REASONABLE ELECTION CAMPAIGN IS FOR CITIZENS TO BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO OVERVIEW THE ACTUAL SITUATION IN SOCIETY AND CRITICALLY EVALUATE ALL OF THE POLITICAL RESPONSES OFFERED TO THEM Serbia has been in election campaign mode since last autumn, when the majority of the so-called ‘real opposition’ ceased participating in the national assembly, due to regime torment, and when - almost simultaneously - citizen protests began under the title “Stop Bloody Shirts”, after a group of bullies close to the authorities gave a beating to opposition politician Borko Stefanović. The fact that the regime has since then been pushing the so-called ‘constructive opposition’ – i.e. those formally oppositional

measures taken to ensure short-term fiscal consolidation, especially when it comes to realising fiscal savings by reducing wages and pensions, while - on the other hand - there is an underestimation of the positive impact on economic activity in Serbia of good economic conditions in the countries of the Eurozone, which was particularly pronounced during 2016 and 2017. In this regard, the apparent crisis in Italy and stagnation of the German economy (countries to which we send more than 22% of our exports) are not viewed through the prism of the impact they already had on our country in this year alone. This suggests that – as much as they may be justified – increasing wages faster than nominal GDP growth in the education and health sectors, as well as in other segments of the public administration, could cause a deepening of external deficits – in foreign trade and current account flows.

More careful analysis of the results achieved in the first seven months of this year show that this tendency is already present. The current account deficit has increased by more than 2.4 percentage points, while the foreign trade deficit is up by approximately 20% The increase in the level of foreign direct investment, which will reach approximately 8.4% of GDP this year, is worthy of all praise. However, the fact that domestic private investments are reducing year-on-year in terms of their share of total investments is ignored. Here we come to the structural reform agenda, which implies the more efficient restructuring and partial privatisation of public enterprises, as well as the improving general conditions for doing business. Consequently, it is essential to make progress on more effectively protecting property and contracts, financial discipline and the equal treatment of market participants. It is necessary to strengthen institutions and improve their quality. In other words, it is necessary to create an economic environment that will encourage local entrepreneurs and individuals to save more, invest, adopt innovations, take risks – i.e., all the activities that generate growth and raise the level of employment. Structural reforms require long-term commitment, sacrifices and constant work, and don’t bring political points, so they are most commonly delayed substantially during an election year.

entities that actually work for the current regime – is merely an attempt to mask the fact that three-quarters of citizens (those who don’t vote and those who don’t vote for the current government) haven’t had their own representatives in state and political institutions for a year already.

A propaganda campaign, meaning a negative campaign, is being led from the top of the government and directed primarily against political players and public figures who advocate the view that any election is meaningless without the prior normalisation of election conditions that would ensure more or less equal treatment and a position for all participants in the elections set to follow in the spring. The other direction of this campaign to disqualify and target every critical attitude regarding the regime is directed towards the so-called ‘real opposition’, meaning all those who have the courage to warn against the daily anti-constitutional activities of the incumbent President of the Republic, who has usurped all prerogatives of the executive, judicial and legislative authorities, even though the constitutional position of the President of Serbia, according to the Constitution, is only ceremonial, i.e. protocol.

The attempt to establish a dialogue between the authorities and the opposition regarding electoral conditions, under the mediation of George Soros’s Open Society Foundation, had no prospect of success, because the government persistently avoids discussing core issues, which primarily related to the need to liberate or “bring to a better known right”, the public media TV service and the most watched television channels with national frequencies, as a condition of all conditions for the citizens of Serbia to understand that the “Land of Dembelia” (or Tommaso Campanella’s utopian “City of the Sun”) portrayed on these television stations doesn’t actually exist, and if it does exist then it certainly isn’t today’s Serbia!

If the announced mediation of MEP rapporteur David McAllister fails, a paradoxical situation could arise, with the regular spring election seeing President Vučić’s party run against itself and its “electric rabbits”, and then, shortly afterwards, due to the course of events, being pressured to call new and more democratic elections.

October

23

Focus

Election year 2020 and reforms – are we already feeling the impact?

JURIJ BAJEC PH.D.

SPECIAL ADVISOR AT THE ECONOMICS INSTITUTE AND FULL PROFESSOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE FACULTY OF ECONOMICS

WE LACK GOOD RESPONSES IT IS CONCERNING THAT NEITHER THE OPPOSITION NOR THE GOVERNMENT HAVE A CLEAR COMMITMENT AND PLAN FOR ACCELERATING REFORMS IN THE AREA OF THE RULE OF LAW AND THE EFFICIENT FUNCTIONING OF MARKET INSTITUTIONS, WHICH ARE PREREQUISITES FOR MORE SERIOUS ECONOMIC PROGRESS AND RAISING THE STANDARD OF LIVING FOR CITIZENS There isn’t (as yet) a real pre-election atmosphere. There is more of a feeling of a pre-election atmosphere in which the opposition insists on equal media and other conditions in the election process and is threatening to boycott the election. On the other side, the government is granting certain concessions unhurriedly and step-by-

VLADIMIR GLIGOROV ECONOMIST AND POLITICAL SCIENTIST

WITHOUT SOLUTIONS, WITHOUT DIALOGUE ELECTION CAMPAIGNS IN SERBIA TRADITIONALLY PROMISE THE UNFEASIBLE AND CHALLENGE EVERYTHING. WHAT IS LACKING IS A REAL DEBATE ABOUT PRECISELY WHAT THE PARTIES IN POWER INTEND DO IF THEY WIN A MAJORITY OR WHAT PROGRAMMES THE OPPOSITION IS OFFERING We can usually see that elections are close from the promises of the parties in power and criticism from opposition parties. In Serbia, traditionally, the unfeasible is promised and everything is challenged. President Vučić announces investments of ten billion euros or more, a large part of which intended to improve citizens’ standards of life. And then there is the rise in salaries and pensions, but also additional increases for certain professions, where – alongside the usual promises to membes of the security forces - educators and healthcare workers are having their turn. The message is that the government has worked so well that it has money for practically everyone.

The opposition in Serbia usually announces that it will change everything if it comes

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step. It remains uncertain when and how the only proper atmosphere will be created – one in which the government and the opposition, through their political, economic and social programmes, fight on an equal footing for the favour of voters.

What is particularly concerning is that neither of them has a clear commitment and announcement of a concrete sequence of moves that would accelerate reforms in the area of the rule of law and the efficient functioning of market institutions, because that is a key issue and the most important condition for more serious economic progress and raising the standards of citizens. It is essential for there to be clear, convincing and well-reasoned explanations that it is precisely these reform commitments that are crucial to creating a better life. Otherwise it is realistic to expect that voters would rather prefer rapid, even modest, improvements to their economic and social position than insufficiently persuasive and time-consuming reform moves. That’s why we shouldn’t be surprised by the recent short-term ad hoc measures that should – selectively and somewhat slightly – improve the financial position of employees in certain parts of the public sector, while again there is a lack of substantial reforms and the implementation of a tariff system that would permanently and transparently regulate wage relations for over 500,000 employees. The same goal applies to the announced tax incentive measures in the private sector as support to employers and increasing employment.

All of this has been seen already – the effects will be small and short-lived, instead of implementing a thorough tax reform that serves faster and sustainable economic growth. What is particularly dangerous in pre-election times is that the desire to win prompts not only a preference for short-term economic and social measures over reforms, but also that various beneficial short-term measures go too far and exceed realistic possibilities. Such moves in the period ahead would imperil the country’s financial stability and economic growth and would – in the absence of real and fundamental reforms – again compel the Government to make unpopular economic and social moves that are not in the interest of the majority of citizens. to power. There won’t only be jobs and money, but also justice and democracy, and all kinds of freedoms. And there especially won’t be any more corruption or nepotism, or employment and works along party lines. Alongside that come solutions to all unsolved issues, starting from Kosovo to relations with the European Union and all foreign powers generally. This is partly because, as a rule, there is no public confrontation between the ruling parties and the opposition. Moreover, to the extent that there is some debate, that most often turns into mutual accusations, with the aim – particularly among representatives of the ruling parties – to respond to, for example, criticisms of corruption by offering both real and fictional examples of corruption among opposition leaders. So, there is no real debate about what the ruling parties actually intend to do if they win a majority or what programmes the opposition is offering. Voters should already know that none of this will be done by the government, whoever comes to power. In democracies there are two possible ways to impact on the government being more accountable overall. One is to vote for those already in power, because that avoids the cost of change; and it is possible that opposition parties will prove even more money-grabbing if they come to power, especially if they’ve been out of power for a long time, which is almost always the case in Serbia.

The other way is to vote for the opposition from one election to the next, to ensure that the parties finally discipline themselves and begin competing with their achievements, if they are in power, and their plans, especially if they are in opposition. With democracy thus stabilised, everyone can vote in accordance with their interests or convictions. In Serbia, as in most corrupt countries, parties in power have an advantage over the opposition, voters have invested in them, corrupting them in one way or another. As such, voting for the opposition occurs when it is estimated that investments in the government haven’t paid off. The ruling parties usually lose power after less than a decade. It is difficult to say whether this is such a turning point election. On the basis of how much the ruling parties exaggerate on promises that facts – both economic and political – don’t bear out in any way, the election could be uncertain. A boycott, should the opposition opt for one, could be successful. And voters could see possible changes in electoral rules as a sign that the parties in power are unsure of their support, both at home and especially abroad.

Whatever the case, the upcoming elections are likely to be just the beginning of a process that will result in a change in power.

12th Weekend Media Festival

On Peace, Love And Communication Through discussions about the never more interesting or faster transformation of the media industry and advocacy for freedom of decision-making under the slogan “Peace, love and communication”, the 12th Weekend Media Festival, the largest media festival in the region, was held in Rovinj, in the spirit of the legendary Woodstock

P

rovocative and constructive discussions on trends in the media industry over the course of three days (19th-22nd September) brought together more than 5,000 participants, including more than 550 journalists and 350 students. Visitors had an opportunity to participate in over 50 lectures, panel discussions, presentations and workshops held in five halls by more than 150 interesting speakers from across the region and around the world.

Agency 101 was awarded in two categories – SoMo Tek and One Hit Wonder, while Imago Oglivy received the Somoritan and SoMo content awards for its Pipi Beverages and Boranka campaigns.

The Best App Award went to Flow 404, while the award for the best website (Tomato) Netgen went to Locastic.

Jura Pruša was declared Campaign Manager of the Year, the award for the best digital mix was presented to McCann Belgrade and the SoMo Social award was presented for a campaign developed for Narodni radio [National Radio].

The best projects in the region were presented with special awards at this year’s BalCannes review, which was held under the auspices of the 12th Weekend Media Festival. The projects were selected by 20 experts from the ranks of clients, agencies and media outlets. Contestants again had an opportunity this year to see how

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The title of the best BalCannes agency was presented to McCann Belgrade. Studio Sonde’s project Art Directed by Nature was declared the best BalCannes project, while it also won the title of best project according to the jury of agency representatives and the title of best foreign project advertisers, agencies and journalists view the same projects, with each of these juries awarding the best projects according to their own selection.

The title of the best BalCannes agency was presented to McCann Belgrade. Studio Sonde’s project Art Directed by Nature was declared the best BalCannes project, while it also won the title of best project according to the jury of agency representatives and the title of best foreign project. The jury of clients declared agency

Imago Ogilvy’s Boranka project as the best. The award of the jury of journalists award went to the Minus 33% project of agency BPCS, which was competing at BalCannes for the first time this year. Saatchi&Saatchi Croatia’s ‘Jana, deep above all’ was named as the best regional project.

BalCannes this year decided to award boldness on the market and the granting of creative freedom to agencies with another lion – award for client courage. This award was presented to agency McCann Skopje and client the CocaCola Company for the Coca-Cola project ‘Love is always the right way!’

In one of the panel discussions – Google vs.

Huawei – panellists attempted to explain the actual unfolding situation in the U.S.-China economic war, which has spilled over to included companies Google and Huawei, which have close cooperation. Panellists, along with the vast majority of the audience, concluded that Huawei was unjustifiably accused, and that Huawei would suffer consequences in the short term, but that the greatest long-term consequences of such a decision would be felt by Google and the U.S. administration. Moreover, given that Huawei holds over 30% of patents for the 5G network, countries that rely on the U.S. administration will also feel the consequences, as they are likely to pay more for lower quality equipment when they decide to switch to 5G.

Leaders’

COMTRADE

Data Provides Benefits PAGE /28

MEETING POINT ŽARKO KECIĆ, Chief Technical Officer, RNIDS

IGOR UROŠEVIĆ, Head of Technical Department South East Europe, Ingram Micro

DRAGAN ĐORĐEVIĆ, director, Training and HR Agency Skills

Take Care Our Team Has Of Your Online A Solution For Presence Everything

Don’t Be Good, Be Great!

PAGE /32

PAGE /39

PAGE /36

COMTRADE

Data Provides Benefits The data management model helps banks turn raw data into opportunities

In order for the bank to maximise the benefits of the DWH solution, it is necessary to focus on business – business scenarios and challenges, market requirements, regulations etc. In this sense, DWH should not be seen as the implementing of new technology, but as a Business Development project.

N

ew technology and banking have always gone hand in hand. This is evidenced by the large number of IT solutions intended for banking.

There is practically no bank in Serbia today that, in addition to its core banking system, doesn’t have a significant number of different applications that generate enormous amounts of data.

COMPLEXITY AS ENEMY NO.1 The data for creating regulatory and management reports is located in different systems, which communicate with each other to a greater or lesser degree.

This approach to data management creates room for error (non-updated or inaccurate data, duplicated data, inconsistent data and the like) and affects the quality of the reports based on it.

The fact that employees have to manually check and verify data slows down the reporting process. The result is a lack of agility – making it difficult to create ad hoc reports and reducing the speed of information availability to management for making

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strategic business decisions, and indirectly impacting on the quality of services the bank provides to clients.

CONTROL OF DATA FLOW AND REGULATIONS When data is placed in a bank’s systems, its “life span” is just beginning. Managing data flows and gaining insight into the source of data to which end source becomes a major challenge with the growing number of reports and systems, but also with the amount of data itself.

The requirements of regulations, such as the GDPR or the Law on Personal Data Protection, which has been in force in Serbia since August, brought this problem to the fore.

DATA WAREHOUSE FOR BANKS Today, more than ever, banks need a solution to consolidate data. The implementation of the Data Warehouse (DWH) solution involves the creation of a centralised database from a large number of separate IT systems of the bank, as well as external data sources.

RESPONSE TO THE CHALLENGES: DATA MANAGEMENT MODEL In response to the needs of banks in Serbia, Comtrade System Integration has developed the Data Management Model – a set of data integration solutions based on the modern DWH platform.

The Data Management Model is closely tailored to the banking sector, the local market and regulations. The solution is based on key industry standards (banking data dictionary, NBS regulatory compliance, Basel III standard, IFRS standard, ALM, profitability, campaign management and the like) and flexible architecture for superior configurability.

With the DHW platform, large volumes of banks’ operational data are first validated from a quality standpoint and then housed in a logical structure tailored to the needs of data analysis, report creation and ad hoc access to information.

Using the DWH, banks solve the problem of inconsistent data. The centralised system enables all business sectors to produce unique results and reduces the time for data verification and reconciliation.

Data that has previously been scattered across systems can be accessed quickly and easily without having to engage the IT sector.

For the bank’s management, faster access to high-quality data is the key to more effective strategic decision-making, which includes market segmentation, monitoring financial operations and the promotion of sales.

APPLICATION SCENARIOS The Comtrade Data Management Model is the basis for introducing faster and more efficient processes at different organisational levels – from sales, marketing, risk management, accounting and asset management, to the IT sector, internal audit, business compliance control and strategic decision making.

CREATING REGULATORY, INTERNAL AND AD HOC REPORTS With the automatic creation of over 180 regulatory reports in compliance with local regulations, including the SSKR Report, the module helps banks prepare regulatory reports in accordance with the requirements of regulatory bodies in the country, including the National Bank of Serbia [central bank], the Deposit Insurance Agency, the Association of Serbian Banks, the Credit Bureau, the Tax Administration and the Central Securities Register.

A large number of Business Intelligence (BI) tools are available for users to independently access and analyse data. The application of these tools optimises time across all business sectors participating in the reporting process. The bank can implement tools it already uses and introduce new ad hoc reporting features tailored to the dynamics and needs of business.

PROVISION CALCULATION The module allows for timely and accurate estimations of Expected Credit Loss (ECL) and the subsequent level of fair provisions on performing and non-performing credit portfolios in line with IFRS9 impairment guidelines.

ECL calculation is performed automatically for receivables at all stages (S1, S2, S3),

while calculation for stage 3 is possible at both the aggregate and individual levels.

The application provides easy data entry and management, and also stores a history of all user-defined data for easy revision.

CALCULATION OF THE OPTIMAL COLLATERAL ALLOCATION Considering the impact of collateral not only on provision calculation, but also on regulatory reporting requirements – the module allows banks to automate this complex process.

Through a set of rules aligned with local regulations, the solution examines

With the automatic creation of over 180 regulatory reports in compliance with local regulations, including the SSKR Report, the module helps banks prepare regulatory reports in accordance with the requirements of regulatory bodies in the country, including the National Bank of Serbia (central bank), the Deposit Insurance Agency, the Association of Serbian Banks, the Credit Bureau, the Tax Administration and the Central Securities Register

the suitability of collateral to be accepted as an adequate or appropriate security instrument. Using bank-defined parameters, the solution algorithm uses all the relevant model data and parameters to optimise collateral values in a way that determines the optimal collateral allocation for receivables in order to obtain the minimum provision value.

In addition to optimisation in accordance with NBS regulations, the module is configurable and supports the optimisa-

tion of collateral allocation in accordance with the requirements of the Basel III standard (RWA) and banks’ internal risk methodology.

CALCULATION OF DAYS IN DEFAULT Calculating days in default, which is one of the key risk management calculations, is a major challenge for most banks in developing and maintaining solutions.

The module responds to the needs of banks by providing the calculation of days in default for all bank receivables, in accordance with all risk management requirements.

The calculation integrates all models of calculation (economic days, materially significant in accordance with the bank’s risk methodology and materially significant days in accordance with the requirements of the NBS regulations), which can be adjusted to the needs of the bank.

DATA GOVERNANCE Given the fact that the Data Management Model contains a large amount of data obtained through the integration of different source systems, the ability of a bank to effectively manage all that data is of great importance. In this sense, the Data Governance Module is integrated and provides a bank with an overview of what data was originally obtained from which systems, what business terminology was used to designate that data, the current stage of the life cycle of that data and where it is used in reporting.

RELIABLE BANK TRANSFORMATION PARTNER Comtrade System Integration has the largest team in the Balkans in the field of business analytics, which works closely with the client in all project phases – from analysis of existing systems, the creation of an implementation strategy, solutions customisation and maintenance, to technical support and customer training.

Many years of experience in implementing various DWH solutions, domain expertise and a consulting approach provide a guarantee of a successful project for transforming your bank.

October

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Respect

“The students showed stamina in securing their demands, and I take my hat off to them. They have my respect. We are at the same task – to guard the University image and to be able to solve our problems ourselves.”

– IVANKA POPOVIĆ, RECTOR OF BELGRADE UNIVERSITY

LOCAL NEWS FINNISH PKC

JOBS FOR ANOTHER 1,000 WORKERS The Finnish company for the production of wiring systems for the automotive industry PKC, which has been operating in Smederevo for five years now, will start building a production facility of 10,000 m2 in Smederevo. New machinery will be installed at the facility and another 1,000 workers will be employed. New investment of the Finnish company would amount to a total of €50 million.

From the very beginning, PKC has been operating at a rented hall of 19,000 m2 on a 5.3-ha land, owned by the city. The City Assembly of Smederevo has recently adopted a proposition on the sale of the hall and the land.

MAMMINGER KONSERVEN

VEGETABLE PROCESSING PLANT WORTH €4MLN German company Mamminger Konserven – SRB has officially opened a vegetable processing company, worth €4 million, which will employ around 250 workers, in the village of Gospodjinci, Vojvodina.

The company’s main activity is the processing of cucumbers, which it buys from more than 2,000 subcontractors in Serbia, with one-third of the quantity, around 15,000 tonnes, will be processed at the new factory in Gospodjinci.

“This is one of 400 companies that have invested a total of €2 billion and created 60,000 jobs in Serbia,” said H.E. Thomas Schieb, German ambassador to Serbia.

MOL

NEW FUEL STORAGE Hungarian oil company MOL has opened a fuel depot in Sremski Karlovci, northern Serbia, to store and process its fuel supplies.

“The MOL depot in Sremski Karlovci is the largest investment the company has done in the 15 years present in Serbia,” said the ambassador for Hungary Atila Pinter.

“Serbia is our most important partner among Western countries; Hungarian investments now exceed half a billion euros.”

The terminal is equipped with a biological wastewater treatment plant and an oil separator. The tanks have cooling systems and the technology to reduce evaporation.

ZIJIN

NEW ORE PROCESSING FACILITY The Chinese mining company Zijin, which owns RTB Bor, will build a whole new ore processing facility in Majdanpek, in line with the most modern technological and environmental standards, it was announced at the company’s seat in the Shanghang County.

All the technological and ecological solutions implemented in China will be applied

by Zijin to the mines in Serbia as well.The total value of the company’s investments had reached nearly $2 billion.

One of the first steps we will make in Serbia is to expand the production and recover the Jama and Cerovo mines in Majdanpek, as well as to recover the technology at the smelters – said George Fang, the Executive Director of Zijin Mining Group.

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GRUNDFOS

FIRST WASTE WATER PROCESSING PLANT The BioBooster plant was built with an investment of €2 million and is the first plant of its kind outside of the Scandinavian countries.

Grundfos Serbia CEO Veljko Todorovic said the plant will allow for more efficient production, using less water and helping care for the environment while Denmark’s Ambassador in Belgrade Anders Kristian Hougard told the ceremony that Grundfos is a good example of Danish export-oriented investments in Serbia.

New Era

“ Launch of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) marked a new era in relations between China and Serbia, noting many infrastructure projects, company acquisitions and greenfield investments involved Chinese investors.” – H.E. CHEN BO, CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO SERBIA

Placements postings

&

appointments@aim.rs

H.E. SIAN CHRISTINA MACLEOD, HER MAJESTY’S AMBASSADOR TO SERBIA

H.E. Sian Christina MacLeod began her career in 1985 at the British Council and has served as programme officer, FCO, desk officer – South African Department, second secretary in Moscow, Chancery in Vilnius, deputy head of mission, FCO, head of the Russia Section, at the Joint Assistance Unit in The Hague, head of the political section in Moscow, minister and deputy head of mission, FCO, head of the Whitehall Liaison Department, Prague, Her Majesty’s Ambassador, FCO, Additional Director, Eastern Europe and Central Asia Directorate, Vienna, and as ambassador and head of the UK delegation to the OSCE. Ambassador MacLeod is a married mother of three children.

H.E. AIDA SMAJIĆ, AMBASSADOR OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA TO SERBIA

H.E. Aida Smajić(1962) graduated from the Faculty of Political Sciences in Sarajevo in 2015, earning a master’s degree in the field of European Integration. She has served in the Department for Bilateral Relations (neighbouring countries) and the Department for Multilateral Relations (OSCE, Council of Europe and Regional Initiatives). She has held posts at embassies in Tunisia, France and Romania, while Ambassador Smajić is a member of the Presidency of the Forum of Members of Parliament 1990 – serving from the forum’s inception to be its vice president today. Ambassador Smajić is a married mother of one child.

H.E. JEAN-LOUIS FALCONI, AMBASSADOR OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC TO THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

H.E. Jean-Louis Falconi was born on 8th February 1964. He graduated from the High School of Economic and Trade Studies, then the Institute for Political Studies and the National School of Administration (École nationale d’administration - ENA). He began his career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1997. In his capacity as an ambassador, he is a Permanent Representative of France to the Political and Security Committee of the European Union in Brussels. He served from 2014 to 2016 within the Cabinet of the Prime Minister of France as Director for International, Strategic and Technological Affairs at the General Secretariat for Defence and National Security. Prior to arriving in Belgrade, from 2016 to 2019, he served as ambassador and permanent representative to the Office of the United Nations and International Organisations (Vienna). Decorated as a Knight of the National Order of Merit, Ambassador Falconi is fluent in English and German.

H.E. GILLES BESCHOOR PLUG, AMBASSADOR OF THE NETHERLANDS TO SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO

H.E. Gilles Beschoor Plug was born in 1962 and studied law at Erasmus University Rotterdam before joining the Foreign Service of the Netherlands and serving in lower ranking posts at embassies in Moscow, Nairobi and Damascus. He worked between these postings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague, serving in the departments of Security Policy and European Integration.

He has also served as Private Secretary to H.M. the Queen and H.R.H. Prince Claus of The Netherlands. After escaping 37°E by spending three years as ambassador in Abu Dhabi, Gilles served as director of the department for North Africa and the Middle East at the MFA in The Hague. From 2015 to August 2019 he was the Dutch ambassador in Tel Aviv. A married father of three children who are studying in the Netherlands, Gilles loves cigars, European literature, classical music and his Ducati motorbike.

H.E. SHEHRYAR AKBAR KHAN, AMBASSADOR OF PAKISTAN TO SERBIA

H.E. Shehryar Akbar Khan holds a master’s degree in Business Administration (2004) and is a Bachelor of Science (Honours, 1990). He started his career in diplomacy as third secretary at the Embassy of Pakistan in Algeria, continuing as first secretary/ counsellor in Hungary, consul and head of mission in Glasgow (United Kingdom) and as consulate general of Pakistan in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia). He Has held various posts at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad, including desk officer (U.S.), protocol officer (VIP Visits), desk officer (Middle East), consular affairs officer, desk officer (Europe) and deputy chief of protocol, director/director general.

ADRIEN FEIX, DIRECTOR OF THE AUSTRIAN CULTURAL FORUM

Adrien Feix (28) completed his master’s degree in physics at the University of Vienna in 2013 and subsequently worked as a researcher in theoretical physics for the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the University of Vienna from 2013 to 2017, graduating with a thesis on Quantum causality in 2019.

He graduated from the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna in July 2017, after which he entered the Austrian foreign service. Prior to arriving in Belgrade, he served in the UN department and the Southeast Europe desk, as well as being posted to Tehran. Feix speaks German, French, English, Spanish and Persian, and is a passionate footballer and tennis player.

MANUEL BOUARD, COUNSELLOR FOR CULTURAL COOPERATION AT THE EMBASSY OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC AND DIRECTOR OF INSTITUT FRANÇAIS IN SERBIA

Manuel Buar was born in 1972 in the city of Nancy in France’s Grand-Est region. He was resident in the UK in 1992, under the auspices of the Erasmus programme. He earned a Master’s degree in public law and political science at the University of Lorraine in 1996 and completed his studies at France’s National School of Administration (École nationale d’administration – ENA).

He began his career in 1999 at the Ministry of Culture of France, and began working on budgetary and accounting reforms as of 2003. After completing his studies at the ENA, he was appointed Deputy Director-General of the University of Paris 12 (Université Paris-Est Créteil - UPEC), and was named acting director-general of that institution as of 2016.

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ŽARKO KECIĆ, CHIEF TECHNICAL OFFICER, RNIDS

Take Care Of Your Online Presence Having an online presence provides an opportunity for businesses of all sizes and from all over the world to reach out to a broader customer base, to hire international suppliers and to operate more efficiently. However, the world of online business also needs to overcome potential scams and security risks. Data breaches and cyber theft aren’t problems that are only faced by big companies. A successful cyber attack could seriously damage any business and cause financial problems for any company and its customers, while seriously damaging a business’s reputation

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ybersecurity continues to be one of the most challenging issues for small business owners.

Thinking about cybersecurity can be extremely confusing and complex, but every business that uses the internet needs to create a culture of security that will improve business and enhance consumer confidence.

Information technology is a powerful tool for businesses to reach new markets and increase sales and productivity. However, cybersecurity threats are real, and businesses must implement the best tools and tactics available to protect themselves, their customers and their data.

Here are some basic cybersecurity tips to protect your business:

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TRAIN EMPLOYEES IN CYBERSECURITY GUIDELINES Develop an awareness and train employees about basic security practises and policies, such as strong password requirements and establishing appropriate guidelines for internet use. Introduce detailed rules of behaviour describing how to handle and protect customer information and other vital data.

IF IN DOUBT, DO NOT OPEN AN EMAIL Malware and phishing scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, so users should not open emails that appear suspicious or unusual. Remove these messages from your mailbox.

The same advice applies for links and attachments — don’t open them unless you’re absolutely sure of the source and the reason you received a link of attachment.

If you receive an email about an issue or past due balance or refund, don’t follow

the link – rather go directly to the website mentioned in the message and log in to your account there.

PASSWORDS AND AUTHENTICATION Require employees to use unique passwords and to change them every three months. Consider implementing multi-factor authentication that requires additional information beyond a password to gain entry.

Check with your vendors that handle sensitive data, especially financial institutions, to see if they offer multi-factor authentication for your account.

PROTECT INFORMATION, COMPUTERS AND NETWORKS FROM CYBER-ATTACKS Keep clean machines: having the latest security software, web browser and operating system are the best defences against viruses, malware and other online threats.

Set antivirus software to run a scan after

each update and install other key software updates as soon as they are available.

MAKE BACKUP COPIES OF IMPORTANT BUSINESS DATA AND INFORMATION Regularly backup your data on all computers. Critical data includes word processing documents, electronic spreadsheets, databases, financial files, human resources files and accounts receivable/payable files.

Backup data automatically if possible, or at least weekly, and store the copies either offline or in the cloud.

can be lost, so lock them up when unattended and provide an additional access method (e.g. USB security key). Make sure a separate user account is created for each employee and require strong passwords.

Administrative privileges should only be given to trusted IT staff and key personnel that need privileged access rights.

tomer database safe, regardless of its size. Aside from being a huge blow to your organisation’s reputation, there may be legal ramifications of losing customers’ personal information.

It is important for many people to know that their personal or payment details are secure. It is also important for your

PROVIDE FIREWALL SECURITY FOR YOUR INTERNET CONNECTION A firewall is a set of related machines or programs that prevent access to data on a private network from the internet.

Make sure the operating system’s firewall is enabled or install free firewall software available online. If employees work from home, ensure that their home systems are also protected by a firewall.

SECURE YOUR WI-FI NETWORKS If you have a Wi-Fi network for your workplace, make sure it is secure and hidden.

Hiding your Wi-Fi network requires setting up your wireless access point or router so it does not broadcast the network name, known as the Service Set Identifier (SSID).

Also be sure to use a strong password to protect access to the router.

CREATE A MOBILE DEVICE ACTION PLAN Mobile devices may create significant security challenges, especially if they contain confidential information or can access the corporate network. Require users to password-protect their devices, encrypt their data and install security apps to prevent criminals stealing information while the phone is on public networks.

CONTROL PHYSICAL ACCESS TO YOUR COMPUTERS AND CREATE USER ACCOUNTS FOR EACH EMPLOYEE Prevent access or use of business computers by unauthorised individuals.

Laptops can be easy targets for theft or

customers to know that you do not share their details without their consent.

It is important for many people to know that their personal or payment details are secure. It is also important for your customers to know that you do not share their details without their consent

LIMIT EMPLOYEE ACCESS TO DATA AND INFORMATION AND LIMIT THE AUTHORITY TO INSTALL SOFTWARE Do not provide any employee with access to all data systems. Employees should only be given access to the specific data systems they require to do their jobs and should not be able to install any software without permission.

PROTECT YOUR CUSTOMERS It is important that you keep your cus-

HOST YOUR WEBPAGE AND SERVICES ON YOUR OWN DOMAIN NAME It is essential that your business is known on the internet under a domain name.

Every website or internet service starts with the domain name, without which you don’t have anything you own online.

Owning a domain name also allows you to put in place the necessary security measures and protect your business and customers of the services you offer.

If you implement those guidelines so they suit your business the best, you will be able to quickly recover from any incident.

Take care of your systems and data, as the cost of data theft or data loss can be high and a safer work environment requires little effort and attention. In today’s continually evolving threat landscape, there is no such thing as 100% secure, and in most cases the target of the criminals is not your company, but those who have not put enough effort into protecting their systems and data.

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Membership

“It is very important that the Croatian public and Croatian citizens understand the weight of the Republic of Croatia after just six years and a few months of membership in the EU.” – ANDREJ PLENKOVIĆ, CROATIAN PRIME MINISTER

REGIONAL NEWS BULGARIA

NEW BIOVET PESHTERA PLANT TO OPEN A new factory for the production of pharmaceutical products and animal feed additives is set to be opened by Biovet Peshtera. Representing a total investment of BGN 300 million, the plant will create more than 200 new jobs for highly qualified staff. Around a third of the investment was funded by a 2018 loan from the EU’s Juncker Plan.

Biovet is a leading European manufacturer and marketer of medicated and nutritional feed additives, enzymes, bulk active substances and pharmaceuticals for animal productivity and health.

The company also provides intermediates, active ingredients and medicines for the human pharmaceuticals industry.

ALBANIA

Tech start-ups from Albania and the Western Balkans have once again been invited to take part in the UK-Albania Tech Hub, now in its third year.

The hub aims to facilitate bilateral tech partnerships between Albania and the UK, focusing on tech start-ups that have the potential to contribute to growth in the UK by sharing innovation, skills and business opportunities between the two countries.

The project does this through identifying targeted solutions, partners and models of collaboration for tech start-ups, engaging entrepreneurs with capacity-building events with key business experts leading to a UK delegation meeting potential business and tech partners.

TO CONSIDER BEFORE CHOOSING A BUSINESS STRUCTURE

1. Ease 2. Termination 3. Risk 4. Cost 5. Operations 6. Information 7. Taxes 8. Right to Sell 9. Expanding 10. Capital BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

MTEL ACQUIRES ELTA-KABEL Bosnia’s Mtel a.d. Banja Luka, the mobile division of Telekom Srpske, has acquired local cable operator Elta-Kabel. Following the completion of the deal, and in line with its business strategy, Mtel’s investments this year will total €150 million.

Telekom Srpske is the second-largest telecommunications company in B-H. Majority-owned by Serbian state company Telekom Srbija, it has clients mainly in the country’s Republika Srpska entity.

Elta-Kabel is the leading cable operator in Republika Srpska, while it also provides internet, landline and mobile telephony services.

Mtel recently acquired another local telecommunication company - Bijeljina-based Telrad Net, as well as the local arm of Telekom Slovenije - Banja Luka-based Blicnet.

October

THINGS Choosing a business form is a major decision that should never be made without considering all of the facts first. Here are ten things every business owner should consider before selecting an organisational structure.

TECH HUB OPPORTUNITIES FOR START-UPS

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10

Leader

“Montenegro is a leader and the most successful multi-ethnic country in the region, and it is no coincidence that I visit it first after taking over this position.” – MATTHEW PALMER, SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE U.S. FOR THE WESTERN BALKANS HUNGARY

ELECTROLUX INVESTS €100 MILLION

CROATIA

UK’S DECHRA OPENS €1.5 MLN SOLAR PLANT Croatian drug maker Genera, a subsidiary of UK veterinary pharmaceuticals firm Dechra, has officially opened a solar power plant worth 1.5 million euros that will satisfy a third of the electricity needs of its manufacturing facility in Zagreb.

According to a Dechra press release, the new solar power plant is expected to generate some 1,545,000 kWh annually, with any surplus electricity from the plant to be distributed to the municipal electrical grid.

The power plant project took seven months to complete and was commissioned in June. The Genera operation previously sourced all of its energy from the main grid. In the course of the project, which was partially financed from EU funds, 5,543 photovoltaic panels were fitted to existing roof structures across the Genera site.

Dechra said it will transfer its analytical products testing unit to Croatia from the UK in preparation for a potential hard Brexit.

MONTENEGRO

ELEKTROPRIVREDA TO BUILD GVOZD WIND FARM WITH AUSTRIAN PARTNER Montenegro’s Elektropriveda Crne Gore (EPCG) is set to sign an agreement on the joint development of a project to construct the Gvozd Wind Farm with Austrian company Ivicom Holding – according to an announcement made by Ivan Mrvaljević, executive manager of the EPCG Directorate for Development and Engineering.

The General Assembly of EPCG reached the decision to construct the wind farm in late August. According to Mrvaljević, the entire process wad transparent and everything regarding the project was conducted in line with the laws and statute of EPCG, agency Mina reports.

Mrvaljević confirmed that the wind farm should have a capacity of 50 MW and produce around 150 Gwh annually.

Swedish home appliance manufacturer Electrolux is investing €100 million in its plant in Nyíregyháza, eastern Hungary, in an effort to increase the competitiveness of its products.

The company is simultaneously outsourcing its production of vacuum cleaners and free-standing refrigerators to Jászberény, near Budapest. With its latest investment, Electrolux will boost its use of industry 4.0 technology, robots and artificial intelligence, aimed at producing smarter equipment.

NORTH MACEDONIA

THE GOVERNMENT REVISES 2019 BUDGET

The government of North Macedonia revised the 2019 state budget keeping the deficit at 2.5% of GDP. The revision, the first of this year’s budget, will distribPRIME MINISTER ZORAN ZAEV AND ute more money for financial support MINISTER OF FINANCE NINA ANGELOVSKA for businesses, to help them create new jobs and pay higher wages in the private sector. Total revenues are planned at the level of MKD210.5bn (€3.4bn), while the total expenditures are set at MKD228.3bn, making a deficit of MKD17.7bn. The government raised its projection for GDP growth in 2019 to 3.5% from 3.2%. The government allocated €6.5mn to subsidise private companies to increase monthly salaries up to €97.6. The measure that will affect 610,000 people employed in the private sector will take effect starting from October.

Zaev promised a wage increase of €500 by the end of the mandate in 2020.

ROMANIA

IKEA SPENDS €136 MILLION ON WIND FARMS The Ingka Group, which owns and operates most of the world’s IKEA stores, has confirmed that it’s set to buy an 80 per cent stake in seven Romanian wind farms owned by wind turbine maker Vestas in a deal valued at 136 million euros.

According to an announcement of the Ingka Group, the acquisition consists of 64 turbines capable of producing a total of 171 megawatts of power and follows the purchase of a stake in Germany’s second-biggest offshore wind farm earlier this year.

“The 80 per cent stake supports our target to generate as much renewable energy as we consume and the investment brings us one step closer to reaching our 2020 goal,” said Krister Mattsson, head of Ingka Investments.

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IGOR UROŠEVIĆ, HEAD OF TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT SOUTH EAST EUROPE, INGRAM MICRO

Our Team Has A Solution For Everything Ingram Micro d.o.o. Belgrade is part of the Ingram Micro Group - the largest global distributor of IT equipment, whether the criterion is global revenue, number of contracts with manufacturers of IT equipment or coverage of different international markets

T

hree Centres of Excellence have already been established in Belgrade for Ingram Micro globally - for Cyber security, for Cisco solutions and for Azure (Microsoft Public Cloud), which services Ingram Micro to partners worldwide, mostly in Western Europe and America.

Ingram Micro doo Belgrade is part of the Ingram Micro Group - the world’s largest distributor of IT equipment. Judging by the range of technical and logistic services you provide, you are unique in south-eastern Europe. Is that right?

Ingram Micro is certainly one of the largest distributors of IT equipment in the

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world, the criterion is total global revenue, the number of contracts with manufacturers of IT equipment or the coverage of different markets worldwide (our footprint). Of course, each region has its own local specifics that are primarily conditioned by the degree of local market development, but it is this global footprint that Ingram Micro has, together with the diversity in the degree of market development in different parts of the world that creates opportunities for positioning the various types of services that a distributor can offer from the territory of south-eastern Europe and Serbia.

The services I would like to single out in this context are the technical services

provided by Ingram Micro Belgrade through the global Ingram Micro network. It is already a well-known model in various fields of the IT business, that engineering services from countries with high-quality IT education, good English language skills in the IT community and lower labour costs compared to more advanced markets are relatively easy to market if there is a reliable, relevant and transparent delivery channel. And this is precisely the context that is currently being formed and within which we see great room for progress. As a global corporation we have coverage and access to virtually all global markets, we are committed to focusing more and more on the distribution of engineering services to our partners (Added Value Services), and we have a technical team at Ingram Micro doo Belgrade that is capable of providing support in various technology verticals and solutions in the field of Cyber security, Data Centre technologies, Public Cloud solutions etc. ...

To this end, three Centres of Excellence for Ingram Micro have been established in Belgrade on a global scale that currently ex-

Our engineers are part of attractive and challenging projects, which gives everyone the opportunity to progress and grow together

ist in only a few Ingram Micro offices in the world. These are the Cyber Security Expertise Centre, the Cisco Solution Expertise Centre, and the Azure Expertise Centre (Microsoft Public Cloud). These centres of expertise provide services to Ingram Micro partners in various global markets, most notably in Western Europe and America, enabling our engineers to be part of truly attractive and challenging engineering-projects, giving everyone the opportunity to thrive and grow together.

What is the real potential of advanced technologies and to what extent are we using it? Is that exactly your job ... to help your clients and partners exploit it in practice?

By its position in the IT market, a distributor does not work with end users, but with partners who in turn provide technical support and expertise to end users. However, what is observed as a recent trend is that the dynamics of change in advanced technologies are accelerating, that trends in technology are changing fast while on the other hand small and medium-sized partners have a growing problem of following the speed of these changes - not only on our market, but also in others. And this is exactly the position that distributors are increasingly taking on - to technically assist their partners and provide them with all kinds of support to help them position complex technical solutions.

An additional aggravating circumstance

is the fact that the period of positioning and selling complex technical solutions is quite long (a long sales lifecycle), very often with uncertain prospects of success. All this presents additional aggravating circumstances for partners who have to take all these factors into account to be viable, while it is easier for distributors to accept such risks given the size of the markets they cover.

Ingram Micro Group operates in more than 45 countries. How important in your Belgrade office is the experience of other markets and the exchange of experience and knowledge in the group?

Sharing experience is certainly important in any environment, if that experience contributes to improving our work and business.

However, what I would like to emphasize is

The role of a distributor is to assist and support their partners technically, to more easily position complex technical solutions

that this exchange of experience was not exclusively one-way, that is that we, as a less developed market, have always been in a position to learn from more developed markets. But in a particular segment, we have been able to share our experience with our colleagues from other countries, primarily from the point of view of technical support and the importance of engineering support in the development of certain technologies and solutions. It is for this reason that it was decided to set up the centres of expertise in Belgrade, and we are particularly proud of this.

www.rs.ingrammicro.eu

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Friends

Spoke to my two good friends, Prime Minister Modi of India, and Prime Minister Khan of Pakistan, regarding Trade, Strategic Partnerships and, most importantly, for India and Pakistan to work towards reducing tensions in Kashmir. A tough situation, but good conversations! – DONALD TRUMP, US PRESIDENT

WORLD NEWS RUSSIA

STRATEGIC COOPERATION FOR HUAWEI & ROSSIYA SEGODNYA

NORWAY

EXXON AGREES $4 BILLION SALE OF OIL AND GAS ASSETS Exxon Mobil has agreed to sell its Norwegian oil and gas assets for up to $4 billion, ending its production in a country where it started operations more than a century ago.

It was back in June when U.S. oil major Exxon first indicated that it was looking to sell its Norwegian upstream portfolio, which comprises minority stakes in more than 20 fields, operated by local producer Equinor and Anglo-Dutch oil major Royal Dutch Shell.

The Texas-based company has held talks in recent weeks with a number of interested parties, including Oslo-listed companies Equinor, Aker BP and DNO, Stockholm-listed Lundin Petroleum, as well as Var Energi, backed by Italy’s Eni, and private equity firm HitecVision, industry sources said.

Media group Rossiya Segodnya and Huawei’s consumer business group’s branch in Russia have signed a strategic cooperation agreement at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).

The parties agreed to jointly implement initiatives aimed at developing technologies for the production and distribution of media content, including through the use of specialised mobile platforms.

“The signing of an agreement with Huawei will be a significant step in developing and strengthening the common information space of Russia and China,” said Vasily Pushkov, Rossiya Segodnya’s head of international cooperation.

“We are pleased to offer our latest technological solutions to Russian users, and the signing of this agreement with Rossiya Segodnya is another step on the path to success,” said Leo VASILY PUSHKOV AND LEO LEE Lee, president of Huawei’s Russia division.

FRANCE

VUITTON TO HIRE MORE FRENCH HANDBAG MAKERS AS CHINESE SALES BOOM LVMH, the Louis Vuitton brand, will hire another 1,500 manufacturing staff in France by 2022, as it expands production to meet strong demand in markets like China.

The label, LVMH’s biggest revenue driver, makes the bulk of its trademark leather and canvas handbags in its home market, where it employs around 4,300 people in 16 leather goods workshops.

It also said that it could add a further site next to its newly opened workshop outside the village of Beaulieu-Sur-Layon in western France, a region that used to specialise in shoe production - though the industry has waned in recent decades.

DENMARK

PENSION FUND DUMPS OIL MAJORS DUE TO CLIMATE CONCERNS A Danish pension fund is set to sell its stake in major oil companies as their business models are incompatible with the goals set out in the Paris climate agreement.

MP Pension, a €18 billion pension fund for Danish M.A’s, M.Sc.’s and Ph.D’s who are employed in public sector universities and upper secondary schools, said it will dump its stakes in 10 of the world’s largest oil companies, including ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron, PetroChina, Rosneft and Royal Dutch Shell.

The divestment amounts to nearly 0.5% of the fund’s total portfolio.

“We found that none of the oil majors has a business model that is compatible with the goals of the Paris Agreement and thus we decided to sell them all,” said Anders Schelde, the fund’s chief investment officer, adding: “we put them all on our blacklist, our exclusion list.”

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DRAGAN ĐORĐEVIĆ, DIRECTOR, TRAINING AND HR AGENCY SKILLS

Don’t Be Good, Be Great!

At Skills, the first training and HR agency in Serbia, we believe that investing in people, their education and skills, is a key component of every company’s success. We offer much more than “ordinary” training as we develop programmes to meet the needs of our clients

A

lthough leadership, sales and developing influencer skills courses are being sought today as often as they were 20 years ago, there is growing interest in assertive communication, resilience training or the ability to get up after a fall and do better next time, and in neuro-training When the first training and HR agency in Serbia was born 23 years ago, our companies hardly knew the expression ‘human resources’.

We had long been the only ones in this business, and today, with no paid advertising, we can boast of nearly 40,000 participants and an impressive client list of more than 360 companies. Most of them, indeed 87%, came to Skills on a recommendation.

Skills was the first, and for years the only one in this business in Belgrade and in Serbia.

Today there are between 400 and 500 similar companies. But despite this, interest in Skills’ training has not flagged, among other things because it provides only in-house training – training for a single client.

Combining knowledge, skills, passion and innovation, working on yourself, listening to clients’ needs and requests, developing new programmes and constantly learning – the entire Skills team, starting with founder and CEO Dragan Đorđević, build upon the original story.

“It started 23 years ago, when after all the work I had done, I realized I was born to teach”, explains Mr Đorđević. “I worked in tourism and hotel management, in management and organization, I lived in Tunisia and London, I

New: the original Brain-centric programme “Most companies ignore the emotions and habits of their staff as an integral part of human behaviour, which has a negative effect on productivity, communication and results”, explains Dr Nikolaos Dimitriadis, a certified trainer, consultant and regional director of the International Faculty of Sheffield University, Citi College, Western Balkans, who holds neuro-training. “This increases the level of stress and the risk of chronic illness and absenteeism, which ultimately has a negative effect on business results. Neuro-training allows you to become familiar with the main principles on which the human brain works, to develop empathy, creative thinking, focus, influence, collaboration and determination. because these are the qualities that business leaders need.”

studied at every job and from all the people I worked with. I knew what a client was and how to recognize their needs and expectations, then I learned how to provide it.”

That Đorđević has found a winning combination – a great team and the right programmes – is shown by the list of satisfied clients who were initially able to choose from just a few training courses: today there are almost 40.

“This is the century of knowledge, not of technology. Technology is only the result of knowledge, learning, improvement and refinement”, says Đorđević, emphasizing that technology is not foreign to him. Quite the opposite.

People and communication have always been dearer and closer to him than computers, even though he is an IT engineer by profession, but this certainly makes it easier for him to adapt his work and his training to the times. That is why Skills’ training premises www.experiencecenter.rs are equipped with high-definition AV systems and Samsung tablets for interactive training.

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Enterpreneur

YOSHIHIRO NAKAMATS

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Japan’s

Wackiest Inventor

Japan has a storied history of technical wizardry, but even then Yoshiro Nakamatsu (born 1928) stands out as a cut above the rest. Better known as Dr NakaMats, he’s a celebrity inventor who claims to have held over 4,000 patents, which would be a world record. He’s known for his loopy, goof-ball demeanour, which makes him something of a cross between Nikola Tesla and Willy Wonka Japan’s most prolific, and bizarre, inventor, Yoshihiro NakaMats has a repertoire of inventions that spans everything from the useful to the ridiculous. Thousands of pages of neatly handwritten notes and diagrams document the man’s mental journey, and prototypes of the gadgets he invented—the magnetic strip, a computer-calculated putter, the aerial duster, jumping shoes, an anti-gravity float-vibrate 3D sonic system—are stacked against the walls of his Invention Library, which he sometimes opens to the public. He used to invite 50 students a month into his Innovation House, where he teaches classes like Exercising the Imagination and The Logic of Invention. He also made his male model debut at a Tokyo runway show, while he claims to have 3,350 patents (Thomas Edison only had 1,093) and that several of them are for the floppy disk, a love potion more effective than Viagra that would reverse the declining birth rate, and a new water-to-fuel technology that fights global warming. The weird thing is that he could be telling the truth.

Dr NakaMats is the son of a banker, Hajime Nakamatsu, and a teacher, Yoshino Nakamatsu, who provided him with early tutoring in mathematics and science and encouraged him to begin inventing. He studied engineering at the University of Tokyo and today has three adult children and a personal net worth of 50 million U.S. dollars

He was awarded the Ig Nobel Prize for Nutrition in 2005, after photographing and retrospectively analysing every meal he’d eaten in a project dating back nearly 40 years

According to the man himself, he came up with his first invention at the age of five and has been building gadgets ever since. His inventions range from the downright crazy to the surprisingly useful, while he’s built things like spring-loaded shoes, a self-defence wig and the particularly zany “Cerebrex” armchair.

He also claims to have invented the floppy disk for IBM, though he says that the details of his agreement with the IT giant remain confidential.

NakaMats attributes his prolific output to a routine that’s every bit as eccentric as his inventions. He wakes up at 8am every morning in his Innovation House—an elaborate, three-storey, zero-carbon-emission building at the heart of Tokyo—and eats breakfast.

His meals are a constant rotation of 55 foods

he has deemed optimal for longevity and creativity based on 35 years of documenting his own dietary habits and correlating them to inventive output (it was NakaMats’s meticulous culinary research that won him the Ig Nobel Prize for Nutrition in 2005.) He then retreats to his home office for most of the workday, often listening to Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 — the inspirational tune that he says spawned the floppy disk “Aha!” moment some sixty years ago.

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Enterpreneur

Framed photographs of the inventor with everyone from the King of Sweden to the late emperor of Japan line the walls, alongside letters from foreign dignitaries—including one on White House letterhead from George Bush, Sr., sent circa 1988, praising him for his contributions to “technology that is so fundamental to the world’ s future prosperity, health, and peace”.

NakaMats spends his evenings jotting down inventive “flashes” on his Plexiglass notepad while hovering at the bottom of his private indoor pool. He claims that the moment he’s 0.5 seconds away from death unveils a part of his brain that’s inaccessible to an oxygen-infused brain. “Hundreds of inventions outside the realm of ordinary thinking have come to me in this environment,” he says. NakaMats doesn’t fall asleep until the break of dawn. “Midnight to 4AM is the golden time for invention. While everyone is sleeping, I’m thinking.”

NakaMats didn’t become mayor of Tokyo, but he campaigned for Upper House elections

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by singing a parody version of Do-Re-Mi on street corners filled with youngsters and leaning out of his white election van, holding up his signature peace sign. He managed to rack up over 90,000 votes, landing him in the top 10 (of 20) candidates. He’s going to

NakaMats doesn’t fall asleep until the break of dawn. “Midnight to 4AM is the golden time for invention. While everyone is sleeping, I’m thinking.” continue running for office, he says, because he has important technologies that could save Japan from destruction.

In any case, he stands tall as a legend of innovation and has been recognised as such. He was awarded the Ig Nobel Prize for Nutrition in 2005, after photographing and retrospectively analysing every meal he’d eaten in a project dating back nearly 40 years. He’s also not slowing down – by the time he dies at the age of 144 (an age he steadfastly states he will reach), he expects to have patented 6,000 inventions.

PROFILE

Problems Are Challenges For Youngsters I worked in science for a long time and am fascinated by the scientific research sector, the abundance of knowledge that exists there, conceived technologies, methods, prototypes etc. That is really our wealth. That’s what the world calls ‘potential for innovation’, and in all analyses our best rating is precisely in that part. Where we lag behind the rest of the world is in the commercialisation of innovation

GORDANA DANILOVIĆ GRKOVIĆ, ACTING DIRECTOR OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY PARK BELGRADE

A

nd that’s precisely where there was, and still is, a huge challenge – how to convert that potential into development and, in parallel, give young people a chance to realise their ideas, establish their own companies and achieve success here in Serbia. The launch of the work of the Business Technology Incubator of Technical Faculties in Belgrade 11 years ago represented the first major, completely pioneering step, in a building attic that leaked, without support and a budget, for us to prove that it can also be done in our country. We learnt from the best – from Israel, from members of our diaspora who gave us their trust and launched their start-up companies here...

It was difficult to position the Incubator, to struggle for it, to find the financial resources required for infrastructure... However, it was simultaneously wonderful, because we became quickly convinced that our young people wish for and are capable of a lot. That carried us further – their energy, faith, first victories and conquering the world from Belgrade!

And thus that success became my career.

I gradually came to the realisation that this is exactly what motivates me – raising something from scratch, no matter how difficult that might

be. My father used to say that there’s nothing you can’t do – it’s just a matter of how much you are willing to devote yourself to that. I’ve never viewed my career as though viewing an ambition or a goal, my daughter was born in the ‘90s and those difficult years practically shape you, to fight moving forward with no going back. And all those years that we missed out on in terms of development due to isolation left us hungry to learn how others do it and to do it here. And so we developed the Science Technology Park Belgrade - to compensate for

We are practically obliged to do everything – not what we can, but what we must – in order for the energy of these young people to result in market success, because their success represents the success of our entire society those several decades of lagging behind the rest of the world in developing such instruments of regional development and to repay those who had the vision to start constructing this beautiful complex on Zvezdara Hill during the late 1980s. In partnership with the Government of the Republic of Serbia, the City of Belgrade and the University of Belgrade, we laid new

foundations in the support of innovation, as a way of proving that a knowledge-based economy can also grow in the conditions of our country.

This then also became a spiral of development, of struggling; a centre for bringing together young people where everything bubbles with ideas and technologies. As everything grows, so does our responsibility to introduce the necessary business knowledge and enable the right contacts. We are practically obliged to do everything – not what we can, but what we must – in order for the energy of these young people to result in market success, because their success represents the success of our entire society. I’m eternally grateful to everyone, primarily my own team, but most of all to the Swiss Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), which recognised us, believed in us and enabled us to master the necessary knowledge and skills, not only to compensate for the backlog in this domain, but also to enable us to monitor the latest trends. This learning and development process is exceptional and we want to share it with everyone who shares the same vision and goals. We now have unique knowledge and a model in our hands and can already see a strong future network of technology parks in Serbia, in order to motivate others to feel the energy of young people and innovation. This, of course, isn’t easy, but those are young people, and they see a challenge where everyone else only sees a problem... And that’s real power.

Our aim is to improve every day, to know and be able to do more than yesterday, which is also my personal motivation and there is so much more to learn and do.

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Art

Chilean Contemporary Art

ALFREDO JAAR,THE EYES OF GUTETE EMERITA

Less

ObviousLanguage 44

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When it comes to the global contemporary art scene, Chile doesn’t appear to be among its MVPs – at least not at first glance. However, for those wanting to delve beyond the mainstream and get to know the exotic outskirts of the discipline, the Chilean art story might just be among the most compelling today, with a culture that’s quite different from the one known

by Western civilisation

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rtists of Chile, which is renowned in particular for its poets, but also painters, photographers and filmmakers, all of whom are innovators in their own right, with their cutting-edge work recognised all around the world. They are currently producing some of the freshest, most innovative work on the South American contemporary art scene, a fact reflected – and further disseminated – through a string of recent, critically acclaimed shows in the U.S., Asia and Europe.

Latin American art has boomed in recent years, but although plenty of attention has been lavished on countries like Brazil, Mexico and Argentina, there’s a wealth of talent elsewhere in the region that’s only just starting to arouse international interest.

Given that Chile is a young country in geopolitical terms, it comes as no surprise that it was slightly underdeveloped at the time when the era of modern art blossomed in Europe and the U.S. Its first official collective of painters was called ‘Generation del 13’, named after the year of its inauguration (1913). The subjects that concerned these painters were close to those of American realists, though the style itself is often

described as post-romanticism – a category similar to realism but still enveloped by a touch of the personal, and ignorant to the leading trends around the rest of the world. As much as this collective was significant as a pioneering example of what a unified artistic group could be about, it could be said that one of the greatest breakthroughs came in the 1950s, when the ‘Rectángulo Group’ abandoned naturalism and started experimenting with geometric shapes.

This was the first direct take on abstraction in Chilean art. Chile then went through a series of political and societal changes that further shaped the interests and the subject matter that became central to their artists.

When you’re living in a country with a landscape as dramatic as Chile, there is no doubt that it will become one of the most inspiring subjects. The way of dealing with landscapes, on the other hand, is what changed and evolved over the course of time. The Rectangulo Group dared to treat landscapes differently and reinvent their momentous character through abstract shapes. The legacy was further embraced by younger creatives, especially the muralists who dominated the art scene during the 1960s and

ALEXANDRA MUSALEM SOLEDAD OLEO SOBRE TELA

CATALINA BAUER, MAGIC WALL

Chilean artists currently produce some of the freshest, most innovative work on the South American contemporary art scene, a fact reflected in – and further disseminated by – a string of recent critically acclaimed shows in the U.S., Asia and Europe.

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Art

Chilean Contemporary art

ROBERTO MATTA, THE EARTH IS A MAN

Given that Chile is a young country in geopolitical terms, it comes as no surprise that it was slightly underdeveloped at the time when the era of modern art blossomed in Europe and the U.S. IVAN NAVARO, OCULA

early ‘70s, include Roberto Matta, who became one of Chilean fine arts most prominent figures.

Chile faced the beginning of the most dreadful period in its history in the mid 1970s, marked by the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, which lasted from 1974 to 1990. Chileans were deprived of their rights to speak and act freely at a time when humanity as a whole was, ironically, progressing toward significant social liberation and tolerance (marked by the aftermath of the 1968 protests and the steady rise of feminism, all of which were supposed to lead towards a more equal and righteous world). Pinochet censorship naturally became the second most important impression impacting on Chilean art, but the freedom to express discontent or fear was restricted.

This is the point at which Chilean art actually became a tool for realising the life that could not be lived directly. It is no coincidence that this was also the period in which artists massively rejected painting and traditional artistic

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EXPOSICIĂ“N JOSEFINA GUILISASTI

By author

Chile went through a series of political and societal changes that further shaped the interests and the subject matter that became central to its artists. Art went through painstaking training that produced some of the most remarkable shifts in the way art is viewed in Chile

CHILE, LA HERIDA ABIERTA, COURTESY OF HERIBERTO BRAVO BURGOS

GERARDO PULIDO, BLOC

forms and embraced other genres that helped them live the art they made, even if tacitly. In an equally unexpected and brilliant turn of events, the period of great crisis in Chile gave birth to some of the most avant-garde art forms, such as performance art and installation. A secret language was developed in Chile, in order to evade censorship and mystify the explicit notion, which created perfect conditions for the evolution of conceptual art. Art had to be smarter than direct language and less obvious than a metaphor. In a way, Chilean art went through painstaking training that produced some of the most remarkable shifts in the way art was viewed in Chile. The most notable group from the ‘70s was CADA – Colectivo Acciones

LIVIAMARIN ROBAROTTA PATRICIAARMOCIDA PHCARLOBECALLI

de Arte, which consisted of both thinkers and artists. Lotty Rosenfeld and Raul Zurita were perhaps the two most inspiring members of the group, responsible for introducing the power and significance of public art and action. They were the ones who touched upon the concept of documenting art as a way of signifying that art happens, just like life does. Another type of hidden language was used by Eugenio Dittborn, who tackled the subject of isolation in Chile (also inspired by the political situation). The actual subject matter of his drawings and other types of visual artwork were not as relevant as the act that followed, which was to send his works in packages, all across the globe.

Today’s art in Chile is more frequently de-

scribed as forward-looking, more concerned with the present and even the future than the past. Still, one of the most ubiquitous remnants of the Pinochet period is a search for identity, which requires reinvention and affirmation. A search for (or a claim of ) identity was present in some form both during and after Pinochet’s regime. The position of the Chilean immigrant, as well as the image of a native Chilean as seen by the rest of the world, reappears as a theme in many Chilean artists’ works – starting with the aforementioned Dittborn, and including some of today’s contemporary artists as well, such as the renowned Ivan Navarro. The feeling of isolation and distance is preconditioned both by Chile’s geography and history.

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&FACES PLACES 12/9/2019

NALED’s Traditional September Gathering

NALED bid farewell to the summer and launched the new season of reforms with the traditional September Gathering held at the White Palace.

The reception was attended by more than 800 members and partners – state and local leaders, businesses, representatives of the international community and diplomatic community.

Guests were addressed by Vladimir Novaković, President of NALED Managing Board, Dubravka Negre, Head of EIB Western Balkans Regional Representation, H.E. Kyle Scott, U.S. Ambassador to Serbia and Ana Brnabić, Prime Minister of Serbia.

The event presented the cultural offer of five cities and municipalities participating in NALED’s annual campaign Art of Serbia, through an exhibition of artwork reproductions by our renowned painters - Uroš Predić (Pančevo), Milena Pavlović Barili (Požarevac), Sava Šumanović and Ilija Bašičević Bosilj (Šid), Milan Konjović (Sombor) and Mihailo Milovanović (Užice).

Guests also had the opportunity to taste the Selection of food, wine and other specialities with geographic origin – Flavors of Serbia.

EU COMMISSIONER VIOLETA BULC AND EU AMBASSADOR SEM FABRIZI

12/9/2019

Reception In Honour Of EU Commissioner For Transport Violeta Bulc

Head of the European delegation in Serbia, Ambassador Sem Fabrizi hosted a reception in honour of the European Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc.

EU Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc was on a visit to Belgrade to attend the opening of the Headquarters of the Transport Community Treaty Opens.

The reception was attended by the members of the diplomatic community.

EU SEM FABRIZI AND MS REBECCA FABRIZI

PRIME MINISTER ANA BRNABIC, AMBASSADOR KYLE SCOTT, DUBRAVKA NEGRE

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SEE MORE: WWW.CORDMAGAZINE.COM

13/9/2019

Operation Halyard 75th Anniversary Reception

The United States Embassy in Serbia and the Halyard Mission Foundation marked the 75th anniversary of Operation Halyard.

US Ambassador to Serbia H.E. Kyle Scott opened the exhibition entitled “The 75th Anniversary of the Halyard Rescue Mission” at the University Library Svetozar Marković in Belgrade. The exhibition includes reproductions of authentic photos and documents from World War II. On this occasion, the descendants of several rescued American airmen visited Serbia for the first time to meet descendants of the families who rescued their fathers.

To honour the legacy of these brave families, several high-ranking U.S. military officials will also attend both AMBASSADOR KYLE SCOTT events marking the 75th anniversary of Operation Halyard.

19/9/2019

SPK Working Meeting With Minister Siniša Mali

The Slovenian Business Club hosted the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Serbia Siniša Mali at the SPK working meeting.

The businessmen were first addressed by the President of the Slovenian Business Club, Danijela Fišakov, and then by the Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to Serbia H.E. Iztok Jarc.

The Slovenian Ambassador thanked the Government of the Republic of Serbia for activities aimed at enhancing co-operation between Serbia and Slovenia and congratulated on the achievement of financial stability and the proclamation of Serbia as the most attractive country for foreign investments.

AMBASSADOR OF CHINA BO CHEN

21/9/2019

MINISTER SINIŠA MALI AND SPK PRESIDENT DANIJELA FISAKOV

AMBASSADOR IZTOK JARC

National Day Of The People’s Republic Of China

Embassy of China in Serbia, headed by Ambassador H.E. Bo Chen hosted a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, held at Sava Centar Ambassador of China to Serbia H.E. Chen Bo stressed that she is firmly convinced that under the leadership of the Chinese and Serbian presidents, Xi Jinping and Aleksandar Vucic respectively, the Chinese and Serbian people will be more firmly united, help one another and achieve a comprehensive strategic partnership between Serbia and China of higher quality.

President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic spoke at the celebration, thanking China for the loyal and continued friendship.

He also listed significant Chinese investments in Serbia - Zidjin in Bor, Shangdong Linglong in Zrenjanin, Mint Automotiv in Loznica, Meit in Obrenovac, and particularly highlighted HBIS, a Chinese company that took over Smederevo’s Ironworks, thanks primarily to the President Xi Jinping.

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SEE MORE: WWW.CORDMAGAZINE.COM

&FACES PLACES 25/9/2019

Foreign Investors Council Members Cocktail

FIC members welcomed the opportunity to meet in an informal atmosphere on a cocktail sponsored by Konstruktor Konsalting on 25 September.

Around 60 members attended the first event held at the newly built Konstruktor logistical centre, especially prepared to provide good atmosphere for presentations and networking.

Guests were greeted by the FIC President Yana Mikhailova, who outlined the importance of cocktails as events dedicated to knowing each other better and building trust.

“We have much more meetings, 11 committees, we have very strong interaction with our counterparts, and we are very satisfied with the activities we are running in the framework of the WB Task Force”, she said.

Yana Mikhailova introduced new Executive Director Aleksandar Ljubic to those who hadn’t met him yet.

AMBASSADOR OF SLOVAKIA DAGMAR REPCEKOVA

26/9/2019

Constitution Day Of The Republic Of Slovakia

FIC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ALEKSANDAR LJUBIC , FIC PRESIDENT YANA MIHAILOVA, KONSTRUKTOR CEO OGNJEN KISIN AND KONSTRUKTOR CCO NEMANJA UZELAC

CORD GENERAL MANAGER MAJA VIDAKOVIC AND CORD PUBLISHER IVAN NOVCIC

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Embassy of Slovakia in Serbia hosted a reception on the occasion of the Constitution Day, the Armed Forces Day of this country.

The event also marked the end of the ambassadorial term for Ambassador of the Slovak Republic in Serbia H.E. Dagmar Repcekova.

Many members of the diplomatic community gathered at the reception to bid farewell to Ambassador Repcekova, who is leaving Belgrade at the end of the 4-year term.

My life

Jugoslav Vlahović, Artist

By Radmila Stanković

GENERAL PRACTITIONER CARTOONIST He is a cartoonist, illustrator, graphic artist, artist in the service of the press and the recipient of the greatest national and international awards. He says that humourists and cartoonists have been considered insane for centuries. Today the situation has changed, with many speakers and leaders, along with their listeners and followers, having gone insane, while cartoonists are serious, socially responsible and, of course, humorous October

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My life

Jugoslav Vlahović, Artist

T

he Vlahovićs are originally from the vicinity of Andrijevica in Montenegro. Manojlo Vlahović came to Belgrade to study. A communist and a student of the Faculty of Law, he made friends with Lola Ribar and other advanced young leftists of the time. His girlfriend, and later wife, Draginja was a girl from a well-todo urban family from Podgorica who had been sent to Belgrade by her father to study agronomy.

Their marriage of love gifted them the wealth of three children, two daughters and a son. His father, as an initial fighter in World War II, was left without a leg, but in 1951 the new government condemned him to Goli Otok [Naked Island, the Yugoslav island prison for political dissidents], although he’d had nothing to do with the Soviet Informbiro of 1948. Someone reported him under an invented charge and this invalid war veteran spent five and a half years on the island that was synonymous with the most severe punishment in the history of Yugoslavia’s existence.

Jugoslav Vlahović, 70, was just five when his mother took him to Naked Island to visit his father, and today he recalls that trip for CorD: “I was among the few in my generation who visited their father on Goli Otok. I have a clear picture in my mind of the cells I saw back then, I took my father white woollen socks and I recall well his face when I saw him. I was five and that was the first thing I remember. I never understood how they came to arrest my father, who was a faithful Communist, whose word was so obeyed and respected, and who also formed a party organisation in his neighbourhood. I never found a logical answer to that question, and I would say that my turning towards satire was in a way about escaping that harsh reality. My father, however, wasn’t burdened in life by his Naked island experience, nor did he pass on any trauma to us. On the contrary, humour was among his main preoccupations, from the books he read to the cartoons he cut out of the newspaper for me.

He would say “compared to Lola, I did well”.

And I used my sketches and caricatures to turn life into a tragicomedy.”

Prior to Yugoslav, the Vlahović family had never had any visual artists. However, in his early youth, Juga – as we all call him – discovered that he was closely related to famous Montenegrin painter Miodrag “Dado” Đurić, on his mother’s side, through granny Spasenija, whose maiden

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I was among the few in my generation who visited their fathers on Goli Otok.

I have a clear picture in my mind of the cells I saw back then... I was five and that was the first thing I remember name was Đurić. With or without genetics, he demonstrated great skills in drawing as early as the first year of primary school, copying not only letters but also illustrations from his schoolbook.

It was in sixth grade that he received the highest award of the time for a school pupil - Dragon’s Award for the Best Drawing. It was presented to him by Mira Alečković, a writer he already knew about from his school textbook. And so everything progressed with his drawing and artistic creations during his school years, with the certainty that art would be his future: “In my street lived Vladimir Veličković, a successful painter who’d completed architecture studies. I thought I would also be able to do that

– to be a painter and to complete architecture. I enrolled in architecture studies in 1968, completed the first year and enrolled in the second. However, other interests also began emerging; I founded an ensemble, went to rehearsals for Hair, and abandoned college. I wasn’t sorry, because in my first year of architecture studies I’d learnt important things related to drawing, I became proficient at handling accessories and drawing tools, because there were no computers back then. This was very useful to me later, when I was doing graphic design, trademarks. I also had great professors.”The Faculty of Applied Arts, where he subsequently completed his studies, was to become his future.

After graduating from high school, majoring in natural mathematics, Juga turned to focus fully on art. Music, his orchestra, artistic happenings and auditions for Hair: “From the audition for the musical Hair to the premiere performance in May 1969, eight months passed. It was very serious work. We worked every day, mostly at night, some participants in this show left, while others came, and we all enjoyed it because it was something completely new in our lives. I found all this interesting because I entered Atelje 212 Theatre from the inside; I would sit at the buffet and listen to Zoran Radmilović and Mihiz, who revealed a new world to me. How would I have become part of that famous Atelje if it wasn’t for Hair? When would I listen to these

By Radmila Stanković

If a caricature is good, it can pass in the New York Times just as it can in NIN, and it reaches readers across the four corners of the world

“HAIR” A212, 1969

outbursts of spirit and lucidity from the people who created the atmosphere out of everything that was significant in the culture of those years? I also watched BITEF [Belgrade international theatre festival], my horizons broadened and as the years passed I became ever more aware of the importance of that experience that I’d had while working on and performing in Hair. The 50th anniversary of that premiere was commemorated recently, and it was marked at Atelje 212 with an interesting gathering that I attended. All the people who contributed to making that show world-famous were mentioned, but I think that – apart from Mira Trailović, Zoran Ratković, Jovan Ćirilov, Muharem Pervić et al – not enough mentioned is made of the role of Saša Radojčić, jazz pianist, composer and arranger, without whom the music of Hair woldn’t have sounded like it did, nor would those songs have been performed so professionally.”

Jugoslav performed in Hair as a member of the tribe. He sang and had a striking look with his long hair and beard. Many people who knew him were shocked to see him naked on stage. They didn’t know that he’d personally applied to be on the adamite team. This was another expression of his free spirit. When he found himself watching the original American version of Hair on Broadway in 1971, his heart began to flutter, he was able to find a connection, and they briefly allowed him go on stage to be included among the cast of the

most celebrated version of Hair on the planet.

Speaking about the experience later, he said: “After the show, in the women’s dressing room, I met a striking, handsome black lady. I introduced myself: ‘I’m Juga from Yugoslavia’, she replied, thinking I was kidding, ‘Then I’m Denna from Denmark’. I told her that I was a painter and we also spoke about that. However, a friend of hers dragged her away from me, joking that - as a communist - I would take her away to Cuba forever. That ended our acquaintance, and it was only much later I realised that that had been none other than Donna Summer.”

It was actually while he was having rehearsals for Belgrade’s Hair, in 1968, that this rebellious rocker founded the first Yugoslav independent acoustic group, which was called Porodična manufaktura crnog hleba [The Family Factory of Black Bread]. Apart from Juga, the members included his first cousins Maja de Rado and Slobodan Saša, along with a few friends. They performed more than 20 concerts at the Theatre in the Basement.

He also had the performance team EKIPA A3 (Team for action and anonymous attraction) and remains in popular memory for their ‘Absolute Happening’, performed in front of 5,000 people in Belgrade’s Knez Mihailova Street on the occasion of the Bitef festival, as well as their happenings performed at the Student Culture Centre - SKC and in the cities of the former Yugoslavia (Autobus

[Bus], Crni reflektor [Black Spotlight], Dejstvo pozorišnog kostima [Effect of Theatrical Costume] etc.). All of that was new and interesting during those years of the late 1960s and early ‘70s. Alongside all of that, Jugoslav was a good student, who found the time for everything and was very organised, easily managing to perform in Hair during the evenings and to make it to classes in the mornings: “The concept of our happenings was joking around, but we were a big attraction and proved very enticing to the young people of that time who gathered at the popular Student Culture Centre.

There would be talk around Belgrade for days when we would gather in a wooden red bus and walk it through the city, announcing an exhibition at SKC. We were received wonderfully in Zagreb, Skopje, East Berlin, while we were even in Edinburgh, but that wasn’t sufficiently artistically critiqued or recorded here. Some important arbitrators of the time simply silenced us, while abroad we were seriously lauded by other important arbitrators.

My musical, theatrical and performance career lasted for seven years, and then – after returning from national service in the Yugoslav People’s Army – I devoted myself completely to illustration, caricature and everything for which I’d studied.”

He experienced success in this field already as a student. He received his first prize at the first competition organised by the military, at Air Force House in Zemun. The president of the jury was famous cartoonist Milorad Dobrić. When some important army general in attendance saw the long-haired Juga receiving the award, he turned to ask Dobrić: “Well, did you really have to reward this hairy man?” To which Dobrić responded: “We had to! He submitted seven caricatures, all better than the best.”

Juga recounts an interesting story from which we can easily extract the point about how he

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My life

Jugoslav Vlahović, Artist

would most simply describe himself, with his desires, working habits and organisation of life: “One professor, a researcher at Stanford University (U.S.), did an experiment with the youngest schoolchildren. He poured beautiful chocolates onto the desk and said that each child could take one chocolate each during the next 15 minutes, when he would be absent. And that every child that didn’t take a chocolate during those 15 minutes would be given two upon his return.

Most of the kids took their chocolate, with only a few waiting to get two. All of those children were later followed during the course of their schooling, studies and life, and it turned out that the kids who got two candies were more successful in their jobs, far more successful than those impatient kids who grabbed one immediately. I’d say that I would be among those kids who waited for two chocolates.”

Last year saw Istanbul host the 35th edition of the world’s largest contest in caricature drawing, organised by the Aydin Doğan Foundation from Istanbul. The prize for this contest is actually a kind of Oscar for Caricature. After 10 rounds of voting on 2,450 works by 750 artists whose signatures were covered, the international jury declared Yugoslav Vlahović the winner. Speaking on that occasion, he said: “For centuries, humorists and cartoonists have been considered insane. Today the situation has changed, with many speakers and leaders, along with their listeners and followers, having gone insane, while cartoonists are serious, socially responsible and, of course, humorous”.

This award could be said to represent the crowning glory of his success to date, but CorD’s interlocutor also recalls his first special award: “I received the former Yugoslavia’s top recognition, the Pjer Award, in 1977. I was 28 years old.

That drawing was a graphic work that I later, along with some others, turned into a graphic map. It’s difficult to imagine today what caricatures meant in Yugoslavia at the time, how they resounded.

Mladina, which was then a very influential Slovenian weekly, published a two-page interview with me, under the headline “Prišel je Jugoslav!”, which translates as “Jugoslav has come!” So short, yet so conclusive. I had then just arrived at NIN, and it was really a great honour for me, but also for NIN, to receive such recognition. And NIN was then sold all over Yugoslavia, enjoying a huge reputation and massive circulation figures.”

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JUGOSLAV, JAKŠA WITH NATAŠA, MARIJA AND MARTA VLAHOVIĆ, XI 2013

Someone once complained to me that I never drew Milošević, which isn’t true, but that kind of caricature didn’t suit me. That’s not my style Jugoslav remains at NIN to this day. He has become a trademark of this weekly that remains equally as respected. Media was very important for him and he always knew the power of the press. There is a story about him and his colleagues from Team A3 while they were visiting Zagreb. They immediately went to a gallery, while Juga immediately when to a newspaper office – because he knew that if it wasn’t recorded in the newspaper then nobody would know that they’d even come to Zagreb... Absolutely no one.

Jugoslav has had a passionate love of newspapers

throughout his life that endures to this day. He’s travelled extensively around the world and toured the newsrooms of major publications wherever that’s been possible. He has, of course, visited The New York Times, The Times of London, Italy’s La Republica, Vienna’s Wiener Zeitung... All of these newspapers have published his caricatures.

In addition to works featured in several books he authored himself, Vlahović has published several thousand caricatures and illustrations in foreign and domestic magazines. He has illustrated and graphically prepared books by other authors, covers of the records and albums of pop and rock bands, calendars, posters for various artistic events, postage stamps and other graphical materials: “If a caricature is good, it can pass in the New York Times just as it can in NIN, and it reaches readers across the four corners of the world. It was most important for me for my caricatures to be clear and simple, not to complicate; for me to have a clear idea that everyone would recognise.

Satirical graphics are widely recognised around the world; Picasso inaugurated those satirical graphics as a new art back in 1971, as a movement that

By Radmila Stanković

continues today. This form of intelligent, humorous drawing then began appearing in the press and in books. And most of these great cartoon satirists are, as a rule, tragicomic, because their caricatures are actually tragicomic. This was particularly evident in Eastern Europe, probably because of the system that Czechs, Poles and other nations lived under during the time of socialism. They developed this metaphorical expression because they weren’t allowed to express themselves directly, unlike their counterparts in societies that had a long democratic tradition. We were also a revelation for the New York Times with the caricatures we brought from here, from Yugoslavia. That was initially Zoran Jovanović, and after him I came, then Pertčić and Mirko Ilić.”

During his time lecturing at the Faculty of Applied Arts, Vlahović was particularly interested in developing his students’ imagination and creativity, because imagination and thoughtfulness are the most important factors for cartoonists and illustrators. For most, that came down to a beautiful but literal illustrations: “I was able from the very beginning to impose my pointed style, like many other caricaturists who built success on their recognisability. My style is to visually define phenomena and to be more concerned with deviations from life, and not with specific people. Someone once complained to me that I never drew Milošević, which isn’t true, but that kind of caricature didn’t suit me. That’s not my style. I’m not a specialist in daily political caricatures, I’m more of a general practitioner cartoonist. And I’m not a typical caricaturist either; I’d say I’m more of a humorous illustrator and graphic designer.”

When Montenegro’s DPS party launched its first election campaign in 1990, when all the leaders were young and unified, Milo Đukanović, Sveto Marović and Momir Bulatović requested that Yugoslav Vlahović create their logo and everything related to their promotional material: “I did that successfully together with Tomislav Peternek, so we did another campaign together, for the Vojvodina socialists. I received lots of offers after that; I was called by some politicians who are no longer on the scene today, but I no longer wanted to do that. Even Arkan [Serbian paramilitary leader Željko Ražnatović]called me, but I went to America at that time, so luckily I had a good excuse to turn him down. I later heard from those who worked for him that he didn’t

CRAZY SPEAKER

I’m not a specialist in daily political caricatures, I’m more of a general practitioner cartoonist.

And I’m not a typical caricaturist either; I’d say I’m more of a humorous illustrator and graphic designer even pay them. The stench of war was in the air and I withdrew from that completely.”

When it comes to working relationships, he has maintained one friendship from the beginning to the present day, and that relates to the album and record covers of rock band Riblja Čorba [Fish Stew]. Juga and Bora Đorđević, the founder of Riblja Čorba, met at Atelje 212: “I performed in Hair and Bora was in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. He later called me to join the group he was then forming, Suncokret [Sunflower]. I saw that it would succeed. I was at the first rehearsals, where they played KaraMustafa for me. I didn’t like that folk repertoire, because I was musically more avant-garde. However, I still had a dilemma about whether or not to accept,

but an invitation arrived for my national service in the army and that solved my problem. When Bora recorded Riblja Čorba’s first single in 1978 Lutka sa naslovne strane [Cover Page Doll] - we together devised what would go on the cover; that was a real interaction. And his idea was for that to be a fish bone. I made the sign and the entire logo, and that’s how this distinctive symbol of the Riblja Čorba was born, and it has remained as their most enduring symbol. Those are these successful things, such as Bijelo dugme [rock band White Button] which already had its own button as a symbol that left an enduring mark. I’ve always said how important that visual recognisability is, and it’s something not many have in the music industry. My 25th cover for Riblja Čorba, which I’m currently working on, will be released soon, though I’ve worked on the last dozen or so with my son Jakša, because his help is essential and valuable to me in this age of computers.”

The music world doesn’t have many such enduring collaborations as the one between Bora and Juga. Neil Young had his own designer Gary Burden, who died last year after doing 40 covers for Young. Famous illustrator Roger Dean and company reached a total of 30 for the group YES, but in Juga’s case he is the only author, with no photographer or anyone else involved in the work except him, so we could say that he’s a one-man show... with the exception of Jakša’s assistance, of course. And, interestingly, Jakša actually completed his studies at the same college where his father lectures, but he was in the class of Rastko Ćirić and not Juga. Jakša works for Post Serbia as a designer, designing stamps and other items, and differs greatly from his father.

The recent celebration commemorating the 50th anniversary of the first performance of Hair at Atelje 212 included a panel discussion at which Juga also spoke. This culminated with a surprise for the packed hall in the theatre’s basement.

Yuga invited his family members to the front and together they played and sang several songs from Hair. The orchestra was renamed for this occasion as The Family Factory of Wholemeal Bread. On the stage were his son and daughter, Jakša and Marta, Marta’s husband Tiho, Jakša’s wife Marija, their friend and Juga’s student, graphic artist Vlada Lalić, and Nada Simić from the original cast of Hair, who had just arrived from Australia, where she lives. This was another unique contribution of Yugoslav Vlahović to the memory of Hair.

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CHILL OUT NETHERLANDS

KLM Centennial Run Towards 100th Anniversary Runners have completed a course of five or ten kilometres in the woodlands of the Amsterdamse Bos, ending at the KLM Head Office in Amstelveen, with more than 1,500 KLM employees and around 1,000 of their local and international aviation colleagues taking part in the run.

KLM President & CEO Pieter Elbers, himself a great fan of running, also took part in the event, proudly wearing No. 100. He completed the run wearing his special-edition ASICS KLM100 running shoes, which were launched recently.

“It was great to see so many colleagues taking part in the run. We’re doing whatever we can to make KLM a fit and healthy company. That’s good for our staff as well as our customers.

Exercise keeps you fit, energetic and happy. If you feel good about yourself, you can get the best out of yourself, and offer your customers the best service every day,” said Elbers.

AUSTRIA

Orchestra Performs Symphony With A Twist Can artificial intelligence create symphonies to match one of the greats of classical music? That was the question posed by one unusual orchestra performance in the Austrian city of Linz on 6th September, in which a performance of Gustav Mahler’s unfinished Symphony No.10 was immediately followed by six minutes of “Mahleresque” music written by software.

The project’s creator says that the two are clearly distinguishable, but not everyone in the audience agreed.

The performance was part of Linz’s Ars Electronica Festival, which aims to highlight connections between science, art and technology.

The brains behind the pioneering performance was AI researcher and composer Ali Nikrang, who works at the Ars Electronica Futurelab research centre, which is affiliated with the festival.

JAPAN

Pedal-Powered Roller Coaster Most roller coasters rely on speed, tight turns and steep slopes to get riders’ adrenaline levels up, but SkyCycle – a pedal-powered coaster ride in the Japanese city of Okayama – is proof that roller coasters can be even more terrifying at low speeds. Located on a greenery-covered hill at the Washuzan Highland amusement park in Okayama, SkyCycle is probably the world’s slowest roller coaster ride. That’s because it’s pedal-power ensures it only goes as fast as the rider can pedal. It doesn’t have any steep slopes or spectacular drops either, but still manages to get your heart racing by constantly conveying an uneasy sense of danger and uncertainty. It may look like a quaint ride for people who are too scared to go on conventional roller coasters, but once you get on one of those flimsy carts and realise there’s nothing but a loose safety belt keeping you from falling to your doom, your pulse goes up instantly.

SERBIA

Chinese Police Officers Patrol In Belgrade Belgrade’s main pedestrian street draws large numbers of foreign tourists every summer. This year, for the first time, foreign police officers can also be seen strolling along it. To help cope with a growing number of Chinese tourists and workers, the Serbian police have called in reinforcements from China.

Two Serbian and two Chinese police officers patrol tourist landmarks in Belgrade - the pedestrian street, Knez Mihajlova, and Kalemegdan fortress - as well as the Nikola Tesla airport and a Chinese shopping mall on the outskirts of the city.

The initiative follows a memorandum of understanding between the Chinese and Serbian interior ministers signed in May that also allows for joint exercises of special police units and cooperation in fighting cyber crime. Source Reuters

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FRANCE

Rooster Wins Legal Battle With Neighbours Call it a cock-a-doodle-due-process, but Maurice the Rooster has been vindicated after being dragged into a French court over complaints that his early-morning crowing was a nuisance. A French judge ruled that the bird has every right to follow his natural instincts and crow his little tail off.

The decision, handed down this week, ends what had been a lengthy and pun-filled struggle between Maurice’s owner and her neighbours on Île d’Oléron, an island in western France. Residents of the area asserted for two years that Corrine Fesseau was liable for the public disturbance caused by her rooster. A couple who had a second home on the island complained that Maurice—who had hatched in July 2017—would rise at 6:30am each morning to crow. They insisted that Fesseau needed to quell the racket by relocating the bird or having him be “made to shut up”.

GERMANY

Nivea Launches Brand For Tattooed Skin German consumer goods firm Beiersdorf is launching its first new brand for more than 30 years - a line of body creams specially for tattooed skin - as it seeks to tap into the growing popularity of skin art and appeal to a younger audience.

Beiersdorf said the “Skin Stories” line includes a repair balm for new tattoos, sun protection in a stick and a daily body lotion. The launch comes as mass-market labels like Nivea are losing ground to small, disruptive brands, especially among younger consumers who favour more natural ingredients and new labels. Beiersdorf said almost one in five Germans now has a tattoo, with the proportion already close to half among women aged between 25 and 34, and still on the rise.

PERU

Wooden Laptop Designed To Last Forever In an age in which tech companies are encouraging consumers to constantly buy newer, moreexpensive gadgets, one Peruvian company has just a launched a sustainable wooden laptop that’s designed to last at least 10 to 15 years.

In an attempt to bring new and affordable technology to the most remote areas of Peru, the Carrascos —a family of computer specialists and

U.S.A.

Passengers Surprised By Mini Horse Service Animal On Flight A miniature horse that caught an American Airlines flight with its owner is going viral after surprised fellow passengers shared their amusement on social media. Evan Nowak recorded video aboard the flight from Chicago to Omaha showing the mini horse calmly sitting near the front of the plane.

The horse, named Flirty, is a service animal belonging to passenger Abrea Hensley, who chronicles the equine’s adventures on her Instagram page “Flirty the Mini Service Horse.”

American Airlines’ regulations stipulate that mini horses are among the animals allowed on flights, provided they are service animals.

Hensley said Flirty helps her with medical alerts and mobility issues.

marketing experts – created the Wawalaptop, an SBC (Single Board Computer) with a wooden casing that can easily be taken apart for repairs and upgrading. The 0.1-inch (25.65-centimetre) laptop is lightweight, ultra-portable and very affordable. Powered by the free Linux operating system, a Wawalaptop costs 799 Peruvian Sol ($235), and an upgrade, which basically means a better circuit board, can be bought for about $35 on the free market.

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ACNE STUDIOS single-breasted coat €748

Edgy Autumn It could be said that the traditional coat has its main moment in autumn. Of all the fashion classics, the humble coat remains a firm favourite and a steady companion in wardrobes everywhere, reappearing season after season.

It's no wonder, then, that when summer starts turning to winter and winter to summer, we stumble back to our faithful old trench coat. The perfect autumn coat is one that you can throw on in all weather, light enough to peel off on warm days and sturdy enough to help you survive even the most unpredictable of autumn showers.

The coat has always been a fashion trend, if you can call it that – a mainstay of fashion over the past 100 years.

JOSEPH hooded wool midi coat €906 58

October

MISSONI knitted oversized coat €4,060

HARRIS WHARF LONDON single breasted coat €340 PINKO bouclé coat €445

MARY KATRANTZOU Thalia ombre faux fur coat €2,480

GIADA BENINCASA mohair coat €1,646

MISSONI hooded duffle coat €2,600 SIES MARJAN Blaine reflective coat €2,475

TAGLIATORE double breasted coat €536 THOM BROWNE tie inserts single breasted coat €12,398

A.P.C. New England checked raincoat €348

HEVO Savelle coat €498

HARRIS WHARF LONDON hooded parka coat €520

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Culture

calendar

Exhibition “Luigi Di Saro. Theater in the form of photography” 3-22 – Italian Institute of Culture

This year, the Italian Institute of Culture in Belgrade is participating in the Contemporary Art Day, an initiative to promote the world of contemporary art organized by the Association of Italian Museums of Contemporary Art (AMACI) and coordinated by the General Directorate of Contemporary Art and Architecture and Urban Peripherals of the Italian Ministry of Culture (MiBAC).

On this occasion, the Italian Institute of Culture in Belgrade presents the exhibition “Luigi Di Saro. Theater in the form of photography” dedicated to Luigi Di Saro, an artist who created in the 1960s and 1970s, in a period that is now under the watchful eye of criticism for the innovations that were then introduced into contemporary art. The exhibition is being organized on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the artist’s death.

The official opening of the exhibition at the Italian Institute of Culture in Belgrade is scheduled for October 3, 2019 at 6:30 pm, and the exhibition will be open to visitors until October 22.

The opening will be attended by Alessandra Atti di Sarro of the Center Di Saro, and will be preceded by a presentation of the book “That Night in Rome” (Quella notte a Roma) by journalist and writer Carla Cucchiarelli. It is a biography of a prematurely deceased artist who was killed in 1979 at the age of 37 in a fatal misunderstanding in the tense climate of that period.

Balkan Cheese Festival October

35th Belgrade Jazz Festival

22-27 – Belgrade Youth Centre / Kombank Hall Belgrade Youth Center presents the 35th Belgrade Jazz Festival, under the slogan “JAZZ CELEBRATION”.

Jubilee festivals are an opportunity to look back on the path that has led us to the present - in this case, to the point where Belgrade and Serbia are once again proud of a major international jazz event, popular with audiences of all generations - the Belgrade Jazz Festival.

Representing the tradition of openness of our environment to all universally important artistic tendencies, the festival was founded in 1971 as a link in connecting Yugoslavia with the world. Those first years were spectacular in terms of the number and importance of the authors and musicians who encountered it, and over time the expectations of the audience grew, putting the organizers at the challenge of responding appropriately.

During its 20 years of existence in the “first life”, the festival has become an institution for itself, a beacon of culture of the former state.

The main stars of this the 35th Belgrade Jazz Festival will be performing at the Kombank Hall, a hall that is tied to the history of this event, so with the scheduled three concert days in that space we will symbolically recall numerous concerts from long history. There, we’ll have a chance to see some of the absolute jazz legends: October 23, bass guitarist Stanley Clarke with a band featuring brilliant young talent, and October 24, Dianne Reeves, a great jazz diva and one of the three most important singers of today. The last festival night, October 27, is reserved for music by giants who have laid the groundwork for contemporary jazz tendencies.

Branko Milisković Show

12-13 - Belgrade Youth Center The Balkan Cheese Festival, the tenth exhibition of Balkan indigenous cheeses, will be held over the weekend of October 12 and 13 at the Belgrade Youth Center, a partner of the event.

Visitors will be able to see rare and unusual types of more than a hundred cheeses from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and France, to enjoy the pairing of cheeses with premium wines and delicacies, as well as delicacies with cheese.

A special place in honor of the jubilee of the festival will be taken by Pirot cheese, and teachers and students of Dr Obren Pejic High School of Pirot from Pirot will present during the two days the very act of making young cheese.

The opening hours of the Balkan Cheese Festival will be from 10am to 8pm on Saturday and Sunday. The opening ceremony is Saturday at 11 p.m. One-day ticket costs 250 dinars (includes cheese and delicatessen tasting at all exhibitors’ stands). Tickets will be available at the Belgrade Youth Center ballot box. The awards ceremony for the best cheeses by audience votes, the most beautiful stand and the most beautiful cheese plate will be held on Sunday, October 13 at 7 pm.

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10, 15 – Belgrade Youth Center

Serbian performance artist, Branko Miliskovic, announces two shows, The Song from the Grave [STABAT MATER] on October 10, 2019 at Cinema Balkan as part of the exhibition STAYING HERE WITH YOU - moving, curated by Esther Jungo and Ksenija Samardzija.

On October 15, 2019, 19:00, Miliskovic will open his second solo exhibition entitled ATTENTION! HERE I AM, at the Belgrade Youth Center.

Entrance free.

SEE MORE: WWW.CORDMAGAZINE.COM

The Day of the Dead 31 – 19.00

Cinéclub

2 – Institut français – 18.00

Cinéclub invites you to the French Institute this spring, with an array new films. Film gatherings are held from 6pm to 8pm, in the mediateque of the French Institute.

Screenings are free of charge and are led by a French Institute professor, with whom guests will be able to share impressions of the film whilst also practising their language skills.

October screening: Croc-Blanc (2018, 1h 27min)

Throughout Latin America the spirits of the departed are remembered on El Dia Del Los Muertos, or the “Day of the Dead” . The altar of the dead is one of the most important traditions in Mexico. It is a mixture of Catholic-Spanish beliefs and pre-Hispanic traditions on the cult of the dead. Day of the Dead, or Altar of the Dead, is dedicated to the memory of the dear deceased.

Acknowledge Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, this Mexican holiday gathers friends and families around an altar, and they pray for the loved ones who have died.

The Day of the Dead is celebrated the 31st October, the 1st and 2nd November, and coincides with All Saints’ Day of the Roman Catholic calendar. Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars called ofrendas, honoring the deceased using calaveras, candles, marigolds flowers, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed.

The installation of the Altar of the Dead arrives Instituto Cervantes, Knez Mihailova by the Embassy of Mexico in Serbia.

RECOMMENDS

WALK THROUGH WALLS: A MEMOIR

Marina Abramovic 1753rsd This memoir spans Marina Abramovic’s five decade career, and tells a life story that is almost as exhilarating and extraordinary as her groundbreaking performance art. Taking us from her early life in communist ex-Yugoslavia, to her time as a young art student in Belgrade in the 1970s, where she first made her mark with a series of pieces that used the body as a canvas, the book also describes her relationship with the West German performance artist named Ulay who was her lover and sole collaborator for 12 years.

Abramovic has collaborated with stars from Lady Gaga to Jay-Z, James Franco and Willem Dafoe.

Best known for her recent pieces ‘The Artist is Present’ and ‘512 Hours’, this book is a fascinating insight into the life of one of the most important artists working today, and the woman who has been described as ‘the grandmother of performance art’.

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AFTER WORK 05 SSCC EXPERT MEETING SEP ON DUAL EDUCATION Dual education is one of the key factors for the economic success and competitiveness of Switzerland, and the focus of this meeting was on the private sector’s role in the dual education system.

In his opening speech, Aleksandar Marjanović, General Manager of Zühlke Engineering d.o.o. welcomed guests and presented the activities of the company.

Swiss-Serbian Chamber of Commerce - SSCC President, Majo Micovic, together with the guests of honour, Dr Gabrijela Grujic, Assistant Minister, Ministry for Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, and Mirjana Kovačević, Director at Education Division, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia CCIS, conducted the meeting.

11 SEP CELEBRATION OF ITEC DAY The Embassy of India in Belgrade celebrated Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Day on 11 September 2019.

Besides dignitaries from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, NALED and other government officials, a large number of ITEC alumni participated in the event.

In his inaugural address at the celebration, Ambassador of India, H.E. Subrata Bhattacharjee gave an overview of the ITEC programme which covers over 300 training courses of different duration in premier training institutes of India to over 160 friendly foreign countries since 1964.

MAJO MICOVIC, SSCC PRESIDENT

10 CONFINDUSTRIA SEP WELCOME BACK COCKTAIL Confindustria Serbia hosted a Welcome Back Cocktail Party at the Crystal Hotel in Belgrade.

The event aimed to bring Confindustria’s members, friends and partners together in a pleasant atmosphere after the summer break, in the presence of Ambassador of Italy to Belgrade, H.E. Carlo Lo Cascio.

In addition to the members of Confindustria Serbia, among the numerous guests, there were also representatives of international and Serbian institutions, as well as representatives of Serbian companies.

12 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S CLUB SEP BELGRADE COFFEE MORNING

AMBASSADOR OF ITALY CARLO LO CASCIO

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The International Women’s Club Belgrade (IWC) held its first monthly Coffee Morning after the Summer break, at OfficeMe splav/boat on the Sava River near the Museum of Contemporary Art. More than 50 people attended, a mix of existing club members plus a large group of guests, a number of them from the diplomatic community recently arrived in Belgrade.

IWC President Milica Lundin made announcements and spoke about upcoming club activities.

The weather was great, allowing ladies to enjoy the lovely outdoor terrace with a spectacular view of Kalemagdan fort.

SEE MORE: WWW.CORDMAGAZINE.COM

12 U.S. EMBASSY SEP COMMEMORATES SEPTEMBER 11 On Wednesday, September 11, Ambassador Kyle Scott joined the members of the United States Embassy community and Serbian partners and friends to commemorate the 18th anniversary of the September 11th tragedy.

After the 2001 attacks, many Americans responded by looking for a meaningful way to contribute to their community, and a huge number did so by donating blood.

As blood banks in Serbia historically hold low reserves after the summer months, Embassy of the United States to Serbia donate blood to the community in Belgrade.

For the ninth year in a row, the Embassy is partnering with the Serbian Red Cross to host a blood drive to honour those who died.

US AMBASSADOR KYLE SCOTT (CENTRE)

13 FRENCH SERBIAN CHAMBER OF SEP COMMERCE SEPTEMBER GATHERING French Serbian Chamber of Commerce - CCIFS organised a September gathering of members and partners at its premises in the heart of Belgrade.

The French Serbian Chamber of Commerce - CCIFS organised an informal gathering for its members and partners at its premises in Svetogorska street.

The event was an opportunity for members to gather after the summer break and to get more information about the Chamber’s fall program of activities.

On this occasion, President of the Chamber Dragoljub Damljanovic welcomed guests, including a large number of new members, and especially welcomed to Serbia Fabris Blaskes, the new Head of the Economics Department of the French Embassy in Serbia AMBASSADOR NIKOLAUS LUTTEROTTI

12 EMBASSY OF AUSTRIA HOSTS SERIES SEP OF LECTURES ARCHEOLOGY OF THE MODERN ERA Embassy of Austria in Serbia hosted a series of lectures titled “Archeology of the Modern Era”.

The first out of six lectures of this series “The Beginning of History – The Balkans as a Pre-Historic Bridge Between Asia Minor and Europe”, was held at the Austrian Embassy on 12th September.

Ambassador of Austria to Serbia H.E. Nikolaus Lutterotti opened the first lecture, with speakers Prof. Dr Barbara Horejs, Director of OREA/ Institute for Oriental and European Archeology, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Head of the excavation in “Svinjarička Čuka”, Lebane and Prof. Sofija Stefanović Biosense institute, University of Novi Sad/Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade.

SANJA IVANIC AND DRAGOLJUB DAMLJANOVIC

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AFTER WORK 18 BELGIAN SERBIAN BUSINESS SEP ASSOCIATION MEMBERS EVENING After the summer break, the Belgian-Serbian Business Association (BSBA) held another informal Annual Members and Friends Evening.

The event was held at the IN Hotel, Lounge Bar INcognito. The BSBA President Hugo van Veghel held a welcome speech and thanked members and associates for another year of cooperation and contribution to the work of the Association.

He announced the launch of the new BSBA website and 2020 as the year of marking 10 years of existence and operations of the BSBA in Serbia.

H.E. Koenraad Adam, Ambassador of Belgium to Serbia also addressed the guests and wished the old and new members and friends successful networking.

NIK ADY ARMAN, CHARGÉ D’AFFAIRES OF THE MALAYSIAN EMBASSY, WITH WIFE (CENTRE) AND MEMBERS OF THE EMBASSY

19 FASCINATING MALAYSIA 2019: SEP DISCOVERING CULTURES The Embassy of Malaysia in Belgrade organised the Fascinating Malaysia 2019: Discovering Cultures, an evening promoting the Malaysian culture through its cuisine and art on 19 September 2019 at the Beogradski Market in Belgrade.

The event, a collaboration between the Embassy of Malaysia in Belgrade and the Beogradski Market, saw many visitors enjoying some of Malaysia’s popular dishes while listening to the tunes of modern Malaysian music playing in the background.

Visitors also had the chance to view an exhibition of Malaysian-themed naïve paintings, display of traditional Malaysian costumes and watched the on-going projection of a Malaysian movie. The live performances of traditional Malaysian dances by the Embassy’s Cultural Troupe Chenderawasih also brought life to the visitors’ overall experience of Malaysia and its rich and diverse culture.

BSBA PRESIDENT HUGO VAN VEGHEL AND AMBASSADOR KOENRAAD ADAM

19 EFSE MEETING 2019 - SUPPORT SEP FOR SMES IN SEE REGION Nearly 300 representatives of international and regional financial institutions, investors, central banks, and major European donors have gathered in Belgrade, Serbia, today for the biannual conference of the European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE).

Under the banner of “Cultivating Entrepreneurship”, the EFSE Meeting 2019 addresses how the financial ecosystem can advance and innovate to close gaps in financial inclusion and expand access to crucial resources for micro and small enterprises.

CHRISTOPH TISKENS, EFSE BOARD CHAIRPERSON AND KFW’S DIRECTOR FOR SE EUROPE AND TURKEY

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SEE MORE: WWW.CORDMAGAZINE.COM

19 EMBASSY OF INDONESIA HOST BATIK FASHION SHOW SEP Indonesian Embassy in Belgrade held an exclusive event “Indonesian Batik Fashion Show” which was attended by 200 guests.

Indonesia Batik Fashion Show with the Batik Bazaar was carried out in commemoration of the 65th anniversary of bilateral relations between Indonesia and Serbia.

H.E. Mochammad Chandra Widya, Ambassador of Indonesia to Serbia greeted guests and opened the Batik Fashion Show. He said that Batik fashion could hopefully become one of the fashion choices and inspirations for Serbian women.

Complementing the fashion show, the Indonesian Embassy in Belgrade presented a traditional dance performed by the troupe Bidadari.

After the fashion show, guests enjoyed the Batik Bazaar and traditional Indonesian snacks.

AMBASSADOR OF INDONESIA MOCHAMMAD CHANDRA WIDYA

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AFTER WORK

SEE MORE: WWW.CORDMAGAZINE.COM

22 “PSYCHOANALYST MEETS MARINA SEP ABRAMOVIC” BOOK PROMOTION Photo: JBAS

On the occasion of the launch of the Serbian translation of the book “Psychoanalyst meets Marina Abramovic” by Jeannette Fischer, the Ambassador of Switzerland to Serbia H.E. Philippe Guex hosted a reception at the Swiss Residence.

The event was attended by Marina Abramovic, who is visiting Belgrade for the opening of her acclaimed exhibition “The Cleaner”.

23-24 THE THIRD KAIZEN™

SEP CONGRESS IN SERBIA

SWISS AMBASSADOR PHILIPPE GUEX , VLADISLAV BAJAC AND MARINA ABRAMOVIC

On 23rd and 24th September 2019, the third KAIZEN™ congress in Serbia co-organization by Japanese Business Alliance and its member Kaizen Institute Serbia took place.

The first day of the congress, dedicated to the panel discussions, was opened by Tetsuya Tsubota, the first counsellor at the Embassy of Japan, Goran Pekez, JBAS President and Bojan Scepanovic, Director of Kaizen Institute Serbia.

More than 200 participants attended the conference day of the congress, where they had the opportunity to hear more about whether or not KAIZEN™ could be implemented in Serbian companies, what are the differences and similarities in Japanese and Serbian business culture, whether KAIZEN™ could be the solution to Serbia’s industrialization, what does KAIZEN™ implementation in international companies look like and what are the tools used in KAIZEN™ implementation.

JBAS Executive Director, Danijela Cabarkapa and President Goran Pekez, have also moderated two of the panels during the first day of the congress.

24 4TH ISRAELI-SERBIAN BUSINESS SEP COMMUNITY NETWORKING Embassy of Israel in Serbia just before the Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, organised an Israeli-Serbian business community networking cocktail.

As this year’s New Year is on 29th September, Ambassador of Israel to Serbia H.E. Alona Fisher-Kamm hosted a 4th edition of the business networking event.

The event held at the ambassadorial residence gathered many members of the business associations, both local and international.

REGINA DE DOMINICS, ANDREA ORIZIO, AMBASSADOR ALONA FISHER-KAMM

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TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS

INTERVIEW

ZORANA MIHAJLOVIĆ PH.D., SERBIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Striding Towards Realising Our Vision We have succeeded in changing the picture of infrastructure in the minds of citizens, who can today rest assured that Serbia can complete the largest and most complex projects. With such a foundation, we are this year embarking on a new investment cycle, which will help us move closer to our vision of Serbia becoming a transport hub in this part of Europe in all modes of transport

S

erbia has exerted a lot of effort in order to connect with the region and Europe, perhaps like never previously, but there is still work to be done. The formation and work of the Permanent Secretariat of the Southeast European Transport Community represent a new incentive on that road, both for Serbia and the region, says Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Zorana Mihajlović Ph.D. • What does the launch of the work of the Secretariat mean for Serbia and the region?

- The fact that the headquarters of the Transport Community is in Belgrade is not significant just because it is the first European and international organisation to be headquartered in Serbia. It is significant because the 4 |

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entire region of the Western Balkans region will have – here in Serbia, in Belgrade – an organisation that deals with precisely what we’re striving to achieve: to be the transport hub of this part of the region, in road, rail, water and air transport.

Serbia is already that hub geographically and – by investing in all types of infrastructure – it is becoming a hub in reality day by day. Initiatives will be launched from Belgrade, plans will be made, works will be negotiated on everything that concerns transport in the region, and transport is the lifeblood of the economies of our countries... We are also gladdened by the fact that all countries of the Western Balkans agreed and unanimously decided for the headquarters to be in Serbia.They alll supported Belgrade, and that is great recognition for us, for everything we’ve done in this area.

But we’re now awaited by great works, by a big job to connect our entire region even faster and more securely, because transport can’t wait; people, ideas and goods can’t wait.

• To what extent can it be stated today that Serbia is well connected to Europe, when it comes to rail and water transport routes?

- Serbia has exerted a lot of effort to connect with the region and with Europe, perhaps like never before, but there is still work to be done.

We’ve completed the most important road connection with Europe and Asia - Corridor 10, and by year’s end we will make the complete branch of the highway to Bulgaria operational.

We have more than 100km of highway from Obrenovac to Čačak, and in December – with the completion of the section from Surčin to Obrenovac – we will bring the Miloš the Great

Highway five minutes from Belgrade.

We are now launching a new investment cycle worth close to 10 billion euros. We’ve started construction of the Belgrade-Sarajevo highway, as well as the continuation of “Miloš the Great” from Preljina to Požega. Construction is starting on the highway from Niš to Merdar and the highway and high-speed road link Ruma-Šabac-Loznica, while we are working on the Belgrade Bypass and should soon sign a contract for the construction of the Moravian Corridor from Čačak to Kruševac... Likewise, we’ll also prepare project documentation for the the Šumadijan Corridor, or the Vožd Karađorđe Highway.

Over the next two years we will complete another 500 km of renewed rail tracks for speeds exceeding 100km per hour, while we will invest about 400 million euros in water transport and, in addition to Belgrade and Niš, we have opened another international airport in Kraljevo…

with the realisation of the goals set to date?

- This year is indeed a watershed year for infrastructure in Serbia, because – as I said – we are this year completing construction of Corridor 10, the largest project in the last 30 years. We have already built around 300 kilometres of highways, thanks to which transit transports have returned to Serbia, so this year we will have about 58 million vehicles on our highways, compared to 37 million vehicles in 2014.

We also have behind us more than 500 kilometres of reconstructed national and regional railway lines, procurements of new passenger trains and locomotives for freight trains, completion of the Žezelj Bridge, the launch of construction of the first high-speed railway in the region, a concession for Nikola Tesla Airport, investments in airports in Niš and Kraljevo, new factories for water, a stateof-the-art system for issuing building permits electronically etc.

Investing in infrastructure was set as one of the the priorities of the Government back in 2014, and today we see dozens of factories that have opened along newly constructed sections of the highway along Corridor 10 And all of this is excellent and significant for Serbia. But the countries of the region – together with the EU – have to do much more to remove non-physical barriers at the borders, because it isn’t enough for us to build all the new roads, railways, ports and airports if trucks and people are waiting for hours and hours at borders. We have one border crossing with Macedonia and that is a good way, but with EU member states we have a problem, and that’s what I insist on in every conversation with European officials and fellow ministers from the region. I also expect the Transport Community to help when it comes to solving this problem in the interests of all, because the fast and safe transportation of goods and services is a precondition for economic development.

• You’ve said that 2019 is a key year for infrastructure in Serbia. How satisfied are you

And that’s just part of what’s been done.

Apart from the things that have been constructed that are visible, a lot has also changed in the way projects are managed and investments are planned, and in the way public enterprises function. And there’s no more going back to the old way, to works that start without project documentation being prepared and expropriation completed; to underdeveloped and forgotten railways; to unreformed rail enterprises and road maintenance contracts from 20 years or more ago.

Finally, we’ve succeeded in changing the picture of infrastructure in the minds of citizens, who can today take pride on the new highways that they drive on, and new trains, and can have faith that Serbia is capable of completing the largest and most complex projects, such as the highway through Grdelica Gorge.

With such a foundation, we are this year

embarking on a new investment cycle that will help us connect with the region even better, not only with highways, but also with rail and water transport routes, because our vision is to make Serbia a transport hub of this part of Europe in all forms of transport, which it deserves on the basis of its geographical position.

• What does the construction of road corridors mean for Serbia in terms of advancing economic growth and connecting with the European market?

- Infrastructure is a prerequisite for development, because where there is no infrastructure there is no opportunity for connection, nor for the arrival of investors, and thus not for faster economic growth. Investing in infrastructure was set as one of the the priorities of the Government back in 2014, and we see the results of that commitment in dozens of factories that have opened along newly constructed sections of the highway along Corridor 10, as well as an increase in the number of vehicles passing through Serbia, from 37 million vehicles to a total of around 58 million that we expect by the end of this year.

This is why we’re not satisfied with completing - after 30 years - the construction of the road route of Corridor 10, but rather we’re launching the construction of new highways, continuing the modernisation of railways and also investing in water transport and aviation, because we want Serbia to be connected with all of its neighbours, but also with the European Union, because we can only develop faster if we’re connected.

• To what extent are investments in production operations linked to the revitalisation of the rail transport network and what are your Ministry’s most important plans?

- Modernisation of the railway is as important to us as the construction of highways, and testifying that this is really the case is the more than 500 kilometres of renewed railway lines and the 48 new, modern trains that run on Serbian tracks today. Serbia is today part of China’s global “One Belt, One Road” initiative; we’re building a high-speed rail link from Belgrade to Budapest, renewing the railway line to Bar [Montenegro] with Russian Railways, and preparing to continue OCTOBER

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for Chapter 27 – Environment, which is led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, while the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, apart from monitoring and contributing to this process, also strives to respect all environmental standards in preparing and implementing all transport infrastructure projects that we are realising.

• How successful is Serbia when it comes to securing the funds necessary to carry out all of these tasks? How much does it rely on EU funds and how much on other donors and lenders?

- Serbia is today a country with stable public finances and a stable budget that has enough money to plan development projects, to the modernisation of Corridor 10, for which we have signed a memorandum with Chinese partners.

Something like that was unthinkable just a few years ago, because many years passed without a single kilometre of tracks being reconstructed. According to one World Bank study, Serbia missed out on 2.5 investment cycles for railways, or about 40 years of development, and we are today battling to make up for that lost time.

Today, alongside investments in Corridor 10 and the reconstruction of the Bar railway, we are now also investing in regional rail lines, and by the end of next year we will have reconstructed a total of around 800 kilometres of regional rail lines. The modernisation of rail tracks is also important for our citizens, who will again be able to ride on the railways, but also for the possibility of significantly increasing the volume of freight transported by rail, which is our strategic goal and an area in which Serbia has huge potential.

• Cooperation with the EU relates to the applying of technical standards, interoperability, safety, the management of traffic, public procurement and environmental protection. How much are we progressing in these areas?

- The Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure manages the work of the Negotiation Group for chapters 14 - Transport 6 |

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According to one World Bank study, Serbia missed out on about 40 years of railway development, and we are today battling to make up for that lost time as quickly as possible Policy and 21 - Trans-European Networks, and participates in the work of seven other negotiation groups.

Let me remind your readers that the last annual progress report of the European Commission rated the transport policy as one of the areas in which Serbia already has a good level of harmonisation with the EU, and the most progress since the previous report has been achieved in the reform of railways. Serbia adopted new laws on railways, safety in rail transport and the interoperability of the rail system in 2018, with which we achieved a high level of harmonisation with EU regulations in establishing a single European railway area.

In road transport, in the previous period we amended the Law on Traffic Safety, through which a large number of provisions of EU regulations were incorporated. Moreover, through the so-called Berlin Process, which includes the Western Balkan Six and the EC, it can bee seen that Serbia is far ahead of others in the region when it comes to this area.

The area of environmental protection is the subject of the Negotiation Group

guarantee them and implement them. The projects we are implementing in the area of infrastructure are funded from a variety of sources, including the national budget, EU grants, credits from European and other international banks, as well as loans from bilateral partners.

For example, the construction of Corridor 10 is being financed mainly through loans from the EIB, EBRD and World Bank, while contractors and banks from the People’s Republic of China and Azerbaijan are present on the Corridor, because at the time when we contracted these projects European banks weren’t interested in this corridor, which is extremely important for the citizens of Serbia – as can best be seen in the fact that nearly 300,000 vehicles have passed the toll booths of this highway since tolls began being charged.

During the period ahead, we want to see more public-private partnerships in infrastructure projects, like the one we already have with Belgrade Airport, and for that it’s important that we also have financially stable, reformed and efficient public enterprises. ■

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TRANSPORT COMMUNITY PERMANENT SECRETARIAT OPENED IN BELGRADE

Tool For Connecting The Region

ANA BRNABIĆ, VIOLETA BULC, ALEN BARON, ZORANA MIHAJLOVIĆ, SEM FABRIZI

The Transport Community Permanent Secretariat head office was opened in Belgrade on 13th September. The ceremony was attended by high EU and Serbian officials: the European Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc, Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Ambassador Sem Fabrizi, Prime Minister of Serbia Ana Brnabić, Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Zorana Mihajlović, Acting Director of the Transport Community, Alen Baron, and the ambassadors of the EU countries

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uropean Commissioner Violeta Bulc pointed out that the opening of Transport Community Permanent Secretariat head office in Belgrade was a sign of political goodwill and just the beginning of further joint cooperation.

“Transport networking means cooperation, peace and hope. This is the first

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time that the Western Balkan countries have a direct access to the European Single Market. The Secretariat will contribute to cost reduction of the projects and attract new investments. This is a hub that will enable networking of the EU countries with the Western Balkans region,“ emphasized the Commissioner.

She remarked that it is very impor-

tant that the railroad transport will be united across the whole region, but also the EU, which is a great step for the Western Balkans.

Bulc pointed out that the business community will receive quality investors and that the costs of the realisation of the transport projects will be lower than 30 per cent.

Photo: Photo Credit EU Info Centar

The railroads will remain the priority for the EU and more than 60 per cent of all investments in transport within the EU will go to that sector, the Commissioner added.

Prime Minister Brnabić said that this is the first head office of the international community in Serbia, adding that this is a sign of great trust in Serbia and a great honour for Belgrade.

“Today all of us together are sending an important message that we can successfully cooperate with all partners in the region and that we are finding ways to overcome obstacles and create a bet-

“Transport networking means cooperation, peace and hope. This is the first time that the Western Balkan countries have a direct access to the European Single Market. The Secretariat will contribute to cost reduction of the projects and attract new investments. This is a hub that will enable networking of the EU countries with the Western Balkans region“ ter future“, stressed the Prime Minister.

Minister Mihajlović said that transport is the most powerful tool for all

our citizens, to develop and live better, for new investments and better living standard.

It is very important to understand that the Transport Community is not related to the Western Balkans only, but that its impact is much wider, says Acting Director of that institution, Alen Baron.

“The Secretariat will the center of excellence, it will oversee the transport operations, support partners in the region with regards to reforms in the field of transport, it will provide technical assistance for project preparation, it will assist to partners when faced with difficulties in networking the EU Member States“ says Baron.

Head of EU Delegation to Serbia Sem Fabrizi said that the Transport Community will not be focusing only on roads, but also railroads, river and sea transport.

“This is a tool for connecting the region with the EU”, stated Fabrizi, adding that the tasks of the community will include technical and security standards and aspects, legislature, environment and other issues.

Fabrizi added that the goal is reaching the EU standards, which are highest in the world.

The seminar on “How Transport Community Can Promote Transport and Mobility of People in the Western Balkans“ was held at “Beograd“ palace after the ceremony. ■ OCTOBER

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BUSINESS

JOHN PEARSON, CEO DHL EXPRESS

We Connect People Worldwide DHL has grown since 1969 to become a globe-spanning family of DHL companies, with about 380,000 employees in over 220 countries and territories that covers the entire spectrum of logistics and supply chain services. DHL is the logistics industry's leading global brand

T

he DHL family of divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfilment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport, to industrial supply chain management.

• John, you have personally been an integral part of DHL’s history for many years and have witnessed some of the company’s major milestones. What are you particularly proud of?

- Deutsche Post DHL Group’s aspiration is still to connect people all over the world. With innovative logistics and transport solutions, we want to help simplify their everyday lives, whether private or professional.

We test and deploy innovative technologies along the entire supply chain to make the delivery and transport process as efficient as possible and to assist our employees in their work. In addition to using augmented reality and robotics solutions in the supply chain, I am particularly proud that we have also found new ways to deliver to hard-to-reach delivery areas.

Our autonomous DHL parcel drone enables us to make rapid deliveries of medicines to a remote island in Lake Victoria, and in China a customer is regularly supplied with important documents twice a day.

In addition, the StreetScooter, which we have developed and manufactured ourselves, has already enabled us to provide an initial response to the challenges facing the 10 |

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logistics of the future and environmental protection.

• What will DHL’s contribution in this area be in the long term?

- In 2008, the Group pledged to improve carbon efficiency by 30% by the year 2020, compared to the 2007 baseline. We achieved that goal as early as 2016 and established ourselves on the market as experts in green logistics solutions. We want to reduce transport-related emissions to zero by 2050. Our journey along that path has already begun, and I’m confident that we will achieve this important milestone for our Group – not only via the very ambitious

with access to up-to-date technology and a better education. We are also celebrating Beethoven’s legacy and DHL’s anniversary by using our logistics expertise to transport the “BTHVN on tour” anniversary exhibition, as it makes its way through Germany, the U.S. and – from 2020 onwards – other countries in Europe and Asia.

Each of our 100,000 Express employees around the world has received a special edition coffee table book, a large-format illustrated volume outlining the history of DHL’s origins.

As a founding member and global logistics partner of Formula E, we also organised an online fan competition entitled “50 Moments that Delivered”, on the occasion of the 50th Formula

As a company with global operations, we are doing everything we can to ensure that our ecological footprint is as small as possible interim targets that we have set ourselves for the year 2025.

• So how is DHL celebrating its 50th anniversary?

- Various anniversary events are being held for our employees, customers and partners throughout the year. For example, we donated and delivered two Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centres equipped with modern computers to SOS Children’s Villages Colombia, in order to provide the children there

E race. But the absolute highlight for us is the tree planting campaign as part of Bryan Adams’ “Shine A Light” tour. Together, we would like to set a clear example for climate protection and – in collaboration with Bryan Adams, the Arbor Day Foundation, Plant-for-the-Planet, WeForest and Taking Root – we have pledged to plant one tree for every concert ticket sold – totalling a million trees worldwide this year.

So far, new areas of forest comprising around 300,000 trees have already been planted in Indonesia, Nicaragua, Malawi and the U.S. ■

DEJAN TRIFUNOVIĆ, CEO AND OWNER OF SDT GROUP BUSINESS

SDT Is A Port For Young Experts Over the course of just 10 years, SDT Group has become an authorised importer, distributor and repair service provider for some of Europe's largest manufacturers of buses, trailer vehicles, auto transporters and commercial vehicles. The signing of a franchise agreement with Hungarian company VIA Bérautó, the largest commercial vehicle rental company in Eastern Europe, presents an introduction to the new business year

W

ith additional investments and the creation of new jobs, the SDT Group will this year again provide a major contribution to the development of the domestic economy. Thanks to new contract with VIA Bérautó, Serbia’s roads will be cruised by an ever increasing number of new and safe vehicles that satisfy all environmental standards of the EU.

are the official service centre for as many as three European manufacturers of vehicle transporters - Kassbohrer, Rolfo and Lohr and also a representative of Czech company Greenchem, which produces the highest quality AdBlue in Europe. SDT is unique multi brand service compentence centre in this part of Europe. We offer a complete service according to the “bumper to bumper” system.

• We are approaching the celebrating of your first decade of operations, which has proved more than successful for the company. What are you proud of in particular?

- We have proven that we have competent people who, with their work and knowhow, are able to realise big ideas and form a company that can serve Serbia with pride. SDT Group is today the authorised bus service provider for Southeast Europe of Polish company Solaris Bus & Coach, which is among the top European and world manufacturers, in terms of the number of vehicles sold and their quality, especially in the category of buses that don’t emit harmful gases. We are also the official importer, distributor and repair service provider for German Kögel trailers for Serbia and Montenegro. SDT is an agent, project designer, distributor and service provider for Fogmaker - Swedish fire protection systems for the engine space. We

• You once stated that your successful operations are a result of investing in the young people. Is that the recipe for success?

- SDT has been a port for young professionals since day one and – as a company that possesses all certificates – we are a training ground for their further educating. Apart from this, most of our workers have also further refined their skills at world-renowned companies. With this we have invested in them, in our company, but also in the state – given that they remained in the country thanks to SDT having provided them with an opportunity to realise their professional dreams in Serbia.

Another important prerequisite for successful operations is boldness in accepting challenges and achieving new business success.

The one we achieved in 2019 is the signing of a franchise agreement with Hungarian company VIA Bérautó, which has SDT as its official partner in Serbia.

• How is the significance of your collaboration with VIA Bérautó reflected?

- This company has been Hungary’s undisputed leader in the field of rentals of trucks, vans and other commercial vehicles for 27 years, while it has also held the same position on the Slovakian market for the last six years. SDT will offer something new on the local market that will suite needs of many customers - rental with full service and European level of quality. Almost all commercial vehicle brands and vehicle types are available.

We can offer everything from small 500kg carrying capacity vans to 40-ton capacity vehicle combinations. European roads are currently being cruised by 1,600 vehicles of this company, and it is thanks to SDT that Serbia has also become part of that network. This contract also guarantees new investments and jobs, with which the SDT Group contributed to the development of the domestic economy in 2019, as well as motivating the local workforce to seek the securing of their future in Serbia.

We simultaneously want to motivate the state to accelerate the harmonising of laws with EU regulations and the adopting of appropriate legal norms, which will allow commercial vehicles rented in Serbia to move freely throughout the whole of Europe. ■ OCTOBER

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BUSINESS

VLADAN SEKULIĆ, GENERAL MANAGER, SP LASTA BELGRADE

Lasta Drives To The Top Again Thanks to tradition, experience, tens of millions of miles travelled to the satisfaction of more than 100 million passengers, new standards, procedures and leadership, Lasta Transport is well on its way to re-occupying the leading position where it belongs

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y the end of October, a state-ofthe-art information booking system will be installed, so that Lastina passengers will be able to receive information on departures and changes to the timetable, and also buy a ticket with one click via their phone or computer. The coordinated cooperation between the Managing Director and the Supervisory Board of SP Lasta is carrying out the company’s business strategy and achieving its business goals.

• Lasta has long been a leader in road passenger transport in Serbia and south-eastern Europe, but then experienced a difficult period that you have been able to overcome.

Where is Lasta today?

- I can proudly say that Lasta is slowly rising from the ashes and that it is well on the way to regaining the leading position where it belongs. We have been in the process of privatisation since 2003, behind us is a failed sale and an extremely difficult year in 2014, but the results from the first half of this year are encouraging. In the first six months, we were able to reclaim some of the lines we lost and buy 50 new buses.

I have told our staff that behind us is a strong brand and 70 years of tradition that gives us a responsibility. The competition is enormous and the demands and expectations of passengers are increasing, so there is no sleeping or relaxing if we want to be the best again. Although we have the 12 |

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support of the City and the Republic, the staff need to understand that we are our own best friends and that our commitment will determine where Lasta will be and how we and our families will live.

• Even more than safety, reliability, comfort, and a good price are in demand today. How difficult is it to keep up with the times?

- While we were struggling with our problems, the competition was growing stronger, but now we are ready to return to the market because a company of the rank and reputation of Lasta can’t allow anyone else to be better. All our vehicles operating on local and international

due to a pay increase of almost 10 percent, the first for 10 years for all staff, but also the fact that the company has a future again. Drivers are no longer leaving us, quite the opposite. We even have drivers coming from some private companies because the name Lasta means something again, the fleet is being restored, investment coming… Drivers and technical services are working well, there are no redundancies in the administration, so I can proudly say that almost 2,000 employees believe that better days are coming and that it is up to us.

• What are your plans for the coming period?

Expanding capacity, increasing comfort and

Compared to the same period last year, our revenues are up by 220 million and our net profit by 110 million

lines have Wi-Fi and we have renovated all 1718 branches throughout Serbia. In addition to excellent working conditions, the staff have been given new uniforms, and all drivers will receive them too.

• Carriers across Europe complain about a lack of drivers. How does Lasta deal with this problem?

- At one point when it was most difficult for us, we were faced with the departure of drivers, but this trend has stopped. I believe this was also

quality, applying innovative technologies ...?

- Our finances are stable and that is the most important. Loans are regularly serviced and some will be refinanced. For the coming period we are planning to purchase 10 state-of-the-art double decker buses for international routes, and gradually, based on an agreement with the City of Belgrade, we will buy new low-floor vehicles for regular traffic. Our plans are ambitious, but they are justified by our work to date and the results we have achieved since the beginning of the year. ■

WORLD TRANSPORT OVERSEAS – WTO SERBIA BUSINESS

Your Cargo Is Our Concern For almost a decade, the multinational company WTO has been operating as one of the leaders of Serbian and regional markets in providing international transport and logistics services. Its mission is to offer customers in Serbia and the wider region a more affordable and efficient supply chain

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ue to its growing business and the needs of its customers, WTO invests in developing its own and deploying state-of-the-art IT work platforms, taking care of flexibility and connectivity with other IT systems commonly used by local and international companies An efficient supply chain management system is crucial for all companies that trade internationally, and this is exactly what World

warehousing centres on all six continents.

“It is with great pride and pleasure that we can say that, thanks to our professionalism, our dedication to success and our expert team and in cooperation with our international partners, we have been able to achieve full coverage of the global market through all major shipping ports with direct LCL lines to most world destinations. This usually involves organising door-to-door LCL

By implementing modern logistics solutions, WTO has further optimized and adapted its services to the needs of its clients Transport Overseas (WTO Serbia) provides.

As an unavoidable success factor in today’s business environment, WTO has developed a highly efficient door-to-door pickup and delivery system in collaboration with its partners worldwide. As a distinct service and an effective solution for import and export of goods, ‘less than container load’ transport (LCL) is of growing importance, supported by a developed network of partners and

transport for all types of general cargo, besides the organisation of container, oversized and special cargo”, says Bogdan Gavrilović, Sales Manager of World Transport Overseas in Serbia.

The plan is to complete the introduction of MS Dynamic NAV in all WTO offices in the region this year, which will enable the full advantage of the opportunities offered by the platform.

The new IT platform assures sophisticated supply chain management, which will integrate the business of all WTO offices and their needs into a single operating system. A set of functional areas includes shipment tracking, communication, data and document management, financial activities, storage, sales and, most importantly, customer support.

“Construction of a state-of-the-art logistics centre located in the industrial zone near Belgrade customs terminal is in its final stage”, says Gavrilović. “We will then be able to use our own storage space with the option of increasing capacity according to our needs. The location of the logistics centre and the proximity of the Belgrade and Dobanovci customs terminals enable our clients to carry out all operations efficiently and optimally.”

It is a modern facility that will be equipped with state-of-the-art storage equipment and a warehouse management system (WMS). Using the WMS optimises the cost of warehouse operations by managing the movement of goods and workflows in the warehouse. ■ OCTOBER

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OVERVIEW

New Investment Cycle For Regional Interconnection And The Faster Development Of Serbia

MILOŠ THE GREAT HIGHWAY

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ignificant results have been achieved during the last four years in all areas under the jurisdiction of the Serbian Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Zorana Mihajlović – from the construction of more than 300km of highways, the completion of construction and opening of the complete road route of Pan-European Corridor 10 from north to south, the commissioning of 103km of the Miloš the Great Highway, the completion of Novi Sad’s Žezelj Bridge and the reconstruction mof ore than 500km of railway tracks, but also the launch of construction of the first high-speed railway in the region, from

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Belgrade to Budapest, the granting of a concession for Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, via the development of Niš Constantine the Great Airport and the opening of Morava Airport near Kraljevo, to investments in water transport, municipal infrastructure and water plants, to the realising of progress on gender equality and the social inclusion of Roma people.

In the previous period, among other things, a new toll station has been installed in Vrčin, the first phase of construction of the Belgrade-Central railway station in Prokop has been completed, the Batrovci border crossing has been expanded, the new Ljubovija-Bratunac Bridge has been built and

About 300km of highways have been constructed and more than 500km of railway lines have been restored over the course of the last four years, with construction becoming the driver of economic growth.

A new investment cycle worth around €10 billion was launched this year, with projects in road, rail, water transport and aviation, which will enable the further connecting of Serbia with the region, the EU and the rest of the world, but also the arrival new investments and a better life for citizens the first high-speed chargers for electric cars have been installed along Corridor 10.

Serbian rail lines are now being traversed by 48 new trains, while 16 new freight locomotives have been procured and investments are being made in the reconstruction of regional rail lines after a break of several decades, which will lead to around 800 kilometres of rail tracks being renewed in the 2018-2020 period.

Projects in water transport have a total value of around €340 million and include, amongst others, reconstruction of the Đerdap Hydro Power Plant, revitalisation of the navigable waterways of the rivers Sava and Danube, construction and expansion of

ŽEZELJ BRIDGE

ports in Novi Sad, Smederevo, Belgrade, Sremska Mitrovica and Bogojevo, as well as the introduction of a state-of-the-art system for the safe management of navigation.

In air transport, a concession contract was concluded with French company Vinci worth €1.46 billion euros, including investments worth €732 million, while state investments have resulted in increasing the number of passengers at Niš’s airport from 1,335 passengers in 2014 to 351,581 passengers in 2018, with a tendency for further growth.

The construction sector has been fully regulated in legislative terms over the course of the past two years, with Serbia now ranked among the top 10 or 11 countries in the world for the issuance of building permits and – thanks to major investments in infrastructure – this branch has once again become an driver of economic growth in Serbia.

On the basis of results achieved and reforms implemented, a new investment cycle worth more than €10 billion has also been launched with projects in road, rail, air and water transport. These projects will ensures Serbia’s good connectivity with the region, the European Union and the rest of the world, but also new investments and a better quality of life for Serbian citizens.

The construction of seven new highways is also planned within the scope of this new investment cycle, which we present here.

FAST TRACK STARA PAZOVA - NOVI SAD, ČORTANOVCI

SREMSKA RAČA-KUZMIN HIGHWAY (SECTION OF THE BELGRADE-SARAJEVO HIGHWAY) This highway will be constructed in two directions: Bijeljina - Sremska Rača (border with Bosnia-Herzegovina) – Kuzmin; Požega - Kotroman (border with BosniaHerzegovina) A commercial contract for the elaboration of detailed regulatory plans, project design and construction of these sections of the Belgrade-Sarajevo Highway was signed in Belgrade on 19th December 2018 between the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Public Company ‘Roads of Serbia’ and Turkish company TASYAPI. This commercial contract is valued at €250 million and encompasses the preparation of planning, design and technical documentation and the execution of works on the Sremska Rača-Kuzmin section (totalling €225 million) and the preparation of design and technical documentation for the Požega-Kotroman section (€25 million).

The project will be financed jointly through a loan from a Turkish bank and the budget of the Republic of Serbia.

Preparatory works began in August 2019 on the construction of the Sava Bridge in Sremska Rača, along the 18km section of the Kuzmin-Sremska Rača Highway. The bridge over the Sava near Sremska Rača, with a length of about 1.3 km long, represents the

main structure being built along the route of this highway, while the construction of a border crossing is envisaged in addition to the bridge.

The second section - Požega-UžiceKotroman (border with Bosnia-Herzegovina) - will cover a distance of about 60 kilometres and will connect with Miloš the Great Highway at Požega, and from there it will be connected with Corridor 10 via the Moravian Corridor (Preljina-Pojate).

MORAVIAN CORRIDOR (HIGHWAY POJATE-PRELJINA) The Moravian Corridor, covering a length of 112 km, will connect Corridor 10 and Miloš The Great Highway, passing through all major towns and cities in this part of Serbia, which is home to around 500,000 people (Čačak, Kraljevo, Vrnjačka Banja, Trstenik, Kruševac, Stalać and Ćićevac).

Alongside construction of the highway, this project will also encompass the regulating of the West Morava river and its tributaries, as well as the construction of telecommunications infrastructure.

On the basis of a conducted public invitation, in late August the Government of Serbia adopted the Decision to select a strategic partner with the aim of implementing the project to construct the infrastructure corridor for Highway E-761’s Pojate-Preljina section (Moravian Corridor), through which OCTOBER

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SREMSKA RAČA-KUZMIN HIGHWAY

the Bechtel-ENKA consortium was selected as the strategic partner.

PRELJINA-POŽEGA SECTION, CONTINUATION OF MILOŠ THE GREAT HIGHWAY The section from Preljina to Požega (30.96 km) intersects the sections of Miloš the Great Highway from Obrenovac to Preljina, which are already open to traffic. This highway is important not only for the faster development of this part of Serbia – primarily the Moravica District, but also for regional connectivity. Highways leading to BosniaHerzegovina (Belgrade-Sarajevo Highway) and Montenegro (Corridor 11) will intersect at Požega, while Corridors 10 and 11, towards Bulgaria and Greece, will intersect at Čačak.

A commercial contract for the PreljinaPožega section of the highway was signed with China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) in November 2017. This 16 |

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contract (project) is valued at €450 million).

The launch of works was officially commemorated on 17th May 2019, with the President of Serbia and the Deputy Prime Minister in attendance, while works initially began on the Laz and Munjino brdo tunnels. This section is specific in that it passes through very difficult geographical terrain, which ensures numerous tunnels and bridges will have to be built (almost a third of the route comprises bridges and tunnels, with a total of three tunnels and 35 bridges).

RUMA-ŠABAC HIGHWAY AND THE ŠABAC-LOZNICA EXPRESSWAY The project for the construction of B class state road I from Ruma to Šabac (highway) and Šabac to Loznica (expressway) implies the construction of a total road length of about 80 km, including around 55km of the Šabac-Loznica section. This project includes the construction of a bridge

over the Sava with access road structures.

Negotiations on the concluding of a commercial contract for the continuation of the design and execution of works on the Ruma-Šabac-Loznica roadway are being led with Azerbaijani company Azvirt by the Working Group named by the Government according to the Decision for the implementation of this project. Negotiations to reach agreement on a loan are underway with the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The signing of a contract is expected by the end of this year. It is planned for the first works on the project to start in November this year, initially on the construction of workers’ camps and access roads to the construction site of the bridge over the Sava, and construction of the bridge itself.

HIGHWAY NIŠ-MERDARE-PRIŠTINA The Niš-Merdare-Priština highway forms part of the EU’s core indicative trans-

VRČIN PAY TOLL

port network. Corridor 10 and this highway will connect at Niš and enable departures from Serbia to Albania’s ports on the Adriatic Sea, and will also contribute to better connecting around 500,000 people (Pirot, Nišava and Toplica districts).

The the future Niš-Durres highway will cover a length of 383km. The length of the first section, from Niš to Pločnik, covers 33km, while the second section – PločnikMerdare – is 37km long.

NEW BELGRADE-SURČIN HIGHWAY The section of highway from New Belgrade to Surčin (7.9 km) represents part of Corridor E-763 and a functional connection to the City of Belgrade. The contracted value of the project is €64.5 million, and the works contractor is the aforementioned CCCC, with which a commercial contract was signed on 18th August 2019.

This section comprises the initial sec-

tion of Highway E-763 from Belgrade to the border with Montenegro and Belgrade’s connection to the highway.

A loan agreement for this project worth €100 million was signed with the European Investment Bank on 12th September 2019, as well an investment grant contract worth €40.6 million. Works on this section are expected to be launched in March 2020, with a deadline of 18 months from the start of the contractor’s activities (works are planned for completion in November 2021). ŠUMADIJAN CORRIDOR - VOŽD KARAĐORĐE HIGHWAY The Šumadijan Corridor, aka Vožd Karađorđe Highway, will cover a length of 220km long, though its length will increase to around 270km if this corridor is also connected with Corridor 10 near Mali Požarevac and with Corridor 11 via

Miloš the Great Highway.

The new highway will be in the form of the letter ‘Y’ and will connect districts and municipalities that are home to around a million people. On one side, the road will follow the route Mladenovac-OrašacAranđelovac, while on the other it will link Lazarevac and Aranđelovac, where it will connect and continue on to Rača, Svilajnac, Despotovac and Bor. If the expressway variant is selected and there are no connections to the aforementioned highways, then the total amount could go from €1.7 billion to €2.3 billion, providedit is fully constructed as a highway, with connections to Corridor 10 and Miloš the Great Highway. The first steps in implementing this project are the formation of a working group for its implementation and the beginning of preparation of project documentation. Works could begin during 2021 at the earliest. ■ OCTOBER

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BUSINESS

TIMOCOM

Economic Slowdown Affects Transport European Countries With Strong Export Economies Hit Hard

G

ermany, France and the Benelux states are feeling the impact of the global economic slowdown.

These are the current numbers on the TIMOCOM transport barometer, which this IT company uses every quarter to document the development of transport offers and requests on Europe’s largest freight exchange.

The number of freight offers made on the market via TIMOCOM between the beginning of April and the end of June 2019 was 20 per cent lower than in the same quarter of last year.

“The U.S. Government’s protectionist economic policies are hampering global trade, which in turn reduces the amount of goods exported. Export-orientated countries like Germany, France and the Benelux states are suffering the worst effects,” says TIMOCOM Business Analyst David Moog.

In total, the freight smart app, which companies can use to place and manage their freight transport offers on the freight exchange, hosted 21,817,810 offers in the second quarter, while the number of offers for the same period last year was 27,565,605. Moog reports that the decline is having a major impact on the transport of industry and investment goods, from the 18 |

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supplier industry amongst others.

The impending Brexit is also taking its toll. “After transport to Britain increased in the first quarter, as companies increased the amount of goods in stock, we are now seeing a market downturn,” reports Moog.

For example, the number of exports from Europe to the UK in the second quarter decreased by 56 per cent compared to the same quarter of last year, according to TIMOCOM. This is despite the development of exports in Southern Europe. Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece transported significantly more goods to other European countries

this quarter than in the previous year, with growth of 21%. Moog: “the fruit and vegetable season in these countries is in full swing.”

The transport barometer is an instrument used by this IT company to analyse quarterly trends in transport offers and demand as found on the freight exchange, which is part of the TIMOCOM Smart Logistics System. With more than 130,000 users and up to 750,000 international freight and vehicle offers daily, TIMOCOM is the largest digital system for the road transport of goods in Europe.

You can find more information on TIMOCOM at www.timocom.com. ■

About TIMOCOM TIMOCOM GmbH is a medium-sized IT and data specialist company with a focus on augmented logistics. As the provider of Europe’s first Smart Logistics System, TIMOCOM uses smart, safe and simple solutions to help customers meet their logistics goals. More than 43,000 verified companies are connected via the system, where up to 750,000 international freight and vehicle offers are entered every day.

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NEWS

‘FLYING TAXI’ TESTED IN PARIS

BRITISH INTERRAIL TRAVEL BACK ON TRACK Despite Brexit, the UK will not leave Interrail – the decades-old European scheme that’s popular with young travellers, the UK’s industry body has said.

The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) announced it was a reversing a recent decision that would exclude British train services from Interrail or Eurail passes as of 1st January 2020.

“Britain’s train companies never wanted to leave Interrail,” it said in a statement.

“Following the strong reaction to news of our departure, we and Eurail, the company which runs Interrail, renewed talks.”

The decision, which RDG said was unrelated to Brexit, was met with criticism on Twitter, with many claiming that it would put young people off travelling beyond London.

With air pollution posing a threat to Paris and with transport lines bursting at the seams during rush hour, one start-up is proposing a “flying taxi”, as a greener alternative that makes use of the River Seine.

The Seabubbles start-up, which specialises in “flying” vehicles, launched a four-day test run of their “flying taxi” on the Seine in late September.

The “Bubble” is powered by electricity and lifts out of the water on “wings”. A taxi service using the vehicles could launch in the city as soon as spring 2020 if the trials prove successful, according to a press release from the office of the Mayor of Paris.

The “Bubble” boasts green credentials, such as being noise- and pollution-free.

Since launching in 2016, the company has been refining the design of the “Bubble”, which costs around €200,000 to construct.

ALLSEAS AWARDED GYDA PLATFORM REMOVAL Repsol Norge has awarded Allseas an EPRD contract for the removal, transfer, load-in to shore and disposal of its Gyda platform in the Norwegian North Sea. The contract covers both the 18,000 tonne topsides and 11,200 tonne jacket, and includes an option for reinstallation on another field, which would be an unprecedented step for a fixed installation off the coast of Norway. Also included is an option for the removal, transfer, load-in and disposal of the jacket’s 32 conductors, weighing a total 3,100 tonnes. Gyda is a field in the southern part of the Norwegian sector of the North Sea, between the Ula and Ekofisk fields. The field has been developed with a combined drilling, accommodation and processing facility, with a steel jacket standing in a water depth of 66 metres.

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NEWS

NEW BEIJING AIRPORT TO BECOME THE WORLD’S LARGEST

CABLE CAR TO CONNECT RUSSIA AND CHINA IN UNDER EIGHT MINUTES

China opened Beijing Daxing Airport on 25th September, thus establishing the second international airport in the Chinese capital. When it reaches full operational capacity – expected in the next several years – 100 million passengers are forecast to traverse the airport annually.

The International Air Transport Association expects Asia Pacific to be the biggest driver of air passenger demand in the 20 years until 2035.

Specifically, the association predicts that China will replace the U.S. as the world’s largest aviation market in about five years. The market is defined by traffic to and from the country, as well as domestic flights within its borders.

The bulk of the growth in Chinese air travel has come in the three decades since the government began earnest efforts to reduce state control of the economy and open up its market to foreign access.

DAIMLER TESTS AUTOMATED TRUCKS ON PUBLIC ROADS Daimler Trucks and Torc Robotics are actively developing and testing automated trucks with SAE Level 4 intent technology on public roads. The initial routes are on highways in southwest Virginia, where Torc Robotics is headquartered. All automated runs require both an engineer overseeing the system and a highly trained safety driver certified by Daimler Trucks and Torc Robotics. All safety drivers hold a commercial driver’s license and are specially trained in vehicle dynamics and automated systems.

The deployment on public roads takes place after months of extensive testing and safety validation on a closed loop track. As part of the comprehensive safety process by Daimler Trucks and Torc Robotics, both test track and on-road validation play an integral role in establishing the essential building blocks for successfully advancing automated technology.

What is claimed to be the world’s first transnational cable car is set to connect China and Russia across the River Amur.

It will take passengers between the cities of Heihe in China and Blagoveshchensk in Russia in under eight minutes.

Passengers will get a bird’s eye view of the Amur and the cities on either side of the line.

The cabins will carry up to 60 passengers and their luggage, with one leaving every 15 minutes.

Managed by Strelka KB, a Russian-based urban planning and strategy consultancy, the project is already underway.

The Amur, which is often frozen over during winter, has historically been a link that connects Heihe and Blagoveshchensk for trade and social reasons.

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BUSINESS

SRĐAN PEJOVIĆ, DIRECTOR, TRANS LOGISTIC AG

Our Trucks Are Modern Offices Trans Logistic AG is a forwarding company with a proven track record of safety, speed and reliability, whether for export or import. It owes its success to skilled staff, modern equipment and a state-of-the-art fleet, but also to dedication to work

C

lients of Trans Logistic AG include international traders and local and foreign freight forwarding companies, which provides a breadth of business, so in addition to a complete load, it can provide grouped shipments and special oversized cargoes • Your company is well known both among exporters and importers. How did you gain such a good reputation? What else, besides security, speed and reliability, is important in your business?

- Our company was founded in 2001 and has been built up for years as the market and circumstances dictated. We have never entered into projects that were too big for us, and so we have always been seen on the market as a reliable and well-organised company with a professional approach to our work. We have always striven to meet every request of our clients with all the capacities of the company. We are available to all of them to contribute to the good preparation and operation of each transport with our knowledge and experience.

• What services do you provide to your clients besides the organisation of international road transport, customs brokering, consulting etc.?

- In a modern approach to our business, it is very important for each of our customers to receive a comprehensive service, and we suc-

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ceed through the knowledge and experience we have gained over the years with the help of an educated and above all hard-working team who organise the transport. Often, we also engage in foreign trade activities that are not within our scope, so that we can complete the entire process, from procurement of goods to delivery to the end customer. This is an advantage for a company like ours, because we can devote ourselves to the client and complete the transport with him professionally.

The diversity of our clientele, which includes international traders and local and foreign freight forwarding companies, provides a breadth of business, so in addition to a complete load, we can provide grouped shipments and special oversized cargoes.

automatic payment of toll, fuel and various other expenses, in addition to GPS tracking.

All our drivers have credit cards, navigation, TVs, DVDs and scanners, so they can receive orders, print and forward shipping documents directly to us at the office, and to our end customer. This is an advantage of smaller and well-organised firms ... to provide the client with everything they need.

• What would Serbia’s accession to the EU and the abolition of borders do for you?

- I think we would have market prices similar to those in the EU and it would create uniform business standards. It would make the business easier for us truck owners, and the drivers would also have benefits as European transporters (fuelling, toll bills for the client

The average age of our vehicles is less than three years, which is very important for customers. They want to know who they are entrusting their cargo to

• Are your good business results worth the constant investment in transport and modern IT equipment?

- We absolutely follow all the innovations in the IT industry. Today, the interior of each of our vehicles looks like a state-of-the-art office, every vehicle has GPS devices for

company, subsidies for buying new vehicles, equal pay, standardised handling). That would take care for us of part of the administration we need today. Licenses, CEMT licenses and various certificates would be replaced by licenses that would allow us to move and load throughout the EU. ■