CorD Magazine October 2020, issue no. 192

H.E. YAHEL VILAN

H.E. CARLO LO CASCIO

H.E. THOMAS SCHIEB

Game Changer From Washington

Friends During Both Good And Bad Times

Speed Of Accession In Serbia’s Hands

Ambassador of Germany to Serbia

OCTOBER 2020/ ISSUE NO. 192

Ambassador of Italy to Serbia

www.cordmagazine.com

Ambassador of Israel to Serbia

interviews opinions news comments events COMMENT

New Era FOCUS

DECEPTIVE SUN

MY LIFE

PAINTER WITH A CAMERA

Exclusive

MIROSLAV LAJČÁK

783002 771451 9

Time To Bring The Process To An End

ISSN1451-7833

EU SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE

CONTENTS

06 NEW ERA

RICHARD ROBINSON Director of the British-Serbian Chamber of Commerce

ZORAN PANOVIĆ Comment

08 TIME TO BRING THE PROCESS TO AN END

20 DECEPTIVE SUN

50 PAINTER WITH A CAMERA

FOCUS: Has something of critical importance just happened in the Western Balkans?

27 BUSINESS DIALOGUE

MIROSLAV LAJČÁK EU Special Representative

40 HOW ROBERT GENTZ BUILT A €1.8B COMPANY IN SIX YEARS

DRAGOLJUB ZAMUROVIĆ Architect, photographic artist

56 CHILL OUT 58 DO YOU WANT TO BE THE BEST VERSION OF YOURSELF?

12 GAME CHANGER FROM WASHINGTON ROBERT GENTZ Co-CEO Zalando SE

H.E. YAHEL VILAN Ambassador of Israel to Serbia

43 EVERY DAY IS A NEW BEGINNING FASHION: Ušće

16 GLOBAL DIARY 18 NEW WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY FOR COOPERATION

@CORD_MAGAZINE

AMRA LATIFIĆ Professor at the Belgrade Faculty of Media and Communications, actress and writer

44 THE IMPACT OF ARTISTIC CREATIVITY ON POLAND

@CORDMAGAZINE

ART

CORD MAGAZINE

60 FASHION TRENDS FOR AUTUMN 2020 FASHION

62 CULTURE CALENDAR 64 FACES & PLACES

CORDMAGAZINE

EDITOR IN CHIEF: Ana Novčić a.novcic@aim.rs DESIGN: Jasmina Laković j.lakovic@aim.rs CONTRIBUTORS: Rob Dugdale, Maja Vukadinović,

4

October

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 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 FINANCE: Dragana Skrobonja finance@aim.rs GENERAL MANAGER: Maja Vidaković m.vidakovic@aim.rs PUBLISHER: Ivan Novčić i.novcic@aim.rs

DIRECTOR: Ana Novčić a.novcic@aim.rs a.novcic@cordmagazine.com PRINTING: Rotografika d.o.o.

Segedinski put 72, Subotica CorD is published by: alliance international media Prote Mateje 52, 11111 Belgrade 17, PAK 126909, Serbia

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 2020

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

Comment

New

Era

BY ZORAN PANOVIĆ

T

oday even EU envoy Miroslav Lajčak certainly doesn’t remember Janez Drnovšek, president of the Socialist Yugoslavia in 1989/90. who hosted Gaddafi with camels at the Summit of the NonAligned Movement in Belgrade, but also the prime minister of an independent Slovenia, who in 2001, with President Kučan on the Hill near Kranj, hosted the summit of George W Bush and Vladimir Putin.

Drnovšek had a plan for Kosovo back in 2005, which he forwarded to Kofi Annan and Javier Solana.

Speaking that year in Priština, Drnovšek said that the recognition of Kosovo must be conditional - until the rights of Serbs could be secured. If you read Drnovšek’s plan carefully, you can even find the origins of the notion of the “Community of Serb Municipalities” and “monastic autonomy”.

Can Americans now portray reality and overshadow symbols and narratives with economics, and can Lajčak take something from Drnovšek?

That what digitalisation is for Ana Brnabić is equivalent to the withdrawal of the recognition of Kosovo for Ivica Dačić. Immediately prior to the Washington “negotiations”, the news arrived that the Black Panther had died – that is American actor Chadwick Boseman, who was best known for his role in the film Black Panther, about Marvel’s superhero who rules the technologically advanced but hidden African state of Wakanda.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture mistakenly named the fictitious Kingdom of Wakanda

6

October

It was at some point in November 2005, when Chris Patten was already the former European Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, that “recognition” came from his entourage confirming that the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro was virtual, and that only Serbia was a reality. It was only on the Kosovo issue that Serbia established the least reality, and was always fatally late as its trade partner in 2018. However, one gets the impression that Wakanda could also recognise Kosovo and subsequently withdraw that recognition. In general, after the Washington Agreement, the campaign for the recognition of Kosovo has been placed under a moratorium.

If Vučić had played his detection game before Washington, then Simon Sebag Montefiore’s book “Jerusalem” (due to the Washington agreement for Serbia to relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem) would now be that which the book about Milan Stojadinović, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, was to Ana Brnabić when she sensationally became the Prime Minister of Serbia after having previously received a copy of the book from Vučić as a gift about his favourite politician from Serbian history.

Richard Grenell and officials from the U.S. business delegation in Belgrade spoke about the economy, but didn’t speakabout democracy, which provides additional encouragement for Vučić at the beginning of the “new era” of relations between Belgrade and Washington

The agreement from Washington also includes his urgent implementation, of everything: both billions of dollars and reliable partners (probably non-Chinese) when it comes to the introduction of the 5G network, and a visa-free regime with the U.S., LGBT rights, and Hezbollah, and Jerusalem, and women’s participation, but there are no Bytyqi brothers... At least not publicly. This crime is a dark story of recent Serbian history, but also a tried and tested means for the U.S. to apply pressure to Serbia. Richard Grenell and officials from the U.S. business delegation in Belgrade spoke about the economy, but didn’t speak about democracy, which provides additional encouragement for Vučić at the beginning of the “new era” of relations between Belgrade and Washington.

Anti-Americanism in Serbia is being pompously remedied. By making a spectacle of foreign policy, Vučić compensates for the democratic deficits in his domestic policy. His policy is essentially eclectic: from recidivism to Milošević and Šešelj, via identification of himself with Đinđić (reform), ‘neutrality’ (Koštunica), ‘four pillars’ (Tadić), with this America now becoming more important than the EU, Russia and China.

With the “new era” of relations with the United States, Vučić enriched his pragmatic eclecticism with the policy of Milan Panić, the former prime minister of the provisional FR Yugoslavia, which was based on economy and peace, but which had incomparably greater democratic sensibility compared to Vučić’s “stabilocracy”.

Interview Exclusive MIROSLAV LAJČÁK

EU SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE BELGRADE-PRIŠTINA DIALOGUE AND OTHER WESTERN BALKAN REGIONAL ISSUES There is absolutely no rivalry between the U.S. and the EU regarding the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština, says Miroslav Lajčak, European envoy for that process, speaking for CorD Magazine. However, he explains that the EU wasn’t familiarised with the contents of the documents signed by Aleksandar Vučić and Avdullah Hoti in Washington, although Europeans consider the Americans as being their main partner in the Western Balkans. The dialogue on the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Priština is by no means easy, because if it was then it would already have been completed, says Lajčak, who nonetheless still believes that “a comprehensive agreement can be reached in months rather than years”. For that to happen, he says, it is necessary for both sides to “show generosity and seek compromises, so that ultimately everyone wins a little bit for the benefit of their people”. Mr Lajčak, how would you evaluate September’s high-level meeting of leaders from Belgrade and Priština in Brussels?

MIROSLAV LAJČÁK WITH ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, UN SECRETARY GENERAL (RIGHT)

Our last high-level meeting with President

Time To Bring The

Process To An End The Washington meeting covers previous dialogue agreements and topics currently under discussion in Brussels, already existing EU-financed infrastructure projects and the positions of the U.S. government...We welcome it if the commitments made at the White House mean that the U.S. will contribute financially to existing projects - Miroslav Lajčák 8

October

By Ljubica Gojgić

DIALOGUE

Since the Dialogue aims to bring both parties closer to the European Union, it is only natural that any agreement must be acceptable to EU Member States

Vučić and Prime Minister Hoti took place on 7th September in Brussels. It was a productive meeting. We managed to achieve full progress on the elements of the comprehensive normalisation agreement that were under discussion since the last high-level meeting in July – namely missing and displaced persons and economic cooperation.

Doing so allowed us to now shift the focus of our negotiations to arrangements for the non-majority community – Association/Community – and the settlement of mutual financial claims and property, as part of the comprehensive agreement. Both topics are very complex and sensitive for both parties. Does the atmosphere of the meeting and the messages emanating from it provide hope that the pace of the dialogue can intensify, in accordance with your wishes?

The pace has already intensified. I was very open with both parties about that from the very beginning. Between the first and second in-person highlevel meeting, the chief negotiators were in Brussels four times for intense rounds of negotiations. High Representative Borrell and I discussed with both parties how we see the Dialogue going forward, and both sides agreed to it and also publicly expressed their commitment to the EU-facilitated Dialogue, and by extension their European future, in a joint statement ahead of the meeting. This is also why they sent their chief negotiators back to Brussels only ten days after that high-level meeting. We agreed with both chief negotiators prior to their meeting to follow-up on the initial discussions of the leaders on mutual financial claims –property.

We also agreed to a follow-up discussion on the second topic: arrangements for the non-majority community – Association/Community. The agenda of the meeting included issues related to property rights, international claims and the position of minorities.

However, what happened with issues that have supposedly already been resolved, with

UN

In 2010, the UN member states, through a General Assembly resolution, welcomed the European Union as the facilitator of the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština, because both are in Europe

SOLUTIONS

Proposed solutions have to come from the parties themselves, for them to stick to that in the long-run

obligations taken on under the scope of the first Brussels Agreement, but which have never been fulfilled? One of them is the formation of the Community/Association of Serb Municipalities. Do you intend to go back and address that which was agreed before you took on the role of the EU’s special envoy?

which is interesting given that you’ve been quoted on several occasions as having previously mentioned the limited deadline for the completion of the dialogue. Media have reported that you told European officials on one occasion that a final agreement is a matter of weeks or months away, and not years. Could you clarify this?

We expect past commitments to be honoured by both parties.The Association/Community of Serb municipalities has yet not been established, and

Experience has taught me that it is never good to impose artificial timelines and I never set any deadlines. A comprehensive agreement naturally needs a bit of time, since – as the name suggests – it will be comprehensive, meaning that it will deal with all outstanding issues and needs to have clear provisions on how it will be implemented and monitored. But what I said before remains valid: There is a general feeling that it is time to bring this process to an end. I believe a comprehensive agreement can be reached in months rather than years, provided both parties are willing to engage and compromise. As the facilitator, the EU will give the Dialogue the time it needs without speeding up artificially, but at the same time also without dragging it out unnecessarily.

The Association/ Community of Serb Municipalities has not yet been established, and that is regrettable. We expect Priština to propose a way forward to implement this agreement that is regrettable. We expect Priština to propose a way forward to implement this agreement.

But there is another important dimension to this process that is at times forgotten: I was mandated by EU Member States to facilitate discussions on a comprehensive deal that addresses all outstanding issues between Belgrade and Priština – and not a series of technical agreements. Both parties agreed to this process and I expect them to engage constructively. So, as you can see, there is more work to be done than just implementing past agreements, even if this remains an important part of our efforts. You stated on the eve of the resumption of dialogue that there are no time limits,

Speaking at a recent gathering in Slovenia, you mentioned the red lines of the upcoming Dialogue between Belgrade and Priština. One of them insists that the final agreement must be in line with international law. What does that mean specifically: that any division of Kosovo is unacceptable, that UN Resolution 1244 must be respected, or something else?

As I said in Slovenia, any normalisation agreement has to be in line with international law, acceptable to the EU Member States, contribute to regional stability, deal with all outstanding issues once and for all, and contribute to their respective European paths.

As you know, the reactions to the idea of border corrections or land swaps have been very negative in EU Member States and the Western

October

9

Interview Exclusive Balkans as a region, and therefore it is not in line with the principles I mentioned earlier. You insist that any final agreement between Belgrade and Priština must be acceptable to EU member states. How can you

Union address: “the future of the whole region lies in the EU. We share the same history, we share the same destiny. The Western Balkans are part of Europe - and not just a stopover on the Silk Road.”. The Dialogue is an important element to make the European perspective a reality.

tion framework. Do you agree with that assessment?

I am not in the position to comment on or interpret what the Slovak Ambassador or any other Ambassador said or meant. In the Dialogue, we speak about normalisation of relations. There is a general understanding what that means, but in the end it is up to the parties to define what normalisation of relations means to them while finding a solution that is in line with international law and the EU acquis, is acceptable to EU member states, contributes to the stability of the region and, most importantly, helps them to make significant progress on their respective European paths. You’ve stated that “EU membership isn’t given for free”, which makes the EU the most important mediator in the BelgradePriština dialogue. What price would have to be paid by Serbia and Kosovo respectively?

MIROSLAV LAJČÁK WITH JOSEP BORRELL, HIGH REPRESENTATIVE/VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE EU (LEFT) reconcile the positions of the EU member states that have recognised independence and lobby strongly in its favour with those of the member states that do not accept the independence of Kosovo?

I am appointed and mandated by all EU Member States. All of them negotiated and agreed that I should “work on the comprehensive normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo through the conclusion of a legally binding agreement that addresses all outstanding issues between the parties, in accordance with international law, and contributes to regional stability”. There is a strong interest among all member states in the Dialogue and the Western Balkans, I debrief them regularly and I have the full support of all member states.

Ultimately, it is up to member states whether they change or maintain their position on recognition, but I received signals from them that confirm that they are following the process very closely, also in the context of their respective national positions.

Since the Dialogue aims to bring both parties closer to the European Union, it is only natural that any agreement must be acceptable to EU Member States.

As President von der Leyen said in her State of the

10

October

Before we resumed the EUfacilitated Dialogue in July, I discussed the elements of the comprehensive agreement with President Vučić and Prime Minister Hoti. Both agreed to them in principle, so there are no surprises in terms of substance, and I also explained our methodology Speaking in a recent interview for CorD Magazine, your countryman and colleague, Slovakian Ambassador to Serbia Fedor Rosocha , stated that “recognition (of independence) per se is not mentioned anywhere, either in Chapter 35 or in the whole (EU accession) negotia-

Both parties know that their respective European paths go through the Dialogue and that there is no alternative to the Dialogue. An EU-facilitated normalisation agreement will make this European perspective very tangible for both. Of course, the EU has clear accession criteria, i.e. on reforms to be met, but, the way I see it, constructive engagement in the Dialogue and a successful conclusion through a comprehensive agreement should accelerate their respective European paths.

The EU is not pre-writing an agreement and forcing the parties to sign up to it, and it cannot want the agreement more than the parties. We facilitate the process and we make sure that any agreement indeed brings both closer to the EU and doesn’t shift them further away. But in the end, the parties have to want the deal. This will not be easy. It means painful compromises for both to bring positions that are very far apart closer to each other and find common ground.

If it were easy, all open issues would already have been resolved. Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti says that in the dialogue with Belgrade he is only interested in “mutual recognition”.

Is such a stance in accordance with your concept of the dialogue?

Both parties have their own understanding what normalisation means to them and both parties have elements of the comprehensive

agreement that are a clear priority to them.

It is now up to both of them, together with the EU, to find a common understanding.

Before we resumed the EU-facilitated Dialogue in July, I discussed the elements of the comprehensive agreement with President Vučić and Prime Minister Hoti. Both agreed to them in principle, so there are no surprises in terms of substance, and I also explained our methodology.

Speaking from the perspective of having a long career as a mediator and facilitator, a key principle in the negotiations of such an important, yet difficult and sensitive agreement is that not everyone can always win on every single article. Both parties have to show generosity and seek compromise so that in the end everyone wins a little bit for the benefit of their people.

the highest priority to EU integration and will continue the work on the EU-facilitated Dialogue, and that they are committed to redoubling their efforts to ensure further EU alignment in accordance with their respective obligations. But the EU member states are

There is absolutely no rivalry. The U.S. is our main partner in the Western Balkans.

We always work best when we work hand in hand to promote the European perspective of the region.

In 2010, the UN member states, through

You aroused the interest of the public when you stated that the recent summit of leaders from Belgrade and Priština in Washington, DC was organised without any consultation with the EU. How do you interpret that?

We were informed about the meeting organised in the White House on 4th September and that it will focus on economic issues. But we did not see the two documents with commitments to the U.S., which President Vučić and Prime Minister Hoti signed ahead of time. The way I see it, it covers previous dialogue agreements and topics currently under discussion in Brussels, already existing EU-financed infrastructure projects, and positions of the U.S. government. The EU is the biggest investor, donor and commercial partner of the region. But, of course, we welcome it if the commitments made at the White House mean that the U.S. will contribute financing existing projects. And we welcome it if it means that Kosovo and Serbia will honour previous Dialogue commitments and proceed with the elements of implementation still outstanding.

At the same time, the EU expects candidate countries to progressively align their policies towards third countries with the policies and positions adopted by the European Union. In this context, any diplomatic steps that could call into question the EU’s common position on Jerusalem are a matter of serious concern and regret.

At the same time, EU member states welcomed the joint statement of President Vučić and Prime Minister Hoti saying that they give

MIROSLAV LAJČÁK WITH ALEKSANDAR VUČIĆ, SERBIAN PRESIDENT (RIGHT)

The EU expects candidate countries to progressively align their policies towards third countries with the policies and positions adopted by the European Union. In this context, any diplomatic steps that could call into question the EU’s common position on Jerusalem are a matter of serious concern and regret also watching future actions very carefully and expect both to act in line with their statement. Is there rivalry between the EU and the U.S. when it comes to the BelgradePriština dialogue?

a General Assembly resolution, welcomed the European Union as the facilitator of the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština, because both are in Europe. As such, we welcome initiatives by the U.S. and others in support of the EUfacilitated Dialogue. How would you comment on the view that a solution to relations between Belgrade and Priština shouldn’t be sought through Brussels-based dialogue, but rather at a Dayton-style international conference that would include the participation of other major world powers?

Dayton is an important agreement. It put an end to the war. But we are comparing apples with oranges here. We are speaking about the normalisation of relations, not ending a war.

Normalisation is a process. Proposed solutions have to come from the parties themselves, for them to stick to that in the long-run. And they have to be found and discussed through Dialogue and should bring both parties closer to the European Union. This is why we have a Dialogue in Brussels and not elsewhere.

October

11

Interview H.E. YAHEL VILAN AMBASSADOR OF ISRAEL TO SERBIA

The new Israeli ambassador arrived in Serbia during the time of two significant changes in bilateral relations. After more than a decade of refusing to recognise the independence of Kosovo, led by the stance that it could set a bad precedent, Israel announced that it is changing its decision. At the same time, and on the basis of an agreement reached with U.S. President Donald Trump, Serbia should join the small number of countries that have relocated their embassies in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. In this interview for CorD Magazine, ambassador Yahel Vilan says that implementing this element of the agreement will be high on his list of priorities. At the same time, he adds, he will lobby for the strengthening of economic relations and the arrival of new Israeli investors in Serbia.

Game Changer From

Washington

Under the current political situation between Belgrade and Priťtina, but even more so with the whole package the U.S. administration put on the table, for all three parties - Serbia, Kosovo and Israel - we felt this could be a game changer under which it would serve our interests to change our policy towards Kosovo – Ambassador Yahel Vilan 12

October

By Ljubica Gojgić

COOPERATION

In line with the newly opened State Office for Economic Cooperation in Jerusalem, IT and cyber tech are the areas in which we hope to see major breakthroughs

Your Excellency, having arrived in Serbia only recently, what have you set as the goals of your ambassadorial term in Belgrade?

The goal of our Embassy in the next couple of years will, of course, be to further improve the great relations that already exist between Serbia and Israel. The decision of President Vučić to relocate the Embassy of Serbia to Jerusalem will also be very high on our agenda for the coming year. In addition, we will try to bring more companies to invest, to do business between Israel and Serbia, and when the COVID-19 Pandemic is over I hope to see a way for more tourists to travel between Serbia and Israel.

AGREEMENT

We warmly welcome Serbia’s decision to move its Embassy to Jerusalem by July next year.

We will do our utmost to work together with the Government of Serbia to see that happen

ventures, joint projects and business deals between the two communities. The Office of the Government of Serbia will definitely assist in this matter.

In this regard, I would like to use this opportunity to mention that we have just appointed an Israeli Co-Chairman of the

UN

As a country that has suffered like no other in the United Nations arena, I can assure you that Israel will express the highest sensitivities regarding that issue

Joint Committee for Economic and Trade Cooperation. We hope to see the first joint committee meeting held in the near future, after Serbia appoints its representative. Which areas of the economy do you consider as being particularly interesting

You arrived at a very interesting juncture for bilateral relations between Israel and Serbia. What do you expect from the newly opened office of the Government of Serbia in Jerusalem, which is set to deal with economic cooperation?

The Office of the Government of Serbia in Jerusalem definitely sends a message that economic cooperation is one of the main focuses of our bilateral relations and an area in which Serbia would like to see improvements.

In addition, it has been mentioned that the Office will concentrate on cooperation in the innovation sector and innovative economy.

This includes a wide spectrum of high-tech and cyber tech, and presents a great opportunity for both countries.

Due to the many similarities between us, Serbia has chosen Israel as the model of how a small country can turn into a start-up nation with an innovation ecosystem. We have had numerous Israeli speakers in Serbia at various events, conferences, bilateral visits and similar.

Initial contacts between the two tech communities have been created. What we would like to see in the future are concrete joint

It has been mentioned that the Office will concentrate on cooperation in the innovation sector and innovative economy. This includes a wide spectrum of high-tech and cyber tech, and presents a great opportunity for both countries

when it comes to strengthening mutual cooperation?

Traditional areas of cooperation, such as agriculture, have room for further expansion, especially in the field of precise agriculture and irrigation.

Another area of cooperation that the Embassy of Israel is promoting is water management and clean tech. On its EU accession road, Serbia will have to develop 350 water treatment facilities. On the other hand, Israel holds the world record in recycling, with 85% of wastewater purified to the level of use in agriculture. In this regard, Israeli knowhow can be of great use to

October

13

Interview Serbia. Only last year we held a water conference and business forum in Novi Sad to encourage more cooperation in this field.

In line with the newly opened State Office for Economic Cooperation in Jerusalem, IT and cyber tech are the areas in which we hope to see major breakthroughs. The time has come to further expand opportunities for businesses to cooperate on joint ventures and R&D centres, and maybe encourage mutual investment funds.

Your country spent more than a decade in the group of UN members that don’t recognise the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo.

What led to Israel changing its stance?

In the past there were two main reasons that caused us to refrain from recognition.

One is, and always was, our strong and important relations with Serbia, and the second was the precedent it could represent concerning the Palestinian issue. One could

rightly claim that these two reasons remain very relevant today.

And yet, under the current political situation between Belgrade and Priština, but even more so with the whole package that the U.S. administration put on the table, for all three parties - Serbia, Kosovo and Israel - we felt this could be a game changer under which it would serve our interests to amend our policy towards Kosovo. Can you explain whether and when the announcement of the recognition of Kosovo will be formalised (If that does not happen by October, as it is not yet formal)?

It is a fact that, besides the statements made

by Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israeli Foreign Minister Ashkenazi and American President Trump on 4th September, to the best of my knowledge nothing has yet been done on the ground between Israel and Kosovo towards realising the mutual recognition as stated in the Washington agreement.

As far as I know, there are no timelines as yet. What I can assure you is that we will be informing our friends in Serbia about our moves. I will do my utmost to make sure that we do this with full transparency and Serbia’s knowledge in advance.

The public is extremely interested in the announced relocating of the Serbian Embassy to Jerusalem, in accordance with an agreement reached in Washington. Did you receive confirmation that Serbia will move the embassy by July 2021 during your recent conversation with the President of Serbia?

That is a very important issue for us. Naturally, we believe that all embassies of countries that are present in Israel should be located in our capital, Jerusalem. Of course, we warmly welcome Serbia’s decision to move its Embassy to Jerusalem by July next year. We will do our utmost to work together with the Government of Serbia to see that happen. In my meeting with President Vučićc we discussed the ways Israel and Serbia should work together on various issues.

14

October

In the past there were two main reasons that caused us to refrain from recognition. One is, and always was, our strong and important relations with Serbia, and the second was the precedent it could represent concerning the Palestinian issue. One could rightly claim that these two reasons remain very relevant today

What forms the basis of your belief that this move by the Israeli government, which was only agreed in Washington with the Kosovo side, will not jeopardise your country’s relations with Serbia?

One can never be sure about political moves and how they will impact future relations, but I can definitely hope that, based on our long-lasting friendship and the importance that the two countries attach to each other, we will also find ways to overcome this decision by Israel.

Let us not forget that Serbia has great relations with many countries around the world that have recognised Kosovo. The same goes for Israel with countries that have recognised Palestine. After formally recognising Kosovo’s independence, will Israel support Kosovo’s request for membership in the UN

and other international organisations?

At this point not actively, I assume, but there was no discussion of that topic whatsoever.

I think it is too early. As a country that has suffered like no other in the United Nations arena, I can assure you that Israel will express the highest sensitivities regarding that issue. Washington and U.S. President Trump are linked to another meeting that has been characterised in the media as historic. Can you tell us what you expect from the agreement on the normalisation of relations between Israel, Bahrain and the UAE?

We appreciate President Trump and his role in the peace agreements between Israel and the two important Gulf countries of the UAE and Bahrain. For us, this is the sign of a new era.

Primarily, I would like to point out one very basic psychological element. Namely, Israel and Israelis are living in a very claustrophobic environment, in a huge geographic area extending from Morocco in the west to Pakistan in the east. If you check the whole corridor, until now we have only established friendly diplomatic relations with two countries – Egypt and Jordan. So, upgrading such a reality to include another two countries in the heart of the Gulf is significant for us, as a people.

On top of that, there are significant positive economic outcomes for very important players in various financial fields, from tourism, aviation and numerous other investments.

In the last week alone, after the agreement was signed, we witnessed many connections between companies on both sides. There is an interest in investing in the Israeli high-tech sector and we believe that, economically, this can be a boost for both Israel and those countries, and for the world as a whole.

Politically, it is a strong sign for other countries that never had any real reason not to talk to Israel or have peaceful relations with Israel and which have just allowed the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to overtake their own interests. I hope they will understand that this should not remain a condition and that we can move forward in a positive direction.

I also hope that it will help bring Palestinians back to the negotiating table, because

for too long they’ve felt that there is lot of support for their hard-line position. I am optimistic that this breakthrough will lead to a resumption of the peace negotiations between us and the Palestinians. The world is facing a new wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. News initially arrived from Israel, in March 2020, about successes achieved in working on a vaccine against the virus. How much

We appreciate President Trump and his role in the peace agreements between Israel and the two important Gulf countries of the UAE and Bahrain.

For us, this is the sign of a new era progress has been made with that?

Like most other researchers around the world, Israeli experts are fully committed to finding a solution that will help all people.

We have numerous scientific centres and institutes in Israel that are exerting all their efforts and knowledge to develop treatments and vaccines for COVID-19.

Once any major breakthrough comes, it will be in the media at the very same moment.

I hope it will happen soon, so we can share it with the world. One gets the impression that the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is also

a training ground for the continuation of the political struggle on the international scene. When news arrives from Israel about the country’s readiness to cooperate with Russia in the continuation of the testing of a Russian vaccine, does that prompt negative comments from your partners in the West?

Israel is cooperating with whomever possible, because we don’t believe that there should be room for politics in saving the lives of millions of people around the world. Just a few months ago, we conducted some successful trials with India and I’m sure that we’re working with all possible partners and countries. Politics must not play any role in that field, as we should all unite to fight COVID-19.

October

15

GLOBAL DIARY

“This is not only a peace between leaders, it’s a peace between peoples—Israelis, Emiratis and Bahrainis are already embracing one another.” – BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL

SERBIA, KOSOVO AGREE TO NORMALIZE ECONOMIC TIES Under US brokerage, leaders from Serbia and Kosovo signed a deal to normalize economic ties in what Donald Trump has praised as a “truly historic” move. Serbia also agreed to relocate its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

Serbian President Aleksander Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti signed the pact in the White House — voicing optimism about the deal, but while noting that differences remain.

Although US President Trump praised the deal as a “truly historic day,” Serbia made clear during the talks that it would not go so far as to recognize Kosovo as a fully-fledged state.

Both Serbia and Kosovo also agreed to halt talks on normalizing political ties for a year to allow the economic agreement to roll out.

YOSHIHIDE SUGA REPLACED SHINZO ABE AS JAPAN’S PRIME MINISTER Yoshihide Suga has been formally elected as Japan’s new prime minister after a vote in parliament. He replaces outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who resigned for health reasons.

64 WORLD LEADERS BACK PLAN TO SAVE EARTH BY 2050 Leaders from 64 countries have signed a 10-point Pledge For Nature, outlining steps to combat climate change by helping the world ‘live in harmony with nature’ by 2050.

Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel and Boris Johnson are among the figure heads who signed the document stating the world is in a ‘state of planetary emergency’ requiring ‘urgent and immediate global action’.

The measures include a pledge to re-double efforts to slow down deforestation, eliminate unregulated and unsustainable fishing practices and stop plastic being dumped into the ocean by 2050.

16

October

Suga, who was formerly the chief Cabinet secretary and Abe’s right-hand man, received 377 votes from party lawmakers and regional representatives out of a total of 534.

He beat two contenders to the top post — former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida. They received a combined 157 votes.

“We cannot afford dither and delay because biodiversity loss is happening today. Left unchecked, the consequences will be catastrophic for us all. Extinction is forever so our action must be immediate.” – BORIS JOHNSON, UK PRIME MINISTER

ISRAEL AND UAE HISTORIC DIRECT FLIGHT THE FIRST STEP OF PEACE DEAL The first official flight from Israel to the United Arab Emirates has landed, a major step in normalising relations after the announcement of a peace deal. The El Al airliner made the three-hour trip, carrying a delegation of Israeli and US officials.

The flight was allowed to cross Saudi Arabian airspace, normally blocked to Israeli air traffic. The UAE has become only the third Arab country in the Middle East to recognise Israel since its founding in 1948. The UAE repealed a law boycotting Israel which had been in place since 1972, and earlier this month the two countries opened direct telephone services for the first time. The agreement to normalise relations - brokered by the US - was made public in a surprise announcement on 13 August.

DONALD TRUMP GETS SECOND NOBEL PRIZE NOMINATION

governments of the United States, Serbia and Kosovo ‘for their joint work for peace and economic development, through the cooperation agreement signed in the White House. Trade and communications are important building blocks for peace.’ The announcement came on the same day Trump announced that Bahrain had joined United Arab Emirates and Israel in a peace deal that garnered the president his first Nobel Prize nomination.

President Donald Trump has been nominated for a second Nobel Peace Prize - this time for his work in securing a deal between Kosovo and Serbia, two former Balkan war foes.

Swedish parliament member Magnus Jacobsson tweeted that he nominated the

KIM JONG-UN APOLOGISES FOR KILLING OF SOUTH KOREAN OFFICIAL North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un has issued a rare personal apology for the killing of a South Korean official, Seoul says.

Mr Kim reportedly told South Korean leader Moon Jae-in that the “disgraceful affair” should not have happened.

South Korea has said the 47-year-old man was found by troops floating in the North’s waters.

He was then shot dead and his body was set alight, according to Seoul.

It is not known what the man was doing there. The South Korean government has said he may have been trying to defect to the North but his family has denied this.

FRANCE TO RELEASE $49 BILLION IN ECONOMIC STIMULUS IN 2021 France’s government presented its 2021 budget on Monday, a plan that aims to rescue the country’s beleaguered economy from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic by injecting a 42 billion-euro ($49 billion) stimulus next year. France’s economy is expected to shrunk 10% this year, in its worst recession since World War II. Earlier this month, French President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist government unveiled a 100 billion-euro ($117 billion) recovery plan aimed at creating jobs and saving struggling businesses.

The government hopes the economy will grow 8% next year, boosted by the recovery plan.

The massive plan includes money to bring back the manufacturing of medical supplies to French factories, develop hydrogen energy, help museums and the cinema industry, train young people for 21st century jobs and hire more staff at unemployment offices.

October

17

Interview RICHARD ROBINSON

DIRECTOR OF THE BRITISH-SERBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE How many companies with British capital operate in Serbia today? What is their structure and in which sectors do they operate?

New Window Of

Opportunity For Cooperation

Brexit won’t change UK/Serbian trade and investment relations much. However, in some aspects that will be reformed in line with the new so-called continuity trade agreement between the UK and the EU, and there will be new opportunities for companies from both countries to exploit. The British-Serbian Chamber of Commerce will be there to help them - Richard Robinson The British-Serbian Chamber of Commerce recently saw a fresh restart of its activities. We spoke with Mr Richard Robinson, Director of the British-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, to

18

October

learn about the plans of the new leadership to boost all aspects of bilateral business, economic and commercial relations between the British and Serbian business communities.

We estimate that there are around 100 British companies operating in Serbia today, but no central records are kept. Many major UK companies do operate here, including G4S and AstraZeneca.

More precisely, seven out of the ten largest companies quoted on the London Stock Exchange are present in Serbia, including GlaxoSmithKline, Unilever, BAT and Rio Tinto. Additionally, a range of smaller UK companies operate here: companies like Delamode, a UK-owned logistics company. Not surprisingly, these companies operate in different ways. Some companies have subsidiaries, others manufacture outside Serbia and sell to local wholesalers and operate through a representative office. Still more companies, such as Jaguar Land Rover, operate through British Motors, a local dealer. In other cases, UK private equity invests in Serbian companies. What is the current level of the trade exchange between the two countries?

The published trade figures of both the UK and Serbia show that bilateral trade in 2019 was around €460m (€180m in UK exports to Serbia, €280m in Serbian exports to the UK), plenty of room to grow! The largest UK export sectors to Serbia are pharmaceuticals, capital goods, including power generation, and intermediate electrical goods. The largest Serbian export sectors are intermediate electrical goods (once again), rubber goods, fruit and vegetables, non-ferrous metals and cars. Additionally, trade figures tend to underestimate the level of services provided between countries – particularly professional and financial services provided in the UK and also the tech industry in both countries. How has Brexit already changed, or is set to change, trade and investment relations between the UK and Serbia?

In many ways, I don’t think that Brexit will change

UK/Serbian trade and investment relations. The two countries have said that they will prioritise the signing of a new so-called continuity trade agreement to take the place of the EU Stabilisation and Association Agreement (which will continue for all remaining members of the EU) as of next year. This purpose of this new agreement is to provide continuity in bilateral trade, not to introduce changes. In addition, the UK-Serbia Investment Promotion and Protection Treaty remains unchanged. Until the new continuity trade agreement is agreed (together with the new EU-UK future relationship agreement), there will be some uncertainty. But once the CTA comes into force there will be new opportunities for companies from both countries to exploit and the British-Serbian Chamber of Commerce will be there to help them. How much work will be required on the administrative side to ensure smooth economic relations? What adaptations have been made so far?

In the next 12 months we will be working on the promotion of UK exports to Serbia, working with the British Chambers of Commerce and their 57 members across the whole of the UK At the moment, our focus is on getting the two governments to sign the continuity trade agreement as quickly as possible. And until we know what the UK-EU future relationship will look like we cannot tell what support will be needed by companies, or where the BSCC should focus its activities. We are organising briefings for our members and will continue to keep them informed in the coming months. We are also discussing with the Serbian Chamber of Commerce the

possibility of holding joint events once we have a better idea of the likely outcomes in the two separate sets of negotiations. There will be new opportunities for exporters to exploit, as both countries are in a similar position – bordering but not part of the EU. In the next 12 months we will also be working to promote UK exports to Serbia, working with the British Chambers of Commerce and their 57 members across the whole of the UK. This is likely to include a virtual trade mission introducing UK companies to Serbian buyers. This will allow companies to investigate new export markets without being subject to the extra complications arising from COVID-19 (including the uncertainty related to travel and quarantine rules). Once we have shown that this approach can work, we will run more, including in the other direction to promote Serbian companies in the UK. What were the major motives for reviving the work of the British-Serbian Chamber of Commerce?

October

19

Interview The BSCC has a base in both countries. However, the Chamber’s focus in recent years has been on supporting Serbian companies break into the UK market, particularly in the food and drink sector, and working with the Serbian Embassy in London, which has no trade section. With the appointment of David Landsman as BSCC Chair about a year ago, the board decided to revive the Chamber’s presence in Serbia. I joined the Chamber as Director resident in Belgrade earlier this year to drive these plans forward. I was previously General Director of the British Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic for over three years.

Whilst this coronavirus has complicated our efforts, we have been successful so far in bringing in new members and developing a programme of activities here in Serbia. The Chamber is a member-based organisation and so it is important that we talk and listen to our members all the time.

The London-based infrastructure arm of Bechtel (together with ENKA) recently started building the Morava Corridor motorway between Pojate and Preljina. This is being financed from London, guaranteed by UK Export Finance. This is the first time that UK EF have been involved

What strategy will you employ to better position the Chamber within the business community and in relations with the Government of Serbia?

How well acquainted with these changes is the business community? What is the role of the British-Serbian Chamber of Commerce when it comes to promoting cooperation?

We began work at the Kopaonik Business Forum earlier this year, which was a good place to start raising awareness of our plans, but awareness in the business community is not yet where I would like to be (and the process has been slowed down

by COVID-19). We are talking to a wide range of members and potential members and key government decision makers, especially those with an interest in the UK. We are collaborating with chambers and other similar bodies and, most importantly, we have increased the frequency of our communications, as we have more to say. We are providing more useful content on our website and now issue our email newsletter fortnightly (which can be subscribed to on our website) and both these channels of communication are supported by our social media activity, particularly on LinkedIn and Twitter. Which areas have the best potential for expanding trade relations and investments between the UK and Serbia?

In the short term, we think that the most important areas to expand trade and investment are in infrastructure, mining and retail. None of these areas should come as a surprise, as they reflect the priorities of the Serbian government.

20

October

This is a massive project and their board has just authorised another £200m investment.

There are opportunities for British brands here in Serbia, but I suspect that we will have to wait until we have a clearer idea after the pandemic as to how shopping habits might change.

Meanwhile, I believe that UK property investors will focus on logistics opportunities rather than commercial and retail ones.

In terms of opportunities for Serbian companies in the UK, I believe that opportunities exist for them in the food and drink sector to export to the UK and work successfully with UK food retailers. I also believe that the Serbian tech scene will benefit from closer cooperation with the UK tech sector (Tech City) and ready access to UK venture capital, following the pioneering steps of Strawberry Energy.

As part of our new strategy, we recently joined the Foreign Investors Council here in Serbia, supporting its work to make Serbia a more business friendly place in Serbia and they are currently interested in expanding their involvement. One consequence of their involvement will be to increase the opportunities for UK companies in Serbia. We also see other opportunities for members in the civil engineering, rail and energy sectors.

There are already several UK mining companies in Serbia, such as Mineco. But the largest investment is from Rio Tinto, with their Jadar project to extract Lithium and Borates at Loznica.

With its presence in both the UK and Serbia, the BSCC has a key role to play in all aspects of bilateral business, economic and commercial relations. The Chamber has good relationships with the embassies in both capitals and with key ministerial departments and decision makers. It is strengthening its institutional links and can offer members in both countries support for their businesses and potential opportunities by using the power of its networks in both countries. How will you cooperate with other associations of foreign and domestic investors?

Have you already forged some alliances?

As part of our new strategy, we recently joined the Foreign Investors Council here in Serbia, supporting its work to make Serbia a more business friendly place. We have also been working closely with the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Serbia (CCIS) to promote the UK to Serbian exporters. In recent years we’ve supported Serbian food producers attending the largest trade fairs in the UK and we are currently helping the CCIS to update its briefing about the UK market to its exporting members. In the UK, we have joined the Global Business Network of the British Chambers of Commerce, which gives us additional support in the UK and access to 60 other British bilateral chambers around the world.

October

21

Focus

Has something of critical importance just happened in the Western Balkans?

Deceptive

Sun

The Montenegrin elections and the latest relaunch of the Serbian-Kosovo Dialogue fill newspaper columns, but give little indication as to whether we’ve taken two steps back, are standing still, or are on the verge of a turnaround, and towards what – more or less democracy, more Russia or more Euro-Atlantic integration. Or just lots of newspaper soap operas

A

s summer wanes and gives way to autumn, at a juncture when it is still unclear how long our virtual escape from reality will last, two potentially important changes took place: after three decades at the helm, power was lost in Montenegro by the ruling party, the only one that didn’t

22

October

experience a shift since the 1990s and the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia, while in Washington, D.C., on the eve of the U.S. elections, the Serbian-Kosovo dialogue was momentarily reestablished. Here our respondents attempt to assess the importance of these events.

ALEKSANDAR POPOV

DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRE FOR REGIONALISM

THE GLASS IS HALF EMPTY IT WOULD APPEAR THAT IN MONTENEGRO, IN THE MOST DESIRABLE WAY POSSIBLE, PEACEFULLY AND DEMOCRATICALLY, AN HISTORICAL CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT OCCURRED. IT IS STILL UNCERTAIN WHAT IT WILL BRING IN ESSENCE, AND THAT COULD PERHAPS BE DEVASTATING FOR DEMOCRACY. THE SAME GOES FOR THE KOSOVO DIALOGUE, WHERE A LOT OF MEDIA POMP COULD END IN MINOR RESULTS. The Montenegrin elections and the latest stage of the Serbia-Kosovo Dialogue have hinted that something dramatically new has begun to happen in this region, and that it could have far-reaching consequences for relations in the Western Balkans. That may well be true to a large extent, but the key question here is whether the balance of these events will be positive or negative.

We’ll start with the recent Montenegrin elections. It is an historic turn of events for many that, after thirty years, with the simple circling of ballots, the option of Milo Đukanović was destroyed, thus announcing his definitive imminent departure from the political scene. Everything that happened after that seems idyllic. Đukanović admitted defeat and said that the transfer of power will be carried out in a democratic way. The agreement that was subsequently signed by three opposition coalitions appears acceptable to all citizens of Montenegro, and beyond the country. But there is one major ‘BUT’ here. Considering the huge ideological differences between these three coalitions and their members, the question remains at to how long this idyll will endure and whether any of these three accepted this agreement with their fingers crossed. As the strongest opposition party, the Democratic Front will probably strive to gradually assimilate the entire political scene to its essential nature as a nationalist, right-wing party.

THE STRONGEST OPPOSITION PARTY, And in attempting to gradually minimise and suppress its two THE DEMOCRATIC FRONT, AND ITS weaker partners in power it will have the potential of a powerPOWERFUL ALLY, THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX ful ally in the Serbian Orthodox Church. And will try, with the wholehearted help of Metropolitanate of Montenegro Bishop CHURCH, COULD RETURN MONTENEGRO Amfilohije – now, alongside Đukanović, the most powerful TO WHERE IT WAS DURING THE TIME man in Montenegro – to return this country to where it was OF MILOŠEVIĆ AND PROPEL IT INTO THE during the time of Milošević. For it and Serbia to again be two WARM EMBRACE OF THE RUSSIAN BEAR eyes in the same head, letting Montenegro return to the warm embrace of the Russian bear.

When it comes to the negotiations between Belgrade and Priština, they have received exceptional momentum after a long standstill. America and the European Union simply competed over who would bring the two sides to the negotiating table first. It was achieved first by America, and then the European Union immediately afterwards. Although all of this – especially the event in the White House – was followed with unprecedented media pomp, with even the final signing of an agreement on mutual recognition announced, nothing spectacular actually happened when it comes to the essence of this Serbian-Albanian dispute. The only spectacular thing was Serbia agreeing to relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which brought it great headaches in its international relations – not only with the EU, but also with the Arab world, so it is now looking for ways to postpone the whole thing until the U.S. elections, where a possible Biden victory would save them from this distress.

So, both of these things could merely be momentary positives, but not lasting essential positives for the region and relations within it.

October

23

Focus

Has something of critical importance just happened in the Western Balkans?

MILIVOJE MIHAJLOVIĆ JOURNALIST

THE GLASS IS HALF FULL THE MONTENEGRIN “MODEL” SHOWS THAT AUTOCRATIC AUTHORITIES CAN BE REPLACED PEACEFULLY, WHICH COULD HAVE REPERCUSSIONS ON NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES, WHERE THE AUTHORITIES HAVE SPENT YEARS AND EVEN DECADES SECURING SUPPORT IN BOTH THE WEST AND THE EAST BY ENCOURAGING INTERETHNIC ANIMOSITIES AND CLAIMING THAT ONLY THEY (RULERS) CAN KEEP THE PEACE, WHILE PURPORTEDLY PROTECTING THE INTERESTS OF GREAT POWERS

I believe that the elections in Montenegro are just the start of a process that will bring significant changes to the Western Balkans. After three decades, there is a realistic chance that the government of the smallest country in the region will change in a democratic way, and that this will be the beginning of the end of kleptocratic systems in this region. It is important that the opposition in Montenegro realised a parliamentary majority by promising to fight systemic crime and corruption, and that these changes are not coloured by nationality and religion. The Montenegrin “model” shows that autocratic authorities can be replaced peacefully, which could have repercussions on neighbouring countries, where the authorities have spent years and even decades securing support in both the West and the East by encouraging interethnic animosities and claiming that only they (rulers) can keep the peace, while purportedly protecting the interests of great powers. The Western Balkans is an area of hopelessness and competition among miserable economies, adorned with Potemkin deceptive statistics in quarrelling countries THE WASHINGTON AGREEMENT that hover between economic ruin, social delinquency and REPRESENTS AN INDICATOR THAT political bankruptcy. This region is a paradigm of corruption, THE MOST DIFFICULT OF ALL BALKAN the money laundering industry and criminalised systems, the ISSUES CAN BE RESOLVED PRIMARILY “export” of the best doctors, engineers, experts and craftsmen, who flee this place like escaping a nuthouse. A change THROUGH THE ECONOMY of government in Montenegro would be a chance for the recovery of that country and a signpost for the other countries where coming to power is just an opportunity to get rich, and staying in power boils down to the skill of media manipulation, election theft and the pressure of security systems and sales of national potential.

On the other hand, the agreement from Washington, contested as a wish list or evaluated as a “paper for Trump’s election campaign”, essentially represents an indicator that the most difficult of all Balkan issues can be resolved primarily through the economy. I want to believe that there has been an abandoning of the crazy idea of a “partition of Kosovo”, which would lead the whole region into new chaos, and that the solution does not lie in the drawing of new borders.

This is a century in which borders are being erased, with the complete freedom of movement of people, goods and capital being achieved. They failed to solve the Kosovo problem for two decades through strong international military and civilian missions, because they allowed local leaders to remain in power, fuelling intolerance between Serbs and Albanians, and because they tolerated regional criminals that are suited by a state of chaos and hopelessness. When the influence of extremists and criminals on the government is eliminated, political problems become much less important. When international control of police cooperation in the region is established, results in the fight against regional criminals can be expected, and that is the key to peace in the Western Balkans.

24

October

PROFESSOR FLORIAN BIEBER CENTRE FOR SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF GRAZ

SMALL STORM IN THE REGION THE ELECTION RESULTS IN MONTENEGRO ARE OF REGIONAL SIGNIFICANCE, BUT IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHETHER THEY WILL BE JUST A BRIEF SIGNAL RATHER THAN A SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE. ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE IS NO BREAKTHROUGH IN SIGHT IN THE CASE OF THE DIALOGUE BETWEEN BELGRADE AND PRIŠTINA

Despite renewed activity in the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština, the Washington summit was hardly a breakthrough and the dialogue in Brussels is progressing only slowly. Thus, there is no breakthrough in sight. This is no surprise, considering the challenges to the dialogue. First, the government in Kosovo is weak and unpopular and, second, it is not clear that the Serbian side is eager to tackle the difficult issue of normalising relations fully any time soon. In this sense, the recent meetings suggest that there is a regular exchange and dialogue, but the atmosphere is still tense and each side interprets the results very differently. It appears that the timing is not yet ripe for a decisive leap in the dialogue, as both parties are suffering from the inability to secure a broad, cross-party consensus on an agreement and lack the resolve to tackle difficult issues. On the other hand, the two parallel negotiations, led respectively by the EU and the U.S., do not ease the framework, and having a clear, unified dialogue framework, with common messages from the EU and the U.S., would be essential in securing a lasting settlement.

In this sense, the elections in Montenegro are IN THE CASE OF THE BELGRADE-PRIŠTINA more significant. Not only has it ended the 30-year majority of the ruling party and its DIALOGUE HAVING A CLEAR, UNIFIED allies, it has also challenged authoritarianism DIALOGUE FRAMEWORK, WITH at the ballot box. This sends a strong signal COMMON MESSAGES FROM THE EU AND for the region that autocrats who operate in a U.S., WOULD BE ESSENTIAL IN SECURING formally democratic system can be outvoted in elections, even if the elections themselves A LASTING SETTLEMENT are not fair. The success of the opposition in Montenegro was possible because there are viable independent media in Montenegro and the opposition, while divided, ran in three clear coalitions. The elections were also galvanised by the Law on Religion, which turned out to be a miscalculation of the government. Whether or not these elections will have broader regional ramifications will also depend on the ability of the opposition to work together and deal with the major challenges of state capture and clientelism. There will be temptations to follow the same pattern as the ruling party, and with an ideologically fractious opposition there is always a chance that a transfer of power might be short-lived. In addition, the challenge will be to keep key international commitments, such as EU integration, NATO membership and a clear pro-Western position in place – not just formally, but also in practise. In short, the election results are of regional significance, but it remains to be seen whether they will be just a brief signal rather than a substantial change.

October

25

Focus

Has something of critical importance just happened in the Western Balkans?

ZORAN LUTOVAC

PRESIDENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY

INDICATOR OF GREAT CHANGE

BOTH EVENTS COULD BE AN INDICATION OF A SUBSTANTIAL SHIFT IN FOCUS FROM INTERETHNIC AND IDENTITY ISSUES TO ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ISSUES, ON THE ONE HAND, AND A COMPLETE AND UNEQUIVOCAL SHIFTING OF THE ENTIRE REGION TOWARDS A EURO-ATLANTIC PERSPECTIVE, ON THE OTHER

Both the Montenegrin elections and the latest stage of the Serbia-Kosovo Dialogue could be a hint of something fundamentally important. Specifically, in Montenegro, for the first time, the government lost its majority in the elections. For the first time in history! It is a major step forward, not only politically, but also in terms of civilisation.

It could also be said that the only undisputed winner of these elections was the EU, because now neither the government nor the opposition challenge the pro-European foreign policy course, and the winTHE ONLY UNDISPUTED WINNER OF ners could be all of Montenegro’s citizens, because this time the MONTENEGRO’S ELECTIONS WAS THE EU, topic of interethnic division was not BECAUSE NOW NEITHER THE GOVERNenough to win the elections. If this MENT NOR THE OPPOSITION CHALLENGE becomes the rule, that will also be a big step forward in stabilising the THE PRO-EUROPEAN FOREIGN POLICY political and social situation in the COURSE, AND THE WINNERS COULD BE multinational Montenegro.

ALL OF MONTENEGRO’S CITIZENS The Washington agreement has not brought any substantial progress in resolving the Kosovo problem, but it symbolically marked a stronger official step forward of Belgrade towards the West, and a turn towards resolving existential problems that were overshadowed by diplomatic disputes on the status of Kosovo.

Both of these events could be an indicator of a substantial shift away from interethnic and identity issues towards economic and social problems, on the one hand, and, on the other, a complete and unequivocal shifting of the entire region towards a Euro-Atlantic perspective.

26

October

Leaders’

BOŽIDAR ALEKSANDROVIĆ, ALEKSANDROVIĆ WINERY

ALEKSANDAR SAVOVIĆ, GEOINOVA INFORMATIČKI INŽINJERING

Taste Of The Exotic

Recognisable On The International Market

PAGE /28

PAGE /32

MEETING POINT MARICA BOŠKOVIĆ PETRONIJEVIĆ, WORK SPACE ONE

Work Space One More Than A Space PAGE /33

DRAGAN DAKIĆ, MONTOP PRO

MARUŠA KERČ VESEL, KOVINTRADE

Progress Requires Investment And Step Further Effort On Progress PAGE /36

PAGE /37

BOŽIDAR ALEKSANDROVIĆ, OWNER OF ALEKSANDROVIĆ WINERY

Taste Of The Exotic The Aleksandrović family has been engaged in viticulture and winemaking for almost 120 years. As the owners of 75 hectares of vineyards, they produce wines exclusively from hand-picked grapes that they cultivate themselves. This has resulted in more than 250 of the most prestigious awards from around the world tant in the production of grapes and wine, because grapevines have been grown in this region since the time of ancient Rome.

History also reminds us of very important facts, such as the choice of grape assortments, choice of expositions, terrain, land etc. These are all legacies from the past that we must respect in order to continue the tradition and plant the highest quality grapes in the best locations.

Apart from my family, the royal Karađorđević family, which in the 1920s planted vineyards on the south-eastern slopes of Oplenac with a high-quality grape variety imported from France, also played a great role in the development of viticulture and winemaking in this area.

A

ll experience and knowledge gained over the course of 120 years have been incorporated into the family wines of the Aleksandrović Winery. Modern technology and contemporary scientific knowledge came later, but if it wasn’t for their heritage and the transferring of experience from generation to generation, these top wines certainly wouldn’t exist.

Your family has been engaged in viticulture and winemaking for almost 120 years. Have the working methods, recipes and secrets of producing top-quality wines been passed down from generation to generation?

Tradition and heritage are very impor-

28

October

In the time of your great-grandfather Miloš, who started the whole story, everything was made by hand, and even today your grapes are picked by hand? How do you do that with so much surface area? If we aren’t mistaken, you have 75 hectares of vineyards!

If you wish to produce top quality wine, it is essential to incorporate a lot of knowledge, but also a lot of hard human labour. Harvest time is one of the most beautiful moments in the year, when you are rewarded by nature for all that you’ve done well during the course of the year.

Pruning is carried out by hand, bending the bows, pulling up the shoots, thinning out the leaves and excess fruit, and finally harvesting. This is a job that requires over 400 hours of arduous human labour per hectare annually. We succeed because we have a trained team of winegrowers, who

manage to perform all these operations on time and in a high-quality way.

Your winery has a long and rich history, but we mustn’t overlook the new stage, which only began in the year 2000 with the construction of modern facilities and the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment. Was that when this incredible success started?

We monitor world trends and styles constantly. It is essential to have a winery, equipment, knowhow, technology and, most importantly, professional people who nurture wines every single day. Over the last 20 years we’ve built a winery that can receive grapes and produce top quality wines from our 75 hectares of vineyards. We’ve procured the latest equipment, have a team of people who’ve been working together for more than 10-15 years, led by chief oenologist Vladan Nikolić, who is one of the region’s greatest wine experts. So, our success is the result of teamwork, the latest scientific knowledge and the investments that we’ve made in the last 20 years.

One could say that Serbian wines are becoming recognisable and appreciated beyond the borders of our country. As one of the leaders of the “new wave” of Serbian winemaking, how do you see the future of wines from our country?

I’ve been saying for a long time that Šumadija has some specificities that set it apart from other regions. The wines created under this piece of sky, on this piece of land, exude elegance, have a beautiful body, good balance and a richness of aromas. We also

mustn’t forget the favourable climatic factors, the hilly landscapes and the strength of the Šumadija climate, all of which are woven into our wines. The synergy of numerous factors is incorporated into the quality of Šumadijan and Serbian wines, and the result of that is the medals that we’ve won over the last ten years at the most prestigious world competitions. Our wines carry within them a diversity that can be explained in one word: exotic. Wine critics, traders and wine lovers around the world are increasingly paying attention to Serbian wines, which are appearing on wine lists in Europe and around the world. I believe that in the future we are awaited by a significant place on the wine map of the world.

You started triumphantly with your wine Triumf [Triumph], but Harizma [Charisma] and Vizija [Vision] also soon imposed themselves on the scene, along with some other new wines. Could you single out just one as your favourite?

That would certainly be Triumf, our guiding star and the wine that paved the way for all other wines from our palette; a wine that has an authentic history. Triumf was produced back in the 1930s by the Royal Winery at the foot of Oplenac Hill, and with its quality it made it all the way to the royal courts of the United Kingdom, Romania and Yugoslavia. In an original handwritten manuscript, the recipe for the production of Triumf was sent to my family by the king’s cellar-man Živan Tadić, and since 1992 we’ve been applying an identical composition of varieties, which in a way deserves the most credit for the glory that Triumf has brought all these years. Of course, we have incorporated new knowledge and modern technology into it, so today Triumf is inscribing some new pages in the viticulture and winemaking history of this region.

Over time, we’ve planted new vineyards and produced new wines. Sparkling, white, rosé, red, late harvests etc. As the vineyards age, red wines distinguish themselves. Over the last ten years, that’s been the Regent Reserve, which has a cult status among Serbian red wines. And there’s also Rodoslov, as one of the most awarded and highest

declared the best wine in all categories, which gives this award a special charm.

Triumf is today inscribing some new pages in the viticulture and winemaking history of this region

quality red wines. We are particularly proud of our wine from the indigenous Prokupac variety, which occupies a significant place in the rich range of Aleksandrović Winery.

Do you count your awards? Which is the most recent and which is the dearest to you?

Each of the more than 250 international awards is special in its own way, because it is the result of a great effort and the work of an entire team of people. Perhaps the dearest awards to me are the ones that are most recent. Triumf was officially declared the best wine in the Balkans at a recent competition that included the participation of wines from Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Croatia and Serbia. In competition alongside a large number of wineries and wines, the Triumf Selection 2019 was

Is it true that wines from the Aleksandrović Winery are included in the World Wine Museum in Bordeaux and on the wine lists of the world’s most prestigious hotels and restaurants?

When the Cité du Vin, the world wine museum, opened in Bordeaux five years ago, the wines of Aleksandrović Winery were chosen in the first exhibition and were among the world’s most prestigious wines. This is one of the greatest achievements, because wines from such a small country as Serbia, which is almost unknown in wine circles, especially when it comes to the production of top wines, found themselves among such giants as French, Italian, Californian, Spanish and Portuguese wines. This is an acknowledgement of many years of work and continuity of quality.

Our wines have been on the wine lists of prestigious restaurants, hotels and wine bars for ten years, starting from Tokyo, via Shanghai, Hong Kong, Moscow and Western European cities, all the way to New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. We would say that a beautiful wine story has spread, and we are proud that our wines are also ambassadors of our country worldwide.

October

29

“It is now more important than ever for the FIC to unite its efforts with the Government in working on improvements to regulatory, legal and other aspects of reforms.”– MIKE MICHEL, FOREIGN INVESTORS COUNCIL PRESIDENT

LOCAL NEWS

SKYLINE PRESENTED TOWER A The residential and business complex Skyline Belgrade has opened its doors to present the completed Tower A, as well as the show apartment, which is located at Ulica kneza Miloša 90a, and fully reflects the superior quality of life that this complex provides.

Since the beginning of the year, all who have moved into their Skyline apartment has been welcomed by a team in charge of professional maintenance, a 24-hour reception, video surveillance and security, as well as a spacious underground garage with controlled card access. In just a few weeks, the residents of this complex will have the opportunity to enjoy the largest indoor private pool and the most modern Saruna Spa and Wellness Center in the city, whose works are nearing completion.

The investor of the project is AFI Europe Serbia.

eAGRAR PLATFORM AS THE KEY FOR AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT The development of eAgrar platform will ease the registration for around 400,000 active households and the process of submitting applications for the national incentives to farmers, and this is why this platform will be one of the main priorities of NALED’s Food and Agriculture Alliance in the following two years.

The first results in the development of eAgrar are expected already next year, said the Minister of Agriculture Branislav Nedimović at the ceremonial session of this working body.

ČADEŽ AND RUKIĆI: WE ARE ESTABLISHING A JOINT TEAM OF BUSINESSMEN In a joint statement, Marko Cadez president of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (SCC) and Berat Rukici , president of Kosovo Chamber of Commerce (PKK), Marko Cadez and Berat Rukici, announced the establishment of a joint team that will help more efficient implementation of projects, as a contribution of business communities to the economic normalization envisaged by the Washington agreements.

This came after meeting with Richard Grenell, Donald Trump’s special envoy for BelgradePristina dialogue and Adam Boehler, executive director of the US International Development Finance Corporation. International Development Finance Corporation

APPLICATIONS FOR THE ELEVATOR LAB CHALLENGE 2020 OPEN Raiffeisen bank is inviting fintech startups to compete for valuable prizes as a part of the Elevator Lab challenge 2020. Teams participating in the competition will have the opportunity to present their innovations and the latest solutions in the field of financial technologies to industry and startup ecosystem experts. Applications were officially opened on 16 September and will last until 31 October 2020.

This year, the local finals will be held entirely online for the first time, on 20 November for Bosnia and Herzegovina, 23 November for Serbia and 26 November for Croatia. The best startups from each competition receive a prize of € 5,000, as well as the opportunity to present their idea to the board of directors of Raiffeisen Bank in their country.

An additional, and even more significant prize is that the regional winner will have the opportunity to present at the International Elevator Lab Demo Day in March / April 2021.

30

October

“We have allocated a total of 50 million euros, for the first time, to socially responsible companies for encouraging the long-term employment of people from vulnerable social groups.” – DUBRAVKA NEGRE, HEAD OF EIB WESTERN BALKANS

Placements postings

&

appointments@aim.rs

H.E. YAHEL VILAN, AMBASSADOR OF ISRAEL TO SERBIA

Alcino dos Prazereslzata Francisco da Conceição earned a degree in Economics and Finance from France’s Jules Verne University before beginning his professional career in February 2002 at the Financial Department (DF) of Elf Exploration Angola, now Total. He joined the Ministry of Planning in 2003 as a senior officer of the National Directorate of Studies and Planning (DNEP), serving as Head of the Department, then was engaged as a professor at a private university in Luanda between 2004 and 2008.

He joined the Board of Directors of the International Monetary Fund, based in Washington, DC, in 2010, serving as an Advisor to the Executive Director, before entering the cabinet of the Vice President of the Republic of Angola as Advisor (Vice Minister) for Economic and Business Affairs in 2014. Reappointed to the position of Advisor to the Vice President of the Republic of Angola (Vice Minister) for Economic and Social Affairs in 2017, he became Secretary (Minister) of the President of Angola for Economic Affairs in June 2018, a position he held until August 2019.

Ambassador Vilan earned a BA in Political Science at the University of Tel Aviv, where he also completed an MA in Security Studies.

He served as director of the Department of Eastern and Southern Africa at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem from 2017 to 2020, prior to which – from 2015 to 2017 – he held the post of ambassador of Israel resident in Nairobi, in charge of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi and the Seychelles. He previously held the positions of minister and deputy chief of mission at the embassies of Israel in India, Poland and Hungary.

Ambassador Vilan served as first secretary of the Department for Palestinian Affairs from 2003 to 2004 and advisor to the Department for Northeast Asia from 2004 to 2005, stationed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem. He held the position of consul for public relations at the Embassy of Israel in New York from 2001 to 2003, served as first secretary and chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of Israel in Vietnam from 1998 to 2001, and previously held the post of chargé d’affaires of the Israeli Embassy in the Democratic Republic of Congo from 1997 to 1998.

Apart from his native Hebrew, he speaks English and French and is a married father of four children.

H.E. SUSANNE SHINE, NEW AMBASSADOR OF DENMARK TO SERBIA

IVA PETROVIĆ, NEWLY APPOINTED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NORDIC BUSINESS ALLIANCE

Prior to arriving in Belgrade, Susanne Shine she served as Danish Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt (2016-18); Deputy Chief of Mission at the Danish Embassy in Washington, with the rank of ambassador (2012-14); and Danish Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand (2007-12). She was Senior Advisor at the World Bank in Washington from 2014-16.

Ambassador Shine joined the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1994, following three years with UNDP in Lesotho. She has held several high level positions in the Ministry, including Head of Department within the Trade Council and Head of the Permanent Secretary’s Secretariat. She served as deputy head of mission at the Danish Embassies in Canada (1997-2000) and Ireland (2003-2005).

Ambassador Shine holds a Masters Degree in International Business from Copenhagen Business School in Denmark and a diploma in American Foreign Policy and Security from the American University in Washington.

She is a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog and has two adult children.

Iva Petrović is a seasoned business professional with over 20 years of international experience in various industries, functions and locations. She started her career in 1997 at Deloitte Consulting in Atlanta, U.S.A., where she developed strategies for clients such as Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, CNN and multiple financial institutions and technology start-ups. Iva worked as a professional volunteer for the Serbian Ministry of Finance and Economy in 2001 and 2002, serving as a special advisor on designing crucial reforms and facilitating the country’s transition to a market economy. After receiving her MBA from Harvard University, she led brand management efforts at the New York headquarters of Revlon, where she launched new products and executed global marketing campaigns. She transitioned to financial services in 2007, joining Citigroup, first serving in New York and subsequently in Prague and London. During her tenure at Citigroup, Iva played global and regional management roles, serving corporate clients, governments and financial institutions.

H.E. ALCINO IZATA DA CONCEIÇÃO, NEW AMBASSADOR OF ANGOLA TO SERBIA

October

31

ALEKSANDAR SAVOVIĆ, DIRECTOR, GEOINOVA INFORMATIČKI INŽINJERING, BANJA LUKA

Recognisable On The International Market The INOVA Group has spent the past 20 years focusing on the development of integrated CAD and GIS software support for the sustainable management of space and infrastructure systems.

Inova’s software solutions have a very long list of users that includes more than 400 public and private companies, as well as local and state administrations

A

s many as 80 per cent of our customers are domestic and foreign private companies, which certainly consider carefully what they are purchasing. in 20 years of operations we haven’t received a single negative reference from the aspect of timeliness and in accordance with the specification of the work performed, notes Mr Savović with pride

Together with your sister companies, you are a regional leader in the development and implementation of CAD and GIS solutions.

Where are all those solutions present?

We are still most recognisable on the international market for our software package for planning, designing, maintaining and managing telecommunications networks and systems (Inova TeleCADGIS). Over the last three years we’ve developed and implemented similar SW solutions for companies that manage road infrastructure (Inova RoadCAD-GIS), and electricity transmission and distribution (Inova ElectroCAD-GIS). Of course, in a developmental sense we haven’t neglected our oldest SW package to support local and state administrations in the field of spatial planning and urbanism (Inova AreaCAD-GIS). We increasingly adapt our solutions to support SmartCity and

32

October

BIM projects, i.e. the smart management of spatial and infrastructural resources, as well as energy efficient urbanism and construction.

We increasingly adapt our solutions to support the smart management of spatial and infrastructural resources, as well as energy efficient urbanism and construction

Over the past 12 years you’ve proven the expertise and quality of your own solutions through the implementation of more than 120 IT projects. Could you cite some of them for us?

Our long-term partners are Telekom Srbija, Mtel Banja Luka, Mtel Podgorica, BH Telekom, Telekom Slovenija, Elektromreže Srbije, PE Elektroprivreda Srbije, Elektrokrjina Banja Luka, Iskra Stegne Ljubljana, Energoinvest Sarajevo, PE Autoceste Republike Srpske, PE Autoceste Federation BiH, PE Roads of Republika Srpska, the Urban Planning Institute of Republika Srpska, the

Geodetic Administration of Republika Srpska, the city administrations of Banja Luka, Prijedor, Gradiška, Sarajevo and others. Our users also include important members of global companies: Telenor, Nokia, Huawei, Telemah, ZTE, Mital and others.

Our main clients know that we are respectable partners and official developers of the world’s strongest companies in the field of technical software and databases (Autodesk, Oracle etc.), that our technical support is available 24/7, that we constantly adapt our solutions to their needs, and not the other way around... That instils trust.

The majority of your projects are financed by regional telecommunications operators, the World Bank, USAID, GTZ, UNDP etc. Does that testify to your quality?

INOVA group acquired most of its projects by participating in tenders that were announced and controlled by organisations with strict international standards and validated rules (the World Bank, UNDP, EBRD, USAID, JICA, GTZ etc.). Our policy of quality complies fully with integral ISO standards in the IT domain, the rules of the Open GIS Consortium and the European directive INSPIRE, in which one of our employees is the only editor from our region. The most important indicator of our quality are the thousands of projects for our users created using INOVA software with transparent economic benefits.

MARICA BOŠKOVIĆ PETRONIJEVIĆ, MANAGING DIRECTOR, WORK SPACE ONE

Work Space One More Than A Space Work Space One is technically equipped according to the world’s highest standards. Functionally more perfect compared to other spaces of this type in Belgrade, it also has a very different interior. That’s what makes it different from usual co-working spaces

W

e develop an atmosphere of teamwork and dedication to work. We encourage exchanges of ideas and business connections. We organise gatherings, have fun and create an environment in which people feel satisfied, and thus more productive. Visit us and see for yourself!

Co-working spaces are increasingly present around the world and in our country, but Work Space One has a specific concept in Belgrade. What would you say to your future tenants and clients?

Work Space One [WSO] was created with the desire to be a home for renowned global and domestic companies, as well as anyone starting work as individuals or under the scope of their own start-ups. We sought inspiration in London, one of the centres of world business, and followed experiences there.

WSO isn’t just a space, but is composed primarily of people who build their businesses in our offices, or in a co-working space intended for individuals and in meeting rooms with state-ofthe-art video conferencing equipment. All of our tenants share a unique common

area and a private garden equipped with comfortable seating, where they make new contacts. This is where business ideas are born while clients take coffee breaks, try home-made cakes and taste good wines, enjoy informal conversations and connect businesses.

How important is it for tenants that the space is innovative, comfortable and equipped with complete business infrastructure?

The space in which we work is extremely grateful in terms of location, functionality and aesthetics, while the vibe of the entire environment is impor-

The space in which we work is extremely important in terms of location, functionality and aesthetics, while the vibe of the entire environment is also important

tant. WSO is located in the most modern and beautiful business complex, Green Heart, situated in the heart of Belgrade’s business world, which has excellent connections with the airport, hotels and restaurants. The facility we work in has a LEED Gold certificate, takes care of minimising energy consumption

and also recycles. People who opt for WSO value sustainability, design and professionalism.

Another extremely important element is the fact that Green Heart belongs to company GTC, which is a leader in the world of real estate and has tenants that are eminent foreign and domestic companies. This is a business environment in which new businesses achieve maturity and existing businesses develop success. Having such business contacts at your fingertips is another reason why our clients opt for WSO. Will an interest and need for personalised and co-working spaces grow as a result of the benefits they provide? What are the advantages of Work Space One compared to other co-working spaces?

Doing business successfully today relies on flexibility to a great extent.

Considering that we work with independent entrepreneurs, but also with small and large companies, we are aware that everyone has distinct needs that we try to fulfil. As such, you can rent space in our co-working zone on a daily basis, rent the office of your dreams on a monthly basis, or organise meetings and presentations in conference rooms equipped to the highest standards. And we’ve also enabled undisturbed parking.

We encourage exchanges of ideas and the connecting of businesses. I believe that our focus on our own success and the success of our tenants is recognised.

October

33

REGIONAL NEWS

“Everybody said, ‘Hey, it couldn’t be done.’ But it was the President Donald Trump’s ability, Richard Grenell’s ability, President Aleksandar Vucic’s and Kosovo’s Avdullah Hoti to say, ’Let’s not just get caught in the past. Let’s get going forward.“ – ADAM BOEHLER, CEO, U.S. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION SLOVENIA

SLOVENIAN’S MERCATOR TURNED TO A CONSOLIDATED NET LOSS OF 69.2 MILLION EURO Slovenian retailer Mercator said in a statement that it turned to a consolidated net loss of 69.2 million euro ($80.6 million) in the first half of 2020, from a consolidated profit of 2.4 million euro in the like period of 2019. “Due to the revaluation of property and impairments to other assets, especially due to the effect of COVID-19, Mercator Group ended the period 1–6 with a negative net income of EUR 69.2 million. It should be underscored that these impairments comply with the International Accounting Standards (IAS 36) and that they did not affect Mercator Group’s cash flow or business performance,” Mercator said in a statement.

ROMANIA, ALBANIA

ROMANIA AND ALBANIA LEAD SEE COUNTRIES ON ECONOMIC FREEDOM According to the Fraser Institute’s 2020 annual report on global economic freedom, Romania and Albania are again the most economically free jurisdictions among 11 countries of Southeast Europe.

All SEE countries have improved their scores compared to last year’s edition of the report with the exception of Croatia which was ranked lower, the Canadabased think-tank said in the report published on Thursday.

The ranking measures the degree of economic freedom in five broad areas - size of government: expenditures, taxes, and enterprises; legal structure and security of property rights; access to sound money; freedom to trade internationally; and regulation of credit, labour, and business.

CROATIA

CROATIA’S NANOBIT ACQUIRED

BY SWEDISH GAMING STUDIO STILLFRONT GROUP Free-to-play gaming studio Stillfront Group from Sweden stated that it has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of Croatian developer and publisher of mobile games Nanobit.

The deal valued at up to $148 million (125 million euro) on a cash and debt free basis will be executed in two tranches.

78% of Nanobit will be purchased in the first tranche for an initial consideration of some $100 million and the remaining 22% changing hands in the second tranche for a consideration not exceeding $48 million, Stillfront said in a statement. The second tranche consideration will depend on Nanobit’s EBITDA in 2021 and 2022, and will be payable by Stillfront in 2023.

34

October

“By accepting the election outcome, we are ready to be the strongest opposition party, which will take into account the strategic national interests in the coming period, as it has done so far.” – MILO DJUKANOVIC, PRESIDENT OF MONTENEGRO BULGARIA

BULGARIA’S RETAIL SALES FELL BY 17.5% Bulgaria’s retail sales fell by 17.5% year-on-year in terms of volume in July, the sharpest decrease among all EU member states for which data is available for the seventh month of 2020, the bloc’s statistical office said.

On a monthly comparison basis, Bulgaria’s retail sales edged up 0.1% in terms of volume in July, according to the Eurostat statement.

Among EU member states in Southeast Europe (SEE), only Romania posted an annual retail sales increase - of 4.8%.

The country’s retail sales volume added 3.9% on a montly comparison basis, the highest increase among EU-27, along with Portugal.

MONTENEGRO

MONTENEGRO MAY HAVE TO CLOSE PLJEVLJA TPP BY END-2020 Montenegro may be obliged to close the Pljevlja thermal power plant by the end of 2020, as it will exceed the maximum operational hours set under the Large Combustion Plants Directive, the Energy Community said.

The Pljevlja TPP has operated for 14,812 hours out of a total 20,000 allowed under the opt-out clause of the Large Combustion Plants Directive and its expected closure date, calculated based on the extrapolation of the average usage ratio in 2018 and 2019, is November 2020, the Energy Community said in a Energy Transition Tracker posted on its website.

Other countries which would be obliged to close TPP units are Serbia and Bosnia.

NORTH MACEDONIA

N. MACEDONIA AIMS TO TAKE PART IN GREEK LNG TERMINAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT North Macedonia’s government said it is interested in participating in the construction of a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal being developed

by Greek company Gastrade off the coastal city of Alexandroupolis. North Macedonia’s prime minister Zoran Zaev expressed his country’s interest in taking part in the project during a meeting with Christos Copelouzos, CEO of Copelouzos Group, the founding member of Gastrade, held in Athens, the government said in a statement on Tuesday. The LNG terminal in Alexandroupolis, which is expected to become operational in early 2023, is planned to comprise an floating unit for reception storage and regasification of LNG, which will be a new, independent energy gateway for the markets of Southeastern and Central Europe.

October

35

DRAGAN DAKIĆ, DIRECTOR, MONTOP PRO

Progress Requires Investment And Effort Montop Pro is a company that provides services in the construction of telecommunications infrastructure and in the design and construction of data centres. In just a short period of time, this domestic company has established itself as a reliable and innovative partner in the construction of public facilities intended for various purposes thus been recognised as a reliable partner by some of the largest companies in the world of telecommunications.

T

he beginning of this year saw Montop establish its academy for the development and education of installers specialised in optical networks, thus becoming the first company in Serbia to have an academy of this mind.

According to company representatives, this was a logical move because their priorities are the development of employees, continuous education and training to handle future technological changes.

We are happy to be living in a time of unbelievable technological innovation. But are we aware that these innovations wouldn’t exist without the reliable infrastructure that represents their foundation and companies, like yours, that provide the required infrastructure?

Of course, this is precisely the priority motivation of our company – following rapid technological development with continuous progress. Apart from that, technological innovations make companies equal, given that they reduce the competitive advantage of some – even those that are best positioned – and lead to other companies standing out. Thanks to the fact that it took advantage of technological changes, Montop established a leading position for itself as a company and has

36

October

You have an excellent team, state-of-the-art equipment, partnership relations with suppliers, knowhow and experience ... Which of those is crucial for the survival, development and progress of a company, and particularly for gaining a leadership position?

The synchronisation of everything you’ve mentioned is a condition for achieving a leadership position. Progress requires investment, effort and a constant search for new ways to respond to the growing

Highly sophisticated equipment is a guarantee of the reliability of our system, while the progress of the company is dependent on the knowhow and abilities of employees

needs of clients. Moreover, it is crucial to be innovative in work and to monitor trends in order to maintain consistency in business. At the same time, such an approach is a guarantee of a company’s progress and inevitably propels it into a leading position. Highly sophisticated equipment is a guarantee of the reliability

of our system. The survival, development and progress of the company is certainly dependent on the knowhow and abilities of employees, and it is for this very reason that employee development, continuous education and training for future technological changes have the highest ranking in the hierarchy of Montop’s priorities as a company.

It was for these reasons that Montop founded its academy for the development and education of installers specialised in optic networks at the beginning of this year, thereby becoming the first company in Serbia to have its own academy of this kind.

You have been engaged in the construction of several hundred kilometres of access networks in all parts of Serbia. Is client satisfaction your best recommendation and reference?

It is certainly one of the main postulates of our company, i.e. a satisfied client and recommendation from them is the best marketing one can receive. We attach special importance to this.

The route to client satisfaction is in the way of working according to a model based on global companies in the world of telecommunications, so we distinguish ourselves from other companies with which we compete and raise the bar in terms of quality and quantity in the field in which we engage. That’s why it is important for us to be sure that, through our active work and relations with the client, we have created an experience of high client satisfaction.

MARUŠA KERČ VESEL, REGIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT KOVINTRADE CELJE; DIRECTOR AT KOVINTRADE BELGRADE

Step Further On Progress Kovintrade is a group that comprises the parent company, Kovintrade from Celje, and a network of subsidiaries with offices in 10 European countries, more than 6,200 customers and 1,200 suppliers in 50 countries. The group is proud of the fact that all its customers are also its strategic partners

T

hanks to constant growth in turnover, there was a need to procure land and build new warehouses in the industrial zone in Kragujevac.

The location itself permits the creating of major plans that include the opening of a retail outlet.

Kovintrade emerged in 1990, when the parent company was founded in Celje.

What does your group consist of; where does everything operate and what are all the areas it deals with?

Yes, our company has existed for a full three decades, so the network of our suppliers and customers has been created over the course of many years. We progressed step by step, slowly, from a small trading company to a group that has a network of subsidiaries with offices in 10 European countries.

We’ve been present in Serbia since 2004, as a trading house focused on ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, metallurgical products; raw materials and cutting services. We are glad to be able to boast of a total of 600 active customers and the constant growth of turnover. We expanded our business in 2006 with the founding of the Steel Centre Kragujevac, where we have 1,800m2 of storage space, and five

years ago we also opened a warehouse in Belgrade. A significant success factor on this development path is the creative and dedicated work of our employees. We are all jointly worthy of credit for the results, because we all share the same vision and all strive towards the same objective.

Quality, expertise, ethics, responsibility and credibility represent the main characteristics of your company. Are these your trump cards and your tools in striving to position the company among the leaders in the field of ferrous metallurgy?

Our wish is to be recognised for these characteristics, and our objective is to justify our slogan “Partner of knowledge

We are glad to be able to boast a total of 600 active customers and the constant growth of turnover

and trust” at all times. Apart from products, we also offer our customers professional assistance, training and additional advice, so that they really have a good partner in us.

One of the characteristics that is extremely important to us is flexibility, because our activities include not only sales, but also

complete customer support in the form of delivery, materials cutting and keeping the entire range in stock, so that we can deliver day after day. Among other things, that is one reason for our new investment in Kragujevac.

Does your need to purchase land in Kragujevac show that Kovintrade Serbia occupies an important place in the group, in terms of results and plans?

All of our subsidiaries are equally important to us, and each of the 10 of them has a deservedly important place in the company, although we at Kovintrade Serbia have shown that a good team can take a step further on development and progress with hard work and great commitment.

Kovintrade has to date leased both warehouse and office space, and now we’ve bought 10,000 square metres of land in Kragujevac for the construction of new warehouses. This is a great location, in the Industrial Zone near the highway at the very entrance to Kragujevac. Thanks to that, we have major plans for the period ahead.

We entered into this investment due to the increased volume of business and stable growth in Serbia, as well as the need to offer our customers the best possible service.

Moreover, this warehouse will also be interesting for the needs of our sister companies from neighbouring countries (Bulgaria, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina etc.), due to its attractive location and good connectivity.

October

37

“We’re confident that long term, we can design and manufacture a compelling $25,000 electric vehicle,” – ELON MUSK, CEO OF TESLA

WORLD NEWS EU

EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO CHALLENGE APPLE TAX BILL VERDICT The European Commission plans to appeal against a ruling that Apple does not have to pay 13bn euros (£11.6bn) in back taxes to Ireland.

The EU’s General Court had ruled in July there was no evidence Apple had broken any rules on tax paid there.

Ireland never disputed the arrangement but the European Commission, which brought the case, argued it enabled Apple to avoid taxes on EU revenues.

The EU said paying the correct amount of tax was “a top priority”.

In 2016, a court ruled that Apple had indeed been given illegal tax breaks by Dublin - but this was overturned in July 2020.

UK

VIRGIN GALACTIC JUMPS 25% IN ITS SECOND BEST DAY EVER Shares of Virgin Galactic surged nearly 25% in trading after Wall Street firms continued to set higher expectations for the space tourism stock. The stock jump came after Bank of America and Susquehanna began coverage of Virgin Galactic. Notably, the two firms join six others in recommending Virgin Galactic’s stock to investors, giving the company the eight Wall Street buy ratings – and zero to hold or sell.

Virgin Galactic’s 24.8% jump, with shares closing at $20.51, was its secondbiggest in a trading day since its public debut last year. The stock is up about 78% this year. The space tourism has yet to begin commercial service and lacks significant revenue, with quarterly losses of more than $50 million as it finishes developing its spacecraft. But Virgin Galactic is closing in on its final development milestones, with two key remaining test flights in the coming months.

FRANCE

AIR FRANCE LEADS TAX PUSHBACK IN CLIMATE VS RECOVERY FIGHT Air France-KLM AIRF.PA is battling new green taxes on top of the coronavirus crisis - in a test of growing policy tensions between righting Europe’s crippled airlines and delivering on climate goals.

The Franco-Dutch group, sustained by 10.4 billion euros ($12.2 billion) in state-backed loans, faces higher duties in both home markets as well as EU plans to hike airlines’ carbon costs.

The struggle unfolding around Air France-KLM is part of a larger reckoning for carbon-intensive industries as efforts to tackle global warming spawn more taxes and regulation.

While campaigners say those are long overdue, crisis-hit airlines warn their timing and severity will cost thousands more jobs and hurt development of lower-carbon technologies.

38

October

“Whilst tech roles dominate, the importance of the human touch persists,”– MARIANO MAMERTINO, SENIOR ECONOMIST AT LINKEDIN

INDIA

HARLEY-DAVIDSON TO EXIT WORLD’S BIGGEST BIKE MARKET

DENMARK

GRUNDFOS MAKES ORGANISATIONAL CHANGES Grundfos plans the next steps in their global transformation to strengthen its position as one of the world’s leading water technology companies, pioneering solutions to the world’s water and climate challenges and improving quality of life for people.

The Danish company is responding to trends in changing customer needs by reorganising for simplicity and speed, and by investing significantly into innovation and digital capabilities.

Grundfos is organising its sales, marketing, technology and operations functions to serve four different customer segments: Commercial Building Services, Domestic Building Services, Industry, and Water Utility. This creates a more customer centric structure, where the whole value chain is focused on meeting customers’ unique needs.

US

ORACLE BOOTS OUT MICROSOFT AND WINS BID FOR TIKTOK The Oracle -TikTok tie-up is confirmed as a concept. Oracle put out a release earlier today saying that is party to an agreement in which it would partner with TikTok, and that the proposal has been submitted to the US government. Here’s Oracle’s statement in full: Oracle confirms Secretary Mnuchin’s statement that it is part of the proposal submitted by ByteDance to the Treasury Department over the weekend in which Oracle will serve as the trusted technology provider.

Oracle has a 40-year track record providing secure, highly performant technology solutions.

Harley-Davidson is pulling out of India, the world’s biggest motorcycle market.

The iconic US motorcycle brand is stopping manufacturing and massively scaling back its sales operations.

Harley’s decision comes weeks after Toyota said it wouldn’t expand further in India due to the country’s high tax regime.

The exit is a blow for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to lure or retain foreign manufacturers.

Harley’s departure involves $75m (£59m) in restructuring costs, around 70 redundancies and the closure of its Bawal plant in northern India.

The plant was opened in 2011 but Harley-Davidson has struggled to compete with local brand Hero as well as Japan’s Honda.

QATAR

QATAR AIRWAYS REPORTS $2 BILLION LOSS Qatar Airways published its 2019-2020 annual report on Sunday, in which it reported that the airline recorded a loss of $2 billion for the period from 1 April 2019 to 31 March. The combination of the current airspace blockade against the Qatar, the liquidation of Air Italy, changes in accounting policy and reporting standards and the COVID-19 pandemic crisis were among the most important factors leading the Qatar Airways Group to report a net loss of 7 billion Qatari rials ($1.92 billion) for the fiscal year 2019-20. But the airline was sure to stress that not everything is in the red, which is evident in the increase in the group’s general income and other operating income to 51.1 billion rials, a 6.4% increase compared to last year.

Passenger revenue grew 8.9% with capacity growth of 3.2% when measured in available seat kilometers.

October

39

Enterpreneur ROBERT GENTZ CO-CEO ZALANDO SE

How Robert Gentz Built A

€1.8B Company In Six Years

40

October

The story of the rise of the business economist from Düsseldorf Robert Gentz to becoming the boss of the e-commerce success Zalando starts on a beach in Guatemala. Gentz was vacationing there at the beginning of 2007 and read in a newspaper that StudiVZ was sold to Holtzbrinck Publishers for a giant €85 million. “I found it fascinating,” Gentz later recalled. He asked himself, “How can a website be so valuable? What is valuable about it?”

ZALANDO OFFICES

Gentz could not forget the deal. He wanted to found his own internet company. His situation could hardly be better: Gentz was 23 at the time with a degree from the WHU in his pocket along with internships at Boston Consulting Group and Morgan Stanley. He also had a love for Latin America, which he

shared with his friend from university David Schneider. A few months later they founded their first startup in Monterrey, Mexico, where Gentz studied for one semester. It was called Unibicate, a social network for universities in Mexico, Argentina and Chile.

As well-connected WHU graduates, they

did not have any difficultly finding investors.They even went to Oliver Samwer who responded to their idea with: “Ridiculous!” And Samwer was right. Programmers for Unibicate were hard to find and the money from investors became scarce.

In 2008, Robert Gentz and David Schneider ended the project. At this point, both were living

October

41

Enterpreneur

ZALANDO SE MANAGEMENT BOARD (FLTR): DAVID SCHRÖDER, JIM FREEMAN, RUBIN RITTER, ROBERT GENTZ, DAVID SCHNEIDER

for eight months with no salary, as Gentz told author Hagen Seidel years later.

The failed founders were so broke that they did not have enough money to buy a plane ticket back to Europe. Once again, they turned to Oliver Samwer – and this time with success.

Samwer paid their return flight for them. In return, they both worked for many months at his price comparison portal tarifas24.

A short time later Gentz and Schneider were already looking for their next idea. They did not let themselves be discouraged by their failure. Instead, they claimed to have learned from it. “It was very clear to me that we should not try to found another social network,” explains Gentz. The model was “hardly predictable and difficult to scale.”

They began their second attempt back in Germany: an online shoe store that was modeled after Zappos in the U.S., which was later acquired by Amazon. This time Samwer invested: Alexander, the youngest of the three brothers, participated at the start with €50,000 and provided them with programmers from Rocket Internet in Berlin. They tested their model with an online shop for flip-flops. Gentz looked mainly after online marketing and customer support. “We were so always so happy when a customer would call,” recalls Gentz. “We could then ask the customer what works well on the website and what does not.” In the autumn of 2008 they

42

October

moved into their first office on Torstrasse in Berlin. Zalando was officially founded and the success story began.

Robert Gentz, David Schneider and Rubin Ritter, who joined in 2010, are still managing the company. Zalando today, however, has little in common with the start-up that began in 2008. The company now employs over 5,000 employees and had €1.8 billion in turnover in 2013 – up by more than 50%.

Is a start-up founder also the right leader for the management of a corporation? Robert Gentz is convinced, “We have done everything ourselves, and we still know how the process works.” He believes that this is a huge benefit “in comparison to big corporations that come from outside of the company’s management.”

By: Hannah Loeffler/VentureVillage

ZALANDO HEADQUARTERS

PROFILE

Every Day Is A New Beginning My motto is “Man becomes what he thinks”. In life I accept the thesis that destiny is largely shaped by character. Emotional investments, the things that we choose to live with, the situations we choose to find ourselves in, depict our character. In life, a person sees only what he wants to see, whether beautiful or ugly

AMRA LATIFIĆ,

PROFESSOR AT THE BELGRADE FACULTY OF MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS, ACTRESS AND WRITER

I

graduated from the Belgrade Faculty of Philology and the Faculty of Dramatic Arts, Department of Acting. I earned my doctorate in artistic avant-garde at the Belgrade University of Arts in 2006. I dedicated the book Paradigms of Russian avant-garde and postmodern art to this topic. My favourite areas of focus are writing and acting. In my book The Idea of Acting: Performative Artecosmism, I wrote about acting not as a discipline of an imitative and reproductive character, but about it as peak imagination. I recognised one form of artistic freedom in my authorial film, in which I realised several acting roles. I’m happy to relate my experiences in the field of art with my students at the Faculty of Media and Communications. Everyday work with students fulfils me, because I really love my students and their energy. I’m currently working on the preparation of a monograph about our great ballerina and activist Jelena Šantić.

My hometown of Belgrade is a city that I love because of the wonderful people there, first and foremost my friends. I dedicated the

book Cosmopolitan Shine of the Belgrade White Ballet to the city. I chose to remain in Belgrade to live and work, and I have a lot of respect for the people who made the same decision and chose to go through the challenging times in which we’ve lived. I respect people, but I try not to be fascinated by anyone. I don’t believe my enemies, I see them as a temptation. I surround myself with those people who can help elevate me.

I also have no fear of falling, as I’ve fallen many times in my life and concluded that the world can sometimes be seen more clearly from a lower perspective. In every

I respect people, but I try not to be fascinated by anyone.

I don’t believe my enemies, I see them as a temptation.

I surround myself with those people who can help elevate me. I also have no fear of falling, as I’ve fallen many times in my life and concluded that the world can sometimes be seen more clearly from a lower perspective

perspective one needs to find something that’s useful for oneself. Ultimately, happiness is solely a matter of my decision, and that’s what I manage. Achieving happiness is an everyday process, and not a moment or a situation. It shouldn’t be connected exclusively to external influences. I often discuss this with my students. When you desire and start managing your own happiness, it can be said that you’ve already found happiness.

I decided long ago that I don’t have time for negative emotions, undermining everything around me, cynicism, self-pity, weariness...

Travel, seminars, performances and writing comprise the everyday dynamics of my life.

I do not belong to any ideologies, as they demand compensation, assimilation and loyalty, and that’s not who I am. I pay for my freedom, sometimes a high price. I think that’s courage and a challenge in today’s times, and the only way to create honest and authentic art. This time in which we live constantly places us in some kinds of categories of success, unfortunately. But success isn’t a moment or a current status; success is a way of thinking. I always enjoy the process of working, and not achieving an objective. Achieving an objective takes a second or two, and then what? Then comes either a fall or some other peak. In that sense I don’t acknowledge the term “peak of one’s career”. Every day is a new beginning and an opportunity to do something new and do something differently.

October

43

Art

Poland

TRAIN STATION IN THE RECOVERED TERRITORIES, ANDRZEJ WRÓBLEWSKI (FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE POLISH HISTORY MUSEUM)

The Impact Of

Artistic Creativity On Poland 44

October

At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, Poland did not exist as a state, but was divided between Austria, Russia and Prussia. Despite attempts to break the Polish national spirit, subsequent generations have been striving for cultural and linguistic unity ever since. The key to overcoming this struggle was art and literature. In those terrible times, art lit up people’s hearts and rekindled hope by preserving patriotic and cultural patterns with metaphor and symbolism

T

his doesn’t mean that Polish art has lagged behind the European avantgarde. Instead, it formed its own identity. The tradition of the Polish avant-garde dates back to 1917 when the first exhibition of Polish Expressionists was opened in Krakow, just a year before Poland regained independence. This initiated the blossoming of avant-garde trends in the interwar period and started a time of experimentation. A new perspective about art was formed and began to play a part in building a new society.

BUILDERS OF WORLDS In 1918, after 123 years of partitions, the country regained its sovereignty. This act led to artistic freedom and a flourishing Polish art scene. Artists came from various, sometimes overlapping groups: Polish Expressionists; the Bunt Group; Art Formists, who were drawing inspiration from Cubists; Futurists and Expressionists translated into Polish; Cubists; Suprematists and Constructivists; Praesens, groupings of architects and artists similar to the Bauhaus; and De Stijl programs.

A special place in Polish art history dur-

ing that time belongs to the a.r. group (“real avant-garde” or “revolutionary artists”), whose most well-known champions were Władysław Strzemiński, Katarzyna Kobro, and Henryk Stażewski. They all believed in combining various art forms in the service of society and developed theories about modern art that they pursued in their own way.

One of the greatest achievements of the group was their collecting of works by the most important artists of that time, with the aim of creating an International Collection of Modern Art. Today this is the core collection of the Museum of Art in Łódź. This action was met with great interest from the European avant-garde, leading many great artists – such as Fernand Leger, Max Ernst, Hans Arp, and Kurt Schwitters – to donate their works. Their collection represented many movements such as Cubism, Futurism, Constructivism, Purism, Neo-plasticism, and Surrealism. It was made available to the public on 15th February 1931.

As well as groups of artists, there were also artistic personalities who left their mark on subsequent generations of artists. The most important of them in the 1920s was Witkacy

COMPOSITION, HENRYK STAŻEWSKI (FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE POLISH MFA)

(Stanisław Witkiewicz-son) who created the artistic approach Pure Form. According to his concept, Pure Form combined formal elements in a painting that ultimately aimed to convey the “Mystery of Existence” and metaphysical anxiety.

Witkacy was also one of the few avant-garde painters of that time who painted portraits to order. In addition to fantastical phantasmagoric and naturalistic portraits, the painter created deformed images of friends imagined by the artist while under the influence of drugs.

POLISH ART DURING TIMES OF TOTALITARIANISM The development of the first wave of avantgarde artists was interrupted by the Second World War, however, the tradition and ethos of that time strongly influenced the work of Polish artists in later decades. The post-war generation

October

45

Art

Poland

of artists were often torn between trying to cope with wartime trauma and creating new values.

This situation was not helped by the political atmosphere. The country remained under the domination of the USSR from 1947 to 1989 – a time marked by the communist Polish Workers’ Party government, which saw censorship and the dominance of propaganda art.

In the 1950s, socialist realism prevailed, leading to a vision of the world that conformed to the ideological theories of Marxism and Leninism, which was used as the main propaganda tool. The most powerful painting motifs were the depictions of the working people and the workers’ movement.

Some artists could not cope with wartime experiences and were not fooled by the prevailing propaganda. The most famous figuratist of the 1950s was Andrzej Wróblewski, one of the greatest Polish post-war artists. Until the end of his short life, he remained a rebel looking for his own artistic path, which drifted between abstraction and figuration. His best known work is a series of paintings called “Executions” from 1949 about occupation experiences. While Wróblewski died in a tragic mountaineering accident at the age of just 29, the artist’s work went on to influence the new figuration seen in the 80s.

A lot of artists turned away from this regime of art and instead went back to the path begun by the pre-war avant-garde. Tadeusz Kantor was one artist who adopted this experimental approach. His work from the 1940s took the form of metaphorical painting, addressing the relationship between space and figure. Kantor’s paintings from this time were dynamic metaphorical compositions characterized by an economical use of cool colors. During the occupation, he founded the Underground Independent Theater, where he put on revolutionary theatrical performances. He flourished in the days of the Khrushchev Thaw, the period from the early 1950s to the early 1960s when repression and censorship in the Soviet Union were relaxed after Joseph Stalin’s death in 1953.

The second coming of the avant-garde The impact of the Khrushchev Thaw on Polish art started in the second half of the 1950s and was marked by two trends: broadly defined expressive realism or social expressionism, and then a post-Thaw modernism that emerged during the late 1950s. Tadeusz Kantor was a key figure

46

October

PORTRAIT OF HELENA BIALYNICKA-BIRULA, STANISLAW IGNACY WITKIEWICZ (FROM THE COLLECTION OF MUZEUM SZTUKI, ŁÓDŹ)

[FROM LEFT, TOP ROW]: STANISŁAW WYSPIAŃSKI, LUCJAN RYDEL, KAROL MASZKOWSKI, [BOTTOM ROW] HENRYK OPIEŃSKI AND STANISŁAW ESTREICHER, AFTER GRADUATING FROM THE NOWOWWORSKI HIGH SCHOOL IN KRAKOW, 1887 (FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM IN KRAKOW)

By author

COVER FOR WITOLD GOMBROWICZ’S YVONNE PRINCESS OF BURGUNDIA, WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY TADEUSZ KANTOR (FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE THEATRE INSTITUTE OF WARSAW)

PROTEST BY JERZY BERES (FROM THE COLLECTION OF MUSEUM KAMPA)

in this. In 1955, referring to the pre-war Artist Theater Cricot, he founded the Cricot 2 Theatre together with Maria Jarema and Kazimierz Mikulski. Later he directed performances that became manifestos known as the Happening Theatre (1967), the Informel Theatre (1969), the Zero Theatre (1969), Impossible Theatre (c.1973), and the Theatre of Death (1975).

While his theatre performances were uniquely Kantor, for his painted works the artist was happy to draw inspiration from the latest trends in international art that he saw during his travels to places such as Paris and New York. On the basis of these experiences, he eventually gave up painting as such and started to create assemblages in the fields of Art Informel, Dadaism, and Conceptual Art. Kantor’s work defined artistic trends in Poland during the 1960s and 1970s. His approaches were continued by artists such as Jarosław Kozłowski, Jerzy Rosołowicz, Władysław Hasior and Jerzy Nowosielski, Roman Opałka, Jerzy Bereś, Alina Szapocznikow,Magdalena Abakanowicz, and many more.

The lack of political criticism in Polish art during the 1960s and ‘70s, or at least the lack of explicit criticism of the system of power, is a very characteristic phenomenon. This is a distinct feature of Polish art and culture at the time compared to its central European neighbors.

In the ‘70s examples of feminist interventions in Polish art could be observed. However, the works of artists such as Maria Pinińska-Bereś,

October

47

Art

Poland

Natalia LL, and Ewa Partum, functioned outside the sphere of real women’s problems, meaning their criticism and visual expressions of patriarchal culture fell outside the social sphere and wouldn’t have an impact until much later on.

An important turning point of Polish art in a political context was in 1989. Art created at that time responded to political and cultural changes that took place in the country due to a wave of revolutions that started in Poland and resulted in the end of communist rule in Central and Eastern Europe and beyond.

It was not until the late 1990s that critical art appeared. This saw Polish artists explore the issue of corporality and its entanglement in power structures. Artists turned their attention to the body, using it as a vessel for “experimentation, an object exposed to constant innovation” and a “space within which we define our subjectivity”.

Artists who played with concepts of the body included Grzegorz Klaman, Katarzyna Kozyra, Zofia Kulik, Konrad Kuzyszyn, Zbigniew Libera, Dorota Nieznalska, Alicja Żebrowska, and Artur Żmijewski. Since 2000 and all the way up to today, many contemporary artists have reevaluated the visual sphere, as well as concepts such as art, beauty, and aesthetics. Critical art analyzed the mechanisms of incapacitating the body through contemporary culture. For instance, through their creativity, they’ve used the body and adapted it to express unattainable ideals, training, and the embodiment of gender roles, as seen below in Zofia Kulik’s piece from 2007. Inspired by the previous 100 years of art in Poland, these days artists use methods seen in popular culture, allowing them to comment on reality and highlight the changes taking place within it.

By: Natalia Cetera/Google Arts & Culture

48

October

SPLENDOUR OF MYSELF V BY ZOFIA KULIK (FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE ZNAKI CZASU CENTRE OF CONTEMPORARY ART)

October

49

My life

Dragoljub Zamurović, architect, photographic artist

PAINTER WITH A CAMERA

50

October

By Radmila Stanković

Dragoljub Zamurović is the author of numerous photo monographs in which he preserved the beauty of the landscapes, countries and cities that represented the splendour of the former Yugoslavia and today’s Serbia. He recorded the horrors of the war of the 1990s, demonstrations and student riots, and made portraits of politicians, but he most likes reportage features as a journalism genre.

He’s had a cover page of Time magazine and realised his childhood dream of having one of his photos published in Life magazine. He was interested in the life unfolding around him and despised politics and politicians who failed to fulfil their preelection promises

A

DUST JACKET COVER OF THE PHOTOGRAPHIC MONOGRAPH ‘MY BELGRADE’

t this moment when I’m working on this article for CorD with him, he has a photo reportage published in the current issue of National Geographic magazine, under the headline Falconry in Serbia. It was worked on for precisely a year by Dragoljub Zamurović (73), a graduate architect and photography artist, and published over 18 pages in National Geographic.

This is actually the tenth reportage feature of this artist to be published in this renowned world magazine, and it received the Best Edit Award that’s presented for the best local production in the network of National Geographic magazine.

Zamurović is known to the general public for his numerous photographic monographs in which he presented the most beautiful landscapes of numerous countries, regions and cities. His oldest known ancestor was named Georgije Zamur, who came to Iđoš in 1692 from Mesopotamia, via Asia Minor and Greece.

Born in Niš, he was less than eight years old when his parents moved to Belgrade. They’d had a large three-room apartment and backyard in Niš, but upon arrival in Belgrade had to live in a 14-square-metre apartment together with his father, mother, brother and grandmother.Thankfully they didn’t stay there for long, as his father took out some loans and they exchanged the apartment

Zoran Đinđić understood photography and its significance, while Milošević and Koštunica didn’t for a bigger one. His grandmother died and his brother emigrated, first to Belgium and then to Australia. He lost two sisters early on, so the age difference between his oldest brother and him, as the youngest, was 13 years.

“My parents were very lenient with me. I suppose that was because they lost two girls and my brother left home, they did everything for me, both what they should have and what they shouldn’t. I had all the freedom that a child can have. I loved insects when I was a child. I collected them next to a street light in Niš, which they flew towards in the evenings. I hadn’t started going to school yet, but I would often stay until after midnight to wait for them and catch them. I also liked to go there to play very early in the morning. There I would find a group of boys who would go home after a while, and I would join another group and stay with

October

51

My life

Dragoljub Zamurović, architect, photographic artist

UVAC – IMAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHIC MONOGRAPH ‘SERBIA, LIFE AND CUSTOMS’

them. Sometimes I stayed like that all day, without lunch and without fear of being scolded for that.”

He started drawing as a child, with a graphite pencil, then he would dip matches in water to get colour, and he remembers well the moment when his aunt from Novi Sad sent him a box of wooden crayons. For his fifth birthday he received wax crayons, which he loved so much that he remained connected to oil pastels all his life. His parents enrolled him in electrical engineering, because, naturally, they wanted a secure occupation for their son, who would spend all day sketching and painting.

“When they saw how fascinated I was by painting, they were afraid that I had no future ahead of me. My father was particularly scared, so he would say to me “You’ll end up somewhere as a beggar beside the road, under a bridge, you can’t make a living from art. They enrolled me in electrical engineering. I spent a day short of

52

October

I believe that the only task of the government is to be at the service of the citizens; for there to be people in power who do their job like you and me, and not ridicule the citizens three months there as an extramural student. I went to all the lectures, to all the colloquia, but I didn’t pass anything. I dropped out and carried on painting. It was the most beautiful year of my life, all I did was paint.”

Due to the great age difference between them, Dragoljub’s older brother was a great authority for

him, which led to him having a decisive influence on him enrolling in architecture. He told him that he would be able to draw there, but also that architects have good prospects everywhere in the world, and so it turned out. He passed the entrance exam with ease, topping the list with the most points, and completed his studies in Belgrade. He spent a short time working at one company, but quickly grew bored and chose to enrol in postgraduate studies in photography at the Faculty of Applied Arts. A positive consequence of the time he spent working at that company was his meeting Dobrila, a lawyer who became his girlfriend and then his wife, giving birth to his two sons and leaving her job to accompany her husband in his final choice – to be an artistic photographer or, more precisely, a painter with a camera. He has long been a master of photography, one of the best in this region.

“I often consider how lucky I’ve been to have

done, and to still do, the work that I love. And when it comes to photography, I loved doing photo reportage features the most. As interesting, unusual and expressive as possible. Reportage works include everything – events, comprehensives, portraits, relationships between characters etc. I wasn’t particularly interested in portraits individually, unless there was a specific order, such as when I photographed then President of Serbia Slobodan Milošević for the front page of Time.”

When Milošević lit a cigar during the interview for Time, Dragoljub started capturing the moment with his camera, but Milošević asked him not to record it, which the photographer respected. He was prevented from photographing President Vojislav Koštunica as he was leaving a church by the head of the president’s cabinet, Ljiljana Nedeljković. However, he had no problems with Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić.

“Zoran Đinđić understood photography and its significance, while Milošević and Koštunica didn’t.

For a year while Vojislav Koštunica was president, I worked officially as his photographer, with the idea of creating a photo monograph about the first democratically elected president of our country. I reviewed many monographs on world presidents, such as those on Kennedy and De Gaulle, and I had the idea to show the life of our president, and not just to take pictures of him shaking hands with officials. I was supposed to be his shadow, who would record history with my shots. However, that was impossible and I left that position.

“Actually, as far back as I can remember, I’ve been an opponent of every undemocratic government. That’s because not a single government has fulfilled its promises. And I believe that the only task of the government is to be at the service of the citizens; for there to be people in power who do their job like you and me, and not ridicule the citizens. The police should protect the citizens, and as far back as I can remember, the police have been protecting the government. I’ve never been a member of any political party, because I consider them to be party sects. And I think that all those who join a party, especially a party that is in power in any country at that time, do so exclusively out of greed. I didn’t want to vote during the time of communist Yugoslavia, because I thought that was a complete waste of time, due to the one-party system. I think that today we’re, unfortunately, returning to a one-party system, and one that’s a long way from democracy.”

MEĐUGORJE – FROM THE COVER OF LIFE MAGAZINE

I remember the moment I entered Vukovar, on the first day that the army entered that city. I was left stunned when I entered one yard and saw hundreds of dead bodies. They were corpses from the hospital that had been dumped there The 1990s were unpleasant for life, wars brought misfortune to most of the former country called Yugoslavia; powerful political, military and paramilitary people decided what could be published and what couldn’t. In this country it was difficult to take photographs illustrating the truth about events related to life.

“Photojournalists always face that. I remember the moment I entered Vukovar, on the first day that the army entered that city. I was fortunate that a friend of mine knew the editor of The Front, who put me in a jeep and, along with a TV cameraman, drove us to that city. So I was practically at the centre of events. I was left stunned when I entered one yard and saw hundreds of dead bodies. They were corpses from the hospital that had been dumped there. And I started taking photos. I was looking for the best light, the most unusual angle, in order to get the

SLOBODAN MILOŠEVIĆ – FROM THE COVER OF TIME MAGAZINE

best possible photos. I didn’t feel anything while I was doing that. It was as if they weren’t people, dead people who had various injuries that caused them to have been lying in the hospital. I felt like I was part of the camera. But when I came home, when I developed the film and looked at them, I felt so sick that I couldn’t stop vomiting. While I was working I’d felt like I was shooting some scenes from a film, and only in the developed photos did I see what I’d been looking at. It was an incredibly tormenting feeling.”

Zamurović’s photographs are created primarily as a result of his artistic competence, which requires a good eye and clarity of thought. While he was active and earning money, he always bought the latest model of camera that appeared on the market.

He worked for famous French agency GAMMA, which sent his photos to all parts of the world, and back then he was well paid for that. He always had a few cameras. He got rid of old models by giving them away or selling them: “There’s an interesting story of how I switched from Nikon to Canon. I used Nikon from the beginning, but it just so happened that, at one point, Canon produced a lens that Nikon didn’t have, and which was very important for capturing various events, such as demonstrations and riots of all kinds, but also warfare. It created a 20-35mm f 2.8 wide-angle zoom that enabled photojournalists to capture wide and super-wide scenes from the same location. I was on some battlefield in Bosnia when a soldier approached me and said that he had the same device as mine, and he offered to

October

53

My life

Dragoljub Zamurović, architect, photographic artist

DEMONSTRATIONS IN FRONT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF SERBIA, 7TH JULY 2020

sell it to me. I declined, but after half an hour he returned and brought the camera. He’d brought a new version of the latest Canon, and not a Nikon, and it was that Canon with the wide-angle zoom.

I was amazed, wondering where’ he’d got it from.

When I opened the back, where the film is placed, there was a plastic covering confirming that it was a completely new device that hadn’t yet been used.

At that time, that device cost 7-8000 Deutschmarks, and he asked me for 200 marks to buy it from him! I only had a hundred marks with me at the time, but there was a journalist from Time Magazine, with whom I was doing a report, and he lent me the other 100 marks, which I gave back to him when we returned to Belgrade. So I bought that famous Canon and for the next year I worked in parallel – using the telephoto lens with a Nikon and the wide-angle zoom with that Canon. When that became too complicated for me, I went to Vienna, where cameras could then

54

October

The most important thing for me is to distance myself a little from other colleagues, to find a place where the angle is best, and to depict an event that can often be dramatic.

I don’t like having other photojournalists beside me at all. The essence of this stance is that I want to have exclusive photos that others don’t have

be easily sold in specialised shops. I took all my Nikon cameras – I had three cameras and seven or eight lenses - and told them that I wanted to sell them all to buy a Canon. And so I abandoned Nikon and have been using Canon ever since.”

Dragoljub also uses various aids that are essential for creating wonderful monographs, including the ones about Serbia that are the best advertisement for the whole world to come to Serbia and get acquainted with its beauty. He has a one-seater balloon, which he sits in to climb above the object he wants to shoot. It’s light and mobile, and when he lands somewhere it’s easy to take off again and continue on, which is impossible with a basket.

That balloon with its seat is so precise that he once flew over the Danube with it, dangling his feet in the river. Of course, planes, helicopters and other flying machines are a given.

Part of the professional engagements of CorD’s interlocutor includes recording riots

HORSES IN ZASAVICA

and demonstrations in Belgrade, of which there were many in the 1990s, but also in recent years.

“That’s a shoot like any other. The most important thing for me is to distance myself a little from other colleagues, to find a place where the angle is best, and to depict an event that can often be dramatic. I don’t like having other photojournalists beside me at all. The essence of this stance is that I want to have exclusive photos that others don’t have.”

As a member of the Applied Arts and Designers Association of Serbia (ULUPUDS), he gained the status of a Distinguished Artist. However, of all the acknowledgements and awards he’s received, what means the most to him personally are his photos that have been published in the world’s most famous magazine, Life. As a young man, Dragoljub imagined, or rather dreamt, that his photography would be published in Life. He recalls that dream in detail.

“Life arrives. I see the cover page, touch that fantastic paper, look at that print, open the magazine and see my photograph. I dreamt that dream countless times until 1991, when a friend from America brought me the latest issue of Life magazine, which could no longer be bought here at that time. I opened Life, and inside was my photo! And it was published in the spot where the best photos are published, and not as an illustration for some text. The picture showed a yard in Strumica covered with red bell peppers and a group of gypsies packing

if Yugoslavia hadn’t collapsed. It was ordered from me by Nebojša Bato Tomašević, the top man of the Review at the time. To be completely precise, the moment I saw my photo in Life I felt like all my dreams had come true. And since then I’ve never dreamt that dream again.”

He has another dream, a realised dream, which represents the basis of his life, and that is the dream of Dobrila and their sons. When he was fifteen years old he dreamt that he would have a close associate in his work as a photographer, but he didn’t think that would be his wife. She followed him in his work and helped him from the very first moment. They shot portraits of children in all Belgrade nursery schools so that they could buy the best cameras. Over thirty years of work, they have shot pictures of almost a million children. He claims that Dobrila is a better photographer than him, and that he is more of a painter with a camera.

They invested everything they earned in travelling

HARVESTING PEPPERS IN STRUMICA – ZAMUROVIĆ’S FIRST PHOTO OF BE PUBLISHED IN LIFE MAGAZINE

them in sacks. I’d climbed up some transmission line to get the best possible shot.

“At first I thought, ‘look, that photo’s the same as mine. And then I read ‘Art Zamur/Gamma, Strumica, pepper harvest’. And I realised it was mine after all! That was one of many of my photos that GAMMA distributed around the world on a daily basis. And I’d done an entire series of slides for a monograph about Macedonia that would have been published by the then Yugoslav Review

and recording and printing photo monographs.

And they also raised their sons, Nikola and Marko.

Nikola, the elder son, graduated in architecture, but alongside that also deals with computer art, while Marko graduated in cultural management and photography is his main activity. He recently made an interesting book about Mačva, had a solo exhibition at Singidunum and is currently seeking a publisher. Their father is proud of them because they chose their own path, just like he did.

October

55

CHILL OUT BELGIUM

1934 Bugatti Sells For A Record-breaking £9.5 Million A vintage Bugatti once owned by King Leopold III of Belgium has been sold for more than £9.5million at auction.

The Bugatti Type 59 sport was driven to victory in the 1934 Belgium Grand Prix by French racing driver René Dreyfus before being bought by the Belgian royal in 1938. Leopold III, who reigned from 1934 until 1951, is the grandfather of the current Belgian King Philippe, 60.

The car changed owners several times in the decade since, but has remained in its original state. The historic model had been expected to fetch £10million but eventually sold for £9.535million at London’s Gooding & Co last week.

The auctioneers claim it is the most expensive Bugatti ever sold at auction.

SOUTH AFRICA

The Most Expensive Tattoo In The World Valued $924,000 There was a time when a tattoo bearers are stereotyped as a sailor, biker, rock star or anyone with a rebel image.

In recent times, tattoos have become more acceptable, with even clean-cut celebrities and highly respected politicians sporting the ink. Tattoos are usually priced based on their size, color, location on the body and complexity of design. A tattoo artist who charges you $500 for a good ink design has to be pretty good to charge that much. But what about the one that charges $924,000? Yes, that’s right, there’s a tattoo that is valued at almost one million dollars and most expensive so far.

The diamond tattoo was actually a marketing gimmick by a jewellery retail store in South Africa known as Shimansky. The luxury store has four international branches and eight branches locally in South Africa.

UK

New Coin Marks 100 Years Since First Crime Novel By Agatha Christie Was Published The centenary of the publication of Dame Agatha Christie’s first novel is being marked with the issue of a special £2 coin.

The Mysterious Affair At Styles introduced detective Hercule Poirot to the world when it was published in October 1920.

The coin, which comes in different metals and features a jigsaw design, is available on the Royal Mint’s website, priced from £10 to £1,115.

The novel ushered in a golden age of mystery novels in the 1920s and 1930s and Dame Agatha’s tales have been published in more than 50 languages and distributed in some 100 countries.

AUSTRALIA

Is Roger Federer Allowed To Play Under Different Rules?

Roger Federer has been dragged into the dramatic saga, after world No 1 Novak Djokovic was booted out of the Grand Slam in dramatic fashion when he swiped a ball to the back of the court, only for it to strike official Laura Clark in the throat. Officials decided to disqualify Djokovic.

But days on from the controversial incident, fans have been quick to slam the decision by reminding that Federer was involved in a similar incident 14 years ago at the Australian Open when he accidentally hit a ball boy.

The Swiss tennis star didn’t receive a code violation and the situation was laughed off, by the ball boy also, at the time.

56

October

US

Spotify Gives Away Thousands Of Google Nest Minis To Paying Customers If you’re a Spotify premium customer, you may be disappointed to learn you have missed out on a freebie - the music streaming giant was allowing households to claim a Google Nest Mini for nothing.

It is likely to have given away thousands to those who pay monthly for the service, with error messages now appearing after the offer popped up on Tuesday.

The streaming service will be sending the devices - usually worth £29 - to premium customers who applied when the offer was launched.

UK

Britain’s Cheapest New Car The Britain’s most affordable new car will receive a new look next year, as first images of the third-generation Dacia Sandero show a far more stylish design.

Currently priced from £6,995, the Sandero supermini is the cheapest new car you can purchase in the UK. But it’s not what you’d call handsome.

That’s due to change in 2021, as the Romanian brand - now owned

by Renault - has released the first shots of a revamped version. But the new look suggests a price hike could be on the cards...

Dacia has yet to confirm many details about the Sandero - or the crossover Sandero Stepway and Logan, both of which have also been revealed in a small selection of photos released ahead of the new cars’ arrivals.

SWEDEN

Forty-five Known Exoplanets Possess An Earth-like Atmosphere Astronomers have found at least 45 planets orbiting distant stars that possess Earth-like qualities including a similar atmosphere and life sustaining liquid water.

Experts from Luleå University of Technology, Sweden, created a new way to determine the habitability of these distant worlds by studying their atmosphere.

The team found a way to use information on ‘atmospheric species’, that is chemicals in the atmosphere, and how fast they escape into space to determine how close an exoplanet is in terms of temperature and composition to the Earth.

They then used their new model on the 55 potentially habitable worlds listed in the existing exoplanet catalogue - which focuses on habitable zone and the host star.

Only 17 of the 55 planets in the catalogue met the criteria defined by the Swedish researchers for being ‘Earth-like’ but the team found another 28 planets on the wider exoplanet list that also met the criteria - bringing the total of Earth-like worlds to 45.

October

57

Fashion

Construct your own high-quality personal style with The UŠĆE Personal Shopper

Do You Want To Be The Best Version Of Yourself ?

U

ŠĆE Shopping Center has developed its own concept of the “Personal Shopper” service, which enables shoppers to invest wisely and build a recognisable personal style from the rich offer of the centre’s brands. UŠĆE leads you through this unique shopping adventure together with fashion experts who are renowned in the country and the region.

Now you have someone to rely on when shopping – professionals who are capable of assessing what suits you best, regardless of whether you want to buy a dress for some event, everyday items for your wardrobe, or a suit for work. This is a particularly useful service for those who work a lot and don’t have time to go shopping, or for those who

58

October

don’t like to go shopping, but simply must.

The UŠĆE stylist is there to make your shopping trip easier and more interesting, and – first and foremost – to help you avoid spending money on things that don’t suit you or that you don’t need. This stylist will teach you how to create a recognisable style that includes indispensable classics and cleverly composed accessories, but will also give you perfect tips and tricks for styling in accordance with your build and personal preferences. You will discover how to combine the incompatible and how every item you wear tells a story about you without uttering a single word.

All you have to do is register through the site usceshoppingcenter.rs and choose one of the three shopping categories on offer.

Develop a unique style that will present your personality in the most successful way.

In order for us to show you how it works, we invited young businesswoman Jovana Mladenović, Communication Manager at Carlsberg Srbija, and with undisguised pleasure – and the assistance of the UŠĆE Personal Shopper – created several styling options.

The idea of costume and accessory designer Jasmina Sanader, who this time found herself in the role of the UŠĆE Personal Shopper, was for us to opt for a “business” style and show how a businesswoman can always be adequately attired, depending on the situations she finds herself in due to the nature of her job, with minimal changes and just a few items of clothing:

1. BUSINESS SPORTING ELEGANCE This implies an outfit for working out and about and frequently changing locations throughout the day. A dark suit, white halfturtleneck top, trainers and a laptop bag are an ideal combination for a businesswoman who should leave an impression on business partners with her appearance.

2. BUSINESS ELEGANCE By changing just our accessories, handbag or scarf, and with obligatory high-heeled shoes, you elevate your level of elegance and businesslike appearance, becoming ready for every important meeting.

3. HAPPY FRIDAY The day at the end of the working week provides employees with the opportunity for more relaxed styling. This is the day when we can allow ourselves to wear our favourite jeans instead of a skirt or trousers.

4. AFTER PARTY For a situation that’s explained in the name itself, all you have to do is switch a white half-turtleneck top for a black one, and add a blazer-styled rocker’s jacket, and the day can continue.

5. EVENING OUT In this case, trainers are replaced with high heels, and an attractive button-down coat provides a dose of originality and attractiveness for the entire combination.

Fashion implicitly compels us to be interactive participants in our own appearance, and now we also have expert assistance on that journey - The UŠĆE Personal Shopper

October

59

Fashion Trends

For Autumn 2020

Tom Ford

red Jacket.

Atticus Tailo 10 €2,8

Maison Margiela Oversize padded coat in black. €1,800

Gucci

Combining the iconic horsebit details and wolf embroidery. €542

Saint Laurent

Double-breasted trench coat in cotton. €2,190

60

October

During the course of this fashion month, countless major brands have presented their visions for the upcoming season, and while each show and presentation highlights the distinct creative visions of designers, together they forecast a new wave of fashion trends that will certainly be taking over the street style—and your closet—in this new season. Though many looks have made their way down the catwalks, we've found a few autumn fashion trends for 2020 that appear certain to be ubiquitous in the coming few months.

Burberry

Lightweight silk will drope effortlessly over your silhouette. €830

Materiel

Materiel’s minimalist approach to style feels fresh every time. €900

Khaite

An enduring style that will stay with you season after season. €1,800

rberry

Bu to unbuttoned d’s it ve Lea ran b e th f o ts reveal hin tage check iconic Vin e contemsid lining along n accents. o e n ry ra po €1,950

Proenza Schouler

Celebrate deconstructed elegance with this skirt. €1,100

eta Bottega Venga

Join Botte of y Veneta’s arm this h it w s e te devo yle. capacious st 0 €2,90

Veronica Beard

The satin fabric offers a fluid fit while tapping into modern female styling codes. €640

eta Bottega Ven r its

fo Renowned ertise xp e l a artisan ality and high-qu r. e th a le €4,000

Christian Louboutin

Pigalle Follies 100 suede pumps. €450

Weekend Max Mara

This coat’s absence of a lining makes it simple to embrace the season’s layering trend. €600

Bare Fine

White Gold and Emerald SIGNET Classic Ring. €2,800

October

61

Culture

calendar

Street Art Weekend In Vracar 2-4 Oct., Božidarac

Italian Film Festival in Zrenjanin The Cultural Center of Zrenjanin, in cooperation with the Italian Institute of Culture in Belgrade, presents a review of Italian films, which will be held from 7 to 29 October 2020.

The program includes four films that will be shown in the original Italian version with Serbian subtitles.

Screenings: 7, 8 Oct. at 20:00 Un ragazzo d’oro (2014), directed by Pupi Avati 14, 15 Oct., 20:00 La prima volta (di mia figlia (2015), directed by Ricardo Rossi 21, 22 Oct. at 20:00 Nessuno mi troverà (2016), directed by Egidio Eroniko 28, 29 October at 20:00 Il profumo del tempo delle favole (2016), directed by Mauro Caputo

Niloufar Banisadr Exhibition Until 12 Oct., French Institute

Božidarac and Street Art Belgrade invite you to the second Weekend of street art in Vračar, which will be held from 2 to 4 October in the Božidarac art center.

The goal of the weekend is to bring street art closer to the general public through a series of workshops, exhibitions, outdoor walks and lectures. The weekend is also part of the official program within the European Heritage Day in Vracar.

As part of the street art weekend with the support of the Austrian Cultural Forum of the Austrian Embassy, the representative of one of the largest street art festivals in Europe, Calle Libre - Austrian Street Art Festival from Vienna, Marina Bartolleti will give a lecture. Marina will share with the audience the development path of this successful festival, the experiences and challenges they faced.

62

October

The French Institute in Serbia and the Belgrade Month of Photography invite you to the opening of the exhibition “There and Here ... Paris-Tehran” by the French-Iranian photographer Niloufar Banisadr.

Niloufar Banisadr was born in 1973 in Tehran, where she grew up and studied photography.

In 2003, he moved to France, first to Strasbourg and then to Paris, where he perfected his knowledge. He exhibits his works in Dubai and Istanbul, then in Arles and Paris, thanks to which he becomes recognizable in the field of photography and contemporary art. In 2013, Nilufar Banisadr became a French citizen and participated in the creation of the 55 Bellechasse Gallery, which was opened with a retrospective of her works. The work of Nilufar Banisadr, which has been developing and growing for 22 years, consists of sometimes abstract series, mostly figurative, which are connected by a red thread dealing with issues of women’s rights.

Guided tours of the exhibition in French and English will be organized. After the presentation in Belgrade, the exhibition will travel to other Serbian cities and the region.

Yeol Eum Son Concert 17 Oct., Kolarac at 8pm

Chocolate Festival

23 Oct. (10:00-21:00), Dorcol Platz Did you know that it takes about 400 cocoa beans to make about a pound of chocolate? We wonder how long will it take to make all the chocolates that will be presented at the Fourth Chocolate Festival on Dorcol Platz!

Research has also proven that the average person eats 160kg of chocolate during their lifetime.

That is why you are invited to enjoy the incredible flavors of the world’s best chocolates on 23-25 October.

If you have not had the opportunity to visit this sweetest festival in the center of Belgrade before, you will be surprised to find over 20 exhibitors with different tastes of chocolate from around the world.

Tickets are purchased on the spot before the event.

The music of the famous Korean pianist Yeol Eum Son have been described as graceful and almost timeless. The crystal touch and the diverse, exciting program with which it is presented, attracts the attention of audiences around the world. Praised for its broadly eclectic concert repertoire, from Bach and Mozart to Gershwin, its latest concert includes performances with orchestras from Cologne, Berlin and Bergenz, a debut in Paris with the French Radio Orchestra, and the Marine Theater Orchestra.

RECOMMENDS

THE INSTITUTE Stephen King 1320 rsd

Deep in the woods of Maine, there is a dark state facility where kids, abducted from across the United States, are incarcerated. In the Institute they are subjected to a series of tests and procedures meant to combine their exceptional gifts - telepathy, telekinesis - for concentrated effect.

Luke Ellis is the latest recruit. He’s just a regular 12-year-old, except he’s not just smart, he’s super-smart. And he has another gift which the Institute wants to use...

Far away in a small town in South Carolina, former cop Tim Jamieson has taken a job working for the local sheriff. He’s basically just walking the beat. But he’s about to take on the biggest case of his career.

Back in the Institute’s downtrodden playground and corridors where posters advertise ‘just another day in paradise’, Luke, his friend Kalisha and the other kids are in no doubt that they are prisoners, not guests. And there is no hope of escape.

HOW WE DISAPPEARED

Jing-Jing Lee 2143 rsd

Amira Medunjanin

10,11,12 Oct., Kombank Hall World-famous singer Amira Medunjanin will hold three concerts in a row on October 10, 11 and 12 (20:00) in Kombank Hall in Belgrade.

Amira will present herself to the Belgrade audience in a “small, beautiful, intimate” setting, accompanied by the excellent accordionist Mustafa Santic, who is one of the collaborators on her recently released album “For Him And Her”, on which she recorded songs performed by Tom’s legends. Zdravkovic and Silvana Armenulic.

The concert during the Kovid-19 pandemic must be in accordance with health regulations, with distance, masks and a limited number of 450 visitors in Kombank Hall.

Amira emphasizes that “we have to be careful” and that it will not bother: “The energy is unstoppable, regardless of whether we are ten or 50 meters away. These are special circumstances. We have gone through worse things in life, this will pass.”

Mikser Festival – OXYGEN

8, 9 Oct. – Zornica house Mikser Festival 2020 will be held on 8 and 9 October in Zornić’s house, near Belgrade, under the slogan OXYGEN. More than 100 festival participants will present themselves through an online platform, but also with a physical presence in a unique, festival environment.

This year’s edition is designed as a think-tank gathering of invited experts, activists and young talents who will talk through talks, lectures and workshops on ways to “repair” our reality, in the direction of a healthy environment, circular economy, European legislation and the Green Agreement. equality, inclusion and active aging, participatory urbanism, eco-design, engaged art, quality education and free media.

More http://festival.mikser.rs/

SEE MORE: WWW.CORDMAGAZINE.COM

Shortlisted for the 2020 Singapore Literature Prize Longlisted for the HWA Debut Crown Singapore, 1942. As Japanese troops sweep down Malaysia and into Singapore, a village is ransacked. Only three survivors remain, one of them a tiny child.

In a neighbouring village, seventeen-year-old Wang Di is bundled into the back of a troop carrier and shipped off to a Japanese military rape camp. In the year 2000, her mind is still haunted by her experiences there, but she has long been silent about her memories of that time. It takes twelve-year-old Kevin, and the mumbled confession he overhears from his ailing grandmother, to set in motion a journey into the unknown to discover the truth.

Weaving together two timelines and two life-changing secrets, How We Disappeared is an evocative, profoundly moving and utterly dazzling novel heralding the arrival of a new literary star.

NEW AMERICANA

Holly Kuhn 4537 rsd

Spirited interior décor inspired by a love of old, a quest for authenticity, and the artful blending of old with new.

Holly Kuhn’s signature style combines patina finishes, leather, classic home furnishings, and personal collections with ease and sophistication.

Her style captures the great American spirit in the design of spaces that are hardworking, practical, resourceful, honest, and that convey an appreciation for the simple beauty in everyday life.

Holly Kuhn is the founder of Old Glory Style, a home furnishings and antiques retailer with locations in Denver, Colorado, and Round Top, Texas. Ryann Ford is an architecture and interiors photographer based in Austin, Texas.

October

63

&FACES PLACES

30/8/2020

Symbols of Belgrade In The Colors Of The Polish Flag On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of ′′Solidarity” the symbols of Belgrade were, for the first time, lit in the colors of Polish flag.

31 August 2020 marked the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Solidarity movement, which, after a strike that moved from the Lenin shipyard in Gdansk to factories and companies across the country, became the first independent and free trade union in the Soviet bloc.

Since 2005, this day has been celebrated in Poland as a national holiday the Day of Freedom and Solidarity, which serves as a reminder of the Polish struggle for freedom and independence from 1980.

64

October

8/9/2020

IWC Belgrade Gathering The International Women’s Club Belgrade (IWC) held its first Coffee Morning event of their 2020-2021 year on 8 September in the garden at Kuća Kralja Petra.

More than 50 people were in attendance, both members and guests. Visitors enjoyed a tour of the art exhibition inside the house, observing appropriate COVID-19 precautions, and also partook of finger food and other delicious dishes prepared by IWC members.

SEE MORE: WWW.CORDMAGAZINE.COM

11/9/2020

US Embassy Marked 11 September With The Voluntary Blood Donation US Ambassador to Serbia H.E. Anthony Godfrey, doctor Mirsad Djerlek and actress Zinaida Dedakin donated blood, participating in a humanitarian action which has been paying tribute to the victims of the terrorist attack on New York and Washington on 11 September 2001 in the Red Cross for ten years.

In the premises of the Red Cross in Belgrade, Godfrey estimated that 11 September 2001 was a tragic day in the history of the United States, but also of the whole world, when about 3,000 people from 90 countries were killed in the attacks on New York and the Pentagon.

20/9/2020

The Philharmonic Orchestra Hold Concert In The Heart Of Belgrade The Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra held a surprise concert in Knez Mihajlova Street on the occasion of the beginning of its concert season. After the limited audience in the Philharmonic Hall listened to Mozart’s music for the previous three evenings, now the orchestra and chief conductor Gabriel Feltz performed it on the street, to the delight of all passers-by.

With this surprised performance, philharmonic orchestra sent the message of its new season, “Music Everywhere”!

Along with Mozart’s “Little Night Music”, the Philharmonic Orchestra prepared the atmosphere of a real concert. The audience listened to them carefully, there were those who danced, and everyone in the end rewarded the orchestra with a standing ovation.

October

65

SEE MORE: WWW.CORDMAGAZINE.COM

&FACES PLACES

26/9/2020

Embassy Of Morocco Honors Former Ambassador Of Serbia To Morocco

26/9/2020

76th Anniversary Of Operation Halyard Marked In the presence of the representatives of the Government of Serbia, the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić and the Ambassador of the United States H.E. Anthony Godfrey, as well as numerous guests, the 76th anniversary of Operation Halyard was marked.

US Ambassador Anthony Godfrey said that despite the fact that this mission was the largest rescue mission in the Second World War, not many people know about Operation Halyard because for a long time the story about the operation laid under a veil of secrecy but thanks to the joint efforts of the President of Serbia and the Halyard Foundation contributed to the two nations remembering the joint action from the Second World War. It testifies to the courage of ordinary people, the people of Šumadija, who risked their lives to save allied pilots from the enemy.

66

October

Former Ambassador of Serbia to Morocco, Sladjana Prica Tavciovska, was bestowed with the order -Grand Cordon- of the Wissam Alaouite at the end of her term, during a ceremony organized by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Belgrade.

This ceremony was marked by the presence of several Serbian personalities, in particular the Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Policy, Director of Africa and Middle East Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, former President of the Parliamentary friendship Group, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Voivodina, Ambassadors accredited in Belgrade and officials from the cultural and academic fields.

In a speech delivered on this occasion, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Serbia, H.E. Mohammed Amine Belhaj, highlighted that this highest Royal decoration represents a recognition of the significant contribution of the Serbian diplomat in the promotion of closer relations between Morocco and Serbia and also a strong symbol of the excellent relations and the exemplary partnership that the two countries are striving to build together.

Partner

I TA LY

A Successful Cooperation In Difficult Times

ITALY & SERBIA ONCE AGAIN DEMONSTRATED DEDICATION TO MAINTAINING THEIR CLOSE FRIENDSHIP AND MUTUAL SUPPORT DURING THIS TIME OF GLOBAL CRISIS

PARTNERS: ITALY & SERBIA

CONTENT

05 06

ALWAYS TRULY TOGETHER COMMENT

FRIENDS DURING BOTH GOOD AND BAD TIMES

H.E. CARLO LO CASCIO, AMBASSADOR OF ITALY TO SERBIA

SLOBODAN FILIPOVIĆ, DIRECTOR OF EXPRESS SEE

13

GOOD TIME TO RESHAPE AND RE-ORGANISE BUSINESS

PAOLO DI BELLA, GENERAL MANAGER OF ENGINEERING SOFTWARE LAB

14 10

COLLEGIAL EXCHANGE PRECIOUS

DR JACOPO PALLAVICINI, TEAM LEADER OF THE SIX-MEMBER MEDICAL TEAM FROM ITALY

4

18 19 20

WE CONNECT THREE CONTINENTS

STRONG PRESENCE, STRONGER PROSPECTS

ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN ITALY AND SERBIA

16

SUPPORT THAT WORKS LIKE MAGIC

GIORGIO MARCHEGIANI, PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN-SERBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND CEO AT DDOR INSURANCE, MEMBER OF THE UNIPOL GROUP

AUNDE WILL MOVE A STEP FORWARD

AUNDE SRB D.O.O. (LTD.)

WE RECOGNISED COMMON GOALS & WORKED AS A TEAM

PATRIZIO DEI TOS, PRESIDENT OF CONFINDUSTRIA SERBIA

22

LOOKING BOLDLY TOWARDS THE FUTURE

DIGITALISATION

24 26

THOUGHTFUL APPROACH TO JOB CREATION

DUAL EDUCATION

A COACH AND AN INSPIRATION

SME

PARTNERS: ITALY & SERBIA

COMMENT

Always Truly

TOGETHER It is often said that the strongest friendships are forged during tough times.

And sometimes, as in the case of Italy and Serbia, they are the result of mutual, long-standing devotion to cooperation at the bilateral level and within the European framework

S

capacity for reform. Now the same adherence as shown on the erbia sent seven aircraft to Italy this April, carrying tons financial side of the reforms is needed on the fronts of judicial of medical donations to help the country confront the reform, media freedom and other structural issues. worst moments of the coronavirus crisis. In August, when In terms of economics, Italy is one of Serbia’s most imporSerbia suddenly fell into an unexpected second wave of the pandemic, Italian medical experts paid a visit to Serbia to tant trade partner, with a strong commitment to the Serbian share their invaluable knowledge on how to combat the virus. market. After the sudden collapse of the trade exchange, This is how, in just two sentences, the strength of the Serbiandue to the global upheaval caused by the pandemic, business Italian friendship can be summarised. As Italian Ambassador to leaders from the two countries, supported by their associaSerbia Carlo Lo Cascio spelled out nicely: tions, restored their relations. Although “the history of our relationship is really circumstances are still challenging, many Italy is among the most a meeting of close neighbours who help Italian companies are fully back in busiactive promoters of Serbia’s ness to Serbia. each other, in both good times and bad”.

Undeniably, this demonstration of Indeed, one of the largest business accession to the European profound connectedness does not come events that was awaited by both sides– Union. Italian support to as a surprise. The history of excellent the Novi Sad International Agriculture the country's EU accession bilateral relationships between the two Fair 2020 – had to be cancelled due to the countries just commemorated almost a pandemic. Italy was the Partner Country process thus remains one century and a half. of this fair in 2019, and the Italian Trade of the key aspects of The strength of these ties was reAgency (ITA) organised an official colleccently demonstrated with the visits of tive Italian exhibit in which 28 companies bilateral relations Italian Minister for European Integration from the agrarian sector, as well as the Vincenzo Amendola, at the end of 2019, and Italian Minister two centres for promotion from Italy, presented their products of Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio, in early 2020. Both of these and services. Finally, the strength of the partnership between high-level visits were focused of Italian support for Serbia’s the two countries could also be evaluated through the lens EU accession process. of previous developments. For example, it was the Italian In that respect, there are great expectations that the new side that shifted the discussion on digital transformation Serbian government will elevate the negotiation process a in Serbia, and generously shared its own experience, long step up, by advancing – albeit at a faster pace - along the lines before digital forms of working became a must during the of outgoing government, which demonstrated a considerable COVID-19 pandemic.

5

PARTNERS: ITALY & SERBIA

INTERVIEW

H.E. CARLO LO CASCIO, AMBASSADOR OF ITALY TO SERBIA

FRIENDS

During Both Good And Bad Times The Italian medical team said that Serbia was definitely fully prepared to face the COVID-19 crisis. The expertise of local healthcare staff was assessed as being at a high level - Carlo Lo Cascio

T

he COVID-19 Pandemic and many months of the struggle against the virus have provided new confirmation of the “special relationship” between Italy and Serbia. Despite being confronted by a dangerous virus, our two countries – which last year celebrated 140 years of diplomatic relations – once again found a way to help and support one another, says ambassador Carlo Lo Cascio. The economic crisis that has come as a result of COVID-19 hit the economies of both countries, but the Italian ambassador is convinced that it won’t have a stronger negative influence on our economic exchange. In this interview for CorD Magazine, ambassador Lo Cascio also says that Italian car manufacturer FCA is staying in Serbia, where it is “very likely developing new project ideas for the immediate future”.

Your Excellency, a team of Italian doctors came to Serbia to help fight against COVID-19. Could you tell us more about this medical mission?

- The Italian medical team came to Serbia for two weeks during last August, with much enthusiasm and willingness to support the Serbian people, as well as their Serbian colleagues, sharing the expertise matured during the most difficult months of the pandemic in Italy, last spring.

The team consisted of five doctors (a surgeon, an infectologist

6

and two anesthetists) and a nurse, who hail from four different Italian regions: Piemonte, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lazio and Puglia. They visited the Belgrade Clinical Centre, Zemun Hospital, the clinical centres of Niš, Kragujevac and Novi Sad, as well as KBC Bežanijska Kosa.

As they stated during an interview released after the first week of their activity, Serbia was definitely fully prepared to face the crisis, and they assessed the level of expertise of local sanitary as being at a high level. On the Serbian side, in particular, the visit of the Italian medical team was appreciated for their useful advice regarding techniques adopted in Italy for treating some COVID-19 cases in hospitals.

The engagement of Italian doctors in Serbia further demonstrates the solidarity between our two countries. Italy’s struggle against the COVID-19 virus was followed with great sympathy in Serbia.

Were you surprised by the humanitarian aid that was sent to Italy from Belgrade?

- The mission of the Italian medical team was organised in summer, right when Serbia, unfortunately, had a high number of contagions again, especially in Belgrade and other main urban centres. It was important from our side to provide a sign of solidarity and friend-

PARTNERS: ITALY & SERBIA

SOLIDARITY

EU

EU ACCESSION

In my view, the great solidarity movement coming from the Serbian population once again confirmed that the friendship and feelings between Italy and Serbia are long-standing and sincere

We aim to ensure a recovery that is fully oriented towards economic growth and sustainable development, in particular though typical tools of the digitalisation era and ecological transition

Italy is without a doubt the strongest supporter of Serbia’s accession to the European Union

ship to Serbia, after Belgrade sent seven aircraft to Italy last April, carrying tonnes of medical donations to help us confront the worst moments of the coronavirus crisis in Italy.

Although I know the generosity of the Serbian people well, I have to say that I was truly moved by all the expressions of affection towards Italy coming from both ordinary Serbian citizens and the authorities. The generous donations to the Italian people were an extraordinary gesture that was very much appreciated. In my view, the great solidarity movement coming from the Serbian population once again confirmed that the friendship and feelings between Italy and Serbia are long-standing and sincere. The history of our relationship is really a meeting of close neighbours who help each other, in both good times and bad ones.

You know that last year we celebrated 140 years of diplomatic relations between Italy and Serbia, which we used to call a “special relationship”. In March that same year, when Belgrade received the visit of Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, we also did a dedicated special edition with CorD Magazine entitled “Always together”. In this situation of urgent humanitarian need, we can say “always together” once again, and even louder!

cooperation or supranational aid agreements were helpful in this context, as happened with the European “Recovery Fund”.

EU leaders have agreed to a comprehensive package of €1,824.3 billion, which includes €750 billion to address challenges posed by COVID-19. Do you believe that the package will save the EU economy from an economic crisis that, according to some analysts, could be more serious than the one that hit in 2009?

- I would like to recall the words of our Prime Minister Conte when he presented the approved package to the Parliament. He explained that, faced with a shock of such proportions, during those dramatic months, the European Union was able to respond with courage and vision, right up to the decision to approve, for the first time, an ambitious recovery programme, to be financed through the issuance of genuine European government bonds.

In this way, we achieved a radical change of perspective, going beyond the logic of simple aid.

We aim, instead, to ensure a recovery that is fully oriented towards economic growth and sustainable development, in particular though typical tools of the digitalisation era and ecological transition.

It was important from our side to provide a sign of solidarity and friendship to Serbia, after Belgrade sent seven aircraft to Italy last April, carrying tonnes of medical donations to help us confront the worst moments of the coronavirus crisis in Italy

After spring 2020 and the first wave of COVID-19 took thousands of lives in Italy, do you fear that we could see a new wave of the pandemic?

- Many doctors and experts foresee a difficult autumn/winter in Europe, if not around the whole world. I personally cannot make forecasts, though I obviously hope that an increase in contagions in Italy, Serbia or other places will not happen again, and that the current rise in numbers in some countries will stop soon.

Having said that, I think that countries in the meantime gained much more experience for fighting the virus and they should now be better prepared to face new infection “waves” than in the past, also considering that in many parts of the world processes are well underway to establish international rescue and support mechanisms, like in the case of the EU. What do you think is the greater danger now: the Coronavirus Pandemic or the socio-economic fallout from the COVID-19 crisis?

- Both are obviously severe aspects of this crisis. It is fundamental to preserve the health of the population and therefore continue to put in place appropriate measures, if and when needed.

At the same time, economic systems must be kept active and economic relations need to continue and flourish again. International

Italy is Serbia’s top economic partner. Could the economic recession that’s expected as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic impact on the level of economic exchange?

- Although the crisis had an impact on the economic partnership between Italy and Serbia, this must be seen in light of the more general crisis that affected economies worldwide. Considering the situation as a whole, I would say that trade exchanges between our two countries are still safe and sound. Of course, we would like to see everything soon go back to “business as usual”, in order to again reach the four-billion-euro peak of 2018 in trade exchange as soon as possible.

Innovation instruments envisaged in the European Recovery Fund should also help in this direction, as well as a strategy of public support for companies that already operate or intend to enter international markets through the extraordinary resources provided by the government to give a new impetus to the production system.

Do you know what fate awaits the Fiat factory in Kragujevac?

- The FCA [Fiat Chrysler Automobiles] Group is a very solid economic player. FCA is certainly going to continue to invest and be present in Serbia, as it is also very likely developing new project ideas for the immediate future.

7

PARTNERS: ITALY & SERBIA

Italy supports Serbia’s European integration, though that process appears to be slowing down. How do you see the fact that Serbia has not opened a single chapter in the last six months, for the first time since it began EU membership negotiations?

- Italy is without a doubt the strongest supporter of Serbia’s accession to the European Union. Italy and Serbia also last year celebrated 10 years since the signing of the strategic partnership agreement, which officially marked our commitment to intensify renewed cooperation under the basis of the common intention to see Serbia moving even faster towards European integration. Therefore, this certainly remains one of the core aspects of our relationship, as well as our bilateral support to Serbia.

As a demonstration, in Belgrade last December we welcomed a visit of our European Integration Minister Vincenzo Amendola, and this year began with the visit of our Foreign Affairs Minister Luigi Di Maio, who reaffirmed the fundamental pillars of our partnership, including our common belonging to the European project.

Serbia also certainly has the clear goal of completing its European integration path, as of a long time ago, and it has been carrying out the accession process officially from 2014, according to an agreed schedule that requires the fulfilment of reforms and changes in 35 “sectors” (the so-called ‘Chapters’ listed by the Framework Agreement for Accession Negotiations). In the latest periodical evaluation of the state, there was no agreement among EU member states on the opening of new Chapters, as the majority thought that there was not enough progress on crucial chapters 23 and 24, on the rule of law and fundamental rights.

That doesn’t mean that EU member states don’t maintain an interest in Serbia becoming part of the EU. Rather, it is a sign that democratic processes, the protection of human rights and cross-party dialogue should all be more central and visible aspects, in order to bring the country ever closer to EU standards.

I therefore expect the new Serbian Government to maintain the pace of its European journey and continue the reform process, considering that – with accession to the EU – Belgrade is looking for something beyond: better living standards and more prosperity for the whole country and its population.

During the state of emergency this spring, you were very active on social networks, reminding your followers of the EU’s support for Serbia during the struggle against the coronavirus outbreak. Do you have the impression that there is a feeling in Serbia, but also in Italy, that the EU was late in reacting to the pandemic, while some other countries, such as China, quickly organised the sending of aid?

- At the beginning of the outbreak of this coronavirus in Italy, and therefore in Europe, not many people immediately realised what was happening everywhere, and some observers commented that the EU did not want to help Italy. The European Council later responded fully to its task, as I said before, making its decision more forward looking than ever.

The EU also contributed a lot to assist Serbia during the most difficult months, with effective assistance, immediate humanitarian aid and generous donations.

In general, I disagree with certain doubting approaches regarding the EU’s true intentions towards Serbia. They are deceiving and counterproductive. We shouldn’t forget that the implementation mechanism provides Serbia with 300 million euros in grants per year to support the reform process. In addition to that, we should not forget that the EU, as a whole, is Serbia’s top trade partner, top donor and top investor.

Last year we celebrated 140 years of diplomatic relations between Italy and Serbia, which we used to call a “special relationship”. In March that same year, when Belgrade received the visit of Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, we also did a dedicated special edition with CorD Magazine entitled “Always together”.

In this situation of urgent humanitarian need, we can say “always together” once again, and even louder!

There were voices from EU institutions raising concern over the state of democracy in Serbia.

How would you asses the current situation?

- Given that Serbia is in the European integration process, a spill-over effect is expected to take place in several sectors of reform, generating a positive transformative trend, specifically in critical areas.

Specific improvements should be achieved especially on the rule of law. Media freedom and freedom of expression, as well as reform in the administration and the judicial system, together with the fight against corruption, are key areas that require further developments.

8

What do you expect in the continuation of the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština, which has been renewed under the patronage of the EU? - We fully support the dialogue under EU facilitation between Belgrade and Priština, and we were pleased with the resumption of talks in Brussels, in July, after a long pause. We are aware that discussions are never easy, and that’s why we encourage both sides to work with openmindedness and a forward-looking approach, in line with their European perspective. We firmly support EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajčak’s facilitation in the search for a sustainable and durable agreement to ensure peace and stability in the region. Italy supports this process very much, also by leading the KFOR Mission, which benefits from the presence and support of many actors.

PARTNERS: ITALY & SERBIA

9

PARTNERS: ITALY & SERBIA

INTERVIEW

DR JACOPO PALLAVICINI, TEAM LEADER OF THE SIX-MEMBER MEDICAL TEAM FROM ITALY

Collegial

EXCHANGE PRECIOUS Italy and Serbia are today much better prepared when it comes to a possible second wave of the pandemic. While complex equipment is necessary, the most valuable element is the sharing of knowledge and collegial exchanges. This makes the visit of the Italian medical team to Serbia a precious sign of friendship between the two countries

A

n Italian health team consisting of five doctors and a nurse – Jacopo Pallavicini (surgeon and team leader, Turin), Agostino Roasio (anaesthesiologist, Asti), Andrea Mariano (infectious diseas sepcialist, Lazzaro Spallanzani Hospital, Rome), Andrea Roncarati (anaesthesiologist, Pordenone, Western Friuli), Vito Procacci (emergency medicine physician and head of emergency department, Bari Polyclinic), Alice Pollano (nurse, Turin) – came to Serbia for two weeks from 2nd to 16th August, at the initiative of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in coordination with the Department of Civil Protection. The

10

PARTNERS: ITALY & SERBIA

team operated thanks to an agreement between the Italian and Serbian governments.

During their mission, these Italian healthcare professionals were received by Serbian Health Minister Zlatibor Lončar and visited the Clinical Centre of Serbia, the Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases in Belgrade, Zemun Hospital and the clinical centres of Bežhanijska Kosa, Niš, Novi Sad and Kragujevac. These meetings allowed them to exchange information and experience regarding the treatment of COVID-19 with local doctors and health staff, in order to better address the management of patients with the virus in these hospitals. We spoke with team leader Dr Jacopo Pallavicini about the mission to Serbia, as well as the current situation regarding the pandemic.

Certainly, during the most severe moments of the crisis, we also received the help that we tried to provide to our Serbian colleagues during our mission to Belgrade.

What was your motive for sharing knowledge with your colleagues in Serbia? In which areas were you able to contribute the most?

- The mission in Belgrade is part of the commitment that Italy has put in place in support of the Balkan region regarding the COVID-19 emergency since the start of the pandemic, witnessed lastly by the sending of a medical team to Albania also.

Tangibly, the goal of our visit was to exchange experiences and knowledge regarding the treatment of COVID-19 cases in several sanitary structures in Serbia. There is no treatment code for this disease, unfortunately, but there are different approaches and we have given some advice to our colleagues, What condition is the Italian medical system in today, on the given the experience that we had in Italy during the previous eve of autumn – when we expect a new wave of COVID-19 to very difficult months. hit? Do you feel more prepared; are you Particular appreciation for the Italian better equipped and more experienced?

Enormous work and effort has experience included two points: the me- The Italian healthcare system is fully been undertaken to increase chanical ventilation of patients in intensive operational and, although the overall care; and the technique of assessing the number of infections was very critical hospital capacities and lungs of the most critical patients with during spring, it has been able to respond capabilities across Italy, ultrasound devices. adequately to the challenges and overcome the crisis successfully. particularly in intensive care, are your impressions in relation to Italy was the first European country to further prepare the health What the equipment of the healthcare instituto be hit by the pandemic, in particular system for the possible tions in Serbia and the level of knowledge the northern part of our country. The sanitary structures, as well as all mediemergence of a second wave among domestic experts?

- We had the chance to see that European cal staff and the central government, in of the pandemic standards are applied in Serbia. Serbia cooperation with regional governments, has responded well to the epidemic and responded efficiently and exerted all the local doctors have done an outstanding job. They are very possible efforts. Citizens themselves were subjected to very well prepared and absolutely ready to fight the epidemic in restrictive measures. the case that another major outbreak of the virus hits.

Through this first severe experience, especially in March We have seen very well-organised hospitals, spoken with and April, Italy gained much more preparedness with respect hospital directors who showed that they have very clear ideas to the first time, and also thanks to great help and donaabout what actions to take. The protection of health workers tions, as well as international decisions that intervened in in Serbia is at an extremely high level. Hospital personnel have the meantime. It is for this reason that I can certainly state the highest level of protective equipment and know how to that we are much better prepared and equipped than before. use it. Organisation is very successful; they have managed Enormous work and effort has been undertaken to increase to keep the positive cases separate from negative and undehospital capacities and capabilities across Italy, particularly tected individuals, which are more problematic in this regard. in intensive care, to further prepare the health system for the possible emergence of a second wave.

Do you continue to exchange experiences with your Serbian colleagues today?

Were your colleagues in the EU and elsewhere willing to - We are in contact with them and remain available for further share their knowledge and experiences? Is this type of deepening of information, if needed. We hope that a similar cooperation equally evident today as it was at the onset mission can also be implemented in the future by Serbian of the crisis? doctors and specialists in Italy. We have created a network - We also had contacts with our colleagues within other EU of colleagues and friends and are still in touch with them, countries and I can confirm that there is a general interest even if we are far away. in sharing information among several sanitary systems.

11

PARTNERS: ITALY & SERBIA

What advice would you give to your In your opinion, to what extent have Serbia has responded well colleagues in Serbia and citizens in the national policies towards health systo the epidemic and wake of the expected new wave of the tems changed today, after the pandemic showed the detrimental effects the local doctors have done pandemic this coming autumn and winter?

In Italy citizens shifted their consciousof the austerity measures applied to an outstanding job. They are -ness deeply and during recent months healthcare? very well prepared and have become increasingly aware, wise - The plans that were approved by the and cautious: some noticeable behavEuropean Council in July, aimed at supabsolutely ready to fight iours in everyday life were the increase porting individual EU countries after this the epidemic in the case of the use of masks and avoiding crowds. major crisis, certainly also help healthcare systems. Among the various tools, the that another major outbreak Awareness and compliance with preventative measures, such as maintaining “ReactEU” instrument, with a total budget of the virus hits basic hygiene and physical distance, of 47.5 billion euros, ensures that antiwhich is currently the main way to keep COVID-19 interventions can be introduced the infection curve down, are now more present in the in favour of the health system and support workers’ incomes mentality and behaviour of the population. This would be and corporate liquidity. In more general terms, certainly more the best advice that I could give to our Serbian friends awareness was spread among governments in respect to for maintaining contagions at a low level, unless a more the importance of assuring sufficient budgets for health definitive solution is available. departments.

12

PARTNERS: ITALY & SERBIA

PAOLO DI BELLA, GENERAL MANAGER OF ENGINEERING SOFTWARE LAB

BUSINESS

GOOD TIME

To Reshape And Re-organise Business Engineering Software Lab has more than 200 developers and specialists currently working in the fields of consulting, project management and information systems development

C

ompany Engineering Software Lab is part of the major international Engineering Group, which employs almost 12,000 people worldwide. As a global player in digital transformation, the group has developed its own internal systems that enable it to adapt quickly to a new situation – within 48 hours! The current pandemic crisis has accelerated the adoption of enabling technologies, which have thankfully allowed many organisations, including this one, to utilise them in order to remain fully operational and allow people to stay in touch with the outside world.

“Right from the beginning of this complex crisis, we immediately switched to remote work mode, in order to protect the health of all our employees. For those like us who work in the ICT sector, getting used to smart working is easier. But, regardless of the pandemic event, we already considered the enhancement of talent as the main benefit of smart working. Knowing how to build, organise and manage work groups that can interact mutually regardless of where people are physically located is a way to offer opportunities for growth and participation in projects that can often also represent career opportunities. It is also in this perspective that Engineering Software Lab structures the work by bringing together the best talent to find the best solutions to build the software that our customers need,” says GM Paolo Di Bella.

Given that you mentioned clients and customers, tell us how this crisis has impacted on your business partnerships?

- We work with and partner stakeholders across different markets.

Some of these industries have been hit harder than others, like manufacturing, transportation, travel & hospitality. When the crisis began, we knew that it was important to do our best to enable our clients to function normally. Our clients appreciate all our efforts and we are proud that we succeeded in this very challenging task.

What we see now, from talking to all our partners, is that digital transformation is no longer just an item on their list of priorities, it is at the top of that list. Increasing or accelerating capabilities for full remote working are essential steps. This goes hand-in-hand with increasing Cybersecurity capabilities. The delivery of services and goods needs to be enhanced through autonomous activities that are less dependent on a human presence (for example - from digitalising offices all the way to virtualising showrooms).

In general, this is a good time to think about how we can reshape the existing organisation of business in the new scenario that’s referred to as ‘the new normal’. We are witnesses and active participants in creating a new normality, so this is a great opportunity to think out of the box.

You don’t believe there will be a return to the old world after the end of the pandemic? What is the new normality for Engineering Software Lab? - If everything went back to the way it was in the period before the epidemic, that would mean we haven’t learned anything new from this crisis. The new normality from our point of view implies the strengthening of all business processes, so that we can adapt to future changes even faster and easier. Adopting a modified smart working model in combination with working from an office is definitely a good way.

Engineering Software Lab learned a lot from this situation.

The best indicator of that is the fact that our company has preserved stability and that, even during this crisis, we are further expanding our team in Belgrade and hiring new colleagues.

I am extremely proud of how my colleagues have coped with the new circumstances. We all miss social contact and spending time with our colleagues in the same space, but there is no alternative at this moment when it comes to preserving and protecting health.

13

PARTNERS: ITALY & SERBIA

ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN ITALY AND SERBIA

STRONG PRESENCE, Stronger Prospects

Italy and Serbia have been historically linked through excellent bilateral political and economic relations. The two Countries celebrated two important anniversaries in 2019: 140 years of diplomatic relations between Rome and Belgrade; and 10 years of their strategic partnership

D

uring the same year, Italy was again Serbia’s second largest trading partner, with a total trade exchange of 3.84 billion euros (2.07 billion in Italian exports to Serbia and 1.77 billion in Italian imports from Serbia).

The main sectors of activity include the automotive, banking and insurance sectors, textiles, footwear, agriculture and, as of recently, energy. Several Italian companies are also involved in the construction sector in Serbia.

14

The database of the Development Agency of Serbia shows that, between 2007-2019, Italy was the leading investor in Serbia, both in terms of the number of projects implemented and absolute value. Italian companies have to date invested over three billion euros in Serbia and, according to a recent study that will be published soon by the Embassy of Italy and the Italian-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, employ a total of 39,000 workers. Considering indirect employment too, Ital-

PARTNERS: ITALY & SERBIA

connections among local authorities, thanks to the existence ian companies provide work for more than 50,000 workers in of bilateral agreements between regions and provinces. An Serbia, with around 1,600 registered companies having Italian example of that is the protocol signed in 2018 between Italy’s shares and generating 5.4% of Serbia’s GDP. Lombardia Region and Serbia’s Autonomous Province of VojvoMany Italian companies invested in Serbia long before other international partners, developing a special relationship dina, while in 2020 the Veneto Region concluded an agreement with their local counterparts, built on mutual trust and thereby with the Republic of Serbia in the fields of the creative industry, gaining excellent economic results in terms of production and education and research & innovation. employment. Serbia has a lot to offer Italian companies: firstly, Italy has continuously shown its willingness to support Serthe geographic proximity and the country’s connection to the bia’s European integration process at the political and economic entire Balkan region; secondly, the links with other international levels. The visits to Belgrade of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, markets, both to the west and the east, finally the expertise in 2019, and Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and knowledge of local workers, which helped Italian companies Minister Luigi Di Maio, at the beginning of this year, confirmed develop strong local management structures. At the same the importance that Italy attaches to its relationship with time, the Italian entrepreneurial spirit is highly appreciated in Serbia. During both visits, the Italian and Serbian authorities Serbia, because of the capacity of Italian businesses to bring recognised the importance of the two countries’ economic ties positive change in cultural and social terms all over the country. as being a fundamental component of our excellent bilateral At the institutional level, Italy is present in Serbia with a very relations. Italy also encourages Belgrade to adopt and implestrong network, within the framework of the so-called “Sistema ment reforms in the interest of Serbian citizens and foreign Italia” (a group of institutions/associations working together investors, in order to further improve the business environment to support Italy’s economic presence in and the stability of the economy. the country). All together, the Embassy Between 2007-2019, Italy was Serbia has already successfully atof Italy, the Italian Foreign Trade Agency, tracted Italian FDIs over past years and the leading investor in Serbia, – with the completion of the privatisation the Italian-Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Confindustria Serbia work tirelessly both in terms of the number process, the advancement of the fiscal secto promote Italian companies and their and the judiciary, and the efficiency of of projects implemented and tor investments. “Sistema Italia” and Italian public administration in general – Serbia will absolute value. Italian companies in Serbia are also focused become an even more interesting market on fostering collaboration with schools for other Italian companies. companies have to date and universities, through dual education Many Italian companies invested in the invested over three billion programmes. As of today, many Italian Serbian manufacturing sector in 2018 and companies in different Serbian towns and euros in Serbia and, according 2019, opening new factories or expanding cities are already training students. production. The COVID-19 Pandemic to a recent study that will be their Italian institutions here traditionally enhas hit the Serbian economy in an asymjoy very good relations with the Chamber of published soon by the Embassy metric way during 2020, impacting some Commerce & Industry of Serbia, thanks to of Italy and the Italian-Serbian sectors more than others, but surveys fruitful cooperation in the co-organisation show that Italian businesses have not lost of business events, such as B2B gatherings, Chamber of Commerce, employ their interest in the Serbian market, while country presentations and sector-specific many indicators prove that the propensity a total of 39,000 workers missions to and from Italy. Serbian and Italto increase their presence again is clear.

The Italian companies that already do business in Serbia are ian companies can also count on the Office of the Chamber of satisfied with the way the Government of Serbia responded Commerce & Industry of Serbia in Trieste, which is constantly to the epidemiological crisis, which represented a harsh test working to promote bilateral projects. for all the economies of the planet and showed the stability Economic ties are enhanced by scientific cooperation beand resilience of the Serbian economy. Forecasts for 2021 are tween the two countries. Over the last 10 years, projects in the positive, and Italy will certainly contribute in terms of investfield of higher education, science, technology and innovation have been experiencing an extraordinary moment: more than ments, goods and technology.

60 cooperation agreements between Italian and Serbian uniThere are great prospects for the further development of economic collaboration in many sectors – from the more traditional versities have been conducted during this period. Furthermore, ones, like agriculture and infrastructures, to the emerging ones, with the 2012 creation of the Association of Italian and Serbian like new technologies, renewable energies and the sustainable Scientists and Scholars (AIS3), which brings together more and smart economy. As for agribusinesses, the recent availability than 400 researchers and academics from the two countries, of IPARD funds for rural development will allow more Serbian joint projects will continue to thrive in the future. companies to purchase Italian agricultural technologies.

Our mutual economic relations are also based on strong 15

PARTNERS: ITALY & SERBIA

INTERVIEW

GIORGIO MARCHEGIANI, PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN-SERBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND CEO AT DDOR INSURANCE, MEMBER OF THE UNIPOL GROUP

SUPPORT THAT WORKS Like Magic

In this emergency situation, the role of the Chamber was essential in our business community, both in protecting existing companies and reinforcing the bridges between Italy and Serbia. We are not magicians, but as a chamber we support our member companies in their everyday business life and cultivate longterm relationships with them. This seems to be appreciated as a value proposition

I

talian FDI will continue for sure, says Italian-Serbian Chamber of Commerce President Giorgio Marchegiani in this interview for our CorD special edition. Indeed, as can be read in the lines below, the Italian-Serbian Chamber of Commerce is doing its best to keep the existing business community safe and sound, and to attract new members and prospective investors. And we can therefore look with hope towards new Italian investments in 2021.

Mr Marchegiani, the previous months weren’t normal for any of us. What was the “not normal / new normal” for the Italian-Serbian Chamber that you head?

- You are right, nothing was normal - first of all for all of us as human beings, even before considering our professional role.

Thinking back to the previous months, I can describe two phases: the emergency and the restart. For the first part, I remember very well that week starting on 9th March: I flew to Serbia on the Monday, hoping that flights would be maintained. Italy was already experiencing a health tsunami and we were all worried for our companies and our families.

16

The whole of Europe, and also Serbia, implemented more severe measures that week, closing airports and locking down borders with neighbouring countries in a few hours.

In that situation, where all of us were confused, scared and also had huge logistical problems (trucks blocked, drivers quarantined, families displaced), the Chamber behaved as a community to help, cooperating with the Italian Embassy in Belgrade, sharing information about the situation at the border crossings, health regulations, safety measures in the workplace, solutions, concerns, experiences.

That first phase brought us back to the original role of the Chamber of Commerce: to meet and share information, in a difficult environment. Compared to the past, the meeting place was on the web and via social media, or over the telephone.

During those days, I immediately pushed the staff to issue our newsletters almost daily via email, with all relevant official information. Further to this, a huge number of special cases was dealt with, with some thousands of phone calls that our staff answered, to support specific situations.

PARTNERS: ITALY & SERBIA

After a few weeks, in May, the second phase started, which I define as “the search for new markets”. In that phase, Italian companies – in most cases ones with no existing presence in Serbia – started calling us to understand how this market can help them generate new business. This activity is still continuing and I hope it will bring new investments to Serbia in 2021.

From the perspective of your members, which measures of the Serbian government were the most important for companies to proceed to work?

- The COVID-19 impact is specific by industry and company size.

Each industry sector had its own approach. In general, I can say that both the salary contribution and the moratorium on tax and other payments were highly appreciated by companies. I personally observed and praised the quick reaction of the Government and rapid implementation of measures. Speed is key and our members appreciated that.

purchases of policies for all insurance products and services within the regulations in Serbia. Besides this situation, DDOR osiguranje has also been preparing new products and services, but also channels that will enable customers to have better information, purchase policies, but also report claims.

The ‘new normal’ that awaits us in the future will have a strong online component of everyday activities, and we are going to be a value adding part of that.

Which of your services did clients need the most and how has your offer adjusted to cope with the new circumstances of the market?

- From the beginning of the epidemic, DDOR osiguranje called on people to act responsibly and follow prescribed measures of behaviour. However, in the case of COVID-19 infection, we were the first to introduce the product ‘Epidemik Protekt’, which provides assistance and financial help to those who must be hospitalised.

We were the first to The citizens can have it as additional insurintroduce the product ance with their life insurance policy and ‘Epidemik Protekt’, which companies as a group accident policy for a life insurance policy that already cover provides assistance risks against epidemics. to those who must be Additionally, we introduced special travel health insurance that included COVID-19 hospitalised. We also for all tourists planning their holidays introduced special travel somewhere abroad. At the same time, we health insurance that included offered special insurance for hotel guests who decide to stay in Serbia.

How complex is it for your company to navigate and organise workers and operations in volatile times and during sudden changes in the health situation?

- Now that the we have several months of experience with the new situation, I can say that we must be satisfied with how we reacted to the new conditions of business with the epidemic.

DDOR osiguranje is a large company with a large network and the challenge COVID-19 for all tourists was to reorganise processes in order travelling abroad Given that Serbia operates on a tight to protect employees and clients, while budget, which non-financial measures still providing a high level of service. We could help the insurance industry better catch up with the decided to remain open the entire time, but we also adjusted. needs of the market?

That said, we enabled the option of working from home for - There are a number of measures that we can apply: we have to more than 70% of our people, immediately introduced high listen continuously to our clients, use their language – including health and safety measures on our premises and introduced digital media – work on the availability of insurance and prothe contactless purchasing of policies for both citizens and viding it when its needed, and in a way that can be understood companies. In the Claims department we introduced a system by most people. At the same time, the whole industry, along of contactless claims reporting and scheduling of damage with regulators and partners, should continue joint efforts assessment, in order to reduce the number and volume of on educating the general public, which is a continuous and contacts between employees and customers. enduring process. That said, we used to say that insurance All the measures taken were implemented in a timely manner and I can say that we did a good job in protecting people is most expensive when you don’t have any. This also means while maintaining the level of business operations. that citizens can buy insurance that could save their homes or other property for amounts that are affordable to most people.

How successful was the shift to the online domain for the For business clients, some forms of insurance are obligatory or required by partners, and for them insurance is part insurance industry and your company in particular? of their investment in business continuation.

- The whole world shifted online. Unlike some other industries, We have a good example in the agriculture business, where insurance is one of the most conservative and, to some extent, the state provides incentives for producers by subsidising this situation accelerated the shift online. On top of our regular 40% of the premium. In this way, food production – as one online shop that offers standard insurance products, mainly of the most important branches of industry – has support. for travel, we provided the option of completely contactless 17

PARTNERS: ITALY & SERBIA

BUSINESS

SLOBODAN FILIPOVIĆ, DIRECTOR OF EXPRESS SEE

WE CONNECT Three Continents

Express SEE has been providing logistics services, both abroad and on the domestic market, since it was founded in Belgrade in 2014. The company operates within the framework of Italy-based international freight forwarding group ExpressGlobal

T

You are in a position to respond to almost all market needs.

Does this mean that your list of satisfied clients is long, while you have an even greater desire for growth and progress?

- The team that I lead is experienced, but still sufficiently young. We are constantly improving and have a pronounced need to both nurture relationships with existing clients and acquire new ones. We are helped in this by the fact that clients Your company’s focus is always the same - providing optimal recommend us to their acquaintances, because they recognise solutions in terms of costs and transit time for each delivery. us as a reliable partner in every respect.

Do you manage to achieve that on all three continents where We want to be recognised on the market as a company you operate? that succeeds in overcoming all challenges, in order for our - ExpressGlobal, which we are a part of, represents a network clients to be able to dedicate themselves to their jobs and that’s able to respond to the demands of clients on all contiwork obligations. With a professional approach to each clinents. We strive to offer a service that is tailored to the client, i.e. to always offer a service that provides ent, we create stable cooperation that the best ratio of costs and delivery time.

We want our clients to know endures for years.

Apart from costs and delivery time, we that their goods are secure Express SEE is synonymous with reliable consider our company’s responsiveness with us and that we take care logistics partners in the region. Does as its special quality. We don’t allow much time to pass before responding to every of them throughout the course this mean that clients recognise that request received. Moreover, we also strive cooperation with you guarantees the of transport and logistics hard to ensure that clients are constantly security of their shipment until the end well informed about the status of their of its journey? shipments, and to work proactively with the aim of preventing - Apart from standard criteria in terms of punctuality and reliproblems that can arise due to possible disruptions within the ability of delivery, which we maintain at a high level, Express logistics chain.

SEE considers it very important that our clients don’t feel stress Express SEE attributes the success of its operations, among during transport and logistics operations. We endeavour to other things, to the extraordinary interpersonal relationships adapt the service to each client individually, because we are cultivated among colleagues on all three continents. As we all aware that not everyone has the same parameters for assessshare the same goal of ensuring satisfied clients, we manage to ing level of service. find the best transport and logistics solutions. Our work is eased We want our clients to know that their goods are secure by the fact that we have offices around the world, because we with us and that we take care of them throughout the course know that we always have colleagues we can turn to for every of transport and logistics, while our experience enables us to request beyond the borders of our country. avoid or overcome any problem during the transport process. hanks to the fact that it is currently present on three continents, this group is able to meet the specific and demanding needs of the markets, operating via all modes of transport and dealing with customs mediation in import, export and transit procedures.

18

PARTNERS: ITALY & SERBIA

AUNDE SRB D.O.O. (LTD.)

BUSINESS

AUNDE WILL MOVE A Step Forward AUNDE SRB D.o.o. (Ltd.) is a manufacturing plant in the Pomoravlje District of Serbia, a partner of thr AUNDE Group that’s 100% owned

by AUNDE Italia S.p.A and is among the top players in the sector of vehicle upholstery production in Serbia

AUNDE had a total of 700 employees in 2019, while in 2020 the company expects to increase its number of workers by nine per cent, thus reaching the level of 760 total staff.

It was in January 2015 that AUNDE SRB launched production of seat covers for the FIAT 500L, one of the best selling cars in its segment in the EU, on working area of approximately 11,000m2. AUNDE SRB produces seat covers for FIAT, MERCEDES, Peg Perego, IVECO and other important automotive customers.

Thanks to great advances in its production processes,based on the TPS methodology, AUNDE is now among the best players in the seat cover production sector in Serbia.

The company had a turnover of 24.7 million euros in 2018, while the 2019 result will total 25 million euros, and turnover is set to increase by six per cent in 2020.

The company’s current workforce is 72 per cent women.

Shifts are restricted to two, in order to ensure AUNDE’s ladies are also able to take care of their children. AUNDE also has more than 10 per cent of women staff at the first

and second levels of management.

As a customer-orientated company, AUNDE SRB – like all companies in the Aunde Group - pay attentions to all environmental and safety issues.

Some important awards symbolise the way major institutions recognise the great investment and work done

by AUNDE in Serbia: ○ Leonardi Price (ItalianSerbian Chamber of Commerce). ○ Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Serbia Award for the Best Company, in recognition of the company’s success in increasing its turnover and number of workers. ○ Freedom of the City of Jagodina Award (17th October 1945). ○ Captain Misa: National Award of the City of Novi Sad. ○ Confindustria Serbia AWARD. AUNDE SRB will continue operations in Serbia and advance towards opening the doors to important new markets, and not only in the automotive sector. AUNDE SRB will chose its new Customer in Serbia and in Balkan area in sectors like furniture.

19

PARTNERS: ITALY & SERBIA

INTERVIEW

PATRIZIO DEI TOS, PRESIDENT OF CONFINDUSTRIA SERBIA

We Recognised Common

GOALS & WORKED AS A TEAM Everything we achieved stems from teamwork and mutual support. Now it is important to move forward and define our priorities clearly

C

OVID-19 represents a global problem and as a con sequence it seriously affects the global economy.

Unfortunately, the negative consequences of the pandemic in the first half of the year did not sparetrade and business relations between Italy and Serbia. Italy was under “lockdown” in the period from March to May, during which – statistically speaking – production levels fell by

20

29.9% compared to the first three months of the year. Since the lockdown applied to industry too, in that period production was reduced to manufacturing of only essential goods and this affected the operations of Italian subsidiaries in Serbia,” says Patrizio Dei Tos, President of Confindustria Serbia. “In the first days of the Coronavirus crisis in Serbia, our member companies recorded a decline in exports and productivity, some of them up to 30 per cent, but once the issues of mobility, transport, logistics and import-export procedures between the two countries were regulated, companies returned to a steady business flow.”

In the meantime, which sectors had been able to reorganise under the new circumstances and which of them will be most seriously affected?

- In my opinion it is important to emphasise that, soon after the declaration of the epidemic and the introduction of a

PARTNERS: ITALY & SERBIA

state of emergency in Serbia, Confindustria Serbia’s member companies reacted quickly and readily to the new situation and reorganised their operations by implementing all safety rules to protect the health of their employees and secure a safe working environment, preventing the further spread of the virus.

At the same time, a positive impulse arrived from the Government of the Republic of Serbia, which reacted in a timely and adequate manner by adopting economic measures, with the aim of reducing the negative economic effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. These measures had a positive impact on the operations of companies under these circumstances, helping them to secure both production and the employment rate.

How supportive were other branches of Confindustria to your work and in which aspects was their expertise most needed?

- Synergy and coordination with the Italian headquarters of Confindustria were of great importance to us in terms of facing the upcoming crisis in Serbia.

Italy was hit by the Coronavirus crisis before Serbia, and that “Italian experience” was invaluable for us - we used

Here in Serbia we’ve had exceptional support from, and maximum cooperation with, the Embassy of Italy in Belgrade, the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Serbia, the Serbian Association of Employers and the Foreign Investors Council. We’ve worked as a team their models to build our strategies, to develop proposals in terms of protocols and recommendations for safe and healthy work space and management of the relations with employees, but also to propose economic, fiscal and financial measures to the institutions of the Republic of Serbia, many of which – I am pleased to add – were included in the set of measures adopted by the Government of Serbia to help the economy.

I’d also like to add that thanks to the efforts of Confindustria Serbia, but also to the joint action with the Italian - Serbian Chamber of Commerce, there had been appeals addressed to the head of the Italian government, aimed at drawing attention to the difficult situation experienced by CEOs operating in both countries, due to the strict limits imposed on movement of people. With the simultaneous commitment of the President of Confindustria in Italy, we managed to fight for a significant change in the rules regarding transfers to Italy from Serbia, so that now travelling between the two countries for business has become possible again.

21

PARTNERS: ITALY & SERBIA

DIGITALISATION

LOOKING BOLDLY

Towards The Future

Given that Italy is among the leading nations in many aspects of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Serbia is keen to strengthen bilateral cooperation between companies, universities, research institutes and local administrations. And Confindustria Serbia has been contributing to this cause for years

22

A

ccording to the latest Deloitte report (2019), Italy is at the global forefront in many aspects of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the so-called digital revolution.

Furthermore, Italian executives fully appreciate digitalisation as being fundamental to their companies’ futures and are looking to adopt and use digital technologies.

According to Eurostat, there are approximately 5,400 high-tech manufacturing companies in Italy, making it one of the top four countries in Europe (along with Germany, the UK and Poland). If all sectors are included – among both services and manufacturing – Italy remains among the top countries.in Europe, with more than 105,000 hightech companies. Italy is also above the European average in terms of the production and use of industrial robots and in the adoption of 4.0 technologies, such as the cloud, the Internet of Things (IoT) and machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, the Deloitte report states.

PARTNERS: ITALY & SERBIA

The second one was organised with the participation of BocItalian companies also invest heavily in scientific and coni University at the Zvezdara Science and Technology Park technological research. According to the European Comand included the presenting of the various possibilities and mission, at €185.4 million, the average annual research challenges that digitalisation offers for traditional industries, and development expenditure of Italy’s top R&D spending such as production or sales. The third conference covered to enterprises is higher than the equivalent EU average of the topic of cyber security, while the fourth addressed 5G, €165.8 million. enabled technologies and similar topics. Conferences now Italy is ranked seventh worldwide in robotics, just berepresent a tradition of great importance for Confindustria, hind giants like China, South Korea, Japan and the U.S. The as well as an occasion to meet every autumn and highlight the country’s annual production of 6,500 units is expected to digital revolution, which encompasses both our private and rise to about 8,500 units by the end of 2020. Although that professional lives. number is low compared to Germany, which manufactures about 20,000 robots annually, Italy still ranks second in Europe, with France and Spain trailing behind, with 4,200 and 3,900 units respectively.

Moreover, Italy is also in the global top ten in terms of robotic intensity: the number of industrial robots compared to the size of the workforce. According to the International Federation of Robotics, Italy has 185 robots per 10,000 manufacturing employees, placing it far ahead of Spain, France and the UK. The same report states that Italy ranks sixth worldwide in terms of M2M communication, which is fundamental to Industry 4.0, and is also advancing promisingly in cloud computing. Based on Eurostat data, cloud technologies have been introduced by around 22 per cent of Italian companies, which is slightly above of the European These events brought together nuaverage of 21 per cent. Use of the IoT is Confindustria Serbia has merous representatives of Serbian and also rising quickly in Italy, with the sector hosted four conferences Italian companies, both traditional and having more than doubled in three years.

Smart metering and smart car segments related to digitalisation since innovative IT companies focused on represented Italy’s largest IoT sectors in 2016, focusing on start-ups, digital transformation, as well as EU experts and representatives of the Ser2017, with output of €980 million and €810 the digitalisation of bian government. They also presented million respectively, followed by smart buildings (€520 million) and IoT solutions traditional industries, cyber the experiences and expertise of Italian other top companies, as well as the for industrial logistics. security and 5G technologies and good practises of Italian cities that have In February 2017, the Italian Ministry embraced the smart city approach. of Economic Development launched the The aim of these events was to promote public-private Industria 4.0 National Plan (I4.0), as the new strategy to put partnerships and collaborations, as well as to emphasise in place horizontal measures accessible for all enterprises the importance of introducing fast-changing technological with the aim of boosting investment in new technologies, shifts to the traditional businesses environment. research and development, thus revitalising the competiIt was with this in mind in 2019 that Confindustria tiveness of Italian companies. initiated cooperation between the Serbian Ministry of Within such a context, it is no wonder that Italy was among Innovation and Technological Development, and its Italthe leading countries in introducing the topic of digitalisation ian counterpart, the Ministry for Digitalisation, in order to Serbia. Confindustria Serbia has hosted four conferences to strengthen bilateral cooperation between companies, related to digitalisation since 2016, each with different founiversities, research institutes and local administrations cuses: the first conference was dedicated to start-ups and in Italy and Serbia. the establishment of a business environment to sustain them.

23

PARTNERS: ITALY & SERBIA

DUAL EDUCATION

THOUGHTFUL APPROACH To Job Creation

Under the leadership of Confindustria Serbia and supported by the Italian Embassy in Belgrade, Italian companies have been contributing strongly to the development of dual education in the country, through cooperation with both schools and the Serbian Ministry of education

C

onsider this: in 2015 a then small offshoot of Jagodina-based Italian company Aunde employed 200 workers, while its entire production was directed towards the local market. Over the course of the next three years, the number of employees grew to 750, while exports soon expanded to account for 80% of the company’s production. Along the way, in 2017, the company started cooperating with the Italian Embassy, Confindustria and the Serbian Ministry of Education, with the aim of im-

24

plementing the dual education programme. Aunde provided industrial machines for the school it collaborates with, and has employed 40 young students over the past five years. At the beginning of 2020, Aunde won the award for “Contribution to the Implementation of the Dual Education System”, which is presented to the most successful members of Confindustria Serbia.

In a nutshell, this is how the win-win story of dual education in Serbia looks. But there are many more Italian companies

PARTNERS: ITALY & SERBIA

people aged from 15 to 29 when entering the workplace, and that have been contributing to the development of dual such apprenticeships can last up to three years, according to education in Serbia. Among them are Fulgar, Modital, Dafar, collective bargaining. Such an approach offers reduced costs Tehnostruture, Promeks and many others. for new entrants and training opportunities, increases the Italy’s contribution to the development of dual education work-related capabilities of young employees (learning-byin Serbia is both practical and envisages support for schools doing) and provides the opportunity for companies to test to procure state-of-the-art equipment for school training new entrants through on-the-job training. and experts. Specifically, as of 2017, Confindustria Serbia, as The Serbian approach to dual education has certainly the most important association of Italian manufacturing and learnt from different perspectives and experiences that have service companies, was included in the team of the Ministry led to a specific model. Within that model, dual education of Education. Italian executives thus gained an opportunity, only serves to complement the current model of vocational through the association, to influence the creation and establishment of a more efficient education system in Serbia, which will serve in the function of economic development.

One of the examples of the cooperation between the Ministry of Education, and Confindustria is the launch of the “National Day of Small and MediumSized Enterprises”, which - from 2017 onwards - became a series of events bringing together numerous Italian SMEs and local communities. On this occasion, Italian SMEs open their doors to students, professors and the local community, in an effort to raise awareness among younger generations about the importance of also learning within companies. Participants education and differs from the model are given an opportunity to gain first-hand With young people now employed in other European countries. experience of a business environment and enrolling in dual education Specifically, the National Model of Dual the way particular companies operate. This protects the general education event also serves as an opportunity to throughout Serbia, it is good Education system, while the fund of hours of profesestablish a dialogue between the business to know that the whole sional subjects is divided into learning in world, education and local communities, while encouraging the entrepreneurial process is well supported by an educational institution and learning in a real work environment. In the words of spirit and the development of critical Italian companies that Gabriela Grujić Ph.D., Assistant Minister of and creative thinking among young future Education responsible for dual education professionals. are looking forward to and upbringing, education does not mean Indeed, Italy has rich experience in welcoming new entrants only the acquisition of knowledge, but also this field. The two main forms of the and future employees the way we teach young people to use dual system in Italy are “school-work their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. alternation” and “apprenticeships”. The The Serbian concept got its legislative form in the Law Italian “school-work alternation” was introduced with the on Dual Education, which was adopted by the National Asaim of improving the work-related skills of young learners. It sembly of Serbia on 8th November 2017 and began being starts with an agreement between a school and companies. implemented at the start of the 2019/2020 school year.

As of 2015, school-work alternation became mandatory in In the meantime, the number of dual educational profiles secondary education in Italy. implemented in 104 secondary vocational schools has grown On the other hand, Italian apprenticeships represent a to 37, while the number of companies participating in the labour and training contract with specific supporting legislaimplementation of learning through work has reached a total tion; active mainly in the labour market, these apprenticeships of 880. Some 2,533 pupils were enrolled in the first year of have limited connections with the education system. Italian high school in the 2019/2020 school year. This September apprentices are paid workers who participate in training marks the second year of the concept, which Italian comcourses/experiences in order to acquire different kinds of panies are contributing to strongly. qualifications. The target group for apprenticeships are young 25

PARTNERS: ITALY & SERBIA

SME

Italian small and medium-sized enterprises are seen as role models and hubs for sharing knowledge when it comes to the promotion of entrepreneurship among their Serbian counterparts, particularly among the Serbian youth. On the other hand, they are also important investors in the Serbian economy

A Coach And

AN INSPIRATION

W

e would like to ask Confindustria to be our coach when it comes to small and medium-sized enterprises, said Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Serbia President Marko Čadez, speaking at the Public Meeting of Confindustria Serbia – the Association of Italian Industrialists in Serbia – back in February this year.

According to the Confindustria statistics, SMEs account for 70 per cent of its members in Serbia, with a total of around 600 Italian enterprises having invested approximately three billion euros of capital in Serbia. And many of these companies are run by entrepreneurs who identified an opportunity to improve their business in Serbia.

According to Italian Ambassador to Serbia H.E. Carlo Lo Cascio, Italian SMEs play a crucial role in the country and are seen by their Serbian partners as role models. “SMEs represent

26

a model that perfectly fits the Serbian business environment, and they can bring added value to the communities where they operate,” said the ambassador, speaking at one 2019 event that brought together representatives of businesses from Italy and their Serbian counterparts.

SMEs actually represent the beating heart of the Italian economy, both within the country and beyond its borders.

According to the latest OCD report, SMEs generate 66.9% of overall added value in the Italian ‘non-financial business economy’, massively exceeding the EU average of 56.4%. The share of employment generated by SMEs is even larger, at 78.1%, compared to the EU average of 66.6%.

Micro firms are particularly important in Italy, providing 28.4% of overall value added and 44.9% of overall employment in the ‘non-financial business economy’. SMEs operating

PARTNERS: ITALY & SERBIA

and production activities, emphasising in in the manufacturing sector generate There are more than particular the interest in cooperating in the 30.4% of overall SME value added in the 10,000 innovative start-ups field of the creative industries. PM Brnabić Italian ‘non-financial business economy’.

Between 2014 and 2018, SME value added currently listed in the Italian said that Serbia was interested in continuing cooperation in the segment of innovative in this sector increased by 9.7%, thus exnational start-up register, technologies and investments by SMEs ceeding its 2008 pre-crisis level by 4.6%. from Veneto, a region that is considered a In contrast, SME employment remained mainly in high-tech leader of this field in Italy.

16.2% lower than its 2008 level, rising manufacturing and The expansion of cooperation to new by only two per cent between 2014 and 2018. This higher growth of value added knowledge-intensive services, fields would also certainly be welcomed, compared to employment levels is due and Serbia is seeking to learn and would contribute to expanding the present network of Italian companies, to various factors. A notable driver was from these experiences mostly SMEs, operating in other fields the Italian government’s 2016 ‘Industria of the Serbian economy.

4.0’ plan, which acted as an incentive for As noted, Italian SMEs are seen as promoters of the SMEs to increase innovation by, for example, investing in culture of entrepreneurship. A good example of knowledge digitalisation. Consequently, most SMEs in manufacturing sharing is represented by Confindustria Serbia’s ‘Day of have introduced new digital systems, such as IT security, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises’ events, which provide connectivity, cloud computing and collaborative robotics. opportunities for dialogue between commercial sectors, the Moreover, Italian SMEs have been particularly strong educational sector and local communities. contributors to GDP growth through their direct exports.

Such events also underpin the efforts undertaken by Exporting SMEs generate significantly more value added than the Government of Serbia to strengthen entrepreneurship. non-exporting SMEs and boost SME employment in particular.

Namely, in March 2015 the Government of the Republic of Growth is currently driven mainly by SMEs in the south of the Serbia adopted its Strategy for Supporting the Development country and its islands, generating 59.2% of overall growth of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Entrepreneurship and in 2018, which equated to 18,705 new businesses.

Competitiveness for the 2015-2020 period. Subsequently, in This increase was partly the result of national and regional 2016, the government introduced financial and non-financial incentives for start-ups, such as the ‘Resto al Sud’ initiative. support for this sector, which later grew into the Decade of As a result, there are at present more than 10,000 innovative Entrepreneurship, with the Government of the Republic of start-ups listed in the national start-up register. SMEs in highSerbia and the Ministry of Economy continuing to provide tech manufacturing and knowledge-intensive services, which systematic support to the SME and entrepreneurship sector. are usually R&D-intensive, generated 28.6% of SME value The SME sector in Serbia currently accounts for 99.8% added in the ‘non-financial business economy’ in Italy in 2018. of the Serbian economy and employs 67% of Serbian workAt a recent meeting in Belgrade, Serbian Prime Minister Ana ers. However, a need remains for more knowledge on how to Brnabić and President of the Veneto Region, Luca Zaia, discussed enter foreign markets, which is a speciality of Italian SMEs. the continuation of cooperation in the area of the economy 27

Partner

GERMANY - SERBIA

2020 The Year Of Jubilees

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

CONTENT

06 08

HISTORY CONDENSED COMMENT

SPEED OF ACCESSION IN SERBIA’S HANDS

H.E. THOMAS SCHIEB, GERMAN AMBASSADOR TO SERBIA

16

WE CAN STILL DO WONDERS

RONALD SEELIGER, PRESIDENT OF THE GERMAN-SERBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (AHK SERBIA) AND CEO OF HEMOFARM (STADA GROUP)

24

OUR COMPANY IS HERE TO STAY

UDO EICHLINGER, CEO, SIEMENS AND SIEMENS MOBILITY

26

WE’RE HERE WHEN TIMES ARE HARDEST

LJILJANA TOPIĆ, DIRECTOR, GALENIKA PHARMACIA

12 14

20

WE OFFER CONSUMERS JOY

ZORAN MITIĆ, DIRECTOR, DR OETKER SRBIJA

UP TO 1,100 JOBS WILL BE CREATED BROSE

SUPPORTING CLIENTS AT ALL TIMES

IVAN SMILJKOVIĆ, MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF PROCREDIT BANK

27 30 31 ZF

22

WE’VE QUICKLY LEARNT TO LIVE WITH THE CRISIS

DESIGN Jasmina Laković j.lakovic@aim.rs

PROJECT MANAGERS Biljana Dević b.devic@aim.rs Vesna Vukajlović v.vukajlovic@aim.rs Mihailo Čučković m.cuckovic@aim.rs

PHOTOS Zoran Petrović

OFFICE MANAGER Svetlana Petrović s.petrovic@aim.rs

COPY EDITOR Mark Pullen mrpeditorial@mail.com

EDITORIAL MANAGER Neda Lukić n.lukic@aim.rs

4

GENERAL MANAGER Maja Vidaković m.vidakovic@aim.rs PUBLISHER Ivan Novčić i.novcic@aim.rs PRINTING Rotografika d.o.o.

34

SERBIA WILL NEED TO SPEED UP

35

GRUNER - EVERY YOUNG WORKER’S DREAM

WE OFFER SECURE JOBS

MILAN MANIĆ, DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER OF LEONI SERBIA AND HEAD OF THE LEONI MALOŠIŠTE PLANT

36

THE STORY OF GERMAN REUNIFICATION

40

SEPTEMBER BRINGS A DEGREE OF OPTIMISM

43

LOGISTICS OF THE NEW ERA

HISTORY

DOMESTIC PRODUCTS THAT WE ARE PROUD OF

DM DROGERIE MARKT

FINANCE Dragana Skrobonja finance@aim.rs

KRUNA GAVOVIĆ, CEO OF THE LEAN SIX SIGMA COMPANY CEE AND TMS CEE MARKETING AND ACADEMY MANAGER

TOGETHER FOR TOMORROW

“BUG” HUNTERS

PREDRAG SKOKOVIĆ, MANAGING DIRECTOR, QUALITY HOUSE

GERMAN WOMEN THAT HAVE CHANGED THE WORLD

FRAUEN-POWER

RELIABLE ECONOMIC PARTNER OF SERBIA AHK SERBIA

NEW CHALLENGES DRIVE EFFICIENCY

VLADAN MARKOVIĆ, DIRECTOR, VLADO BAUMASCHINEN

58 62

BOOKS

10 GERMAN BOOKS YOU HAVE TO READ BEFORE YOU DIE KEY MESSAGES

GERMAN ECONOMY

MARTIN KNAPP, EXECUTIVE MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE GERMAN-SERBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (AHK SERBIA)

EDITOR IN CHIEF Ana Novčić a.novcic@aim.rs a.novcic@cordmagazine.com

33

FFE HAS GOT THE MOMENTUM

NIKOLA ĆATOVIĆ, DIRECTOR, MACS ENERGY & WATER D.O.O.

VLADICA STANKOVIĆ, DIRECTOR OF GRUNER SERBIA

32

FRANK BAUMANN, DIRECTOR, GOETHE-INSTITUT

THE VISION OF NEXT GENERATION MOBILITY

HELP

44 47 48 52 57

IT WILL BE CONTINUED

BOJAN LASKOVIĆ, MANAGING DIRECTOR, CFND BELGRADE

Segedinski put 72, Subotica, Serbia BUSINESS PARTNER GERMANY Published by: alliance international media Prote Mateje 52, 11111 Belgrade 17, PAK 126909, Serbia Phone: +(381 11) 2450 508 Fascimile: +(381 11) 2450 122 E-mail: office@aim.rs;

office@cordmagazine.com www.aim.rs; www.cordmagazine.com No 20 ISSN: 2560-4465 All rights reserved alliance international media 2020 The views expressed in this publication are those of the presenter; they do not necessary reflect the view of publications published by

alliance international media THIS PUBLICATION IS FREE OF CHARGE

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

COMMENT

History

CONDENSED While we are celebrating many events and factors that make German-Serbian bilateral relations stronger, history might also be in the making. This largely depends on how the new Serbian government and parliament will deal with current accession issues

L

As such, 2020 might prove to be an historic year for ong before the pandemic turned our world upside the region. There are several reasons for that: first, the down, it was well known that 2020 would be a year EU strongly demonstrated its interest in the region during packed with historic events. Included among them the crisis. This was demonstrated by EU financial support are undoubtedly the anniversary of three decades of of €3.3 billion to Serbia and rest of the Western Balkans; the reunification of Germany, a jubilee passionately debated activation of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism during both within German borders and around Europe. Here in the time of the pandemic and the expected inclusion of Serbia we are marking half of the century of the work of the the region in the EU developmental package including the Goethe-Institut and preparing for the celebration of two a European Green Deal. decades of the existence of the German-Serbian Chamber For their part, North Macedonia and Albania are right of Commerce, technically in 2021. All of these events seek in the middle of their preparations for accession talks, a different size and scope of thorough contemplation, and which is an important milestone, while Serbia itself has the fresh ideas about what to do next. possible momentum required to galvanise its somewhat Even without different kinds of jubilees, the year stalled accession negotiations. itself could have been remembered Indeed, such a shift seeks signifias an historic one, both at the global It seems that 2020 might level and at the level of national cant effort from the new Serbian govbecome an historic year in economies. Early 2020 was marked ernment and parliament to embrace by acceleration of the trade war Serbian records, as the one in a faster pace of reforms, in terms between U.S. and China, troubleof the rule of law and, in particular, some Brexit negotiations and, as a which no negotiation chapters judicial reform, media freedom and consequence, a slowdown in global were opened. However, things the fight against corruption. As Gereconomic activity. This gave eveAmbassador to Serbia Thomas may look up before Germany's man Schieb put it: “the more progress rybody a headache – from strong EU presidency ends. on the rule of law, the more chapter economies like that of Germany, to openings are possible.” the much smaller ones, such as the Furthermore, there is obviously the issues of the Serbian, which is strongly dependent on its largest trade normalisation of relations with Kosovo, as well as the and investment partner. general alignment of Serbia’s foreign policy record with Then the pandemic emerged, ensuring - among other that of the EU. things - that Germany’s EU presidency would a very difficult One also has to keep in mind that 2020 might be an period in which many historical moves had been, and still historic year in Serbian records as the one in which no have to be, taken. The list is already long: an agreement chapters were opened. Yet, as the clock ticks, space for on the multi-annual financial framework for the EU for optimism still lingers in the air. the next seven years, plus an additional package of 750 Consequently, this edition of CorD, in which we address billion euros aimed at helping the recovery of the European all of the aforementioned issues and many more, might economy. The further complication of negotiations with become an important piece of evidence on how history the UK, as well as the most important topic for our part has turned, one way or the other. of the world – the future of the EU enlargement process.

6

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

INTERVIEW

H.E. THOMAS SCHIEB, GERMAN AMBASSADOR TO SERBIA

SPEED OF ACCESSION

In Serbia's Hands

There is a danger of an imbalance between the overall pace of negotiations and the pace of rule of law reforms. Therefore, the basic equation is quite simple: the more progress on rule of law, the more chapter openings are possible - Thomas Schieb

T

he annual report of the European Commission, which has been announced for publication in October, should evaluate how far Serbia has progressed in the implementing of reforms linked to EU membership. At that time there will be discussion within the EU over whether some new chapters in the accession negotiation process could be opened,” say H.E. German Ambassador Thomas Schieb, speaking to CorD Magazine. Turning to the recent renewal of dialogue on the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Priština, ambassador Schieb says that the essence is to ensure that “both sides reach a legally binding agreement that enables both Serbia and Kosovo to pursue their EU accession aspirations and fulfil their rights and obligations as EU members”. Asked whether that process also implies that Serbia must recognise Kosovo’s

8

independence, Schieb says: “In my political imagination ... it would be hard to envisage such a solution without Serbia recognising Kosovo”.

Your Excellency, Germany took on the presidency of the European Union during the very difficult period of the COVID-19 Pandemic. In your opinion, what will be the biggest challenges for Berlin until the end of 2020?

- The Council Presidency of the European Union is always a very challenging responsibility. And it goes without saying that this is especially true now, given the COVID-19 Pandemic – a health crisis on a global scale with enormous economic and political repercussions. The logistical difficulties of a situation when physical meetings and travel have become part of the problem alone make it challenging to organise

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

ECONOMY

INVESTMENTS

EU

The green transition and digital transformation will play a central role in modernising the economies of the Western Balkans

Germany is Serbia’s biggest trading partner; German companies’ investments in Serbia are significant: around 450 companies in Serbia have created about 64,000 jobs to date

EU is not only an economic union, but also a union of values. Democracy and rule of law are key elements of that union. Without sharing these values, no country can and will join the EU

a presidency. The German EU Council Presidency does everything in its power to deal with this situation.

When addressing the economic and social consequences of COVID-19, it is important to do this in a smart, intelligent way. The objective is to ensure a transition towards a sustainable economy, also taking account of the EU Commission’s proposal for the so-called “Green Deal”.

At the very beginning of our presidency, we reached an agreement on the multi-annual financial framework for the next seven years. This agreement provides for a total volume of more than 1074 billion euros. An additional 750 billion euros will support the recovery of the European economy by the end of 2023.

Beyond COVID-19, there are other difficult issues on the agenda, foremost concluding negotiations with the UK on future trade relations in order to avoid a hard BREXIT. And, lasty, maintaining the momentum regarding the enlargement process.

sion negotiations with both Serbia and Montenegro. Another focus is the issue of demographics and migration, which we will discuss at a conference on Youth and Migration with the Western Balkan countries in Berlin at the end of October.

The European Commission has announced a major economic investment plan for the Western Balkans, as a separate project. Will that plan be presented this autumn, as previously announced?

- That is a question for the Commission, of course, but I think I’m free to say that the Economic and Investment Plan will be presented this autumn. To the best of my knowledge, preparatory work is quite advanced. After the very substantive COVID related EU solidarity package, this will be a further means to support the countries of the region, to spur long-term recovery, boost economic growth focusing on a sustainable recovery and the idea of a European Green Deal as well. The green transition and digital transformation will play a central role in modernising the economies of the Western Balkans.

Investing in clean and digital technologies and capacities – in combination with a circular economy – will help to create jobs and growth.

Beyond COVID-19, there are other difficult issues on the agenda, foremost concluding negotiations with the UK on future trade relations in order to avoid a hard BREXIT. And, last but not least, maintaining the momentum regarding the enlargement process

You’ve stated that the Western Balkan region remains high on the agenda of Germany’s presidency of the EU. What specifically does that mean for the region?

- First of all, it means that, in our response to COVID-19, we include the Western Balkans. The virus knows no borders. We have to deal with it together. That’s why I’m very satisfied with the EU’s financial support of €3.3 billion that’s been mobilised for Serbia and the Western Balkans so far, and the fact that European response mechanisms are also eligible for the countries of this region. The Union Civil Protection Mechanism, for example, has been activated and assistance through delivery of equipment allocated.

Besides COVID-19, we are glad about the new momentum of enlargement. This is most visible in the cases of North Macedonia and Albania. We are preparing accession talks with these two countries by finalising the negotiating frameworks within the Council right now. During our Presidency we aim to hold the first intergovernmental conference with North Macedonia and, if conditions are met, also with Albania. We want to promote the EU rapprochement of all the countries of the region, and pay a lot of attention to the ongoing acces-

International financial institutions have predicted economic recessions for most European countries this year, Germany included. How will this impact on economic cooperation between Germany and Serbia?

- The interim projection 2020, which was published by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs at the beginning of September, shows that the recession was not as severe as feared and the upswing is going faster than expected.

Also, expectations among German companies for the coming months seem to have brightened up again.

The Government of Serbia invested significant funds to help the economy. That was instrumental in tackling the crisis. Positive developments in Germany and Europe would also be good news for Serbia, given the close economic links. Germany is Serbia’s biggest trading partner; German companies’ investments in Serbia are significant: around 450 companies in Serbia have created about 64,000 jobs 9

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

to date. Of course, some companies are able to cope with the current challenges better than others; some might have postponed the implementation of projects. However, we see no signs of German companies turning their back on Serbia, on the contrary.

Recently, Germany and Serbia established an Institutional Partnership which aims, among other things, at strengthening

the respective supply chains, in accordance with Serbia’s industrial policy strategy and the EU Green Deal. Also, in the framework of the German Development Cooperation, we are setting up an emergency grant scheme for the private sector, in support of the digitalisation of small and medium-sized enterprises.

When congratulating the Serbian Progressive Party on its election victory this spring, you stated that you are convinced that the new Serbian government will increase the tempo of reforms, mentioning as key areas the fight against corruption, freedom of the media and the rule of law.

What do you base that optimism on, given that EU member states have to date only criticised Serbia for insufficiently visible progress on reforms in these areas?

- As I said in my answer to the previous question, Serbia will need to swiftly implement the reforms in the fields you mention. The necessary reforms were agreed with the EU and are operationalised in the action plans for chapters 23 and 24.

The lack of progress on implementing the action plans led to the EU’s decision not to open a new accession negotiation chapter this summer. Without swift and tangible progress with regard to the media situation, independence of the judiciary and the fight against corruption, I’m afraid it will be difficult to argue for further chapter openings. However, I am indeed an optimist. With its very strong mandate, the new government should be able to swiftly and effectively implement the reforms in the aforementioned areas. I can only encourage the new government, once it is in place, to start delivering on its commitments.

The lack of progress on implementing the action plans led to the EU’s decision not to open a new accession negotiation chapter this summer. Without swift and tangible progress with regard to the media situation, independence of the judiciary and the fight against corruption, I’m afraid it will be difficult to argue for further chapter openings

Serbia didn’t open a single new negotiating chapter with the EU during the course of the Croatian presidency. Do you think that any will be opened during the German presidency?

- We hope so. However, this depends first and foremost on Serbia. Serbia determines the speed at which the accession process advances. The more substantial the reforms Serbia is implementing, in particular regarding the rule of law, the higher the chance of opening new chapters.

In order to open a chapter, two conditions need to be fulfilled: it needs to be technically ready; and we need to see progress in the fulfilment of those conditions that are particularly important for EU accession, i.e. the rule of law, in particular justice reform, media freedom and the fight against corruption. We know from experience that such reforms take 10

more time to be implemented and to show results than rather technical adjustments in, for example, the field of agriculture.

There is a danger of imbalance between the overall pace of negotiations and the pace of rule of law reforms. Therefore, the basic equation is quite simple: the more progress on the rule of law, the more chapter openings are possible.

In October we expect the Commission’s country report, which will assess Serbia’s performance over the last 12 months. Then the discussion about possible chapter openings will start within the Council. Of course, other issues apart from the rule of law also factor in, like normalisation with Kosovo and the foreign policy record generally. Unfortunately, as time passes, 2020 risks becoming a lost year for rule of law reforms. I hope that the new government and parliament will redouble their efforts to make up for the time lost due to COVID-19 and elections.

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

At the recent Crocodile Literary Festival held in Belgrade, you helped in the organising of a debate on European perspectives. Participants discussed the strengthening of the so-called ‘stabilocracy’ in the region, or governments that are formally democratic but authoritarian in essence. Commentators note as a particular problem that such regimes in the region still have EU support. How would you comment on that?

- I know this argument, and it does not convince me. We all agree that a lot remains to be done. We have just talked about standards with regard to, for example, media freedom. Serbia and other countries in the region have embarked on the road to EU accession.

We commend this choice and are doing our utmost, as a reliable partner, to help the countries of the region advance on this reform path.

It is important to stress that the EU is not only an economic union, but also a union of values. Democracy and rule of law are key elements of that union. Without sharing these values, no country can and will join the EU.

from the U.S. State Department, Dep. Ass. Secretary Matthew Palmer, at the outset of the last high-level meeting in Brussels underlines the interest in working together closely.

Speaking recently about the dialogue, Mr Lajčak said that ‘the final agreement should be in accordance with International Law, acceptable for all EU Member States and pro-

With its very strong mandate, the new government should be able to swiftly and effectively implement the reforms in the aforementioned areas. I can only encourage the new government, once it is in place, to start delivering on its commitments

This summer saw the resumption of the Belgrade-Priština Dialogue, but a new problem seems to have arisen in the form of a kind of rivalry between the EU and the U.S when it comes to this process. Miroslav Lajčak, the EU’s envoy for this dialogue, said that the EU was not consulted during preparations for the meeting of Belgrade and Priština delegations in Washington. How would you comment on that?

- In general, activities that bring the parties closer together are welcome.

We are ready to work with our U.S. colleagues to help grow the economies of Kosovo, Serbia, and the wider region. As for the many unresolved political issues between the two countries, it is very positive that President Vučić and Prime Minister Hoti both stressed that they attach the highest priority to the EU-facilitated dialogue at their last meeting in Brussels. From our point of view, the talks facilitated by EU Special Representative Lajčak are progressing well. It is clear that reaching a sustainable, comprehensive agreement between Kosovo and Serbia will require close cooperation between the EU, as the facilitator of the dialogue, and the international partners of Kosovo and Serbia. The presence of a high-ranking colleague

mote reconciliation’. Do you agree with a framework set in such a way?

- Yes, we do. The goal of the normalisation dialogue is a legally binding agreement between Serbia and Kosovo that needs to be comprehensive, i.e. dealing with all relevant open questions, and needs to promote reconciliation and increase regional stability, indeed. It needs to unlock both Kosovo and Serbia’s eventual EU membership and to contribute to regional stability.

When it comes to this dialogue, the essential question is whether Germany will be among those EU member states that will seek that Serbia ultimately recognise Kosovo’s independence as a condition of EU accession?

- The essential question is that both sides reach a legally binding agreement that enables both Serbia and Kosovo to pursue their EU accession aspirations and fulfil their rights and obligations as EU members. This is the condition set in the negotiation framework signed by Serbia and the EU. To this end, it must have all the attributes mentioned before.

How else should it work? In my political imagination, I may add, it would be hard to envisage such a solution without Serbia recognising Kosovo.

11

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

BUSINESS

BROSE

UP TO 1,100 JOBS

Will Be Created

Brose, the world's fourth-largest family-owned automotive supplier, will open a location for development and production in Pančevo in the summer of 2021, with the company striving to generate revenue of around 440 million euros in Serbia by 2025

12

T

he supplier wants to create up to 1,100 jobs in development, sales, purchasing and production.

With 120 million euros set to be spent for the new location, construction works are advancing rapidly and will be completed by the spring of 2021, with production set to start in August.

The highly automated production at Brose’s Pančevo facility will include, among others, the production of electronics and drives for cooling fan modules. All electronics for the Brose group are produced under clean room conditions. In the coming years, the company plans to employ about 900 employees in all areas of production. In addition to this, a development centre will also be built in Pančevo by 2025, where up to 200 engineers will develop new products for electric vehicles. The goal is to offer customised solutions for car manufacturers and provide vehicle users with more comfort, safety and efficiency.

Brose offers many benefits for its employees, in-

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

BROSE PANČEVO

cluding a canteen. Healthcare is also very important: employees receive private health insurance funded by the company, including an annual medical examination.

Modern training, in part with challenging sessions at locations in Germany, Mexico and China, is offered to top representatives, as well as participation in management development programmes.

SOCIALLY ACTIVE IN THE CITY AND THE REGION Brose also takes its corporate social responsibility seriously: it has, for example, made a significant contribution to expanding the testing capacity for COVID-19, thus protecting the health of the population in Pančevo.

Brose aims to collaborate with local schools, as well as the Technical University of Novi Sad and the University of Belgrade, in order to discover and promote talent at an early stage and encourage the development of joint research projects. In the future, this automotive supplier will regularly open the gates of its factory to interested citizens and provide insight into production and the working world.

ROMAN STRAKOS, GENERAL MANAGER OF BROSE BELGRADE: “When investigating possible locations for our new production and development site, contacting the GermanSerbian Chamber of Commerce and the Development Agency of Serbia proved invaluable. The two organisations host a number of interesting and useful conferences, as well as training and knowledge-sharing events, which helped us understand the local market and set up our organisation accordingly.

COOLING FAN MODULE

“Even under the influence of the Coronavirus Pandemic, Brose continues to focus on the construction of our new plant in Pančevo and the recruitment of experts and skilled personnel. Things are progressing rapidly and we aim to start production earlier than planned in 2021.

Our family-owned company is proud to support society in these challenging times - in order to fulfil this commitment, we are looking for the most passionate and capable employees. Anyone willing to deliver an outstanding performance is welcome. Our highly motivated first 100 employees have convinced me that Serbia in general, and Pančevo in particular, was the right choice for Brose“.

COMPANY PROFILE The Brose Group develops and produces mechatronic systems for vehicle doors and seats, as well as electric motors, drives and electronics, among others for steering, brakes, transmissions and engine cooling. Approximately 25,000 employees at 65 locations in 24 countries generate a turnover of 6.2 billion euros. Worldwide, every second new vehicle is equipped with at least one Brose product.

The company’s list of clients includes approximately 80 car brands, over 40 automotive suppliers and 50 manufacturers of electric bicycles.

MILESTONES • October 2019: Signing of the settlement contract • March 2020: Foundation stone ceremony • Spring 2021: Finalisation of construction and movement into the new building • August 2021: Start of series production • Autumn 2021: Official opening 13

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

BUSINESS

IVAN SMILJKOVIĆ, MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF PROCREDIT BANK

SUPPORTING CLIENTS At All Times

We are aware of the consequences of the Coronavirus pandemic, but we were also ready to face them, so their impact on our operations will be much smaller than will be the case with companies that weren't orientated towards their own priorities – and those are clients and employees, and digital services, where we have been pioneers in many areas

P

roCredit Bank is the only bank in Serbia with a hundred per cent German capital, which also has a direct impact on the way this bank operates and approaches its clients.

“We are guided by the principles that characterise the German economy, and those are precision, responsibility, security and quality. Investing in education, both of our colleagues and our clients, is a standard for us, and our commitment to focus on preserving the natural environment in everything we do is no less important,” says Ivan

14

We recently launched the most modern way of communicating with individuals, and that is the ability to open an account via video identification. This is just one of the digitalised services with which we’ve enabled clients to conduct their business with the bank from home

Smiljković, member of the ProCredit Bank Executive Board.

Being a German bank in Serbia also implies that a system of double control exists – on the part of the National Bank of Serbia and the German Board for Banking Supervision, BaFin, which takes care to ensure that all banks with German capital respect the same rules, regardless of where they operate, says our interlocutor, adding that “this type of control serves as a guarantee to our clients that we are an institution that they can trust and that they can rely on, and the previous period only proved this fact”.

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

Which of your services are digitalised?

- We started the digital transformation six years ago and can now state with pride that the client can complete everything they needs from the bank from their home. Also testifying to this is the fact that we recently launched the most modern way of communicating with individuals, and that is the ability to open an account via video identification. In just a few minutes, in a video conversation with our advisor, anyone who is interested can open an account and activate electronic and mobile banking, while payment cards are delivered to clients at their home address.

We are one of the first banks in Serbia to introduce the Apple pay option, through cooperation with Mastercard.

Clients can now perform transactions more securely using just their phone.

It is not necessary to enter the PIN code at a POS terminal to authorise the transaction, regardless of the amount, rather the transaction is authorised through a fingerprint or face ID and placing the phone close to the contactless reader at the point of sale.

Internally, we have implemented the so-called “paperless concept”, with which the need to print documentation is reduced or eliminated completely.

Every employee of our bank has a qualified electronic certificate that they use in their daily work. We have thus significantly reduced the need for printed paper and contributed to protecting the environment.

How is your bank helping SMEs to overcome the crisis?

- Small and medium-sized enterprises are the driving force of our economy, which is why we believe that they need considered and long-term assistance, both in an advisory and financial sense, as well as through effective and achievable strategies and cooperation with development funds (IPARD, EIF), which we’ve also offered clients in times like these. We are all on an unfamiliar ground when it comes to the duration of the pandemic, and as we view clients as partners, our support has not been lacking during the past six months - whether that related to approving postponements on repayments, making new placements or the advisory role for which our bank is recognised.

Do your clients also use part of their loans for digital transformation?

- ProCredit Bank’s corporate clients are among the group of the most respectable companies that are aware that digitalisation is not just a buzzword, but rather that the benefits of digitalisation are visible in all segments of business – both in more efficient processes that save time and money, and in the quality of the services that are provided to clients.

Fitch Ratings recently confirmed the investment rating of ProCredit Bank in Serbia. What does this decision mean to you?

- Confirmation of a good credit rating by one of the world’s largest rating agencies during times of crisis is an indicator that our operations in Serbia are extremely stable. It was likewise assessed that we have the absolute support of our shareholder - ProCredit Holding, which means that all our financial and business risks are minimal. We will strive to maintain our good position on the international list of institutional investors, but also to improve it, because it is only through progress, improvement and innovation that we can respond in the right way to all the current and future needs of our clients.

We will strive to maintain our good position on the international list of institutional investors, but also to improve it, because it is only through progress, improvement and innovation that we can respond in the right way to all the current and future needs of our clients

What impact will COVID-19 have on the operations of banks in Serbia and how do you respond to these challenges?

- It was precisely during the time of the Coronavirus pandemic that we confirmed that all our investments in the digitalisation process made sense in multiple ways.

The banking system is extremely agile and always ready to adapt to new challenges. Our aim is to exit this period professionally and responsibly, to be available to our clients, and to consider our employees while doing so. We are aware of the consequences, but we were also ready to face them, so their impact on our operations will be much smaller than will be the case with companies that weren’t orientated towards their own priorities – and those are clients and employees.

15

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

INTERVIEW

RONALD SEELIGER, PRESIDENT OF THE GERMAN-SERBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (AHK SERBIA) AND CEO OF HEMOFARM (STADA GROUP)

We Can Still

DO WONDERS

You don't need to be a businessman to know that the shortfalls in production during the spring will affect balance sheets for 2020. However, there is a window of opportunity for institutional changes that may help the business community and keep us all healthy and in our workplaces. And then it will be possible to break new records, as we have done at AHK over the past decade

16

I

feel a great pleasure when I look back and see the way in which German investments developed in Serbia. This year is of special importance to us because we symbolically mark two decades of the presence of the German economy in this region. About 450 German companies operate in Serbia today, employing over 60,000 employees. Figuratively speaking, an entire Pirot or Kikinda work at the companies that came to Serbia from Germany, points out Dr Ronald Seeliger, President of the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce and CEO of Hemofarm, speaking to CorD. You have spent two terms in office as the head of the GermanSerbian Chamber of Commerce, which has represented an important link between Serbia and Germany. In addition to the permanent growth of German investments in Serbia,

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

OPTIMISM

Despite the global economic crisis, we hope for good results and some new examples of cooperation between Germany and Serbia

OPPORTUNITY

Given the fragility of supply chains, Serbia now has a good opportunity to present and expose itself to potential investors as a favourable business destination

what were the greatest achievements of AHK in the previous years, in your opinion? Is there an achievement that you find crucial, but that has been less known to the general public?

- More precisely, if we count the period when AHK had another form of presentation in Serbia, I have been a member of the leadership of this organisation for seven years. I mention this because I’ve played an active role over this fairly long period of time, in the continuous economic rise of my home country in the country in which I now work, and I think this is my greatest satisfaction.

Mind you, we are talking about a serious increase of investments and growth of foreign trade between Germany and Serbia. If I tell you that the trade between our two countries has increased two and a half fold over the past decade, and that it reached as much as five billion euros last year, which is a remarkable record in our economic cooperation, I believe I have every reason to be a proud German in Serbia. Unfortunately, this information has not received the deserved spotlight, because the current pandemic has taken us in another direction. Namely, we have paid more attention to finding a way to help the operation of the economy at this critical juncture than we have had time to summarise the results of the last year.

However, here is the opportunity to also mention some of the economic records.

I propose the start of the new term of the Government begin with an open, goodhearted and cooperative dialogue that will involve as many different actors as possible

to ensure that their employees remain healthy. There is no worse nightmare for any industry than stopping production, in this particular case due to mass illness of workers. As an employer, you face two responsibilities: to protect the employees and to secure stable production, so you can imagine the magnitude of responsibility of each company.

For example, our task at Hemofarm was to secure the regular supply of the market with medicinal products, namely

If I tell you that the trade between our two countries has increased two and a half fold over the past decade, and that it reached as much as five billion euros last year, I believe I have every reason to be a proud German in Serbia

Given that you’ve mentioned the pandemic, health and safety seem to be the most important elements of a successful business operation. How are AHK members in Serbia managing the COVID-19 situation in terms of their present activities?

- Let me use the terminology of the sector I come from: this is a unique situation in recent history, where the health crisis has had a dramatic impact on the business scanner. For this very reason, AHK has maintained permanent contacts with its member companies and I can tell you that, not only did they observe the measures prescribed by the state, but they went a step further in order

PROPOSAL

ensuring that no patient is left without their therapy, and you only can do that if the production is working full steam and if your employees are healthy. Therefore, the focus of our activities over the past several months, as well as today, has been on protective measures for our employees.

Today, almost seven months after the start of the outbreak, could you anticipate the extent to which COVID-19 has influenced business plans for 2020, given the high concentration of companies in the automotive sector and other labour intensive industries?

- You don’t need to be a businessman to know that the shortfalls in production during the spring will affect balance sheets for 17

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

factor. It suddenly became clear that it is never good to be dependent on one supplier alone. I find this experience of fragile supply chains as one of the real and most important messages of the pandemic.

I really think this can be an opportunity for the Western Balkan countries.

Serbia now has a good opportunity to present and impose itself to potential investors as a favourable business destination.

Hemofarm is well-known for having helped and been a good partner to the healthcare sector at all times, especially in times of crisis. We worked night and day, our task was fulfilled, and I am very grateful to our employees for that

2020. However, some industries have recovered quickly following the end of the lockdown, so they will probably end this year better than it initially appeared.

Speaking of the automotive industry, it has certainly been one of the worst affected and it will take time to recover.

There are companies in Serbia that are suppliers of German companies in this industry, and we are doing our best to help them. AHK has been implementing a regional project for years called Supplier Initiative, as part of which we have been connecting German companies with supplier companies from Serbia. Not even the pandemic stopped us; we just moved from live meetings to an online format. Right now, in September, we organised a new matchmaking with the participation of over 30 German companies and 50 Serbian ones, while across the area of the Western Balkans this initiative gathered together a total of over 150 companies. This time also most of the interested German companies came from the metal processing industry, the automotive industry supplier sector, as well as from the industry of manufacturing and processing plastic materials.

Despite the global economic crisis, we hope for good results and some new examples of cooperation between Germany and Serbia.

To what extent has the current situation impacted on prospective German investors and their plans regarding Serbia?

- Let me put it like this: the Coronavirus crisis has shown how sensitive our supply chains are. At the height of the crisis, during April, a kind of panic broke out in many German companies that started discussing the need to shorten and diversify all supply chains. Eastern Asia, for example, was considered a major risk 18

How could the new Serbian Government further improve the business environment?

- I think it would be very important for the new Government to start its mandate with a dialogue with chambers of commerce, representatives of national and international companies and renowned businesspeople; to sit around the same table and discuss what has to be changed or improved, especially taking into account the problems that the pandemic brought to the world of business. I therefore propose the start of the new term of the Government begin with an open, goodhearted and cooperative dialogue that will involve as many different actors as possible.

Given your expertise in the medical sector, how would you assess the overall health situation in Serbia? Were companies from the sector able to contribute to the healthcare system in their full capacity?

- I have lived in Serbia for almost nine years, and there are certain things I find to be constant. One of them is the extraordinarily professional level of doctors and other medical staff. If we talk about cooperation with the healthcare system, Hemofarm is well-known to have helped and been a good partner at all times, especially during times of crisis.

Already at the beginning of the pandemic outbreak, we donated medical equipment worth 400,000 euros, which was one of the greatest donations made by companies in this region. Hemofarm Foundation provided financial aid to the cities of VrĹĄac and Ĺ abac, which are the cities where our manufacturing sites are located. However, as I have already stated, our primary task was to provide a regular supply of the market with medicines. As said, we could not have allowed our hospitals to be left without Hemomycin, our antibiotic that was the first line of defence against COVID-19, or pharmacies to be left without the medicines

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

that are used as regular therapies for patients suffering from heart problems and other diseases. We worked night and day, our task was fulfilled, and I am very grateful to our employees for that.

How could the healthcare system become more sustainable and capable of addressing similar challenges?

- Speaking of healthcare systems and their sustainability, I think that all those who want to will be able to learn lessons from this experience and be more prepared for some future crisis. If a similar crisis strikes, I believe everyone will react better. What I fear is some crisis in the future that could have a different form than this one, and which could also have global and devastating effects. In short, I think that the crisis plans of international organisations, states and healthcare systems should be revised and updated, and should include many more different scenarios and potential answers. It seems as if the end of the previous century and the beginning of this one spoiled us a little, so the world was not ready for the Coronavirus pandemic.

When it comes to the sustainability of healthcare systems, it is important to point out the following – one of the important experiences we gained over the past few

months is digitalisation in all fields, including this one. I think a much greater number of citizens have now realised that digitalisation is very important in the healthcare system and that e-medicine is our near future, and in some cases is already our present. Of course, severe diseases and surgeries require direct contact with a doctor, but the life of people with light or chronic diseases can have a better quality owing to what we call ‘virtual care’. Some examinations, check-ups and prescriptions of therapy are already performed via e-platforms, through which various costs are cut and time is spared for both patients, on the one hand, and doctors and hospitals, on the other. This is why I see the sustainability of the healthcare system precisely in the digitalisation of services in this sector, in higher flexibility and better adaptation to situations among everyone who participates in management, in a more resilient supply chain, and in a higher degree of social solidarity at the global level.

Unfortunately, this pandemic has taken many victims, but it has also born heroes, and here I mean doctors, other medical and nonmedical staff, pharmacists, as well as numerous scientists and researchers. In the post-COVID-19 era, we need new heroes from different professions, those whose knowledge will make this world more resilient to another new crisis.

19

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

BUSINESS

ZORAN MITIĆ, DIRECTOR, DR OETKER SRBIJA

WE OFFER

Consumers Joy Dr Oetker will be celebrating two decades of its existence in Serbia next year, while in Germany the brand will celebrate 130 years of operations. It operates today in more than 40 countries, has more than 16,000 workers and 3,500 different products, but is continuing to expand and works constantly on innovations

D

r Oetker has a traditional range that persists thanks to the brand’s loyal consumers. Despite its leading position in the segment of cake preparation products, Dr Oetker follows all changes on the market, developing and expanding precisely those groups of products that follow the lifestyle of modern people What is it like to lead such a unique company?

- I would say that the most accurate answer is ‘challenging’. From the beginning, our goal in Serbia was first to return the brand to the market, to complete the acquisition of Centroproizvod and, finally, to construct a factory where our products would be produced according to the highest standards of quality. Of course, throughout this entire journey, we’ve been working constantly to advance our people, to improve our processes and corporate culture, so – as such – we’ve implemented the most modern tools in all areas of operations.

Oetker. Each country strives to adapt its offer to the needs of its market. Among varying countries there are the same products, but also completely different groups of products that are specific only to certain markets and the tastes of their population.

Dr Oetker baking powder is of uniform quality and is a wellknown product that’s present on a large number of markets, but cake mixes are adapted to the tastes and habits of consumers in different countries. What is common and unique in all Dr Oetker member countries are the standards and quality that we strive to achieve uncompromisingly in every business process.

The requirements for the quality and safety of our products are based on the same standards and internal guidelines at all Dr Oetker factories worldwide. The certificates that we possess are part of a global certification matrix, which ensures a high level of quality and an absolutely safe product, regardless of the country in which it is produced.

The requirements for the quality and safety of our products are based on the same standards and internal guidelines at all Dr Oetker factories worldwide

We presume that your product range varies from market to market, but that you insist on high standards in business and product quality wherever you operate...

- Understanding the similarities and differences between consumers in different countries is very important for a company like Dr 20

Dr Oetker is known everywhere as one of the most socially responsible companies. Has the pandemic only strengthened your concern for employees and the communities in which you operate?

- Thanks to responsible operations and dedicated, hard-working employees, during the period of the state of emergency and

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

tough economic conditions caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic, our company ensured the regular and full payment of salaries for all employees.

The company’s management waived the assistance offered by the Government of the Republic of Serbia that was intended for businesses, in the form of a package of tax breaks and direct payments of the net minimum wage for every employee. We felt that this help was needed by companies that were particularly hard hit by this crisis, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises. As such, we at Dr Oetker Srbija considered it socially responsible and patriotic to leave that help for them.

Apart from caring for employees during these uncertain and difficult times, we at Dr Oetker Srbija believe that all members of the community should do what is in their power to help those on the front line of the struggle against the pandemic and those for whom help means the most. It is for this reason that we’ve turned to what we do best and donated our products to institutions nationwide.

We donated, to the Clinical Centre of Vojvodina in Novi Sad, the Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina in Sremska Kamenica and the Clinical Centre in Niš, our instant products for quick preparation, which include oatmeal, muesli and milkshakes, while the SOS Children’s Village “Dr Milorad Pavlović” in Sremska Kamenica, the Red Cross of Serbia and the Foundation SOS Children’s Villages of Serbia in Belgrade, Zemun, Kraljevo and Niš received our products from the range for the preparation of sweet confectionery products.

the consumer and their behaviour, because it is precisely the behaviour of consumers that has the greatest impact on profit and business success. Throughout all these years, Dr Oetker has been offering its consumers the joy of preparing delicious, beloved cakes and desserts in the most affordable form and the best quality. From traditional additives for preparing desserts, through cake mixes that simplify their preparation, to oatmeal, as a quick solution for breakfast or a snack.

By turning towards changes on the market, Dr Oetker has combined quality and competencies with its range, making its products available to its consumers in the form of simple preparations. We live today in the time of digitalisation, when the flow of information is faster than ever before, as is the availability of products, while consumer tastes are becoming ever more demanding and the time available for baking and preparing desserts is constantly reducing.

Our traditional range still resists the changes of this time, because we have loyal consumers and occupy a leading position when it comes to this segment of products intended for the preparation of cakes. However, as we are orientated towards the market and follow the changes that are happening, we develop and expand precisely those groups of products that shorten preparation times and are the most suitable companions to the lifestyle of the modern consumer.

Our wide range of cake mixes testifies to that. For example, in order to make cornbread quickly and easily, with a small number of ingredients, you need the Dr Oetker cornbread mixture, 100ml of carbonated mineral water and 400ml of oil, and the job’s done, after 25 minutes of baking. You can opt to add other ingredients, such as cheese. Do you have a quicker recipe than Dr Oetker? Or a recipe for vanilla custard slice filling... All you need to do is add 800ml of milk and the filling is ready.

In addition to cake mixes, we also have oatmeal, which is known as a high-quality and fast meal that’s ready in three minutes, a wide range of puddings, cream puddings that don’t need to be cooked, instant desserts and many other high-quality products.

This year we went a step further and launched puddings that are prepared in a cup. All you have to do is add milk and blend well, which is a response to new market trends. On the other hand, the health trend also defines the target group and in the future will have an even greater impact on consumer behaviour. The development of products that help to more quickly and easily prepare healthier meals is definitely one of the areas in the focus of Dr Oetker. Responses to this trend are oatmeals and cereal mixes made from different types of cereals, created with the intention of enabling consumers to also consume this type of product.

This year we went a step further and launched puddings that are prepared in a cup.

All you have to do is add milk and blend well, which is a response to new market trends

The Dr Oetker family owners and company have for decades shown strong support to families, i.e. children and parents, in the most diverse ways. SOS Children’s Villages is just one of the many organisations with which you have enduring cooperation? Tell us more about that...

- It was in 2011 that Dr Oetker Srbija established cooperation with the SOS Children’s Village in Kraljevo, and the “Kinderdorf SOS International” institution at the international level, which cares for children and youth. We recognised the importance and contribution of this organisation in providing a family home for children without parental care and we very happily provide support and our contribution to ensuring this beautiful story really endures. Our wish, not only for children but also for ourselves, is to have beautiful memories from the large number of gatherings that we organise together. The aim of our many years of friendship is to elicit smiles on the faces of each of the several hundred children that this organisation cares for.

In which ways do your current customers differ from those you had a few decades ago, and what will the consumers of the future look like?

- No oranisation, not even the smallest, can or should neglect

21

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

INTERVIEW

MARTIN KNAPP, EXECUTIVE MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE GERMAN-SERBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (AHK SERBIA)

WE'VE QUICKLY LEARNT To Live With The Crisis

Companies have learnt over time to work under new circumstances. We are now waiting to see the results of the survey among German companies operating in Serbia and 16 Eastern European countries in early 2021, in order to get a clear picture of how the Coronavirus pandemic has changed the way they see the world. The results might give us a better idea of whether the idea of nearshoring will gain momentum

L

ike in the case of many other organisations in the previous period, AHK had to face the challenge of shifting many of its activities online. One of the most challenging would be the organisation of the AHK-supported Serbian Visions, the traditional annual festival of civil society with 60 co-organisers that used to see thousands of visitors over the course of one weekend in November. Yet some of the signature activities, such as bringing German industrial companies into contact with potential suppliers from the Western Balkans, took place almost as usual this year, only in electronic form.

“Many things are still unclear and we will have to wait a little longer before we see clearly what has happened in 2020,” says Martin Knapp, Executive Member of the Board of Directors of AHK Serbia.

22

How would you assess the impact of the pandemic on trade between Germany and Serbia in 2020?

- During recent years the volume of the bilateral exchange of goods and services has increased-year on-year. But this probably won’t be the case this year. The Coronavirus pandemic will certainly lead to a decline here, but this decline probably won’t be as catastrophic as originally anticipated.

However, only two thirds of the year have passed and one should be careful with forecasts in these times.

Around this time each year we expect the results of the AHK Serbia survey in order to learn whether German companies present on the market would invest again. Is this a plausible question in times like this? What are the major concerns of companies that they share with you today?

- We also conducted the survey this year, shortly before the outbreak of the pandemic. When it was finished, we were all in lockdown, so we asked ourselves who would be interested in what the companies expected before the crisis. We then concluded that we wouldn’t publish it. We are now eagerly awaiting the results of the survey, which we will relaunch at the beginning of 2021 – not only in Serbia, but in 16 Eastern

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

European countries, as we do every year. We will then compare the results with those of this year in order to form a clear picture about how the Coronavirus pandemic has changed the way companies see the world.

How has AHK assisted companies through these tough times?

- At the beginning the main goal was to inform companies about current topics. There we mainly did webinars, for example about labour law issues during the pandemic. We also spoke with many company bosses over the phone, to find out how the companies are getting through the crisis, on the one hand, and to signal to them that they weren’t alone with all the problems, on the other. However, I have to say that most companies quickly learnt to live with the crisis.

What were your major policy-related activities?

- We tried to represent the interests of our member companies when the government was setting up its assistance packages. Here we were particularly concerned about so-called large companies. With them it is always easily assumed that ‘big’ automatically means ‘strong’. That is often true, but not always. A large enterprise is always also a large risk. If, for example, production has to be stopped because employees fall ill, this has significant consequences for employment, not only at the local level, but also regionally.

and institutional culture is changing towards less travelling and more digital communication.

With this in mind, there are many discussions about whether multinational companies will rethink their approach to building global value chains and opt for partners closer to their central operations. Would you expect German companies to focus further on this region?

- The issue of supply chains is now being given more attention.

At the beginning of the crisis we were particularly concerned about so-called large companies, given that it is always easily assumed that ‘big’ automatically means ‘strong’, which is not always the case

How has the current situation impacted on some of your activities, such as connecting Serbian companies to German value chains, or with Serbian start-ups?

- Our buyer initiative, through which we bring German industrial companies into contact with potential suppliers from the Western Balkans, took place almost as usual this year, only in electronic form. There is now a lot of talk about so-called nearshoring, i.e. the search for suppliers in the geographical vicinity of a company. In this context, new opportunities exist for Serbian industry.

For start-ups, especially in the IT sector, new opportunities lie more in the fact that the demand for IT services and products is growing worldwide, because the organisational

There is the approach of reducing risks by shortening supply chains, but above all by diversifying suppliers. There are opportunities for the region in this area, especially when we consider that other factors are also becoming increasingly important, such as compliance with certain standards of occupational safety and employee remuneration. This, too, should lead to increased demand for suppliers from European countries.

How are current developments influencing the way AHK works at the central and local levels? Will there be innovations in your work?

- Like many other institutions, we now have very interesting experiences with our home office. Another innovation is the transfer of events to the internet. We organise 50 events every year. Digitalising them all is not easy. The digitalisation of Serbian Visions, for example, which is our annual festival of civil society, with 60 co-organisers and thousands of visitors over the course of one weekend in November, will be a real challenge.

23

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

BUSINESS

UDO EICHLINGER, CEO, SIEMENS AND SIEMENS MOBILITY

Our Company Is

HERE TO STAY Siemens, a company with a rich history and a pioneer in the field of digitalisation, today offers solutions and technologies that help its customers and partners respond far swifter and more efficiently to crisis situations and changing market demands

O

ur company is here to stay and we will extend our facilities even more over time. We want to grow and develop right here in Serbia, as well as to contribute actively to local society through our solutions and expertise, announces Mr Udo Eichlinger.

Of all the areas in which you operate in Serbia, which currently has the best prospects?

- Siemens has a thrilling history. I am personally proud to be part of such an amazing global heritage and to witness exciting developments occurring every day. Unfortunately, we are also witnessing the global pandemic that the world has been fighting over the last year. Because of that, all businesses worldwide have had to adapt to new ways of doing business. Trends of digitalisation have proven to be very effective during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are able to adapt their production quickly and flexibly to any need, which is why I believe that our company has great prospects, since it is focused on the future and on meeting the challenges brought to us by the newly established global market. We are a partner to industry in digital transformation and we are here for our costomers when it comes to unlocking the full potential of digitalisation in their organisations.

Mobility, smart infrastructure and digital industries are areas that require constant improvement. One of the great examples that we’re currently working on is a new state-of-the-art traffic management system that will cover around 300 junctions in Belgrade. When completed, it will have a positive impact on commuter times, CO2 emissions and congestion.

Do the conditions exist for you to build and expand your production capacities? Is that realistic now, under the conditions of the global health crisis?

- From day one, Siemens has followed the measures recommended

24

by the Government and expert teams, responding in the short term in order to protect its employees. Across all businesses and regions, our employees have risen to the challenge and continue to do so. Siemens became an integral part of Serbian society and the partner of choice, with over 3,500 employees. It is still impossible to predict when and how the global crisis will end, so we are making it a priority to successfully maintain the continuity of our business despite the many difficulties, while keeping our employees and their families safe as our top priority.

The word “mobility” forms part of the name of your factory in Šumadija. Is that a word that best describes our lives in the 21st century?

- The world’s population is becoming increasingly urban year on year, so the possibility of moving is becoming key for individual and collective progress. Mobility must be a priority in urban development, as it allows cities to become a field of opportunities. It contributes significantly to a better quality of life and, when done right, is a factor that makes any city more attractive.

Siemens Mobility understands that mobility is not the simple movement from point A to point B. We know it is a tool through which we all build our everyday world.

Saying that, going hand in hand with these trends and changes, Siemens Mobility has been a leader in transport solutions for more than 160 years. We provide answers to all challenges in the transportation industry, with our comprehensive portfolio of state-of the-art solutions. In Serbia the setup of Mobility, with the factory in Kragujevac, has bright prospects when it comes to expanding its portfolio and capacities. At this very moment, entire trams that will be used in the most developed cities in Europe are being assembled at our factory in Kragujevac! It is a great success to be able to see trams across Europe that are made in Serbia.

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

25

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

BUSINESS

LJILJANA TOPIĆ, DIRECTOR, GALENIKA PHARMACIA

We're Here When

TIMES ARE HARDEST

Galenika Pharmacia is a factory that produces complete sanitary consumables – from compresses, gauzes and bandages, via disinfectants, to surgical masks that have become the number one product. Although exports at the beginning of the pandemic would have been the business move of the decade, no Galenika mask left Serbia

I

n agreement with the Serbian Ministry of Health, the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Republican Health Insurance Fund (RHIF), we undertook to supply numerous clinics and pharmacies with surgical masks and disinfectants when that was most needed.

Behind you is an extremely dynamic, gruelling and exhausting period. You have many reasons to be proud of your team, right?

- Yes, you are right. Galenika Pharmacia represented the backbone of the supply of our health institutions and pharmacies during a very challenging period. At the beginning of the pandemic, with the help of Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, we engaged a large number of professional staff and expanded production capacities. Given the great urgency of the situation, we reduced all other production flows to a minimum. Although export even just within the region - would have been the business move of the decade, given the shortage of this product in every country, not a single mask from our factory left Serbia.

At the instant when disinfectants were in short supply on the market the most, we secured large capacities for their production. Moreover, we produce masks with silver nanoparticles for the Novak Đoković Foundation, and we also produce protective masks with five protection filters.

I am proud to note that there has never been a drop in quality at the expense of speed or efficiency at our factory, as evidenced by the fact that, for instance, the Belgrade Pharmacy Institution didn’t have a single complaint.

And what about the markets you conquered prior to the pandemic? Where do all your products end up?

- We have for years been exporting to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Montenegro; our products reach Nigeria and Iraq, and a year ago we established cooperation with Germany. Galenika Pharmacia became a member of the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce thanks to our good business results, which is yet more confirmation for us and our work.

We are at an advantage over other companies that do the same work because we also have a respected brand, as well as quality, knowhow, professionalism and competitive prices, and alongside all of that we are a more than reliable partner, which was also confirmed at the beginning of the pandemic.

All this allows us to conquer new markets.

There is currently a lull as far as the pandemic is concerned, and supply has normalised. How do your operations look generally?

- We managed to secure a leading position on the market and maintain it successfully.

We supply all healthcare institutions, from hospitals/health centres, pharmacies and pharmaceutical institutes, via private and state hospitals and clinics, to major healthcare centres.

We have divided our operations by sector, so we have a sector for the production of sterile and non-sterile compresses, plasters, adhesive bandages and other bandages, a sector for the distribution of medical devices in Serbia and the surrounding countries, and a sector for the production of first aid kits, car and motorcycle pharmacies, as well as first aid kits for employees in emergencies and natural disasters.

We produce masks with silver nanoparticles for the Novak Đoković Foundation, and we also produce protective masks with five protection filters

26

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

ZF

BUSINESS

The Vision Of Next

GENERATION MOBILITY

ZF is a global technology company that supplies systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and industrial technology, enabling the next generation of mobility. ZF enables vehicles to see, think and act

I

n the four technology domains - Vehicle Motion Control, Integrated Safety, Automated Driving and Electric Mobility - ZF offers comprehensive solutions for established vehicle manufacturers and newly emerging transport and mobility service providers. ZF electrifies different kinds of vehicles. The company contributes to reducing emissions and protecting the climate with its products.

ZF SERBIA PANČEVO PLANT, SEPTEMBER 2020

ZF, which acquired WABCO Holdings Inc. on 29th May 2020, now has 160,000 employees worldwide, with approximately 260 locations in 41 countries. In 2019, the two then-independent companies achieved sales of €36.5 billion (ZF) and $3.4 billion (WABCO).

The combination of these two successful enterprises will bring a new dimension of innovation and capability for commercial vehicle systems technology. Thanks to perfectly complementary portfolios and competencies,

ZF SERBIA MANAGING DIRECTORS

ZF can offer unprecedented solutions and services for manufacturers and fleets globally. In this way, the company is actively shaping the future of the changing transportation industry.

It was just two years ago that ZF chose Pančevo and Serbia as a location for the biggest European plant of its youngest division, ZF E-Mobility, initiated with an investment of 160 million euros. This bold decision launched the Northern Industrial zone in Pančevo and the company’s Pančevo plant is now operational, featuring 50,000m2 of a fully equipped production facility and a new modern R&D centre that’s gearing up to start working as we speak.

This project is bringing new investors and positively developing the local community, impacting every person in Pančevo.

ZF Serbia continues to act in accordance with its long-term strategy, maintaining its course through the challenges of global crisis and working to accomplish plans and set goals.

Although we have a diverse portfolio, our focus is primarily on electric mobility.

We identify and offer solutions for the next generation of mobility and the reduction of global pollution emissions every day.

We work with our customers on ensuring their satisfaction, aware that this is a measure and criterion of world market quality, and the factory in Pančevo received the best marks and daily praise from its most important customers: BMW, Volkswagen and Volvo.

27

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

in return provided with their commitment and performance.

We are particularly proud of that fact, as it is confirmaWe are committed to sticking with the people – tion of the correctness of our strategy and the success supporting and building up each individual, promoting of our approach. behaviours and values to establish an organisational During two years working on this project, we have culture that will ensure we are able to move forward been growing our team and today have 650 people together and overcome challenges. Only people that actively working at the Pančevo Plant. Their dedication are motivated and equipped with right attitude can and engagement are an essential part of the overall stimulate innovation and growth, and support the ambisuccess of the project. As we speak, ZF is working on tion of our business. extending the team, with more than 50 new specialists The core of our strategy is the idea that our people, and experts, in order to make the new business ready in their own country, in their own city, R&D centre fully operational. with their own work and knowledge, When the factory reaches its The core of our strategy that they build their own better full capacity, we expect to have over is the idea that our people, know future as part of the successful team 1,000 employees in the production in their own country, in their of ZF Serbia. programme for electric motors, genZF Serbia’s plans remain positive erators for hybrid and electric drives, own city, with their own work and focused on the successful operagearboxes and microswitches. and knowledge, know that tion of a large, new, great ZF factory A commitment to people is one of the key values of ZF as a company. they build their own better in Pančevo, with great prospects for current and future generations of Through support and encouragement future as part of the all people focused on work, quality to our employees in the fulfilment of their duties and responsibilities, we are successful team of ZF Serbia and success!

28

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

Thanks to perfectly complementary portfolios and competencies, ZF can offer unprecedented solutions and services for manufacturers and fleets globally. In this way, the company is actively shaping the future of the changing transportation industry FROM THE LEFT MICHAEL STAUCH AND MILAN GRUJIĆ

CURRENT INSIGHTS OF ZF SERBIA’S MANAGING DIRECTORS MICHAEL STAUCH, MANAGING DIRECTOR – TECHNICAL As a German, I feel good in Serbia after two years living and working here.

I felt very comfortable from the very beginning, observing an environment with influences from many cultures, an open mindset, friendly people and good international flair in Belgrade where we – my family and children – live, and where we quickly integrated.

The whole process of setting up the ZF Serbia plant in Pančevo – based on initial assumptions, research, experience and conditions – was well planned and wellconceived.

Also, during the process we were all confident that, when ideas and visions are supported with an appropriate strategy, hard work, adequate resources and creative people, success will be just a matter of time.

Me and my colleagues, company and partners can only be proud of this project.

Current developments in 2020 regarding COVID-19 did have an impact on our business, but we are committed to our plan of having more than 1,000 employees, developing E-mobility solutions for the future and producing and delivering them beyond Serbia, and I’m looking forward to continuing to be part of that in the time ahead.

MILAN GRUJIĆ, MANAGING DIRECTOR – COMMERCIAL We have worked hard and can only be proud of what we have accomplished so far, and to look forward to new challenges.

This project is a great example of partnership between our two countries, Germany and Serbia, and also an example of exceptional cooperation between our company and the Serbian president, Serbian government and institutions, which we believe will lead to achieving ambitious results and capital economic transformation.

We rely on the fact that our company’s goals and values, as well as our management system, are rooted in the sustainable and long-term development of new mobility that is driven and accepted at an increasing pace, as technology is changing the way we live and work. We are aware of global digital acceleration and are determined, together with our customers and suppliers, to rethink our business processes so we can remain relevant and stay on top.

What is significant is that ZF Group is, and has always been, a company that’s led by innovation and future thinking. In that way we can say that we were seeing, thinking and acting ahead of time, and that we now come prepared.

We stay with our vision of next generation mobility and zero emissions, committed to our decisions but flexible with our approach.

29

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

BUSINESS

Photo: Dusan Ivanovic

HELP

TOGETHER For Tomorrow

Through continuous work, the organisation Help has spent the last 25 years cultivating and encouraging the inner force of people in the Western Balkans to help themselves and their communities

W

hen you walk through a desert and suddenly come across an oasis – that is our image of Help, says Nenad Draganović, Deputy Director of the Sremska Mitrovica Correctional Institution.

It was 25 years ago that the organisation Help-Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe from Germany delivered its first emergency aid in response to the crisis in the Balkans. Crises (conflicts, migrations...) heavily hinder sustainable development and prosperity.

The need for emergency aid, the restoration of homes and support to economic growth endures year after year.

Help provided 36.5 million euros worth of emergency aid, de-mining and reconstruction in the first decade of its work in the Western Balkans.

Human dignity and the integration of particularly disadvantaged groups are always at the centre of Help’s work, be it in the context of emergency and reconstruction aid, vocational qualification or business start-ups and income generation activities.

Since 2001, Help has been targeting socio-economic development in the region. Help supports low income families, women, young people, prisoners and former prisoners and other disadvantaged groups in setting up sustainable business activities. Help provides necessary equipment, but also mentoring, management and vocational training for entrepreneurs, prisoners etc. towards more sustainable entrepreneurial endeavours.

Biljana, a 52-year-old lady from Pirot, was unemployed for nine years before being supported by Help in 2018. All her attempts to find work proved unsuccessful. Help provided Biljana with equipment and management training to set up a bakery.

She had already completed an apprenticeship as a pastry chef.

Her business is “Slane tajne” (literally – “savoury secrets”). She produces savoury cakes, cookies, muffins and other confectionery

30

goods. Her small business increased her financial security and engaged all family members, including two of her three children who’d started their own families but, like many young people in the Balkans, rely on their parents’ support.

Within five to ten years, an average of 1.3 additional jobs is created in the companies that Help supported. The agriculture and craft sector plays a major role in the region, but services, the tourism sector and the IT industry have started to emerge.

Through the interaction of the measures and close cooperation with municipalities, ministries and the target group, entrepreneurs and thus families receive a stable income. In the long term, the economy is also strengthened sustainably.

To date a total of 13,141 micro and small enterprises have been supported by Help in the Western Balkan countries, with the value of that support amounting to 34.2 million euros.

Refugees, internally displaced persons, socially vulnerable segments of the population and minorities all lack basic conditions and decent housing to start building their prosperity. Living in collective centres and informal settlements puts already marginalised people at risk of additional diverse health and social problems.

Emilia, together with her husband and four children, has now been living for three years in a social housing building provided

by Help. Her family has a better vision of their future. She has adorned the walls of her new home with the medals that her children won in sports. They study hard to become self-sufficient.

Help has provided 7,717 housing units for refugees, minorities and local socially vulnerable segments of the population, worth 58.1 million euros.

“Help clients help others through the products of their labour, which is the essence of Help’s work. We can achieve much on our own, but much more together” ~ Nudžejma Čikić, Help Finance Officer, Bosnia-Herzegovina.

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

VLADICA STANKOVIĆ, DIRECTOR OF GRUNER SERBIA

BUSINESS

GRUNER - Every

Young Worker's Dream In just 13 years, Gruner has, as a company, succeeded in changing the economic situation in the south of Serbia and providing adequate earnings for almost 600 workers and their families through the expanding of production facilities and conquering of new markets and technologies

G

runer’s owners are satisfied with the company’s operations in Serbia and with the workers, both those from the production side and it highly qualified personnel. They believe that there would be no work, no expansion of production facilities or new hiring of staff without mutual satisfaction.

You started operations in Serbia from a rented hall with around a dozen workers and one product for smart meters. How did you conquer the market?

- We produced relays for smart meters, for General Electric and the U.S. market, producing around 50,000 units at a weekly level.

Our owners recognised the potentials of Serbia and its southern region, so already by 2009 they’d built the first production hall of 2,000 square metres. We started cooperating with the automotive industry the very next year, initially with Daimler, then later with other manufacturers. Apart from relays, during that period we also started working on the “start stop system”, according to the wishes and requirements of Daimler, which we still produce today, although in an improved, generation 4, version.This product is our pride, because the entire development and production line is designed and realised at our factory in Serbia.

We built another 2,000-square-metre hall in 2012 and started with new technologies, then already in 2013 the need emerged for a new expansion of production capacities. Thus, in 2014 we reached a total of 7,000 square metres of production facilities and more than 300 employees.

It was during this period that we started with plastic injection, and then also with the production of metal parts for our own needs, which required the procurement of new machines, and that led to the establishment of a small tool shop with the latest technologies.

After 13 years of operations in Serbia, you now have more than 550 employees and 7,000m2 of production facilities, with around 12.5 million euros having been invested. What’s next in your plans?

- We currently have 570 employees, which is less than at the end of 2019 and is a consequence of the pandemic that slowed us down and reduced our sales. We hope to recoup everything that’s been lost in the period ahead. Fluctuation are very small with us, and interest in work at in our factory in Vlasotince is high, because such a large number of different production processes is the dream of every young engineer who’s eager for knowledge.

Our plan is to build a new hall of 3,000 square metres for the production of plastics and a new tool shop. That should serve for the maintenance of tools for our production, but also for the production of certain tools both for our market and foreign ones.

Our plan is to build a new hall of 3,000 square metres for the production of plastics and a new tool shop as soon as possible

Have you started applying your own model of dual education with the opening of your workshop for training students? How are your impressions?

- We launched the model of dual education back in 2016, in cooperation with GIZ and the Technical School from Vlasotince, as pioneers in this field. It initially only covered a course for industrial mechanics, but now we already have courses for electricians and mechatronics engineers.

In order for education and industry to develop in parallel, education needs to listen to the demands of the economy. In that way young people would leave high schools and be capable of starting work immediately, without additional training. Dual education has helped us to quickly find professional personnel for our specific needs. If the dual education model was transferred to higher education institutions, emerging from colleges would be young experts who could perform specific jobs immediately upon graduating.

31

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

BUSINESS

dm DROGERIE MARKT

DOMESTIC PRODUCTS

That We Are Proud Of From the most varied parts of Serbia to the shelves of dm drugstores

A

year after the products developed within the scope of the dm Incubator found themselves in dm drugstores, this company continues to provide support to the local economy. Through this project, dm provided 18 small and medium-sized domestic producers with the opportunity to place as many as 57 products from the food segment and care & beauty segment on the shelves of the largest drugstore chain in Europe. Support also continued in the following period, and in the last nine months 17 new products were developed additionally, so the customers were able to enjoy as many as 72 top quality products created in the heart of our country.

The end result of their intensive work with mentors and experts is reflected in exclusive products which, are characterized by unique design in addition to high quality ingredients, demonstrating that local producers from various parts of Serbia are able to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with major world brands.

BLUSHES OUT OF THIS WORLD One in a series of products distinguished by world class quality is Coquette, liquid blush of unusual packaging and even more interesting shades of apricot, raspberry and blackberry. Coquette Apricot Light contains natural apricot kernel oil known to be useful for dry skin, thanks to a complex of essential vitamins. The raspberry seed oil found in Coquette Raspberry Smooth blush is responsible for the fresh pink shade, also providing skin protection against harmful UV radiation, while the Coquette Blackberry Rich gives an antiageing effect to the face.

UNIQUE FORMULA THAT NOURISHES YOUR FACE The range of cosmetics available at dm drugstores since the dm Incubator project has been enriched by another brand- Biona, products for complete skin care. Micellar water, facial cream and serum, as well as anti-wrinkle care cream have been winning over the hearts of customers for a year already. Based on 32

ingredients such as organic cellular apple water, green caviar and chamomile, macadamia and camellia oil, Biona products render the skin silky, soft and gentle.

FORGET SENSITIVE GUMS WITH OLYDROP When natural ingredients of lemon balm, mint, marigold, white mistletoe, rabbit thorn and others are combined, another innovative product of the dm Incubator is created - Olydrop oil for gum massage. Nurturing painful and sensitive gums and oral infections is no longer a problem with this solution, which has both an antibacterial effect and the ability to reduce inflammation.

COMPLETELY NATURAL DRINKS FROM THE HEART OF SERBIA Food selection at dm drugstores is rounded off with unique foodstuffs that will complete your day, whether you’re looking for sweet treats or tasty natural snacks and drinks.Thus, the Dolovac family brand offers pure juices without additional water, sugar or additives, of completely natural color. Available in combinations of five different fruit flavors, these make up truly healthy refreshments and can be consumed diluted with water or mixed with some other fruit juice. Characteristic beverages are also trademark of the domestic brand Vrtlari, which - within the scope of the dm Incubator project - has also developed pulpy natural juices made from broccoli and apple that contain as much as 51 per cent broccoli and 49 per cent pulpy apple juice.

Apart from the aforementioned items, other specific products have been developed in the food segment, such as Tvoja domaćica salad containing natural ingredients, various combinations of organic mushrooms under the Taste of the West brand and the Veverko natural honey spread with raspberry and cherry. In the care & beauty segment, there are Hvala cosmetics, Call me Frank remedies for men’s care, miraculous Multiactiv marmalade for the under eye area, as well as firming body lotions from My Way Natural.

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

KRUNA GAVOVIĆ, CEO OF THE LEAN SIX SIGMA COMPANY CEE AND TMS CEE MARKETING AND ACADEMY MANAGER

BUSINESS

FFE HAS GOT

The Momentum

The Lean Six Sigma Company CEE has high occupancy of its LSS courses. This is because the number of companies organising training for their employees is increasing, as is the number of experts who independently invest in their education

U

nder the conditions of the pandemic, the effects of applying internationally approved methods and techniques for preserving the business proved to be good, with a slight fall in turnover, but also with significant savings on costs, emphasises Kruna Gavović, TMS CEE Marketing and Academy Manager and CEO of the Lean Six Sigma Company CEE. The concept of establishing a proper balance of professional and private life is also available to companies in Serbia through the “Family Friendly Enterprise” certification. Has it gained its full meaning now that a virus has reminded us of what is really of the most importance to us?

- The Family Friendly Enterprise (FFE) certificate is awarded to companies that enable their employees to more easily harmonise their private life and professional obligations. Employees should always be viewed beyond just the work environment and provided with opportunities to enjoy some of the most significant moments in their lives without the stresses of work.

FFE principles have to date been implemented in Serbia by leading companies in the fields of telecommunications, media, finance, and FMCG, while most of the implemented measures have now gained their full meaning. This is especially important at this time when is more essential than ever to ensure the harmonising of professional and private life.

As the company that brought the FFE concept to Serbia, TMS is recognised as an innovative firm that is focused on creating value for the customer. What does your business look like under the conditions of a pandemic?

- The correct response to the new conditions was both adaptation and operating with a focus on costs. We have applied most of the internationally and nationally approved methods and techniques, such are Remote audit, Remote inspection, web meetings, and others, along with the necessary accompanying

procedures and risk assessments. Overall, Risk Management, Business Continuity and Corporate Resilience (security) proved to be management techniques crucial for maintaining operations under these conditions.

Our clients have demonstrated exceptional strength and vitality. Out of our approximately 1,500 clients, almost none of them gave up on further cooperation. This is one more proof that companies that have introduced and certified standards show better performances than the average.

Lean Six Sigma distinguishes itself because the results of applied measures are also shown in savings proven through bookkeeping. Is that all, or are there any immeasurable benefits?

- Of course, there are. I will give you just one example of a client of the Lean Six Sigma Company CEE which has factories in many countries around the world and which implemented an LSS project at its factory in Serbia. Alongside extremely large savings on costs, the effect was that employees are now much fresher and can invest more energy in regular work than was the case previously.

As with many other examples, it can be concluded that the success or failure of an LSS project in a company depends mostly on the level of competence of the LSS experts participating in the project. It is by no means inconsequential whether the people who are coming to your company new graduates, or they are experts with extensive experience of LSS, industry, and in applying LSS at the world’s best companies.

It is particularly encouraging that even the virus couldn’t diminish interest in LSS training, so we already have arranged and scheduled training courses until the end of this year, with coaches from Serbia, but also the Netherlands and other countries.

Our companies, including TMS CEE and the Lean Six Sigma Company CEE, deliver absolutely the same quality of services as in the developed world, and we are especially proud of that.

33

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

BUSINESS

NIKOLA ĆATOVIĆ, DIRECTOR, MACS ENERGY & WATER D.O.O.

Serbia Will Need

TO SPEED UP

"In a world affected by climate change, Serbia will need to speed up its transition to alternative, low carbon sources of energy", says Nikola Ćatović of German consulting company MACS Energy & Water

T

he State must create adequate conditions for the private sector, including banks, to bear the investments at their own risk. We hope that all required efforts and synergies will be used to set in place a working system, both in commercial and environmental terms, says Mr Ćatović Your consultancy is providing services not only in Serbia and the region, but also worldwide. Who are your clients?

- MACS Energy & Water is an international consulting company headquartered in Germany and with several offices around the world. Our main clients are financial institutions that we support in sustainable financing, with our competencies covering energy efficiency, renewable energy and water and sanitation.

What is your view on our potential in renewable energy resources (RES)? What would be the areas to prioritise for investments: hydro, wind, solar?

- In a world affected by climate change, Serbia will need to speed up its transition to alternative, low carbon sources of energy. At this moment, more than 60 per cent of our energy comes from fossil fuels.

However, the potential for renewable energy investments needs to be assessed carefully from different perspectives.

We have a situation that in the past related to the generation of energy being what mattered the most. Thus, many renewable energy projects were developed without much thinking regarding the negative impacts of these investments. These projects were recently in the spotlight with respect to their negative impact on the environment and the community.

People today better understand that “green” energy might also lead to some negative impacts on the environment.

34

In our work we always emphasise the importance of a broader outlook to identify potential negative impacts that such projects could have on the environment and on communities living close to those areas. We underline the need for adequate measures that mitigate environmental and social risks effectively.

In a recent discussion with a banker over a project, I heard him say: “For us, as a bank, it is equally important to go for this project as it is not to go for it in the case that it will harm the environment“. This was a very comforting statement for us, meaning that our work has already contributed within the Serbian banking community to a positive shift for our environment and our future.

Is our administration, including all governments of the last 15-20 years, aware of the importance of RES? What are your takeaways comparing the institutional framework and the situation on ground?

- Since 2009, when the legal framework for renewable energy projects introduced the incentive scheme in the form of feed-in tariffs, more than 270 projects have been implemented, with a cumulative installed capacity of 530MW. With several wind parks currently under construction, that total will reach close to 700MW of renewable sources, which is around 10 per cent of the nominal installed power in Serbia. So, yes, it is possible to invest in renewable energy projects in Serbia and have them running. However, even with these results, the country is still far from meeting the commitments it gave in the framework of the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 to 2 degrees. As in many other countries, policymakers in Serbia run the risk of losing the battle due to short-sightedness and slowness.

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

MILAN MANIĆ, DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER OF LEONI SERBIA AND HEAD OF THE LEONI MALOŠIŠTE PLANT

BUSINESS

We Offer

SECURE JOBS LEONI has invested in excess of 146 million euros in its facilities and equipment since 2009. The company currently employs around 10,000 people in Serbia and plans to increase that number when its Kraljevo plant begins operating at its full capacity. One of the 15 largest exporters in Serbia, LEONI also has a network of approximately 500 domestic suppliers

S

erbia has great potential in terms of human capital, its work culture and ethics that are valued. This represents the foundations on which LEONI bases its plans for further growth. Around 10,000 employees comprise the loyal team that supports LEONI in completely challenging and important projects for its faithful customers

has contributed more than 92 million euros to the budget of the Republic of Serbia, in taxes and contributions on the salaries of its workers. LEONI expects to become the largest employer in Serbia’s manufacturing industry, and Serbia will be the only European country in the global network of the production capacity of LEONI with four production plants.

You entered the second decade of your operations in Serbia with great results and, we assume, major plans...

- The growth of our operations in Serbia comes with great responsibility, both towards the premium customers that we supply and towards the thousands of people that we employ. Our plans are focused on the completion of works at our fourth production plant, in Kraljevo. In addition to this, we are focused on introducing and developing new projects at our other three factories, in Prokuplje, Malošište and Niš.

The plant in Kraljevo will be our largest factory in Serbia, covering an area of 52,000 square metres, while it currently occupies 34,000 square metres. Construction of that additional 18,000 square metres of the plant is currently underway. This factory has 1,500 employees at present and we are working hard on boosting employment, so that we will have around 5,000 workers there by the end of 2023.

We are continuing to offer employees secure jobs and career opportunities within the framework of the automotive industry for the world’s leading brands.

Leoni is recognised as a company that cares about the community.

How much do you invest in social programmes, health, sports and culture; and how much do you invest in the education and training of your employees?

- LEONI is proud of its commitment to social responsibility in Serbia and the continuous improvement of its employees. We are happy to respond to activities that support the engagement of young people in the fields of sports and culture; we care about the communities in which the company operates, and where our employees live and work. Our participation as donors and humanitarians in projects is aimed not only at furthering the development and well-being of the community, but also at placing an emphasis on the importance of our employees’ participation in activities of this type. We have excellent cooperation with health institutions in the municipalities in which we operate, and we have our own new health clinics at our plants in Prokuplje, Malošište, Niš.

We are particularly proud of our investments in our employees, advancing their knowhow and skills, as well as their continuous professional development. We have a wide range of internal training courses and skills programmes that employees go through in their workplaces, and to date we’ve invested as much as 800,000 euros in external training. We consider our people as our greatest and most important resource when it comes to the good business operations and excellent results that we’ve been achieving for 11 years already.

Are you aware of your contribution to the development of the country’s economy?

- LEONI has been contributing to raising the standard of living and reducing the unemployment rate in the area of its business for the past 11 years. Over the course of those 11 years, LEONI

35

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

HISTORY

The Story Of

GERMAN REUNIFICATION 3rd October 1990: End of the struggle for unification, beginning of the struggle for unity

36

The Past is a Foreign Country is the title of American historian David Lowenthal’s famous monograph. For the generations born during the previous thirty years, East and West Germany are indeed “foreign countries”.

From today’s perspective, many would at first glance agree with the statement of (East) German writer Stefan Heym that the German Democratic Republic

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

BERLIN LIGHTING TODAY

and more freedom into demands for, and then negotiawill remain nothing more than a footnote in German and world history. It is today difficult to imagine that tions on, German unity, leading to the reunification of German history could have taken a path that wouldn’t Germany less than a year later. The entire civil, political, have led to not only reunification, but also to the economic and social system of the German Democratic essential dissolving of East Germany into the legal, Republic, which had been built over the course of dececonomic, political and cultural order of the Federal ades, collapsed almost overnight. On 3rd October 1990, Republic of Germany. the territory of the former East Germany became part However, what seems inevitable from the subsequent of the Federal Republic of Germany, in the form of five perspective could not even have new federal states, while East Berlin been predicted by the politicians was integrated with West Berlin in “The wall will still be or scientists dedicated to the study form of a distinct administrative standing in fifty and even a the of the German question just a few area. The lightning speed at which months prior to that fateful date of hundred years,” asserted Erich events unfolded surprised everyone 9 th November 1989. “The wall will Honecker, General Secretary of who had hitherto researched and still be standing in fifty and even written about the German questhe East German party, a hundred years,” asserted Erich tion. It was a tectonic tremor, in Honecker, General Secretary of the words of Klaus von Beyme, the in January 1989 the East German party, in January “Black Friday” of the social sciences 1989. Historians, sociologists and political scientists and humanities, which had been unable to predict the analysed the foreign policy stabilisation of the German development of happenings. At the same time, it was Democratic Republic in the late 1980s and considered the precisely the strength of the changes that took place possibilities of economic and political reforms, starting that tasked scientists with explaining how they had from the assumption that East Germany would remain come to pass. The consequence was the dominance of an historical reality in the coming years and decades. teleological interpretations of recent German history, Nevertheless, in just a short period of time, the fall according to which German reunification was an inevitaof the Berlin Wall turned demands for political reforms bility, to which all historical processes in the second half 37

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

identity. To reduce the history of East Germany to a of the 20th century had striven towards almost linearly. footnote would not only be unjust to the people who Under the impression of the almost unrealistically rapid lived and worked creatively in that country, and whose collapse and disappearance of the German Democratic lives would be consigned to oblivion, but would also, first Republic, in analysing that country’s past, historians and foremost, be politically perilous. That’s because began to identify shortcomings and anomalies from knowing and understanding Germany’s integral past its inception, the consequences of which “must” have is a precondition for understanding the country and resulted in the collapse of the regime and order. And for its society today. a considerable number of historians Knowing and The German Democratic Repost-1990, there was only room for the history of West Germany in the public was smaller than the Federal understanding Germany’s history of Germany in the second half Republic of Germany in terms of integral past is of the 20th century. East Germany is territory and population, economicommonly denied any legitimacy, cally weaker and politically inferior, a precondition for with its existence reduced to a kind it was still a state of almost 17 understanding the country but of provisional entity that is more million inhabitants, which existed and its society today part of the Soviet past than the for 41 years and in which two genGerman one. erations of Germans grew up and Still, after the first wave of excitement and euphobrought their experiences into the common state in ria abated, it became clear that the fall of communist 1990. Furthermore, excluding the German Democratic regimes in Eastern Europe did not mark the “end of Republic from modern German history would also mean history”, just as the issue of German reunification may belittling German culture, depriving it of creators like have been concluded on 3rd October 1990, but that only Bertolt Brecht and Anna Seghers, or Christa Wolf and opened the issue of German unity. Even today, thirty Heiner Müller. Besides that, ignoring East Germany years on, the East-West divide still exists in Germany, would lead to a fundamental misunderstanding of the both economically and financially, but also politically, history of the Federal Republic of Germany, because socially, culturally, demographically and in terms of German-on-German rivalry “hovered” over almost every 38

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

in the years that followed German society and institusocial, political, economic and cultural aspect of life in both German states during the second half of the 20th tions showed a readiness and maturity - through inquiry century. The existence of competing German states commissions, expert groups, school programmes, mucrucially shaped the social and poseum exhibitions, commemorations, litical climate of West Germany, as projects, public debates etc. - to also In the years that well as the foreign policy activity of face elections with those issues and the “Bonn Republic”. problems that, viewed over the long followed German society The history of German reunificaterm, secure German unity. Dominatand institutions showed tion was not a success story for every ing the work of the Commission on a readiness and individual. For many inhabitants of the 30th Anniversary of the Peaceful the former East Germany, adapting Revolution and German Reunificamaturity - through inquiry to the new political and social cirtion, which was established in 2019, commissions, expert cumstances was arduous, with many are topics related to the contrasting losing their jobs and social security, experiences of citizens from East groups, school while many felt like “second-class and West Germany, with the aim of programmes, museum citizens” in the reunified Germany achieving better mutual understandin the years after 1990. However, exhibitions, commemorations, ing and social integration. Today, it would be a mistake to claim that however, there is no talk of a “crisis projects, public the history of German reunification of unity”, as was the case during the debates etc. - to also is a history of failure. Not only was first decade of the existence of the it the case of a so-called “peaceful “Berlin Republic”. face elections with those revolution”, and one that saw soluissues and problems that, tions found to numerous extremely

By Natalija Dimić, Associate Researcher, complex political, diplomatic, legal, viewed over the long term, Institute for the Recent economic and financial issues over secure German unity History of Serbia the course of just a months in 1990, 39

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

GERMAN ECONOMY

Uncertainty over Brexit and the trade war between the U.S. and China led to a slowdown for the export-orientated German economy.

However, leading German think-tanks suggest that the country's economy is on the road to recovery

September Brings A

DEGREE OF OPTIMISM

O

ne of the characteristics of the crisis caused by the pandemic is that the economies worst hit by it were those that are the most developed and usually demonstrate excellent export results.

The German economy, Europe’s largest, contracted by a record 9.7% in the second quarter of 2020, as consumer spending, company investments and exports saw a steep decline due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

40

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

This second-quarter contraction was the worst since the documenting of GDP figures began in 1970, proving much more pronounced than was the case during the 2007-08 financial crisis, which resulted in a 4.7% decline in the first quarter of 2009.

The slowdown of the German economy is in line with all major economies in Europe. The GDP of the Euro area fell from 0.4% in the first quarter to 0.2% in the second quarter, while France, Italy, Spain and the UK all saw double-digit declines in their economic activity.

The German government, which has forecast a 6.3% economic decline for the entire year, pushed a multibillion-euro coronavirus aid package, followed by another €130-billion stimulus in June, in order to alleviate the consequences of the crisis.

The German economy had shown robust results prior to the start of the crisis. In 2016 Germany recorded the highest trade surplus in the world, worth $310 billion, making it the biggest capital exporter globally.

Germany’s top 10 export items are vehicles, machinery, chemical goods, electronic products, electrical equipment, pharmaceuticals, transport equipment, basic metals, food products and rubber and plastics.

The International Monetary Fund gave the country’s

economy “yet another bill of good health” in July 2017, but some economists speculated that the slowdown recorded in the final quarter of 2019 was mainly as a consequence of uncertainty over Brexit and the trade war between the U.S. and China, which were then exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although the current contraction was the worst on record, it was still less than initially anticipated by economists. Indeed, Germany’s Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) revised its quarter-on-quarter contraction in GDP from the 10.1% it initially reported at the end of July.

Spokesperson of the German Chamber of Industry & Commerce, Volker Treier, recently expressed strong concern over the course of the country’s short-term economic future. Indeed, if the German economy has another negative quarter it will be considered as being “in recession”. For this scenario, the government is preparing some countermeasures to mitigate the effects, such as the accelerated introduction of short-time work and employee retraining.

However, some better news has already arrived in September. The Zew Indicator of Economic Sentiment for Germany rose 5.9 points in September, month-onmonth, to 77.4 points. Positive signals in Germany were 41

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

the German economy is on the followed by the rise in sentiment for Increased business confidence that road to recovery. the eurozone’s economic developsuggests that the German Similar results were reported ment, which increased by 9.9 points to bring the indicator to 73.9 points economy is tracking a stronger by Oxford Economics. Increased business confidence suggests that for September. recovery than the eurozone the German economy is tracking a According to Zew sentiment, even stronger recovery than the eurothe stalled Brexit talks and rising as a whole, yet there are zone as a whole. Yet the fear hasn’t Coronavirus cases could not dampen concerns that the banking dissipated, note analysts of Oxford the positive mood. sector could see a rising Economics.

Attitudes towards the current ecoOne of the most promising news nomic situation have also improved, number of loan defaults in stories is that the business climate although they still remain negative the coming six months index rose sharply in the service secat -66.2 points, which is 15.1 points tor, showing that service providers are higher than in August. significantly more satisfied with their current business On the other hand, a survey published by the Ifo Insituation. stitute for Economic Research suggests that companies Given the structure of the German economy – in which evaluate their current business situations with far more the service sector contributes around 70% to total GDP, optimism than in the previous month. with industry accounting for 29.1%, and agriculture 0.9% The institute said that its business climate index - an - it is easy to see why this is excellent news. indicator of economic activity in Germany - rose to 92.6 The outlook for the coming six months has also imfrom a previously downward revised 90.4 in July. This proved, according to the Ifo. Economists concerns now marked the fourth consecutive monthly increase and mostly relate to the banking sector, which could see a was higher than economists’ initial expectations of 92.2. rising number of loan defaults in the coming six months.

This prompted Ifo President Clemens Fuest to reason 42

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

BOJAN LASKOVIĆ, MANAGING DIRECTOR, CFND BELGRADE

BUSINESS

LOGISTICS

Of The New Era Synergy of all modes of transport

C

FND deals in logistics services and is specialised in the transport of goods on inland waterways in the Danube Basin. A member of several national and international associations, since 2015 it has been part of the Rhenus Group, one of the worlds leading logistics companies.

“What distinguishes CFND Ltd. from the majority of companies on the local market is precisely its synergy of all modes of transport,” says CFND Belgrade Managing Director Bojan Lasković.

CFND was established ten years ago with the aim of developing logistics activities in the Danube basin, and went on to become part of the Rhenus Group five years ago. How did you attract the attention of one of the world’s leading logistics companies?

- CFND was initially founded by French companies CFNR and ATIC Services, which deal mainly with river transport and port operations.

The idea of the founders at the time was to establish a company that would transfer the business model from Western Europe to Serbia’s local market. Every start is difficult, and we had several challenges from the outset that hindered the development of the company. We encountered the collapse of the river freight market, then faced the economic crisis that shook every segment of the economy. Despite unfavourable conditions, with a quality service and optimal logistics solutions we managed to position ourselves on the market and gradually gain the trust of many multinational companies with which we now have partnership relations.

The Rhenus Group spent many years seeking a reliable company with the potential for development on the Serbian market, in order to be able to cover the entire route of the Danube and, together with offices in Regensurg, Krems and Constanta, provide its clients with a competitive advantage in the area of logistics services. Simply, it was there that interests intersected, finally resulting in the takeover of CFND Ltd. by the Rhenus Group.

You specialise in the transport of goods on inland waterways in the Danube basin, but you are also able to organise a complete logistics chain, combining road, rail and river transport, to more than 40 locations across Europe...

- What distinguishes CFND Ltd. from the majority of companies on the local market is precisely this synergy of all modes of transport. The benefit for clients is that one company provides them with a complete logistics service, whether that relates to river transport, from port to port, or combined transport, from warehouse to warehouse, via waterways.

In this way, through the Rhenus network, we can state freely that we are in a position to satisfy the requirements of our customers throughout Europe, and beyond if required.

You have at your disposal knowhow and experience, but also the support of the entire Rhenus Group, while it seems that you also boast a modern fleet. Is that correct?

- The entire fleet that works for us came from the waterways of Western Europe. Our 2,700HP tugs are equipped according to EU standards, both in terms of navigation safety and in terms of housing conditions for crew members. Our barges have a large capacity and are suitable for transporting all types of dry cargo - light and heavy grain, fertilisers, metals, oversized cargo etc.

To conclude, I would like to point out that we are in the process of changing the name of the company. The new name of the company under which we will operate will be Rhenus PartnerShip Serbia d.o.o. (Ltd.), which will certainly remain synonymous with high-quality services.

43

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

INTERVIEW

FRANK BAUMANN, DIRECTOR, GOETHE-INSTITUT

It Will Be CONTINUED The Goethe-Institut in Belgrade adapted its programmes to the conditions imposed by the pandemic, preparing for the time when it will again be possible to function without the threat of the virus

T

he commemorating of this year’s great jubilees – the 30th anniversary of the reunification of East and West Germany and the 50th anniversary of the establishing of the Belgrade centre of the Goethe Institute (GoetheInstitut) – has been adapted to the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that didn’t reduce the quality of the celebrations.

Apart from these major anniversaries, here we also discuss the experiences of the previous seasons for this German cultural centre with its director, Frank Baumann.

Unification is at the very foundation of the Federal Republic of Germany, so commemorating the anniversary of your country’s reunification will serve to remind us all of one good example and good practise. During this year, the GoetheInstitut commemorates half a century of its existence. How will you mark these jubilees?

- Yes, 50 years of the Goethe-Institut in Belgrade is certainly something special; something to be proud of, to be thankful

44

for and to prompt us to stop for a moment, looking both back and forward at the same time. The official reception should have taken place in June, with some high-ranking guests from Serbia and Germany. And a big fat party with some cool live music and all of our friends, clients and partners around, in a cheerful mood, down at Dorćol Platz – that was the idea.

The Coronavirus pandemic destroyed everything, as you can imagine. What remains are memories of 50 years of the German culture and language in Belgrade, good years mainly, though some tough ones as well, and one of the strangest right now. But no complaints, many people paid a much higher price than cancelling a single event. For the culture scene, both the independent and the state-run, it’s a disaster. I wish someone could see some light at the end of the tunnel, but this nasty virus probably came to stay for a while longer.

Regarding the commemoration of 30 years of the reunification of the two Germanys: well, to me that’s first of all a political date, a historical landmark, and as such it’s up to our

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

Embassy to communicate. I’m sure they will, probably in some combination with the current German presidency of the EU, which would make sense to me. When it comes to culture and ordinary people, we could discuss the extent to which Germany is unified today. To a certain degree, it’s still a divided country, not only between east and west. The Coronavirus alone makes no difference.

How did the Coronavirus pandemic lead to changes in the Goethe-Institut’s plans? Which programmes did you have to cancel or postpone? Judging by announcements on the Institute’s Facebook page, you maintained a very rich online programme.

- Well, first of all our ongoing language courses were paused. We had to stop them immediately, and those which were about to start were cancelled.

Luckily, a vast majority of our students agreed to continue by switching to an online format. The language course office promptly coordinated this with our teachers, who did their very best to make it happen, though it came over them just out of the blue, but mutual goodwill on each side made it a success for most of our customers and colleagues. We even extended our online portfolio during the lockdown phase and saw a significant increase of interest in this format.

Regarding cultural events, we had to cancel or postpone performances of several German authors (Noor Kanj, Marion Poschmann, Robert Menasse), as well as several exhibitions, among which “Missing Stories” was an incredible loss. This is a highly rated international art exhibition on forced labour under the Nazi occupation. Two years of work, a grand opening at the Salon of Contemporary Art in Belgrade, and then – back to storage. It will be continued, hopefully, in 2021. Still, we did our best to use the potential of the all-round virtual space.

For example, we presented a digital exhibition, “Abandoned”

by Sanja Latinović, through our YouTube channel. The panel discussion with the artist happened on Instagram. That’s also the place where we later celebrated World Book Day. It worked pretty well, even if all these streaming actions cannot replace personal contacts, as everybody now knows. Still, we’ll stick to it in the future and keep having online talks on literature. In June we presented a music documentary as a live premiere by Belgrade-based saxophonist and composer Hayden Chisholm on our YouTube channel. Also in June we started the experiment of a real exhibition in the gallery of our library. It turned out to

be extremely challenging to follow all health recommendations and restrictions of the Serbian government and the World Health Organisation. However, given that not everybody feels comfortable to come around personally despite all measures being taken, we keep on streaming everything for remote use.

Apart from our own online events, we did our best to keep in touch with our audience on social networks, sharing relevant German content, such as virtual exhibitions from important German museums, online concerts and DJ sets, even films for free streaming etc.

50 years of the Goethe-Institut in Belgrade is certainly something to be proud of, to be thankful for, and to prompt us stop for a moment, looking both back and forward at the same time

Finally, our so-called e-Library, which has been very well known to our regular readers in Serbia since 2014, has been used more frequently than ever during the past few months. With its huge offer of German e-books, films magazines etc., as well as regular updates, it has become one of our most popular online content.

It can be said that the Goethe-Institut has a comprehensive programme of German language courses – for both beginners and experts.

Are you satisfied with the response; how do you compete with the popularity of the English language?

- Yes, we have a wide range of courses from the age of six onwards, as well as many different course formats – super intensive, two extensive options, online and blended learning, which is 50% in person and 50% online. Something for everyone!

We don’t feel like we have to compete with the popularity of the English language that much, since speaking English is a given now and most children learn it at school from an early age. German is usually a second foreign language that people in Serbia learn and they know exactly why they’ve chosen German and the Goethe-Institut: better business opportunities in Serbia, as well as job opportunities in Germany, further education in a German-speaking country, to name a few.

45

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

Škograd is one of many programmes with which the Goethe-Institut is present in our area. How is progress being achieved for this open classroom in which schools and local communities cooperate in sorting out their local environment?

- Thank you for this question. The long-term cooperation with the (still young) Škograd crew is one of our beacon projects. It’s based on a civil society platform that we established a couple of years ago, called “Next Generation”, and aims at fostering a new understanding of the school/town relationship in a specific environment through mutual participation. The focus of the activities is on a suburban area of Belgrade, the agglomeration of Ledine, established not too long ago, with its inhabitants facing quite a few challenges and open issues. So, on the basis of numerous activities organised by Škograd in cooperation with local school kids, the activists developed a kind of methodology that was previously presented at several conferences outside Serbia. Sharing experiences with other expert groups from Germany and other countries strengthens the position of Škograd, enhances their networking and, finally, helps to continue the beneficial work for (not only) underprivileged kids in local summer schools, but also open classroom formats (“Infrastructure of hope”), among others. For the latter, Škograd was just awarded by the 2020 Belgrade Salon of Architecture / BINA, and I really hope that this cool initiative (one for our children that are about to grow up) will remain an integral part of the city’s cultural landscape.

online, also in physical spaces such as squares, open-air cinemas etc. The 13th Beldocs presented i.a. seven carefully chosen German documentary productions and co-productions.

Through this year’s cooperation with Bitef, everyone involved in the project was facing the importance of quickly finding alternative ways of doing things, caused by many uncertainties in every respect. As an outcome, the German guest performance “Uncanny Valley” of Rimini Protokol and Kammerspiele Munich was one of two solo lecture performances presented at the Prologue Edition of the 54 th Bitef festival. The digital body of a performer (German author Thomas Melle) on the stage of Bitef Theatre raised many important issues, wonderfully mirroring the momentum.

During this time when we’re talking for CorD, it is almost certain that the traditional Belgrade Book Fair won’t be held this October, though that has not yet been confirmed officially. If the Fair is cancelled, do you plan to present the latest editions of German publishers in some other way?

- Well, of course we couldn’t replace or at least compensate for activities of German publishing houses. It’s just a very small window to some carefully selected releases of the book market that we could contribute. But GoetheInstitut used to present itself at the Belgrade Book Fair together with other European cultural institutes at a common EUNIC stand, until 2016. In 2017 Goethe-Institut was widely present as a partner of the joint project “4 Countries, 1 Language”, presenting the literature works of four German-speaking countries as “guests of honour”.

We later decided to support the Book Fair by organising different events prior to it, or in the context of it, such as the EUNIC conference for librarians “What kind of library do we need?”, which took place at the National Library of Serbia in 2018. As far as I know, something similar won’t happen this year, as it was too complicated to organise it in an online format. But, given that the Belgrade Book Fair is the biggest and most important event of its kind in the entire Western Balkan region, I’m sure this is just an exception due to the overall situation.

People in Serbia know exactly why they’ve chosen German and the Goethe-Institut – better business opportunities in Serbia and job opportunities in Germany

The Goethe-Institut traditionally collaborates on many important festivals that are held in Belgrade, to mention only BITEF and Beldocs. How has this year’s cooperation been realised, given the changes to conditions as a result of the pandemic?

- The novel COVID-19 outbreak also caused many changes in realising our planned programme activities in the realm of arts and culture. Strictly following current epidemiological rules, our traditional partners, Bitef and Beldocs, have managed to be among the rare festivals presenting their programmes in September, alongside the safest place – 46

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

PREDRAG SKOKOVIĆ, MANAGING DIRECTOR, QUALITY HOUSE

BUSINESS

"BUG" Hunters Quality House was founded in 2004 as a home for software testing professionals driven by a passion to find "one more bug". Today, with offices in Bulgaria and Serbia, Quality House is a leading provider of software testing services in Southeast Europe

W

e have set an agenda to increase our presence in other regions. In order to achieve this growth, we devote great effort to educating our team members, following world recognised standards and certification schemes, says Quality House MD Predrag Skoković.

What services does your company provide? Is professional software testing the basis for all your activities?

- Software development is a very young discipline, but one that’s evolving at an incredible rate. What was seen as a task half a century ago is today recognised as an opportunity for lifelong learning and specialisation. These tectonic movements have not bypassed software testing either.

Following this progress, based on the expectation that high-quality software applications will be an imperative in the 21st century, Quality House was founded in 2004. It is envisaged as a home of software testing professionals, driven by a passion to find “one more bug”.

Today, with offices in Bulgaria and Serbia, Quality House is a leading provider of software testing services (outsourcing, consulting, training), primarily in Southeast Europe.

To repay its debt to the community, Quality House is participating in the organisation (with SEETB) of the SEETEST conference, which is dedicated to the domain of software testing.

cannot save time and/or money. However, indirectly, if done properly, it can certainly mitigate risks related to developing product and support a development team in implementing application with the desired level of quality, within defined budget and set timeline.

Since the mid 1950s, when the term ‘Cost of Quality’ was coined, development teams were struggling to keep the cost of poor quality lower than the cost of good quality.

In today’s world, it seems like people are slowly getting used to failures in software applications. Yet there are still many more applications that do not see the light of day due to their poor quality. There were (and I’m afraid there will be) companies that lost their reputation or went bankrupt as a consequence of a single “bug”.

By applying proven software testing services, Quality House can help avoid these negative scenarios that could make your company’s name the next news headline.

Quality House is participating in the organisation of the SEETEST conference, which is dedicated to the domain of software testing

Software testing is thought to save more time and money than any other activity in development, because any defect that would delay market entry costs both a company’s money and reputation? Is that right?

- Software testing can be a very expensive “sport”. By itself, it

Which companies and industries do you test for the most?

- Outsourcing companies increase their knowledge with each new client and project. Quality House has a diverse portfolio, covering financial, mission- and safety-critical domains (e.g. banks, the automotive sector etc.). Domain knowledge is very important in providing valuable information to end customers. However, it is necessary to supplement this knowledge with specific technical and soft skills, in order to perform the service to the highest level of quality. Therefore, the QH team is composed of members who have different backgrounds in terms of education, knowledge, skills and experience. This gives us flexibility to quickly solve everyday challenges.

47

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

FRAUEN-POWER

GERMAN WOMEN That Have Changed The World

48

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

The importance of placing much needed value on the notion that women are equal is not something that is unique to any one culture or country — it’s a movement that transcends borders and oceans, because what is at stake is ubiquitous

H

ere, we pay homage to some incredible women in a variety of careers and fields who have made a name for themselves as actresses, politicians, artists and more.

They are human beings who hail from the Mutterland and who have contributed something special — not just

because they are women, but because they’ve added value to society as individuals with a voice that is worth listening to.

Frauen-Power is an antiquated term associated with women who have struggled, sweated and paved their own way to be able to play an integral role in this world.

BERTHA VON SUTTNER This Nobel Peace Prize winner fought hard to live an unconventional life for her time. As a means of departing from the widely accepted (and only) route of her time, she tried to train as an opera singer to avoid having to marry for money.

Her crippling stage fright impeded this, but she ended up marrying for love, to the chagrin of many. This decison, coupled with her poor financial status, forced her to take many different jobs, and she even worked as a housekeeper and secretary for Alfred Nobel in Paris. As an already avid writer, Bertha became a prominent figure in the peace movement with her publication Die Waffen nieder! (or Lay Down Your Arms!) in 1889 and later became the founder of the German Peace Society. She also took part in organising the first Hague Convention in 1899. Her journalistic efforts, mixed with her fervent support of and interest in promoting peace, led her to eventually win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1905, and it is rumoured that the prize exists in the first place because of her.

AMALIE EMMY NOETHER This impressive woman made powerful contributions to abstract algebra and theoretical physics and is still considered one of the top mathematicians of the 20th century. In physics, her theories articulated the connection between conservation laws and symmetry. In maths, she instigated theories about rings, algebras and fields. It’s safe to say that Amalie was a bit of a brainiac, and she was partially conditioned by her father, who was also a mathematician. Abandoning her original plan to study English and French, mathematics became her vice, and later, her weapon of mastery; demonstrated by her gifts to academia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

49

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

ANGELA MERKEL Angela Merkel is the first female chancellor of Germany. She took office in 2005, but this is only one of her feats — with a doctorate in physical chemistry, she’s not a one-trick pony. This former research scientist hails from Hamburg circa 1954. Merkel’s Germany was not our Germany, and her involvement in politics started at an early age with her participation with the Free German Youth, and she later got involved with the growing Democratic movement after the fall of the Berlin Wall. This passion for government and participation snowballed, eventually landing her the spot as the Chancellor of Germany. Known for her tenacity, ability to make tough decisions, and for being a beacon of fortitude in a male-dominated branch, Merkel was voted Time Magazine‘s ‘Person of the Year’ in 2015. With an arsenal of awards under her belt and a penchant for blooming in tough times, Angela Merkel is a force to recognise.

LISE MEITNER Lise Meitner was one of eight siblings, born in Vienna in 1878. Her love of physics bloomed at an early age, which led her to obtain her doctorate in the subject, but a woman working in this specific and male dominated field of academia was rare at that time. She was welcomed into a group of scientists with whom she worked closely in Berlin, including chemist Otto Hahn, and the two discovered protactinium in 1918. Though a brilliant contributor in her field, she was often overshadowed by the men — like when she discovered the radiationless transition in 1923 that ended up being named the ‘Auger effect’ after Pierre Victor Auger, who ‘discovered’ it two years after Meitner. In an even bigger oversight, the acknowledgement of nuclear fission was credited largely to Otto Hahn (though the two had come up with it together), and Hahn went on to win the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1944. Meitner later received many awards in an attempt to somehow reconcile her many exclusions and acknowledge her unbelievable contributions.

HANNAH ARENDT Hannah Arendt was a prominent political theorist who was German born but eventually escaped to America during the Holocaust. Her works largely dissected and evaluated power, paying specific attention to totalitarianism, authority and democracy. She rejected the idea of being a philosopher and despised this nomenclature, because philosophy tends to fixate on the individual and she erred on the side that assumed parts are the sum of a whole. In other words, she was part of human kind, and through this context she discussed the trials and concepts of life. She was a prolific writer and thinker whose works are still read today, and some of her theories trace the roots of Stalinism and rally for the concept of inalienable human rights. Hannah Arendt was truly a woman with an inexorable voice and astute perspective.

50

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

GABRIELE MÜNTER This German expressionist painter doesn’t come directly to mind when talking about the feminist movement, but she was an integral part of the process. Her affinity for colour manifested in her famous landscapes, while her earlier works borrowed from the big wigs of Fauvism — specifically, Matisse and Van Gogh.

Münter and her then partner, Kadinsky, were prominent leaders in the Munich Avant-garde movement. Along with Kadinsky and Franz Marc, she started the expressionist group called Der Blaue Reiter, or the ‘blue rider,’ which hoped that painting would take on a symbolic and spontaneous relationship of colour that, in turn, was a metaphor for the bleeding out of life towards the point of abstraction. Gabriele was a prolific painter who embodied the spirit of the expressionist and avant-garde movement. Her contributions, though not as widely known as some of her contemporaries, remain relevant and inspiring.

ALICE SCHWARZER Alice Shwarzer is a contemporary feminist who still works in the movement. As the founder and publisher of the German feminist magazine EMMA, Alice works to spread her ideas of equality throughout Germany and beyond.

She prioritises economic self-sufficiency in women and constantly speaks out against antiquated and misogynistic laws from the 1970s that still persist today.

Alice was also of one of the founders of the feminist movement in Paris, and was arguably one of the catalysts for the ‘second wave’ movement of feminism.

Alice is never shy about voicing her ideas or acting as a champion for what she believes is fair, equal and right.

TRÜMMERFRAUEN The Trümmerfrauen, literally “women of the rubble”, were the women who rebuilt Germany. After World War II, there were around seven million more women than men left in Germany. Along with that, there was an estimated 400 million cubic metres of rubble to be cleared and four million homes to be rebuilt. For months after the end of the war, women aged 15-50, some volunteers, others contracted, set to work building the country back up. There were a few rough years directly after the war, but after the rubble was cleared and the Marshall Plan got into full swing, West Germany’s economy recovered tenfold and, by the late 1950s, the economic miracle had taken hold. Without these brave women, Germany may never have fully recovered from the devastation of the war.

51

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

AHK SERBIA

Reliable Economic

PARTNER OF SERBIA The German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce (AHK Serbia) represents the interests of its member companies, provides informational support for their business and advocates for the development and improvement of German-Serbian trade and cooperation in all aspects of the economy. One of the tasks of AHK Serbia is to provide advisory support to German companies entering the Serbian market, as well as to Serbian businesspeople entering the German market.

MEMBERS OF THE GERMAN-SERBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAVE DONATED MORE THAN A MILLION EUROS FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST THE PANDEMIC With the aim of supporting institutions and health workers in Serbia in the struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic, AHK Serbia member companies have donated aid with a total value 1,087,000 euros in recent weeks. This relates to aid in the form of specific medical equipment and financial resources for the procurement of such equipment, donated goods and food/hygiene packages, but also the provision of services to companies for humanitarian purposes (such as transportation and distribution).

President of AHK Serbia and General Manager of Hemofarm, Dr Ronald Seeliger, emphasised that Germany has been, and remains, a reliable partner to Serbia, and that the engagement of German investors will continue contributing to the economic sustainability of Serbia even in difficult times.

“German investors have been present in Serbia for a full two decades, and close to four hundred German companies currently operate here, with more than 60,000 employees. This is a clear indicator that Germany is one of Serbia’s most important and most reliable economic partners, and it will also continue to be so in the future.

Even in these challenging times when the entire world and the global economy have already been impacted by the effects of the pandemic, it is very important that we remain human and that each of us does as much as we can to help institutions and health workers in the struggle against this coronavirus. Donations from companies are our way to show that Germany is not only an important economic partner of Serbia, but above all a friend,” stressed the AHK Serbia president.

The AHK Serbia member companies that have donated 52

aid to date include: Generali Osiguranje Srbija, Hemofarm AD, Henkel Srbija, Inmold, Klett publishing doo, Lidl Srbija, Messer Tehnogas, Mirax Agrar, Nelt Group, Peric Trans Company, Stim-Import Loznica, Transfera d.o.o., ZG Lighting SRB d.o.o. (Zumtobel Group) and many others.

GERMAN INITIATIVE TO IDENTIFY SUPPLIERS IN THE WESTERN BALKANS 2020

AHK Serbia, the representative offices of the German economy in the Western Balkans (AHK), as well as the German Association for Materials Management, Import and Logistics (BME eV), jointly organised the regional B2B project “German initiative to find suppliers in Western Balkan countries”, which is being implemented for the sixth consecutive year. This year’s regional B2B project was held online from 8th to 22nd September.

More than 30 German companies participated in the project, as well as 154 companies from the Western Balkan region. From Serbia alone, 52 supplier companies presented their businesses to potential German partners, with a total of 340 B2B meetings held.

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

The aim of the project is for German companies to find producers from the economic domains they’re seeking in Serbia and elsewhere in the Western Balkans. The concept of the project is based on the “B2B - matchmaking” mechanism. Interested German companies come primarily from the metal processing sector, the automotive industry supply sector and the plastic materials processing and production sector. Other industries are also represented in individual cases, such as construction and the energy sector.

Events are realised under the patronage of the Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy of the Federal Republic of Germany, within the scope of the Programme for the Development of Foreign Markets for Small and Mediumsized Enterprises of the Federal Republic of Germany.

ONLINE PORTAL FOR SUPPLIERS FROM SERBIA Following numerous supplier initiatives and gatherings organised in Germany, and in response to great interest in cooperating with SMEs and for imports from Serbia, AHK Serbia launched an online portal for suppliers from Serbia https://www.lieferanten-serbien.com/. At a time when doing business digitally is a “new reality” for companies globally, domestic business leaders and entrepreneurs have gained an excellent opportunity to present their companies, products and services on this platform, via which German companies seek suppliers of goods and services in specific areas and receive insight into the offer of domestic suppliers. A great advantage of this is that AHK Serbia has initiated exclusive cooperation with the German Association for Materials Management, Import and Logistics (BME e.V.), so that companies from Serbia that are participants in the AHK Serbia portal are also promoted on the BME portal. BME represents a professional association for buyers, supply chain managers and logisticians in Germany and Central Europe, with a total of over 9,750 individual and corporate members.

AHK Serbia invites all interested companies to secure their place on the AHK portal and take advantage of all the benefits of this digital platform – to present their companies, products and services to potential German customers. Contact us for more information and ways to promote.

CONFERENCE: MODERNIZATION IN THE SECTORS OF TRANSPORT, LOGISTICS AND TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE IN SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO In February 2020, AHK Serbia, under the patronage of the Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy of the Federal Republic of Germany and in partnership with German company em&s GmbH, organised a conference on the topic “Modernisation in the sectors of transport, logistics and transport infrastructure in Serbia and Montenegro”.

The conference saw a delegation comprising seven German companies present their production programmes,

innovations and services in these areas, after which all conference participants had an opportunity to hold B2B meetings with German companies.

ONLINE BIOMASS AND BIOGAS CONFERENCE AHK Serbia, under the patronage of the Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy of the Federal Republic of Germany and in partnership with German company energiewächter GmbH, organised an online conference in September 2020 on the topic “biomass and biogas in Serbia”, with the aim of connecting successful German companies with domestic companies from Serbia in order to share technology and experiences.

CONFERENCE “WESTERN BALKANS AND THE GERMAN ECONOMY: INVESTMENTS - SUPPLY INITIATIVES - MOBILITY”

In November 2019, under the patronage of the Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy of the Federal Republic of Germany, and in cooperation with the Committee of the German Economy for Eastern Europe – Eastern European Association of German Economy (OA) - and the German Association for Southeast Europe, AHK Serbia organised a conference on German initiatives, economic development, new conditions and the effects of the German Law on the Immigration of Skilled Workers from Non-EU Countries, as well as demographic challenges in Serbia.

The conference was opened by AHK Serbia President 53

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

Dr Ronald Seeliger, Serbian Minister without Portfolio in charge of Demography and Population Policy, Dr Slavica Đukić Dejanović, and the Head of the Section for Southeast Europe, EU Enlargement and Turkey at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, Helge Tolksdorf.

DUAL EDUCATION

VISIT OF PETER ALTMEIER, MINISTER FOR ECONOMIC AFFAIRS AND ENERGY OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, WITH A BUSINESS DELEGATION

Under the auspices of the visit to Serbia of the Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Peter Altmeier, at the end of October 2019, AHK Serbia hosted German business leaders at the Business Briefing and Round Table at the Palace of Serbia in Belgrade.

The Business Briefing gathered businesspeople from Germany, who came as part of the delegation of Minister Altmeier, and German MPs. Businesspeople from Germany received relevant information on the political situation in the country from Dorothea Gieselmann, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Federal Republic of Germany, while the situation in the economic sector was presented by the AHK Serbia President Seeliger.

Following the briefing, Minister Altmeier spoke at a meeting attended by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, Serbian Chamber of Commerce & Industry President Marko Čadež, Deputy Director General of the Association of German Chambers of Commerce (DIHK) Dr Volker Trajer, AHK Serbia President Seeliger and AHK Serbia Director Martin Knapp, as well as German and Serbian business leaders representing members of AHK Serbia.

Minister Altmeier said that Germany and Serbia want to intensify their relations and that they can primarily achieve that through economic cooperation. Also speaking on this occasion, AHK President Seeliger assessed the current economic cooperation between Serbia and Germany as good, noting that Germany invests a lot in Serbia and that German companies employ more than 60,000 people in the country.

54

A conference of the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce entitled “Dual Education - Experiences of German Companies in Serbia” launched the Week of Dual Education at the end of October 2019, under the patronage of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Serbia (CCIS).

The conference was opened by AHK Serbia director Knapp, Assistant Minister for Dual and Entrepreneurial Education and Training Gabriela Grujić, and Director of the CCIS Centre for Dual Education Mirjana Kovačević.

Representatives of German companies Siemens Srbija, Robert Bosch, ContitechFluid Serbia and Draexlmaier Serbia shared their experiences in the implementation of the dual education system with media representatives and the gathered members of AHK Serbia.

AHK ONLINE PORTAL FOR STUDENT WORK PLACEMENTS

The portal for student work placements at AHK Serbia member companies, www.ahk-praksa.com, was created on the initiative of AHK Serbia and the University of Belgrade, “Model of German business to work experience”, with the aim of advancing students professionally and ensuring their better connection with the labour market.

This online platform enables members of AHK Serbia, but also other companies with German capital that are not members, to regularly publish open positions for work placements within their companies.

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

SENIOR EXPERT SERVICE

• The International Fair in Munich • The International Fair in Cologne • The Nuremberg Toy Fair • The Intec and “Z” fairs in Leipzig AHK MEMBERS DINNER

The main activity of the Senior Expert Service (SES) programme is based on the mediation of professional consultants in various economic and non-economic activities around the world. This German non-profit organisation, which is subsidised by the German Ministry for International Cooperation, deals with the mediation and organisation of engagements of professional consultants from Germany in SMEs. SES consultants are active German retirees, experts with vast experience who undertake their engagements with great enthusiasm and a strong work ethic. They provide consulting services without financial compensation, with the aim of helping and promoting the organisation of the operations of SMEs, public institutions, associations and educational institutions, both in Serbia and around the world.

The German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce has been representing the SES programme in Serbia since 2005.

Until the end of 2018, approximately 250 SES engagements had been realised in Serbian companies and non-business entities.

The AHK Serbia business dinner for representatives of member companies is among the most popular events among members of this association. The event is opened with an honorary speaker from the domestic economic and political scene, with a short presentation on a current topic, followed by a discussion and a cocktail reception in a relaxed atmosphere. In January 2020, the guest of honour at the AHK Members Dinner was Zsuzsanna Hargitai, regional director for the Western Balkans at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), who spoke about opportunities and obstacles to investing in Serbia from the EBRD’s perspective.

WORKING GROUPS

FAIRS IN GERMANY

German business fairs, as the most significant promotional mechanisms and sales institutions in Europe and beyond, have always occupied a significant place in economic cooperation between Serbia and Germany.

AHK Serbia represents:

The German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce organises working groups with a focus on three areas: human resources, communications and public relations, but also energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. At interesting interactive meetings of members that have an average of 35 participants, attendees present common topics, while expert lectures are given in selected fields, with exchanges of experience among colleagues from various companies.

55

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

ESTABLISHING OF THE NEW AHK WORKING GROUP FOR CSR/SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Reputation is the most important aspect in the business of modern companies, which is expected to not only yield a positive financial performance, but also to create a positive contribution to social development. Everything is important for a good corporate reputation today, from the quality of employees, via product quality and financial performance, to corporate culture. Recognising the importance of corporate social responsibility and corporate philanthropy, AHK Serbia this year established its Working Group for CSR/Sustainable Development, which has to date organised three online meetings, with the support of the Serbian Philanthropic Forum.

AHK OKTOBERFEST

The German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce each year conveys a German tradition dating back almost 200 years with the unique AHK Oktoberfest. The tenth Oktoberfest in Belgrade, and the fourth organised by AHK Serbia, was held over the course of two days on 10 th and 11 th October 2019. Around 1,300 guests from member companies, partners and guests from business life enjoyed Erdinger beer, a variety of specialities of Bavarian cuisine and the music of Dejan Petrović and his Big Band, as well as competitions in holding multiple beer mugs and drinking beer.

SERBIAN VISIONS

56

The fifth Serbian Visions multicongress was held on Friday 22nd November and Saturday 23rd November 2019 at Belgrade’s Radisson Collection Old Mill Hotel. The opening ceremony of the fifth Serbian Visions multicongress saw plaques awarded for the third time: the plaque for the Best Vision was awarded to the Association ‘Žene na prekretnici’ [Women at a Turning Point], which is the only association dedicated to the economic empowering of unemployed women aged over 45, who represent the most vulnerable group on the labour market in the Republic of Serbia.

The plaque for the best social engagement was awarded to the Association of Internal Auditors of Serbia, which works to promote sound corporate governance and ethical principles, as well as to raise awareness of the value of internal audits.

• 40 two-hour events over the course of two days • 40 participants and event co-organisers: NGOs, expert associations, institutes, institutions, companies, associations, universities…

• 40 different ways of presenting: discussions, forums, presentations,workshops, seminars, film screenings and many others • 40 interesting topics covering the fields of human rights, economics, education,culture, health, environmental protection, EU integration and others • 40 plus reasons to come as a citizen and visit the only multicongress in Serbia!

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

VLADAN MARKOVIĆ, DIRECTOR, VLADO BAUMASCHINEN

BUSINESS

NEW CHALLENGES Drive Efficiency

Vlado Baumaschinen, a Surčin-based company that deals in construction, transport and services, has been engaged successfully in civil engineering for more than a decade and has achieved successful cooperation with both domestic and foreign construction companies

W

e have enviable experience and great references when it comes to the construction of roads, earthworks, building demolitions, excavations, securing foundation pits and landscaping of all kinds, as well as basic and ancillary civil engineering structures,” says Vlado Baumashinen Director Vladan Marković with pride.

You founded the company in 2004 and it has gone on to become one of our country’s most successful and respected companies in the field of civil engineering in a relatively short period of time. How would you evaluate these first 16 years of operations?

- The first few years were extremely difficult. It was necessary to work hard and make sacrifices for years in order to create the conditions for the procurement of new machinery and equipment essential for achieving a certain market share. Over the last five years we’ve been working on the development, expansion and improvement of the work process necessary for providing high-quality services.

Everything is easy when you have a goal, and the goals of our work and operations imply a professional and detailed approach to work, the application of economical solutions, utilising modern technologies, hiring a professional team of people and constantly increasing the efficiency work through the accepting of new challenges.

mists and trained, qualified workers of all required profiles, and we are absolutely committed to improving working and organisational skills and capacities. The largest percentage of employed personnel comprises workers who have completed secondary education - construction machine operators, dump truck drivers and auxiliary construction site workers. Employees with higher education qualifications include engineers, project managers and financial experts.

Vlado Baumaschinen has spent years investing in the latest construction machines, tools and cago vehicles, but primarily in the continuous training of around 80 employees who achieve exceptional results in practise.

We have spent years investing in the latest construction machines, tools and cago vehicles, but primarily in the continuous training of employees

What is the structure of your personnel like?

- In our team we have managers, licensed engineers, econo-

Your colleagues point out that it’s increasingly challenging to achieve everything, particularly some of the specific requirements of clients. Isn’t that a problem for you?

- We have amassed more than ten years of experience in the field of civil engineering, we successfully perform works on the construction of roads, earthworks, building demolitions, excavations, securing foundation pits and landscaping of all kinds, as well as basic and ancillary civil engineering structures. By applying the latest technology and mechanisation, as well as high-quality construction materials, along with the experience and knowhow of professional staff, we realise all requirements of clients, which we perceive as a great challenge, within agreed deadlines and to the highest standards. Given that this is about specific demands and that each project is unique, we approach each project carefully and respond with high-quality services within the deadlines sets.

57

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

BOOKS

EXHIBITION 2009 DEVOTED TO THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BLECHTROMMEL AT THE GÃœNTER-GRASS-HAUS

10GERMAN BOOKS

You Have To Read Before You Die These ten novels, ranging from the late 19th century to the last couple of years, are modern German classics. Earning international acclaim, each one is essential reading. This list takes a whistlestop tour through Germany's most influential books and authors

58

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

1. DIE BLECHTROMMEL (THE TIN DRUM) BY GÜNTER GRASS (1959)

But to get a taste of Mann’s writing, Der Tod in Venedig is a good place to start.

Gustav von Aschenbach is a famous writer who takes a summer holiday in Venice. During one dinner, he notices an exceptionally beautiful adolescent boy.

He becomes obsessed from a distance, shutting out the ominous news of a danger spreading through the city.

3. DER VORLESER (THE READER) BY BERNHARD SCHLINK (1995)

In Die Blechtrommel, Oskar Matzerath narrates his life story from a mental hospital in the early 1950s.

Born in 1924, Matzerath decided at the age of three to stop growing, retaining the stature of a child whilst having an adult’s capacity for thought. Nobel Prize-winning author Günter Grass’ most famous novel is not the easiest of reads, but it is definitely worth the effort.

The book “most completely defines the [20th century] in all its glories and catastrophes - the moods, atmospheres, manias, streams, currents, histories and under-histories,” writes The Guardian.

2. DER TOD IN VENEDIG (DEATH IN VENICE) BY THOMAS MANN (1912)

Buddenbrooks and Der Zauberberg (The Magic Mountain) are probably Thomas Mann’s most renowned novels.

In the late 1950s, 15-year-old West German Michael Berg finds himself in a passionate but secret love affair with a woman who is over 20 years his senior, leaving him confused yet enthralled.

As a law student several years later, he is observing a trial when he realises that the woman in the dock is his former lover. But the woman on trial is a very different person to the one he thought he knew.

Der Vorleser belongs to the genre of Vergangenheitsbewältigung - a term used to describe post-war attempts to come to terms with the Nazi past - and is one of the best known examples outside of Germany. In 1997 it became the first ever German book to top the New York Times bestseller list, and Kate Winslet won an Oscar for her performance in the 2008 film adaptation.

The book has, however, come in for staunch criticism, as critics claim it encourages identification with the perpetrators of the Holocaust.

4. IM WESTEN NICHTS NEUES (ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT)

BY ERICH MARIA REMARQUE (1929) One of the most well-known books about the First World War, Remarque’s novel tells the story of German soldier Paul Bäumer, giving a human perspective to the mass of 59

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

When it was published in 1985, Das Parfum shot to the top of the best-seller tables. It stayed on Der Spiegel’s bestseller list for eight consecutive years, also experiencing great success internationally.

You will not regret picking up this gripping yet grotesque read.

6. AUSTERLITZ BY W.G. SEBALD (2001)

fighting in Europe between 1914 and 1918. Remarque was himself a veteran of the war, and he wrote and published the book a decade after its conclusion.

The novel zooms in to the daily life of an army private, detailing both the violence of battle and the mundaneness of life on the front.

Published in 1929, it quickly received international acclaim, being translated into 22 different languages and selling 2.5 million copies in the first 18 months.

It was also one of the first books banned and burned by the Nazis for being “degenerate.”

5. DAS PARFUM (PERFUME) BY PATRICK SÜSKIND (1985)

Whereas most good novels manage to conjure up images in your head, Das Parfum also conjures up scents and smells that waft up from the page.

Following the journey of a boy with an exquisite sense of smell which drives him to gruesome deeds, Süskind’s novel transports you back to 18th century France, and the sprawling, stinking city of Paris.

60

W.G. Sebald’s fourth and final novel before his untimely death in a car crash in 2001 is a challenging but unquestionably rewarding book. He lived in southeast England for the majority of his life as a university professor, and the breadth and depth of his knowledge shared in the novel could only be that of an academic.

The novel traces the journey of Jacques Austerlitz, a man who arrived in Britain in 1939 as a young boy from Prague. Through a series of lengthy conversations with the narrator, Austerlitz slowly reveals his life story.

Sebald’s unusual style has been described as its own genre: dense and slightly old-fashioned, it still captivates the reader and leads them on a fascinating journey through the history of Europe.

7. DIE VERWANDLUNG (METAMORPHOSIS) BY FRANZ KAFKA (1915) Franz Kafka was born in 1883 in Prague, now capital of the Czech Republic.

At the time, Prague was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Kafka wrote in German. He is now regarded as one of the most influential literary figures of the 20th century, and the adjective “Kafkaesque” – meaning nightmarishly complex and oppressive – is taken from the themes of his works.

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

9. IMPERIUM (IMPERIUM: A FICTION OF THE SOUTH SEAS) BY CHRISTIAN KRACHT (2012)

Die Verwandlung is probably his most famous work, and many are familiar with the bizarre first line: “As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect-like creature.”

Don’t expect this novella to get any less nightmarish from thereon in.

8. BERLIN ALEXANDERPLATZ

BY ALFRED DÖBLIN (1929)

The year 1929 - when Berlin Alexanderplatz was published - was the highpoint of the Weimar Republic, before it all came tumbling down with the Wall Street Crash. Berlin was like no other city in the late 1920s: diverse, liberal and often debauched.

This iconic novel narrates the story of ex-convict Franz Biberkopf who, after being released from prison in Berlin, swears that he will live an upstanding and decent life. He is soon, however, plunged into the capital’s louche but exhilarating underworld. Döblin’s novel was voted one of “The top 100 books of all time”, on a list compiled in 2002

by The Guardian.

In Imperium, a vegetarian nudist from Nuremberg sets sail for a South Pacific island to set up a religion worshipping coconuts and the sun. Sounds like absurdist fiction?

Kracht’s novel Imperium is actually based on a true story.

In this witty and ironic book, Kracht - one of modern German literature’s most elusive figures - tells more than just the surprising yet true story of this extreme figure. He also deals with extremist movements of the 20th century, as well as offering other interesting insights.

10. EFFI BRIEST BY THEODOR FONTANE (1896)

Written at the end of the 19th century, Fontane’s novel tells the story of a way of life that was also on its way out, with the unification of Germany and its rapid modernisation.

Effi Briest is a young girl from traditional Prussian noblility, who is married off to a considerably older official.

Although a devoted servant to the state, her husband is less loving towards his wife, which leads to great problems.

This poignant work is seen as one of the great German realist masterpieces, and a beautiful yet tragic story of two people caught up in the shackles of society.

By Alexander Johnstone

61

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

KEY MESSAGES

H.E. Thomas Schieb, German Ambassador to Serbia

Ronald Seeliger, President of German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce (AHK Serbia) and CEO of Hemofarm (STADA Group)

Speed Of Accession In Serbia's Hands

We Can Still Do Wonders

There is a danger of imbalance between the overall pace of negotiations and pace of rule of law reforms. Therefore, the basic equation is quite simple: The more progress in rule of law, the more chapter openings are possible Thomas Schieb

You don’t need to be a businessman to know that the shortfalls in production during the spring will affect balance sheets for 2020. However, there is a window of opportunity for institutional changes that may help the business community and keep us all healthy and in our workplaces. And then it will be possible to break new records, as we have done at AHK over the past decade.

The annual report of the European Commission, which has been announced for publication in October, should evaluate how far Serbia has progressed in the implementing of reforms linked to EU membership. At that time there will be discussion within the EU over whether some new chapters in the accession negotiation process could be opened,” say H.E. German Ambassador Thomas Schieb, speaking to CorD Magazine. Turning to the recent renewal of dialogue on the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Priština, ambassador Schieb says that the essence is to ensure that “both sides reach a legally binding agreement that enables both Serbia and Kosovo to pursue their EU accession aspirations and fulfil their rights and obligations as EU members”. Asked whether that process also implies that Serbia must recognise Kosovo’s independence, Schieb says: “In my political imagination ... it would be hard to envisage such a solution without Serbia recognising Kosovo”.

62

“I feel a great pleasure when I look back and see the way in which German investments developed in Serbia.

This year is of special importance to us because we symbolically mark two decades of the presence of the German economy in this region. About 450 German companies operate in Serbia today, employing over 60,000 employees. Figuratively speaking, an entire Pirot or Kikinda work at the companies that came to Serbia from Germany,” points out Dr Ronald Seeliger, President of the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce and CEO of Hemofarm, speaking to CorD.

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

KEY MESSAGES

Martin Knapp, Executive Member of the Board of Directors of the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce (AHK Serbien)

Frank Baumann, Director, Goethe Institute

We've Quickly Learnt To Live With The Crisis

It Will Be Continued

Companies have learnt over time to work under new circumstances. We are now waiting to see the results of the survey among German companies operating in Serbia and 16 Eastern European countries in early 2021, in order to get a clear picture of how the Coronavirus pandemic has changed the way they see the world. The results might give us a better idea of whether the idea of nearshoring will gain momentum.

Like in the case of many other organisations in the previous period, AHK had to face the challenge of shifting many of its activities online. One of the most challenging would be the organisation of the AHK-supported Serbian Visions, the traditional annual festival of civil society with 60 co-organisers that used to see thousands of visitors over the course of one weekend in November. Yet some of the signature activities, such as bringing German industrial companies into contact with potential suppliers from the Western Balkans, took place almost as usual this year, only in electronic form.

“Many things are still unclear and we will have to wait a little longer before we see clearly what has happened in 2020,” says Martin Knapp, Executive Member of the Board of Directors of AHK Serbien.

The Goethe-Institut in Belgrade adapted its programmes to the conditions imposed by the pandemic, preparing for the time when it will again be possible to function without the threat of the virus The commemorating of this year’s great jubilees – the 30th anniversary of the reunification of East and West Germany and the 50th anniversary of the establishing of the Belgrade centre of the Goethe Institute (Goethe-Institut) – has been adapted to the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that didn’t reduce the quality of the celebrations. Apart from these major anniversaries, here we also discuss the experiences of the previous seasons for this German cultural centre with its director, Frank Baumann.

63

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

KEY MESSAGES

Ivan Smiljković, Member of The Executive Board of Procredit Bank

Supporting Clients At All Times We are aware of the consequences of the Coronavirus pandemic, but we were also ready to face them, so their impact on our operations will be much smaller than will be the case with companies that weren’t orientated towards their own priorities – and those are clients and employees, and digital services, where we have been pioneers in many areas

We Offer Consumers Joy

Dr Oetker will be celebrating two decades of its existence in Serbia next year, while in Germany the brand will celebrate 130 years of operations. It operates today in more than 40 countries, has more than 16 000 workers and 3,500 different products, but is continuing to expand and works constantly on innovations

Udo Eichlinger, Ceo, Siemens and Siemens Mobility

Ljiljana Topić, Director, Galenika Pharmacia

Our Company Is Here To Stay

We're Here When Times Are Hardest

Siemens, a company with a rich history and a pioneer in the field of digitalisation, today offers solutions and technologies that help its customers and partners respond far swifter and more efficiently to crisis situations and changing market demands

64

Zoran Mitić, Director, Dr Oetker Srbija

Galenika Pharmacia is a factory that produces complete sanitary consumables – from compresses, gauzes and bandages, via disinfectants, to surgical masks that have become the number one product. Although exports at the beginning of the pandemic would have been the business move of the decade, no Galenika mask left Serbia

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

KEY MESSAGES

Michael Stauch, Zf Managing Director – Technical, and Milan Grujić, Zf Managing Director – Commercial

The Vision Of Next Generation Mobility ZF is a global technology company that supplies systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and industrial technology, enabling the next generation of mobility. ZF enables vehicles to see, think and act

Kruna Gavović, Ceo of The Lean Six Sigma Company Cee and Tms Cee Marketing and Academy Manager

FFE Has Got The Momentum The Lean Six Sigma Company CEE has high occupancy of its LSS courses. This is because the number of companies organizing training for their employees is increasing, as is the number of experts who independently invest in their education

Vladica Stanković, Director of Gruner Serbia

Gruner – Every Young Worker's Dream In just 13 years, Gruner has, as a company, succeeded in changing the economic situation in the south of Serbia and providing adequate earnings for almost 600 workers and their families through the expanding of production facilities and conquering of new markets and technologies

Nikola Ćatović, Director, Macs Energy & Water Doo

Serbia Will Need To Speed Up In a world affected by climate change, Serbia will need to speed up its transition to alternative, low carbon sources of energy

65

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

KEY MESSAGES

Milan Manić, Deputy General Manager of Leoni Serbia and Head of The Leoni Malošište Plant

Bojan Lasković, Managing Director, CFND Belgrade

Logistics Of The New Era

We Offer Secure Jobs

LEONI has invested in excess of 146 million euros in its facilities and equipment since 2009. The company currently employs around 10,000 people in Serbia and plans to increase that number when its Kraljevo plant begins operating at its full capacity. One of the 15 largest exporters in Serbia, LEONI also has a network of approximately 500 domestic suppliers

Predrag Skoković, Managing Director, Quality House

Vladan Marković, Director, Vlado Baumaschinen

"Bug" Hunters

New Challenges Drive Efficiency

Quality House was founded in 2004 as a home for software testing professionals driven by a passion to find “one more bug”. Today, with offices in Bulgaria and Serbia, Quality House is a leading provider of software testing services in Southeast Europe

66

CFND deals in logistics services and is specialised in the transport of goods on inland waterways in the Danube Basin. A member of several national and international associations, since 2015 it has been part of the Rhenus Group, one of the worlds leading logistics companies.

“What distinguishes CFND Ltd. from the majority of companies on the local market is precisely its synergy of all modes of transport,” says Bojan Lasković

Vlado Baumaschinen, a Surčin-based company that deals in construction, transport and services, has been engaged successfully in civil engineering for more than a decade and has achieved successful cooperation with both domestic and foreign construction companies

PARTNER: GERMANY - SERBIA

Innovative systems for door and window technology www.geze.com

67