35 minute read
BUSINESS DIALOGUE
Leaders’ MEETING POINT
BOŽIDAR ALEKSANDROVIĆ,
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ALEKSANDROVIĆ WINERY
Taste Of The Exotic
PAGE /28 ALEKSANDAR
SAVOVIĆ, GEOINOVA INFORMATIČKI INŽINJERING
Recognisable On The International Market
PAGE /32 MARICA BOŠKOVIĆ PETRONIJEVIĆ,
WORK SPACE ONE
Work Space One More Than A Space
PAGE /33 DRAGAN DAKIĆ,
MONTOP PRO
Progress Requires Investment And Effort
PAGE /36 MARUŠA KERČ VESEL,
KOVINTRADE
Step Further On Progress
PAGE /37
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
All 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 important 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.
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
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 declared the best wine in all categories, which gives this award a special charm.
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.
LOCAL NEWS
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. “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
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.
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
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.
“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
postings Placements &
appointments@aim.rs
H.E. ALCINO IZATA DA CONCEIÇÃO, NEW AMBASSADOR OF ANGOLA 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.
H.E. SUSANNE SHINE, NEW AMBASSADOR OF DENMARK TO SERBIA
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. H.E. YAHEL VILAN, AMBASSADOR OF ISRAEL TO SERBIA 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.
IVA PETROVIĆ, NEWLY APPOINTED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NORDIC BUSINESS ALLIANCE
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.
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
As 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 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.
Work Space One More Than A Space
We develop an atmosphere of teamwork and dedica tion to work. We encourage exchanges of ideas and business connections. We organise gatherings, have fun and create an envi ronment 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 cre ated with the desire to be a home for renowned global and domestic compa nies, 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 busi ness, and followed experiences there. WSO isn’t just a space, but is com posed primarily of people who build their businesses in our offices, or in a co-working space intended for individu als and in meeting rooms with state-ofthe-art video conferencing equipment. All of our tenants share a unique common 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
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 ex tremely 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 environ ment 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 indepen dent 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 suc cess and the success of our tenants is recognised.
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
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.
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.
“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
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.
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.
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.
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
The 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 rep resents 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 thus been recognised as a reliable partner by some of the largest companies in the world of telecommunications.
You have an excellent team, state-of-the-art equipment, partnership relations with sup pliers, 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.
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
Thanks 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 1,800m 2 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
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.
WORLD NEWS
“We’re confident that long term, we can design and manufacture a compelling $25,000 electric vehicle,” – ELON MUSK, CEO OF TESLA
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.
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.
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.
“Whilst tech roles dominate, the importance of the human touch persists,”– MARIANO MAMERTINO,
SENIOR ECONOMIST AT LINKEDIN
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.
INDIA HARLEY-DAVIDSON TO EXIT WORLD’S BIGGEST BIKE MARKET
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.
