GREECE - Great Potentials For Developing Cooperation

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Greece 2022

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Contents

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NO RECOGNITION; SUPPORT FOR DIALOGUE H.E. YORGOS DIACOFOTAKIS, AMBASSADOR OF GREECE TO SERBIA

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RIGHT PEOPLE IN PLACE THOMAS VARVITSIOTIS, PRESIDENT OF THE V+O GROUP, AND TONIA GOGOU, GENERAL MANAGER OF V+O COMMUNICATION, DIRECTOR FOR THE SE REGION

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NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR COOPERATION STYLIANOS ZAKOF, PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HELLENIC BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF SERBIA

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GROWING WITH TARGETED INVESTMENTS VASSILIS KARANASIOS, DIRECTOR, CORAL SRB D.O.O.

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ALWAYS A STEP AHEAD STYLIANOS TSOKTOURIDIS, MANAGING DIRECTOR, ALUMIL YU INDUSTRY A.D.

HEALTH IS THE MARATHON OF LIFE PROFESSOR DR IOANNA BATSIALOU, MEDICAL DIRECTOR AND OWNER OF IOANNA REGEN CLINIC

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CIRCULAR ECONOMY IS OUR FUTURE IOSIF VANGELATOS, GENERAL MANAGER, AND MIRJANA RADIĆ, FINANCE MANAGER, INOS BALKAN

MORE STIMULATING INVESTMENT ENVIRONMENT CREATED FANINA KOVAČEVIĆ-POPAZ, EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE HELLENIC BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF SERBIA

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HBA ACTIVITIES THE MAGIC OF ITHACA

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GREAT POTENTIAL FOR DEVLOPING OUR COOPERATION DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN GREECE AND SERBIA

IMPRESSUM EDITOR IN CHIEF: Neda Lukić n.lukic@aim.rs ART DIRECTOR: Branislav Ninković b.ninkovic@aim.rs CONTRIBUTORS: Rob Dugdale, Maja Vukadinović, Mirjana Jovanović, Miša Brkić, Ljubica Gojgić

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Radmila Stanković, Steve MacKenzie, Zorica Todorović Mirković, Sonja Ćirić, Miloš Belčević PHOTOS: Zoran Petrović COPY EDITOR: Mark Pullen TRANSLATION & EDITING: PULLEN EDITORIAL HALIFAX

SALES MANAGERS: Biljana Dević, b.devic@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 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Maja Vidaković m.vidakovic@aim.rs PUBLISHER: Ivan Novčić i.novcic@aim.rs

DIRECTOR: Ana Novčić a.novcic@aim.rs a.novcic@cordmagazine.com GREECE 2022 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 2022

COMMENT

Flourishing FRIENDSHIP The strategic partnership between Serbia and Greece is the result of a long period of excellent bilateral relations and a true friendship nurtured over many years. A new step in the same direction therefore feels like a natural way of honouring this tradition

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ates like 18th January 1879, when diplomatic relations between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Greece were established, will always serve as important milestones in the official history of our relations, but the tradition of close relations between our two countries dates back much further.

In recent history, the Thessaloniki Summit of 2003 stands as a major turning point in the European Union’s relations with the Western Balkans, but also as a symbol of Greek support to Serbia’s path to EU accession, followed by intensive investments in Serbia. Greece was at one point the second largest foreign investor in Serbia, with 1.4 billion euros invested. While this trend came to an abrupt end following the global financial crisis, which hit Greece particularly hard, the Greek business community in Serbia has retained an important and welcome presence.

As in many other cases in which a high level of bilateral relations are not always accompanied by an equal level of economic cooperation, Greece and Serbia are realising their trade exchange potentials rather slowly. Greek businesses are active in Serbia in the areas of wholesale and retail trade, science, innovation and communications, the processing sector, construction, hotels, agriculture and the food industry, consulting and legal services, employing close to 10,000 workers in the country.

According to official Serbian statistics, trade between the two countries totalled 636 million euros in 2021, representing a year-onyear increase of 13.3%, with Serbian exports

According to official Serbian statistics, trade between the two countries totalled 636 million euros in 2021, representing a year-on-year increase of 13.3%, with Serbian exports amounting to 234 million euros (an increase of 29.8% compared to the previous year) and imports totalling 402 million euros (up 34.2% on 2020) amounting to 234 million euros (an increase of 29.8% compared to the previous year) and imports totalling 402 million euros (up 34.2% on 2020). The Greek side has also highlighted new areas of cooperation that are yet to be exploited, such as IT and green energy.

Given that good political relations are always an imperative for advancing relations in the economy, culture and other fields, it is important to note the recent dynamics of political dialogue between our two countries. Over the last five to six years, we have witnessed a large number of visits from high-ranking Greek officials, until cooperation was established at the level of a strategic partnership in December 2019. Among them were the first session of the High Cooperation Council, held in Thessaloniki, and the official visit of then Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos to Belgrade in 2017, the second session of the High Council for Cooperation between Serbia and Greece in 2018 and the official

visit of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić to Athens and the third session of the High Cooperation Council in 2019. Other important visits included the visit of Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selaković to Athens in 2021 and the visit of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Belgrade in 2022. Finally, the President of Greece is expected to come to Belgrade at the beginning of March 2022, at the invitation of President Vučić.

The joint declaration represents a cornerstone in advancing cooperation between the two countries in terms of political cooperation and cooperation in international organisations, cooperation in the field of defence, security and civil protection, economic cooperation, cooperation in culture, education, civil society, youth and sports, scientific and technological cooperation and cooperation in the field of environmental protection. One can only expect such a development to yield enduring and even more fruitful cooperation between our countries.

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INTERVIEW H.E. YORGOS DIACOFOTAKIS, AMBASSADOR OF GREECE TO SERBIA

No Recognition;

SUPPORT FOR DIALOGUE During his recent visit to Belgrade, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis clearly stated that Greece's stance regarding Kosovo remains unchanged ~ Yorgos Diacofotakis

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he official visits of Greece’s top officials, including the latest visit of its prime minister and the upcoming arrival of its president, only serve to confirm, as Ambassador Yorgos Diacofotakis notes in this CorD Magazine interview, “that Greece and Serbia are connected not only by history, culture and religion, but also by a common vision for the European future of the region”.

Your Excellency, Greece celebrates its Independence Day on 25th March.

This holiday is a day of remembrance commemorating the 1821 outbreak of the War of Greek Independence. How will you mark this national holiday here in Serbia?

On 25th March we celebrate the outbreak of the Greek Revolution for Independence against the Ottoman Turks, which led to the creation of the modern Greek state.

I am well aware of the great honour that comes with serving my country in a city that’s inextricably linked to Rigas Feraios (1757-1798). His vision of freedom and solidarity among the Balkan peoples undoubtedly inspired the protagonists of the Greek Revolution. Together with his comrades, Rigas Feraios was tortured and killed in Nebojša Tower in Kalemegdan, Belgrade. The place of his martyrdom and his statue are eternal monuments of the Greek Revolution and a place of pilgrimage for all Greeks.

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RELATIONS

COOPERATION

EU

It is well known that our bilateral relations are excellent, with frequent exchanges of visits by high-ranking government officials

We believe that there is potential for further cooperation in key areas such as innovation, renewable sources of energy, petrochemicals, construction, education, health, transport and waste management

We are constantly working to ensure that the issue of the Western Balkans remains at the top of the EU agenda

Last year was a landmark year, as we celebrated the 200th anniversary of the outbreak of the Greek Revolution (18212021). Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we were not in a position to organise events to celebrate it properly. However, with the permission of the Serbian Government and the assistance of the City of Belgrade, some of the most famous places in the capital were highlighted with the colours of the Greek flag, i.e., Nebojša Tower, the National Assembly, Albanija Palace and the Old Bridge. We are grateful for this.

This year, given the fact that the epidemiological situation is still uncertain, we have decided not to plan any open-to-the-public activities. However, traditionally, the members of the staff of the Embassy attend a thanksgiving Mass at the Chapelle of the Patriarchate, carried out by His Holiness the Patriarch. This is a very moving moment, which shows how close our peoples are to each other.

countries and where does the greatest potential exist?

It is well known that our bilateral relations are excellent, with frequent exchanges of visits by high-ranking government officials. The recent visit of Prime Minister Mitsotakis and the upcoming visit of President of the Hellenic Republic Sakellaropoulou confirm that Greece and Serbia are connected not only by history, culture and religion, but also by a common vision for the European future of our region.

The Joint Declaration establishing a Strategic Partnership between Greece and Serbia, which was signed in the context of the 3rd Session of the High-Level

During his recent visit to Belgrade, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis clearly stated that Greece’s stance regarding Kosovo’s status remains unchanged. At the same time, Greece firmly supports the continuation of the EU-facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Priština, with a view to reaching a comprehensive and legally binding agreement in accordance with the EU acquis, which will contribute to strengthening the stability and security of the whole region. Greece fully supports the mediating effort by Miroslav Lajčák, the EU Special Representative for the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština.

Your Excellency, what do you expect from the upcoming visit to Serbia of the first female President of Greece, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, which has been scheduled for 2nd to 3rd March?

The upcoming visit of the President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, to Serbia, serves as an excellent opportunity to reaffirm, at the highest level, our strong historical ties of friendship and solidarity. Building upon the excellent momentum created by the recent meeting of President Aleksandar Vučić and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis here in Belgrade, President Sakellaropoulou’s visit reflects the great importance Greece attaches to strengthening and deepening our bilateral relations, as well as our unwavering support to Serbia’s European bid.

What do you consider as the greatest challenges to the further development of bilateral relations between our two

I am well aware of the great honour that comes with serving my country in a city that’s inextricably linked to Rigas Feraios (1757-1798). His vision of freedom and solidarity among the Balkan peoples undoubtedly inspired the protagonists of the Greek Revolution Cooperation Council on 10th December 2019 in Athens, has set solid foundations for advancing and expanding the scope of our bilateral cooperation. Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the pace of some common projects had to slow down, but it seems that both countries will very soon be able to continue this cooperation, especially in the fields of energy, trade, infrastructure, transport and tourism.

Following the opening of the Kosovo office in Athens, which Pristina presented as a fully functional diplomatic mission, there were speculations about Greece drifting away from its position on Kosovo’s unilaterally declared independence. Has there really be any change?

Severe winter storms hit Greece this January and prevented the planned arrival of PM Mitsotakis in Belgrade. He had been scheduled to attend a joint session of the two countries’ governments, together with a large group of ministers. Has a new date been agreed to hold this joint session?

Indeed, the 4th Session of the High-Level Cooperation Council, scheduled for 28th January 2022, had to be postponed due to the worst weather conditions ever seen in Athens. We are looking forward to organising it by June.

Do you see room to advance economic cooperation between Greece and Serbia to a level that would correspond with the exceptionally friendly relations and understanding between the two countries on the political front? Which areas do you consider interesting?

We believe that there is potential for further cooperation in key areas such as innovation, renewable sources of energy, petrochemicals, construction, education, health, transport and waste management.

Today, we have the knowhow and the potential to develop synergies, support innovation and the digital economy, and promote partnerships between the two countries, involving both the private and public sectors.

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INTERVIEW In addition to the aforementioned, I’d like to point out that, over the past two years, Greece has embarked on a remarkable digital transformation process. There is a strong commitment from the government to invest in speeding up the digitalisation of the public and private sectors.

On the other hand, let me just mention the importance of the railway route of Corridor 10. It connects Belgrade with the port of Thessaloniki via North Macedonia.

The upcoming visit of the President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, to Serbia, serves as an excellent opportunity to reaffirm, at the highest level, our strong historical ties of friendship and solidarity It needs modernisation and digitalisation.

This project could boost bilateral trade by itself and turn Serbia into a transit hub from the Mediterranean to the heart of Central Europe and beyond.

It was almost 20 years ago, at the Thessaloniki Summit, that the European integration prospects of the countries of the Western Balkans were first made tangible. Two decades on, multiple analyses mention “enlargement fatigue”, both in the EU and around the region. Will this process ever enter the stage of the formal enlargement of the EU to encompass the Balkans, or is the current maximum possibility merely in strengthening external ties between the region and the EU? Greece has always been a staunch supporter of the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries. We are constantly working to ensure that the issue of the Western Balkans remains at the top of the EU agenda. Our belief is that the accession of the Western Balkans to the EU is important for the Union from a political and economic perspective, but also from a security perspective. It is therefore not just another enlargement, but a strategic geopolitical choice that strengthens the EU and the Western Balkan countries alike.

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However, the road to European integration is a long one that requires serious reforms and the adoption of European standards and common values of the Union, based on peace, freedom, democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights, tolerance, solidarity and good neighbourly relations.

These hard and long-term efforts, however, are worthwhile, because they will lead the region of the Western Balkans to stability and progress and will contribute to the prosperity of the peoples.

Given the ongoing pandemic, this year will again see a large number of Serbian tourists ask your embassy about requirements to enter Greece. Will last year’s agreement – whereby citizens vaccinated with any vaccine could enter the country – remain valid, or will testing also be required?

Since its outbreak, the pandemic has caused a severe impact on the tourism

industry worldwide, and that is an undeniable fact. However, Greek tourism managed to demonstrate remarkable resilience to the effects of this unprecedented crisis.

The health protocols we adopted were implemented in an exemplary way. The number of tourists proves that Greece did well and managed to secure safe holidays for its guests.

Greece has eased travel restrictions as of early February this year. Fully vaccinated visitors with a valid European Digital COVID Certificate are not required to have negative tests in order to enter the country. This decision will definitely facilitate tourists in making their travel arrangements to Greece.

Greece is taking the necessary preparatory steps this year to welcome our visitors for the summer season, earlier than ever before, as of 1st March. We hope that the number of tourists this year will be above the pre-Covid level. Our Serbian friends are most welcome, as always.

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INTERVIEW STYLIANOS ZAKOF, PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HELLENIC BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF SERBIA

New Opportunities

FOR COOPERATION Serbia and Greece have huge potential to advance their economic relations, particularly in the fields of tourism, energy and trade exchanges. The two countries’ readiness to continuously strengthen their bilateral relations and advance cooperation at all levels creates the possibility for new Greek investments in Serbia, as well as additional engagements of Greek companies that are already active in the Serbian market

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CHALLENGES

EXPERTISE

OPPORTUNITIES

Among Greek companies that operate in Serbia, those in the hospitality and hotel sector have been confronted by the biggest challenges

Greek companies have expertise in transitioning to renewable energy sources and could play a significant role in implementing the Green Agenda for Serbia

Greece wants to become an energy hub and to offer various possibilities for energy diversification, including gas interconnection between Serbia and Bulgaria

Greece and Serbia, as well as possibilities for their development and further advancement. The stable environment for the country’s economic development was confirmed, as well as the fact that the arrival of an increasing number of international companies demonstrates that Serbia’s positive economic climate has also been recognised by investors from different countries. During these discussions, special emphasis was placed on the development

of events in the Western Balkan region, but also on the participation of Greek companies in the implementation of the “Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans” in Serbia.

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ver the course of the past year, Serbia and Greece have held meetings at the highest political level, in which they reaffirmed their strategic partnership, at both the economic and political levels, best testifying to which is the recent visit of the Greek Prime Minister to Belgrade and his meeting with the Serbian President, assesses Stylianos Zakof, President of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Business Association of Serbia.

Greece supports Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, while at the same time providing continuous support to Serbia’s European integration process.

It was noted at the meeting that Serbia and Greece have great potential to advance their economic relations in areas such as tourism, energy and trade exchange. Specifically, Prime Minister Mitsotakis spoke about Greece wanting to become an energy hub and to offer various possibilities for energy diversification, including gas interconnection between Serbia and Bulgaria, which will enable Serbia to access gas supplies from the Greek port of Alexandroupolis.

The trade exchange between Serbia and Greece is also on the rise and totalled 636 million euros in 2021, while the two countries’ highest officials stated that this positive trend could reach a billion euros in the period ahead.

You had the opportunity to meet with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Konstantinos Fragogiannis, during his visit to Serbia in 2021. What were the main topics of this meeting?

The Hellenic Business Association of Serbia’s board of directors and members had opportunities to meet with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Konstantinos Fragogiannis in April and November, during his official visits to Belgrade. Greek business leaders spoke with the minister about Serbia’s business environment, current issues related to economic and trade relations between

How are your members coping with Covid-19?

The pandemic has had a significant impact on the economic activities of all countries, following reduced operating revenues and reduced demand for goods and services, but also aggravated supply chains. When it comes to Greek companies that operate in Serbia, the service sector, and especially the hospitality and hotel sector, have been confronted by the biggest challenges. A gradual recovery was noticed in many sectors during the second half of

The HBA promotes its members among key actors, such as government institutions and other bilateral associations and chambers, whilst also endeavouring to promote Greek business practices as being successful and socially responsible last year, particularly among companies with operations that aren’t overly dependent on global supply chains. At the same time, small and medium-sized enterprises operating in the service sector are still confronted by the consequences of an altered market and the challenges of creating new business models. Simultaneously, forecasts on the global economic recovery and exit from the pandemic suggest that the Serbian economy will record positive long-term prospects.

How do they perceive the overall macroeconomic situation on the Serbian market, in terms of business prospects?

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INTERVIEW The Serbian economy has already returned to its pre-pandemic growth level, primarily thanks to rising private consumption and an increase in total investment. At the same time, data on real GDP growth show that such an increase is the result of activities in industry and construction. The Government of Serbia has continued to promote and invest in the modernisation of infrastructure over the next decade, along with the planned construction and modernisation of roads, railways, bridges and ports. Also, it is focused on investing in healthcare, while there are also prospects in agribusiness. It is similarly important to note that Serbia embarked on the path of green transition during the previous year. Alongside this, we should also mention the IT sector, as the fastest growing sector in Serbia.

In which aspects has the HBA supported its members the most?

The Greek business community in Serbia is well networked and we strive to support each other selflessly. The Hellenic Business Association of Serbia aims to bring the Greek and Serbian markets closer and offer members an opportunity to do business in a secure investment environment. It is in this regard that our members primarily expect to receive full support for their operations in Serbia in terms of communication with Serbian and Greek institutions and the protection of their interests. We provide support to our members, but also potential investors, through the provision of information on entrepreneurship in the country and clarifications regarding bureaucracy.

Moreover, the HBA promotes its members among key actors, such as government institutions and other bilateral associations and chambers, whilst also endeavouring to promote Greek business practices as being successful and socially responsible.

Where do you see the role of Greek companies in the implementation of the “Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans” in Serbia?

The Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans, which encourages the long-term economic recovery of the region based on the pillars of green and

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There are many opportunities to expand cooperation in fast-growing sectors like IT, healthcare, agribusiness and green transition digital transition, as well as supporting regional integration, is important to further the development of trade relations, while it also represents a geostrategic contribution to regional stability. Greece actively supports the European integration perspective of the Western Balkan countries and stands ready to contribute to its socio-economic development and accelerate the EU accession process. Alongside this, the presence of Greek investments has been recorded over recent decades in the Western Balkans, particularly in Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia and EU member states Bulgaria and Romania.

Under the scope of the National Strategic Extroversion Plan, the Greek government has expressed a clear readiness to actively participate in the Plan for the Western Balkans, given that it envisages numerous Greek activities in the region, based on turning outwards and covering all areas that relate to sustainable development, energy and transport, with an emphasis on

interconnection, infrastructure, the natural environment and knowledge sharing.

In which areas of that plan do Greek companies have the best expertise?

The Greek energy sector is undergoing a huge transformation. Greece brought the decision to close its lignite-fired thermal power plants under a very short deadline and shifted to facilities that utilise renewable energy sources. The rise of renewable energy projects, mostly based on solar power and wind energy, simultaneously testifies to the expertise of Greek companies operating in this sector, which could play a significant role in implementing the Green Agenda for Serbia. Additionally, they could also contribute to its application in the circular economy, wastewater treatment, waste management and the protection of nature and biodiversity. Greek companies that are already present in the construction sector could also participate in the implementation of this plan.

STYLIANOS TSOKTOURIDIS, MANAGING DIRECTOR, ALUMIL YU INDUSTRY A.D.

BUSINESS

Always A STEP AHEAD Alumil Yu Industry, which produces high quality aluminium systems, ranks second in its group in terms of size, behind only the parent company in Greece. Alumil Yu Industry currently employs 380 people and also expects to achieve growth in the coming years

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iven the aforementioned, it is no coincidence that our products, which are certified by the most recognised institutes worldwide, can satisfy all specifications and expectations of our esteemed customers ~ says proud MD Stylianos Tsoktouridis.

What kinds of staff numbers and results do you have as you enter the 20th year of your operations in Serbia?

Alumil YU has been growing continuously, in terms of manpower and assets, since the day it was founded. Throughout this time, we’ve developed a fully integrated production, logistics and commercial corporation with an annual capacity of 15,000mt of state-of-theart, precision engineered, surface treated aluminium profiles, which are distributed to the Serbian and European markets. We currently employ 380 people and also expect to see growth in the coming years. Specifically, Alumil YU increased its revenues by 19% in 2021 compared to 2020, and manpower by 21%.

Demand for high-quality apartments in modern buildings has been on the rise for several years already. Does this mean that you’re constantly enriching your product portfolio?

Alumil produces high quality aluminium systems that are designed and developed by the Group’s innovative Research & Development Department, then tested and certified by internationally accredited certification institutes and laboratories, such as IFT Rosenheim, A.A.M.A. Istituto Jordano, CSTB, ATG, EXOVA and many more.

Research & Development is part of our DNA. Our experienced and specially trained engineers are designing new systems and continuously inventing technical solutions.

The company’s advanced laboratories undertake ongoing research on systems that

Our experienced and specially trained engineers are designing new systems and continuously inventing technical solutions incorporate excellent design, a top performance and outstanding energy efficiency. By using state-of-the-art equipment (e.g., 3D Printers, CNC Machines) and, thanks to our Advanced Testing Centre, we are always at the forefront of technological development; always a step ahead of the rest.

In addition, we maintain collaborations with leading European universities and research centres and are in direct contact with the R&D departments of renowned manufacturers of aluminium system accessories.

Apart from your products, you are also renowned for the Alumil Academy. For whom is this knowledge development centre intended?

Alumil Group created the specific institute called Alumil Academy in order to provide our partners with knowledge and training on Alumil’s products and to certify those who adhere to

Alumil’s high standards.

It is a school that is directed to all our partners that are aiming to be better manufacturers, by providing high-quality products and services. However, most of all, the Academy is a platform that spreads the message that the company and its partners have the same target: excellence and success.

Alumil Academy is also intended to attract new partners into the Alumil family, who will understand the company’s culture and received education about our products.

The education process contains technical skills improvement, deep learning of the characteristics and features of the products, practical use of the equipment, high standards of training to achieve a general understanding of the company culture.

This is a personalised programme that covers every participant’s needs. We followed the internationally recognised academic procedure in forming the Academy’s programme.

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DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN GREECE AND SERBIA

Great Potential For

DEVLOPING OUR COOPERATION

SERBIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Greece were established on 18th January 1879, and the first Serbian embassy in Greece was opened in 1882. That is when new diplomatic relations between the two countries began, but since they belong to the same cultural and civilisational arena, the Serbian and Greek peoples have a tradition of close relations that dates back much further

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R

elations today between our two countries are good and meaningful, with a constructive political dialogue. This was intensified at the end of 2016 with a large number of visits of high-ranking Greek officials, until the establishment of cooperation at the level of a strategic partnership in December 2019. For Serbia, Greece is an important international partner and the EU member with which it traditionally has the closest relations. Special impetus to the further development of relations and cooperation between Serbia and Greece was given by the First Session of the High Cooperation Council, held on 13th July 2017 in Thessaloniki, and by the official visit of Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos to Belgrade on 2nd and 3rd October 2017. The second session of the High Council for

Cooperation between Serbia and Greece was held in Belgrade on 21st December 2018. During 2019, bilateral relations between Serbia and Greece were raised to the highest level by the official visit of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić on 10th December 2019, at the invitation of President Pavlopoulos, and by the Third Session of the High Cooperation Council on 11th December 2019 in Athens, when the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of

a Strategic Partnership between Serbia and Greece was signed. In this way, Greece became the first country in the region of Southeast Europe with which Serbia has signed a document envisaging a strategic partnership. Our country also has this strategic level of bilateral relations with Russia, China, Italy, France, Azerbaijan and Hungary.

The joint declaration concretises the intention to advance the lasting friendship

The joint declaration concretises the intention to advance the lasting friendship of the two peoples, based on close historical ties and excellent bilateral relations between the two countries, to the level of strategic partnership, clearly defining areas for cooperation in order to achieve the goals set out in the document

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DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN GREECE AND SERBIA

of the two peoples, based on close historical ties and excellent bilateral relations between the two countries, to the level of strategic partnership, clearly defining areas for cooperation in order to achieve the goals set out in the document.

The document elaborates in detail cooperation areas of interest through six chapters: a) political cooperation and cooperation in international organisations, b) cooperation in the fields of defence, security and civil protection, c) economic cooperation, d) cooperation in culture, education, civil society, youth and sports, e) scientific and technological cooperation and f) cooperation in the field of environmental protection.

Despite the difficult circumstances after the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic, the adoption of a comprehensive and substantial Joint Declaration has contributed to even more intensive cooperation between the two countries in virtually all areas of mutual interest, not only quantitatively but also qualitatively.

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Exceptional mutual interest in maintaining political dialogue at the highest level was confirmed by the visit of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Belgrade on 16 February 2022 After the stalemate caused by the pandemic, it was planned that the dynamics of the meetings would be newly intensified by holding the Fourth Session of the High Cooperation Council on 28th January 2022 in Belgrade, but the meeting, which had been fully prepared with eight bilateral agreements ready for signing, had to be postponed due to bad weather in Greece.

Exceptional mutual interest in maintaining political dialogue at the highest level was confirmed by the visit of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Belgrade on 16th February 2022. In a meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, the extremely high level of bilateral relations based on common history, culture, religion and a European future was emphasised, and the intensification of cooperation in

the fields of tourism, trade, infrastructure, transport and energy was announced. Excellent bilateral relations and readiness for their further intensification were confirmed during the visit of Foreign Minister Nikola Selaković to Athens on 2nd November 2021, in meetings with Greek President Katerina Sakaleropoulou and Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias. We are also expecting the visit of the President of Greece to Belgrade at the beginning of March 2022, at the invitation of President Vučić.

It is particularly important for Serbia that Greece, as one of the five EU states and four NATO members that have not recognised the unilaterally declared independence of “Kosovo”, remains in principle in that position. At the same time, Greece supports the dialogue between Belgrade

and Priština and the efforts of EU special envoy Miroslav Lajčak, and wants to normalise relations and reach a legally binding agreement in the interest of both parties.

In addition to further improving bilateral relations, Serbia and Greece are also committed to the stability and progress of the entire Balkan region, which is also being realised through a trilateral forum of cooperation with the Republic of Cyprus.

The first trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of Serbia, Greece and Cyprus was held on 5th April 2021 in Belgrade, and the next meeting should be held in Thessaloniki. The trilateral format aims to contribute to a stable and prosperous region, through political, economic, infrastructure and energy cooperation, as well as mutual support in matters of vital national and state interest. A trilateral meeting of Greece, Serbia and North Macedonia on Corfu is also expected.

Greece continuously supports the integration of Serbia into Europe, at the same time seeing this process as being in its own interest. It is one of the EU members who unreservedly supported the start of accession negotiations, and was engaged, together with other friends of Serbia in the EU, in formulating as favourable a text as possible of the Negotiating Framework for Serbia.

Extremely good political relations, geographical proximity, the fact that Greece is an EU member with which the Republic of Serbia realises two-thirds of its trade

to drop to 22nd place due to the economic crisis in 2011. Most investment in the period until 2008 was realised through greenfield investment in the banking sector, but Greek banks sold their bank branches in the Balkans due to the package of financial assistance for the purpose of financial consolidation.

According to data from the Business Registers Agency, there are 347 active business entities in Serbia whose majority owners are natural or legal persons from Greece (mostly in wholesale and retail trade, science, innovation and communications, the processing sector, construction, hotels, agriculture and the food industry, consulting and legal services). According to the data of the Hellenic Business Association of Serbia, there are about 150 larger Greek companies operating on the Serbian market, employing close to 10,000 workers. Despite the trend of decreasing inflows of Greek investments due to the long-term crisis, interest in investing in Serbia is still present, and the structure of investors is changing in favour of small and medium-sized enterprises.

In 2021, trade amounted to 636 million euros, an increase of 13.3% compared to 2020, of which our exports amounted to 234 million euros (an increase of 29.8% compared to the previous year), and imports 402 million euros (a growth of 34.2% compared to 2020). We hope that, after the normalisation of the situation caused by the pandemic, the volume of exchange

Aggregate Greek investment in Serbia is estimated at around 2.2 billion euros.

In the period from 2000 to 2010, Greece was the second largest foreign investor in Serbia, with 1.4 billion euros invested, only to drop to 22nd place due to the economic crisis in 2011 and a duty-free trade regime (the Stabilisation and Association Agreement) provide an excellent basis for economic cooperation which, although good, is still not proportionate to its potential.

Aggregate Greek investment in Serbia is estimated at around 2.2 billion euros.

In the period from 2000 to 2010, Greece was the second largest foreign investor in Serbia, with 1.4 billion euros invested, only

will return to the previous level and grow in future, so that it will soon reach one billion euros.

The structure of imports and exports is very diverse. As in the case of other large investors, trade is firmly linked to investment and is therefore sensitive to changes in the status of investments, to the departure or arrival of individual investors on our market.

The field of tourism is also very important for Serbia, because more than 50% of tourists from Serbia spend their summer holidays in Greece, which in the years before the pandemic amounted to about a million tourists per year. For its part, Serbia is interested in increasing the number of Greek tourists, because the period of the Covid-19 pandemic had a particularly negative impact on the number of Greek tourists in Serbia. In 2019, with 74,794 visitors, Greece ranked 10th in the number of tourists who visited Serbia.

During 2020, 13,395 Greek tourists visited Serbia, which is 82.1% fewer than in 2019.

In 2021, 15,131 Greek tourists visited Serbia, an increase of 13% compared to 2020, realising 30,916 overnight stays.

The Memorandum of Understanding on the development of railway infrastructure of common interest, signed by the two ministries at the first session of the High Council for Cooperation between Serbia and Greece, enables significant improvement of cooperation in this type of transport. The process of modernising the railway connections between the two countries is underway. The two sides see a particular potential in the possible growth of the Belgrade-Budapest highspeed railway project into a modernised Budapest-Belgrade-Thessaloniki-Athens railway project, with a reduction in the total travel time from Central Europe to Piraeus from 96 to 72 hours.

The Declaration of Strategic Partnership envisages strengthening and establishing cooperation in activities in the energy and mining sectors, such as diversification of natural gas supply routes and the connection of gas pipeline systems in Southeast Europe, the use of renewable energy sources and the connection of electricity transmission systems.

Both states are also committed to cooperation in the field of culture. We soon expect to see the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of culture, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Culture and Information of Serbia and the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Greece on cooperation in the field of film and a Memorandum on combating illicit trade in cultural goods.

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BUSINESS

THOMAS VARVITSIOTIS, PRESIDENT OF THE V+O GROUP, AND TONIA GOGOU, GENERAL MANAGER OF V+O COMMUNICATION, DIRECTOR FOR THE SE REGION

Right People IN PLACE V+O is a leading, independent and integrated communications agency in the EMEA region, encompassing a Group of 13 companies with a solid business presence and dynamic activity in Southeast Europe: Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania, Serbia and N. Macedonia

T

his agency is always seeking new ways to enhance its services and deliver strategies that have impact and understanding, towards clients’ needs and the concerns of the society and citizens.

The plan is to continue working with the same dedication and passion, with a firm belief in the power of communications.

Twenty years of V+O’s success in the region, congratulations! How would you describe your journey from the small business perspective to one of the regional leaders in strategic Corporate Comms and Public Affairs, through the continuous changing of markets, and also through V+O’s unique family approach towards your employees?

Thomas Varvitsiotis: V+O embarked on its business journey 20 years ago, with people sharing the same vision and passion. We began as an entrepreneurial project of a small team of PR executives, which grew over the years to become a leading communication consultancy group that re-shaped the local and regional communications sector. We currently represent a diversified client portfolio of 215 Greek and multinational companies that play a pivotal role in the regional economy.

We pride ourselves on being trusted strategic advisors to our clients, able to take on any kind of complex and challenging reputational, transformational and operational issues. We deliver Corporate Comms & Public Affairs strategies of impact, addressing our clients’ needs with consistency and the best possible strategic solutions to safeguard and promote their corporate reputation, focusing on tangible results.

During this twenty-year journey, we have achieved a lot. We took risks, believed in and enhanced the strengths of our team, and invested in our development, even when the challenges intensified.

Despite our growth, we continue to operate as we did in the beginning. We have become a

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hub of creativity and a catalyst for growth, for both our clients and our people, which does not stop evolving and looking ahead of its time. A company of truly passionate people, restless of mind. Our 165+ PR experts are the soul of V+O; they are the PR professionals that make us proud, every day, of what V+O is and does.

And we thank them for that. We are a business family, more than a company. We also thank all our customers and partners, who have trusted us all these years and helped us grow with them.

As director for the region, you take care of six markets and 165+ employees. Could you please tell us about the biggest professional challenges you face and the success that gives you the greatest sense of pride?

Tonia Gogou: When heading for V+O’s international expansion, we had to confront and overcome the business challenges of the local markets and the diverse demands of our clients, across sectors and industries. None of that would have been tackled if we didn’t have, from the outset, the most essential component: the right people in place and the most experienced minds in action.

We focused on creating a strong network of people, local PR experts who could share V+O’s vision and passion for PR excellence. Local partners of high PR expertise, who could adapt

and further develop V+O’s strategic mindset and agile comms strategies, on every market where we are involved.

Creating successful collaborations that endure and evolve over time is not a simple thing.

Our people know their markets and understand the needs of their clients and partners. The V+O network’s teams have gained the trust of their clients; they act as trusted partners and provide creative comms strategies and impactful consultancy, based on thorough market assessments and global insights.

Investing in people is the most important thing for us. Our people are our most valuable asset.

V+O’s business value revolves around its people, our teams in Greece and abroad. Passionate people, always looking ahead.

We are a company that has created its own network in the region of Southeast Europe, providing holistic and top-notch PR services, at all levels. We always work as ONE team, aligned with the same vision, values and business ethics. We have PR experts on-board who are committed and share the same strategic comms orientation and creative thinking that saw V+O grow into a leading regional PR consultant.

This is why high profile, international and local business champions, across the region, have placed their trust in us over the years, in every country in which we operate.

VASSILIS KARANASIOS, DIRECTOR, CORAL SRB D.O.O.

BUSINESS

BUSINESS

Growing With

TARGETED INVESTMENTS Coral SRB D.O.O. has been operating under the Shell brand in Serbia since 2017. During the four years that is has been present in Serbia, this company has succeeded in imposing itself as the first choice of many drivers

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e are currently operating nine retail filling stations in Serbia under the Shell brand, while we have more than 120 employees, confirms Coral SRB Director Vassilis Karanasios, noting that the company’s development is based on a dynamic strategy that ensures the evolution of the filling station of the future.

Over the four years that you’ve been present in Serbia, you’ve succeeded in imposing your company as the first choice of many drivers. How did you succeed?

Coral SRB D.O.O. has been operating under the Shell brand in Serbia since 2017. Holding company Coral SA constitutes the continuation of Shell Hellas, a company that has been operating in Greece since 1926. We secured the use of the Shell brand in Serbia through a longterm license agreement. In practice, all research and development on fuels being undertaken at the global level is being transferred to Serbian drivers through our retail stations. All this experience, innovation by Shell and the high quality of our products and services, helped us to gain the trust of customers.

You currently have nine retail filling stations in Serbia. Do you plan to further expand and enrich your offer?

Coral SRB is currently operating nine gas stations in Serbia under the Shell brand. It has invested more than 14 million euros over recent years and employees more than 120 employees.

Having the support of one of the largest energy groups in Greece, we grow with targeted investments throughout the country. We are very happy to introduce the Shell brand and fuels to the Serbian market. The Shell brand brings strong expertise and, most importantly, aims to strengthen the local economy.

Over the course of the next five years, the strategic plan is to operate 50 gas stations carrying out equivalent investments.

Our intention is to employee more than 500 employees in the coming years.

You face stiff competition on every market where you operate. How do you cope with that? Through quality, loyalty cards, gifts, promotional campaigns etc.?

We believe in healthy and dynamic competition, which pushes up the quality and standards.

The leading differentiated V-Power fuels, designed to maximise engine performance, are available at our petrol stations.

100-octane Shell V-Power gasoline, our most advanced fuel, with boosted DYNAFLEX technology and higher octane for improved engine performance and efficiency. It is the only fuel to be co-engineered and recommended by Ferrari.

Shell V-Power Diesel, with DYNAFLEX technology, helps to restore 100% of an engine’s performance. It is our most effective fuel at helping to improve engine cleanliness by removing deposits that may have already formed. In addition, Shell V-Power Diesel has

The Shell brand and fuels on the Serbian market. The Shell brand brings strong expertise and, most importantly, aims to strengthen the local economy GTL, which is a special synthetic component developed exclusively be Shell’s laboratories, produced from natural gas.

95-octane Shell Gasoline and Shell Diesel, both with DYNOFLEX technology, incorporate new friction-reducing molecules. They enable an improved performance under rough conditions, both on highways and in cities.

Customers can visit our “Shell Select” convenience stores at our stations and choose from a wide range of products and enjoy their coffee. Special loyalty programmes will soon be launched on this market. Our development is based on a dynamic strategy that enables the evolution of the station of the future.

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INTERVIEW IOSIF VANGELATOS, GENERAL MANAGER, AND MIRJANA RADIĆ, FINANCE MANAGER, INOS BALKAN

Circular Economy

IS OUR FUTURE

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t seems that the recycling industry will be among the top beneficiaries over the coming years. Demand for secondary raw materials will be high and stable, while adequate financing will secure the necessary capital expenditure for capacity expansion projects.

Given that your company has been present in Serbia since 200s, do you get the impression that a lot has improved, that awareness is shifting; that we now grasp the fact that waste is a commodity and a valuable resource?

During all these years, we’ve been witnessing the transformation of Serbia in political, economic and social terms. Environmental awareness is also part of those reforms. The appropriate legal framework is in place and citizens’ awareness

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is increasing. People do now understand that natural resources are not infinite and that our quality of life depends strongly on how efficiently we utilise those resources. Serbian society is realising that we need to reengineer many areas of human activities. We need to rethink how we cultivate the land and how we breed animals; how we produce food and energy and how we utilise our waste. The economic model is no longer linear. The principles of the circular economy are a vital component in the effort to decrease the environmental impact of human activities and, of course, waste is a valuable resource and commodity.

Despite Serbia not being an EU member state, lots of work is being done in an effort to harmonise laws regulating environmental

protection and the circular economy. Would you say that we are on the right track?

Though Serbia is not yet an EU member state, it has signed the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU – which has been in force since September 2013 – and Serbia was granted EU candidate status in March 2012. The SAA represents the necessary legal framework or tool for the improvement of cooperation with EU institutions. The SAA creates the required ecosystem for the country to adopt all essential reforms, including environmental protection policies, and thus achieve integration with the EU acquis. Some might argue that the process is slow, but I believe strongly that we are on the right track.

As recyclers, we are witnessing the continuing

The VIOHALCO Goup has been present in Serbia since 2003 and is this year celebrating the 15th anniversary of its acquisition of Inos Balkan, a 70-year-old company sourcing secondary raw materials to service the national and regional metal industry

efforts of the Serbian government to create an appropriate legal framework, while at the same time securing the financing necessary to support the reforms. Executives with high technical and administrative capacities are now forming the management team of the Ministry of Environment and the old bureaucratic administrative model is giving way to a modern, flexible and transparent regulatory framework.

You belong to one of the fastest growing industries. Is this also demonstrated by the fact that ever more attention is being paid to promoting and developing the circular economy model?

As the world economy is rapidly recovering from the recession caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, huge and growing demand for industrial commodities will form the landscape for the years to come. States all over the world have adopted enormous financial packages to support their economies and boost financial recovery.

Projects that will lead to an economy of zero CO2 emissions are dominating those governmental stimulus packages and it seems that our industry will be among the ones to benefit the most over the coming years. Demand for secondary raw materials will be high and stable, while adequate financing will secure the necessary capital expenditure for capacity expansion projects.

Your work requires good roads and a stable economic situation, but also good, dedicated workers. Are you lacking any of those factors?

Serbia is clearly orientated towards providing an attractive business environment for foreign investments, but we need to address the lack of skilled employees urgently The performance of a business organisation is correlated to some basic aspects. Human resources and innovation, access to financial markets and low transaction costs, public infrastructures and rule of law, political and macroeconomic stability are among the most vital.

Serbia is clearly orientated towards providing an attractive business environment for foreign investments, but we need to address the lack of skilled employees urgently.

Your company is among the five largest operators in the Serbian recycling industry, and thus contributes significantly to enhancing the country’s export potential. Do you plan to continue increasing your capacities?

The Western Balkans in general, and Serbia in particular, are of vital importance to our group.

We are a long-term investor in the country and are planning our steps in Serbia in alignment with the business expansion strategy of our group.

Over the course of the last six years, we have managed to triple the quantities of secondary raw materials that we are processing and we

aim to achieve even higher quantities. We are exploiting all potential supply channels, aiming for bigger quantities and lower transportation costs. Furthermore, we are investing in new facilities and equipment that will enable us to achieve our targets.

Inos Balkan is also known for its strict environmental protection policies and a policy of zero tolerance. Do you succeed in adhering to all the postulates that you set for yourself?

Our company, Inos Balkan, is a 70-year-old company sourcing secondary raw materials to service the national and regional metal industry.

Inos Balkan is owned by Viohalco - a Euronext listed, Greek owned, metal processing conglomerate that is extremely keen to invest continuously throughout the region, co-investing with the EBRD and the IFC. Viohalco owns and operates aluminium, copper, brass, zinc and steelworks, and manufactures all kinds of cables, as well as pipes for oil and gas plants.

Inos Balkan, as a Viohalco company, conducts its business activities under a strict set of corporate principles, inducing full compliance with all legislative frameworks, i.e., environmental, financial and labour laws and regulations. In this context, Viohalco carries out extensive and frequent internal audits of its subsidiaries to check for full adherence to the prescribed procedures. For Inos, the environmental compliance policy is a principle, part of our corporate values portfolio, and not an obligation, which certainly distinguishes us from our competitors.

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BUSINESS

PROFESSOR DR IOANNA BATSIALOU, MEDICAL DIRECTOR AND OWNER OF IOANNA REGEN CLINIC

Health Is The

MARATHON OF LIFE IOANNA REGEN Clinic is the first and only institution in the region that provides a unique holistic, multidisciplinary, personalized approach to the patient. For 20 years, professor Ioanna Batsialou PhD and her team have maintained a quality of service at the highest level regardless of trends and external influences

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reventive medicine delays or prevents the occurrence of diseases and affects the quality of health as a whole, and regenerative medicine develops therapies and treatment methods for regrowth and renewal ~ explains professor Batsialou, who brings love and care for others to all fields.

You are Greek, but you have also been a citizen of Belgrade for more than 30 years. What brought you to our capital?

I am from Greece and after 30 years of living and working in Serbia, I feel as Serbian as I am Greek. I studied at the Faculty of Medicine in Belgrade, where I also received my Ph.D., and I stayed because of the people and the mentality that is close to the Greek. I also stayed because of love - my husband, whom I met here and with whom I have a daughter.

What’s more, I stayed because of the work I successfully started here as a pioneer of mesotherapy and anti-aging medicine more than 20 years ago, and because of the clients with whom I have built precious, friendly relationships.

We tried to gather all your specialisations, subspecialisations, titles, functions and jobs, but we did not succeed.

What do you do for a living? You are a brand of your own ...

In such a responsible profession as medicine, daily training is necessary, so learning and specialisations never stop.

Medical achievements and new technologies have opened the way to mod-

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The importance and beauty of charity should be nurtured despite the chaos and lack of time

ern methods of treatment, and in short I would say that I deal with the medicine of beautiful and healthy aging. I brought regenerative and anti-aging medicine to Serbia in order to prevent diseases and

insist on elegant aging without serious disease, and aesthetic medicine – my area of subspecialisation – is there to support the face and body to give beauty and dignity to inevitable aging.

Despite the obligations of business, it is very important to transfer love and care for others to all areas of life and to give to those who need it the most. Several times a year, we organise humanitarian actions with the Association of Parents of Children with Cancer (NURDOR), distributing packages for more than 40 children for the holidays. I am a donor of the Women’s Safe House for victims of domestic violence, N.K.V. Katarina Karađorđević, the Zvečanska Centre for the Protection of Infants, Children and Youth, the Novak Đoković Foundation, the Tiršova Children’s University Clinic and the Church Folk Kitchen in Belgrade. I also initiated the action “One brick - a new temple” for the construction of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Vračar, which was built in 2018.

The importance and beauty of charity should be cared for despite the chaos and lack of time. I am of the opinion that whenever we give, we grow. This applies to all areas of my life and I try to give my love, dedication and knowledge to my family, colleagues and associates, patients ... Giving does not only mean material things, and this is something we may have forgotten today.

There is no corporation behind you, no big investors. Does this allow you to build a unique approach to the patient?

It is much harder to build a successful business anywhere in the world as an independent entrepreneur, but that is exactly what allows me to transfer my beliefs and values to work. My colleagues from the faculty, with whom I have been building business and friendly relations for more than 20 years, work with me at the clinic, which gives us the opportunity to maintain a quality of service at the highest level, regardless of trends and external influences. Although there are beautiful but also difficult moments, patients never feel the difference and we manage to provide them with an individual approach and completely personalized therapies that are the only ones that give maximum results.

Your IOANNA REGEN Clinic provides a holistic approach in the field of regenerative, aesthetic and anti-aging non-operative medicine for health and perfect appearance. Are you unique in this in the region?

The ongoing pandemic has once again reminded us that health is a marathon in life, not a 100m sprint. Regenerative and preventive medicine are the basis of good health, and aesthetic and anti-aging medicine are a support for beautiful and healthy aging. Preventive medicine, in the form of genetic analysis done once in a lifetime, give us an insight into the initial

Regenerative and preventive medicine are the basis of good health, and aesthetic and anti-aging medicine are a support for beautiful and healthy aging status of the organism, its preferences and predispositions – tells us which drugs are most effective for therapy, which diseases we are susceptible to, what foods to avoid and how our skin ages. Preventive medicine is the basis of beautiful, “good and healthy” aging. In order to avoid serious diseases,

expensive therapies and medicines, the goal is in preventive and systematic examinations, in introducing gradual changes in lifestyle and educating patients and the general public about what it means to live healthily and age beautifully.

In addition to unique and comprehensive procedures and the best apparatus and equipment, you also have top experts from Serbia and abroad. Who makes up your team?

The goal of the IOANNA REGEN Clinic is to engage the most eminent experts from Serbia, the region, but also world-renowned doctors in order to offer comprehensive facial and body therapies, because only a healthy person is a beautiful one. If there are endocrinological or cardiac problems, it will affect the skin of the face and body, the way of aging, and therefore we must always consider the overall health of the patient. We are very proud of our team of specialist doctors, they are extraordinary experts but also people who have dedicated their entire lives to caring for patients. The core of our professional team consists of professor Dr Dragan Dinčić, General and Deputy Chief of the Military Medical Academy in Cardiology, Dr Goran Cvijović, endocrinology specialist, professor Dr Dušan Škiljević, specialist in dermatovenerology, Dr Vladimir Arsenijević, specialist in general surgery and soft surgery, professor Dr Jagoda Jorga, diet therapist and nutritionist, professor Dr Branislav Trifunović, pediatric and plastic surgeon, and Ivana Buzadzić, geneticist.

Our team is what sets us apart and allows us to approach each patient in a multidisciplinary manner.

Our region is known for the fact that people want to be beautiful and cared for, to keep themselves well. Are Serbs and Greeks similar in that?

I believe that every region, every nation wants to be beautiful and well cared for - the issue of aesthetics is a broader one whose overall context must be considered.

It is also a question of modern trends, the entire culture and tradition, and what Serbs and Greeks are similar in is exactly that.

Our mentality is close, a disposition and love of the beauty of living.

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INTERVIEW FANINA KOVAČEVIĆ-POPAZ, EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE HELLENIC BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF SERBIA

More Stimulating Investment

ENVIRONMENT CREATED The Government of Serbia has taken significant steps towards the creating of a stimulating investment environment over recent years, with the aim of incentivising economic growth.

These moves, as well as measures to support small and medium-sized enterprises, prompt optimism among the members of the Hellenic Business Association

A

lthough the business environment is still under the influence of the pandemic to a great extent, Serbia’s stable macroeconomic position, coupled with the Government’s orientation towards innovation and energy transition are influencing an improvement of the business environment, which benefits Greek companies.

For its part, the Hellenic Business Association of Serbia also contributes strongly to its members being well informed, and to better networking within the association and with other companies that operate in Serbia.

What were the most valuable pieces of information that your members were able to receive from the HBA in order to maintain smooth operations during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic?

We’ve been providing to our members, since the outbreak of the pandemic, all relevant information related to its impact on companies’ regular operations in Serbia.

We simultaneously inform them about the rules for crossing borders between Serbia and Greece, given that we receive a lot of inquiries regarding this issue. Together with our colleagues from other bilateral cham-

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bers, we organised a working meeting with the Ministry of Finance and the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Serbia on the topic of macroeconomic movements in the economy of the Republic of Serbia under the context of COVID-19. We also launched a special Member to Member edition that provides business support to member companies of five bilateral chambers during the Covid-19 pandemic, whilst also promoting their products and services to the wider business community in the country. We intensified exchanges of contacts and the marketing promotion of members within the association itself, and we additionally had an opportunity – after a long period – to organise informal gatherings and some of our traditional activities that received a great response from members.

How satisfied were your members with the support provided to the business sector by the Government of Serbia?

The risks and uncertainties associated with the years of the pandemic have had a major impact on business activities. At the same time, the Government’s timely reaction and implementation of support programmes has contributed significantly to countering those negative consequences. Tax policy measures and direct assistance to the private sector, as well as measures aimed at preserving liquidity, have had a positive impact on maintaining the stability of the private sector and preserving jobs over the past two years. It is extremely important that these programmes included small and medium-sized enterprises, which were most in need of state support to mitigate the consequences of the pandemic. A large percentage of our membership comprises SMEs that have utilised this type of assistance and consider it very useful.

What were the main topics discussed in the exchange of views with the Government of Serbia and what were your initiatives regarding the improvement of the overall business climate?

The Government of Serbia has taken important steps to create an stimulating investment environment over recent years, with the aim of incentivising economic growth and creating new jobs. With the introduction of electronic invoicing, the progresshas been made in the area of e-business in Serbia, while at the same time significant strides

have been made in the further reform of public administration, which ultimate goal is to provide services that meet the needs of the economy in an efficient way. A very important topic during previous years has been the Government’s engagement in the field of energy transition, via the amending of the legislative framework that represents the basis for the Green Agenda, and which will simultaneously - through concrete steps - impact positively on investments in the field of green transformation. There is certainly still room for the further improvement of the business environment in the areas of the judiciary, labour relations, simplifying import procedures, reducing administrative procedures in business etc., all of which would allow Greek and other companies to more effectively develop business activities.

How did you maintain cooperation with other bilateral business associations?

Our Association cooperates actively with other bilateral chambers and business associations in the country, both through joint initiatives and joint events. During September

Inter-chamber cooperation has proved its worth as a successful model for connecting and promoting member companies over recent years, and we will continue to apply this type of synergy in our activities last year, 11 bilateral chambers organised the International Networking Cocktail Reception, as an event that aimed at strengthening the Serbian economy by connecting domestic and foreign companies. Likewise, together with our colleagues from the French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, the Croatian Business Club and the British-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, we organised a Speed Business Meeting last December, an event that promotes networking and exchanging business contacts.

Inter-chamber cooperation has proved its worth as a successful model for connecting and promoting member companies over recent years, and we will continue to apply this type of synergy in our activities.

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HBA ACTIVITIES

The HBA FINDS A WAY The Hellenic Business Association of Serbia aims is to bring the Greek and Serbian markets closer, and also to encourage the continuous improvement of the country’s business environment. This association provides its members with full support in communicating with Serbian and Greek institutions, promotes the interests of the Greek business community in Serbia and encourages Greek investment initiatives in the country. With the invaluable support of HBA member companies, the association supports promotions of the Greek language and culture, while at the same time implementing humanitarian and corporate social responsibility initiatives which stress the importance of solidarity and care for the community DONATION TO THE SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGE IN SREMSKA KAMENICA

HBA Board of Directors President Zakof, Vice President Sliousaregko and BoD Member Dapčević visited the SOS Children’s Village “Dr Milorad Pavlović” during January 2022. This shelter currently houses around 100 children and young people without parental care. On this occasion the HBA donated more than 800 products for the daily life of residents, to a value of 200,000 RSD. The HBA board members handed over the donation to the institution’s director, Mirko Jankelić, who in return submitted a note of thanks to the Association in appreciation for the humanitarian aid provided. The funds required for this donation were partly collected at the traditional Christmas dinner for the HBA members, with the remainder allocated from the HBA budget.

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HUMANITARIAN CHRISTMAS DINNER

The HBA held its traditional Christmas dinner event at Belgrade’s Taverna Piatakia in December 2021. The evening included the organising of a charity lottery to raise funds for the purchase of products intended to ease the daily life of children resident at Sremska Kamenica’s SOS Children’s Village Dr Milorad Pavlović. The HBA was particularly grateful to members Alfa foods, Diplomacy&Commerce, Chipita, Extra Coffee, Farmalogist, Hrana Mediterana, Hotel IN, Hyatt Regency Belgrade, Junior, Metropol Palace, Mercure Belgrade Excelsior, Mezestoran Dvoriste, Ioanna Regen, Kessidis Group, Leto shop, Mitsides Point, Taverna Piatakia, Sterile and Super Vero, which donated more than 60 products and services for the needs of the humanitarian lottery, as well as to all representatives of members, who enabled the implementation of this initiative by purchasing lottery tickets.

SPEED BUSINESS MEETING A Speed business meeting was jointly organised by the HBA in November 2021, in cooperation with the Croatian Business Club, the French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce and the British-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, held at Belgrade’s Metropol Palace Hotel.

The meeting was attended by 30 companies from different sectors, with representatives utilising the opportunity to exchange business contacts and mutually connect.

MEETINGS WITH GREEK DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER AND SECRETARY GENERAL FOR INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

The HBA BoD and members had opportunities to meet twice with Greek Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Konstantinos Frangogiannis during 2021. The meetings were held at the Greek Embassy in Belgrade during April and November, with the second meeting also attended by this ministry’s Secretary General for International Economic Affairs and Openness, Ioannis Smirlis. These meetings included discussions of current issues related

to economic and trade relations between Greece and Serbia, as well as possibilities to further develop and improve these relations.

MEETING OF THE UNION OF GREEK BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS IN SOUTHEAST EUROPE

Under the scope of the 6th Summit in Thessaloniki in November 2021, a meeting of the Union of Greek Business Associations in Southeast Europe was held and attended by Secretary General at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ioannis Smirlis.

SUMMER GATHERING OF MEMBERS The HBA organised its traditional dinner during July 2021, which was held in the pleasant ambience of restaurant Mezestoran Dvorište. The event provided an opportunity for members to meet in an informal atmosphere prior to the summer holiday period.

Business Club and the Belgian-Serbian Business Association, held a working meeting with the Serbian Ministry of Finance and the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Serbia in May 2021.

During the working meeting, “Macroeconomic trends of the economy of the Republic of Serbia in the context of Covid-19”, participants were addressed by Ognjen Popović, acting assistant minister of finance and Mihailo Vesović, director of the CCIS Division for Strategic Analysis, Services and Internationalisation, and presented with current and expected trends of the Serbian economy.

ONLINE “CUTTING OF THE VASILOPITA”

MEETING WITH SERBIAN PATRIARCH PORFIRIJE

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Members of the HBA Board of Directors met with His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Porfirije in the building of the Patriarchate in Belgrade in October 2021. The topic of discussions was the launch of reconstruction works on Zemun’s Church of the Holy Archangel Gabriel, where regular services are held to cater to the needs of Greek Orthodox believers and Greek citizens permanently resident in Belgrade.

INTERNATIONAL NETWORKING COCKTAIL RECEPTION The fourth International Networking Cocktail Reception was organised during September 2021 at hotel Metropol Palace. Representatives of 11 bilateral business associations welcomed more than 200 guests, who received the opportunity to exchange business experiences and continue their communication through business cooperation.

The annual HBA General Assembly was held at the Hyatt Regency Belgrade in June 2021, representing the first “in-person” event to be organised since the outbreak of the pandemic.

Members adopted the HBA’s financial report and the report of the Board of Directors during the assembly, after which the evening continued with a cocktail reception that provided an opportunity, after a long period of stagnation, for members to strengthen their mutual business and social ties.

ONLINE WORKING MEETING OF BILATERAL CHAMBERS WITH THE SERBIAN MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY OF SERBIA The Hellenic Business Association, together with the Swiss-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, the Croatian Business Club, the Slovenian

The HBA held its traditional event of ‘Vasilopita Cutting’ in an online format for the first time, during March 2021. The event represented a continuation of online activities, but also the Association’s initiative to adapt the tradition of cutting Vasilopita to suit current working conditions. Speaking in his address, HBA BoD President Zakof emphasised that the HBA is always ready to provide its members with support, particularly during this time when it is of great importance for representatives of the Greek business community to provide one another with selfless support. The event continued with the presenting of awards to companies commemorating the 10th anniversary of their HBA membership, with companies Chipita and Kleeman awarded this year. Member company Move One Relocations was nominated as this year’s “lucky member” and received the Gold Vasilopita coin, in an alternative way – via a raffle.

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The Magic Of ITHACA Famous the world over as the home island of Homer’s mythical hero Odysseus, Greece’s Ithaca is an iconic island. But Ithaca is so much more! With a lush carpet of greenery, dotted with quaint villages and offering exotic beaches, Ithaca oozes an abundance of charm!

T

he epic island home of the wandering Odysseus may be famous in world literature, but this hidden gem is mostly unknown to tourists. A forested, hilly island with a jagged coastline, sailors love its sheltered harbours and swimmers adore its emerald waters, and you can discover places with wonderful names, such as the Cave of Nymphs and the Fountain of Arethusa.

The only way to immerse yourself this magical place is to explore it fully. Ithaca’s most picturesque villages are Vathy, Kioni and Frikes. It is interesting to note that these villages managed to retain their traditional identity despite the development of tourism.

Vathy, in particular, is the island’s centre of ac-

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Frikes

Kioni

Vathy

Frikes

tivities and the location of most Ithaca hotels.

As for Ithaca’s beaches, they share the same exotic setting as their Ionian neighbours!

Filiatro, Sarakiniko and Agios Ioannis are three of the island’s best beaches. However, if you’re searching for a more secluded alternative, head to Gidaki beach!

Apart from relaxing and recuperating, the best things to do in Ithaca are swimming, hiking and sightseeing. The medieval village of Anogi, the Cave of Loizos and Katharon Monastery are among this island’s ‘must-see’ places.

The Cave of Nymphs

ITHACA CULTURE AND FESTIVALS Unlike the Greek mainland and the islands of the Aegean, which have been influenced or impacted by Turkey over the centuries, Ithaca has been more strongly influenced by Italian.

This is evident in their language, cuisine and the island’s architecture. However, like the greater part of Greece, Ithacans’ religious

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THE MAGIC OF ITHACA

The Archaeological Museum of Ithaca

Bust of Homer

Arethusa Fountain

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The statue of Odysseus in the port of Vathy

roots are Orthodox Greek; they enjoy the ritual of attending church and priests on the island enjoy the respect and reverence given to them.

The obvious difficulties facing a community living on a small island have made Ithacans resourceful in their daily lives and welcoming to visitors, who bring a slice of the outside world to their villages. Ithaca is still worlds away from take-away food and shopping complexes, existing instead on bread baked in wood-fired ovens and then taken on the road, house to house; gypsies selling their wares from the back of their trucks, fruit brought in by ‘Manaves’ from the Peloponnese and larger neighbouring islands by men who drive from village to village enabling the locals to access that which the rest of the world takes for granted. The simplicity of life is astounding and difficult for many, particularly the elderly, though even they will clamber through the groves to collect olives from the trees. Here being self-sufficient is a necessity and not an ideal, and that is demonstrated through their determination to remain resident on the island despite the rest of the country offering greater comfort and opportunity.

Strong family values represent the core of the entire community. The extended family

Panagia Spileotissa

Filiatro Beach

The Church of Anogi

Stavros archaeological collection

Independence Day

Carnival

is still as deep rooted in Ithacan culture as it ever was, even with the modern world tempting to influence it into adopting 21st century yuppiedom.

Few people on Ithaca celebrate birthdays, but almost everyone celebrates their ‘Name Day’. This custom stems from the Greek Orthodox religion, in which all children are baptised with a name that’s acceptable to the church. These include the names of Saints or names with a holy quality to them. If you have wondered why everyone is called Dimitri or Yiorgos, this is the reason. Over the past 15 years, western celebrations of birthdays have slowly crept into Ithacan culture, but ‘Name Days’ still take precedence.

The Ithacan Summer is filled with celebration. It’s a perfect opportunity to party with the locals and everyone is welcome. Join in the dancing, eat pork straight from the spit and watch dawn break over Ithaca as you enjoy the festivities of the ‘Panighiria’ festivals.

Other events that are celebrated on Ithaca include the Wine Feast in August at Perahori, a small village nestled in the mountains above Vathy, and Ithaca’s Festival of Theatre, including a contest for plays being performed for the first time, which is held in Vathy each May.

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