Germany & Serbia - Plenty of Room to Improve Cooperation

FDI Foreign Direct Investment

Germany & Serbia

PLENTY OF ROOM TO IMPROVE COOPERATION 2015

Germany & Serbia

FDI

PLENTY OF ROOM TO IMPROVE COOPERATION

Foreign Direct Investment

CONTENTS EDITOR Tanja Jakobi

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ART DIRECTOR Jasmina Laković j.lakovic@aim.rs

S TICK TO THE REALITY, IT’S DEMANDING!

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SERBIAN – GERMAN RELATIONS Comment

EXECUTIVE PROJECT MANAGER Maja Vidaković m.vidakovic@aim.rs

MARTIN KNAPP Director of the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Serbia

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PROJECT MANAGERS Biljana Dević b.devic@aim.rs Ljiljana Kneževć lj.knezevic@aim.rs Aleksandra Ebilji a.ebilji@aim.rs

BETTER BUSINESS CLIMATE

GOOD RESULTS ENTICE NEW INVESTORS Economic Cooperation

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STRENGTH AT ALL TIMES German Economy

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LECTURE Mark Pullen

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TRANSLATOR Snežana Bjelotomić PHOTOS Zoran Petrović

W E STRONGLY SUPPORT SERBIA'S PATH TO EU H.E. AXEL DITTMANN German Ambassador to Serbia

OFFICE MANAGER Nataša Nešić n.nesis@aim.rs

QUALITY FOR CHALLENGING MARKETS ELNOS GROUP

GERMAN PUNCTUALITY AND LOCAL CREATIVITY

TIJANA ADAMOV Managing Director at Scholz & Friends Belgrade

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STRONG BUSINESS NETWORK

GERMAN-SERBIAN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION (DSW)

EDITORIAL MANAGER Tanja Banković t.bankovic@aim.rs FINANCIAL DIRECTOR Dragana Skrobonja d.skrobonja@aim.rs

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NOT JUST ABOUT BEER

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DANCING THROUGH WINTER

TOURISM IN GERMANY

CUSTOMS AND TRADITION

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Ruža Ristanović r.ristanovic@aim.rs

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GENERAL MANAGER Ivan Novčić i.novcic@cma.rs PRINTING Rotografika d.o.o.

Makenzijeva 67, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia Phone: +(381 11) 2450 508 Fascimile: +(381 11) 2450 122 E-mail: office@aim.rs www.cordmagazine.com ISSN no: 1451-7833 All rights reserved alliance international media 2015

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POLITICS OPENS THE DOOR TO STRONGER ECONOMIC COOPERATION MARKO ČADEŽ President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce

PLENTY OF ROOM TO IMPROVE COOPERATION

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WIND OF POSITIVE CHANGE UDO EICHLINGER CEO at Siemens d.o.o.

Beograd

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LET US ENJOY OUR DIFFERENCES

DR. MATTHIAS MÜLLER WIEFERIG director of Goethe-Institut Belgrade

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LAND OF PASSIONATE READERS GERMAN CULTURE

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COMPANY REGISTER

SERBIAN – GERMAN RELATIONS

COMMENT

Stick to the Reality, it’s Demanding!

Although it is neither a political nor an economic priority of Germany, Serbia could achieve a lot in these relations by pursuing EU accession and its reform agenda in a disciplined way

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vestment, economic cooperation and the long within the EU. Yet, their membership elations between Serbia and Gerpace of the region’s European integration. is not considered as being as important many are good and are characterThat is to say, although Germany is Seras those of Central European countries. ised by cooperation and dialogue in bia’s number one partner both in terms of Therefore, the process could be prolonged all areas, with this trend improving investments and foreign trade, this says as long as it takes before these countries, constantly. Furthermore, new German Ammore about the Serbian economy itself Serbia included, genuinely fulfil all the EU bassador to Serbia, Axel Dittmann, said rethan German interests in Serbia. membership criteria. cently that it is very important for Germany Such a reality neither undermines SerGermany has secured its central posithat the first two chapters in negotiations bian efforts to have outstanding bilateral tion in Europe and the stabilisation of the on Serbia’s EU membership are opened, relations with Germany, nor does it dwarf countries situated along its eastern border and that this will probably happen after Dethe importance of German investments in with major investments in the economies cember’s European Council meeting. the country. It merely puts into perspecof these countries. Although it is often said Is Serbia, then, a step closer to the EU tive how much Serbia has to try hard to that the Western Balkans have to follow the on its path today than it was three years follow the EU accession process, on the path of the Višegrad Group of countries, it is ago? The much awaited opening of the one hand, and how much it should try obvious that they may repeat that journey chapters is obviously related to the proto improve its business climate gress Serbia made under the in order to attract German and new government, especially In order to become EU members and other investors. when it comes to the Brussels attract German investors, the Western As noted by authors of the agreement. Less important, alBalkan countries, Serbia included, will aforementioned study: in such though not unrelated, is the prohave to exert much more effort than the an (improved) economic and gress achieved when it comes to political environment, Germany budget deficit discipline and reVišegrad Group of countries can play multiple positive roles. forms undertaken so far.

Among them are increased foreign trade in much lesser terms. Simply, when comMaintaining good relations with Gerand investment; the ability of Germany to pared to Central Europe, or the Ukraine and many, however, is influenced much less by encourage and persuade other countries, Russia in particular, the Balkans is an area personal choices – of this or any previous primarily EU member states, to integrate of secondary interest to Germany.

Serbian government – and much more by more into the Serbian economy. More exGermany’s ambition is to be politically, understanding German interests in the Baltensive economic cooperation would enaand in particular economically, active in the kans and efforts to adapt Serbia’s diplomatble Germany to be more active in Serbia’s region, first and foremost in order to stabiic expectations and goals to these interests. efforts to accelerate reforms and the prolise it. Therefore, the mission of the Berlin Although it was written three years ago, cess of European integration. Economic Initiative heads more in that direction, even under different political circumstances, the recovery in Serbia, higher employment if it is, as seen in Vienna, connected to posstudy entitled “Serbian - German relations: and new development opportunities may sible huge investments in infrastructure the Real and the Possible”, still contains imcreate more room for manoeuvre in the that may enable larger investments. portant insights into the matter. development of good neighbourly relaThe fact that Germany does not see One of them, further supported recenttions in the region, even the most sensithe Balkans as crucial to its interests is ly by the Berlin Initiative, is that Germany tive ones, with Kosovo. inevitably reflected in more modest inbelieves the Western Balkan countries be-

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PLENTY OF ROOM TO IMPROVE COOPERATION

H.E. AXEL DITTMANN

INTERVIEW

GERMAN AMBASSADOR TO SERBIA

We strongly support

SERBIA’S PATH TO EU

Assisting Serbia on its way towards the EU will be a key priority of my work.

I am sure that our partnership will become even closer as Serbia makes progress in its EU accession process.

In this respect, it is important that Serbia continues its reform process

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ermany strongly supports Serbia in its accession process and support chapter openings as soon as the necessary preconditions are fulfilled, says Axel Dittmann, German Ambassador to Serbia.

■ As someone who knows the Western Balkans well, how would you rate the quality of cooperation between the leaders of these countries, encouraged by the “Berlin Initiative” and results achieved during this last year?

- The key idea of the “Berlin Process” is to foster regional cooperation through the focus on concrete projects. In this framework, Serbia and the other countries in the region have made substantial progress in strengthening their political, economic and cultural cooperation.

I would like to point out the agreement on core transport networks but also the initiative by the Serbian and Albanian Prime Ministers to establish a regional youth exchange pro-

PLENTY OF ROOM TO IMPROVE COOPERATION

gramme. The implementation of these joint projects will improve the life of the citizens and strengthen the economies thus contributing to broad, stable and amicable cooperation between the countries. And, of course, goodneighbourly relations are the basis for stability and peace in this region.

It is important that all countries in the region continue on this path of cooperation. Last week’s dispute between Croatia and Serbia is something that we have to avoid. Croatia, Serbia and all other countries of the region need to implement concrete projects and foster trade.

For this they all need open borders. Unilateral decisions to curtail free trade will also not help us to address the refugee crisis.

■ The visit of Chancellor Angela Merkel represents the crowning of bilateral cooperation between Germany and Serbia. How would you evaluate the level of cooperation achieved between the two countries?

- The German-Serbian relations are excellent.

This was confirmed by the visit of the German Chancellor to Belgrade on 8th and 9th of July. It became clear how close our political, economic, but also cultural relations are.

Politically, Germany fully supports Serbia’s

path to the EU. Regarding the economy, German companies have invested more than 1.8 billion euros and created around 25,000 jobs in Serbia. We are Serbia’s second largest trading partner and the largest bilateral donor. In the past 15 years Germany has given more than 1.7 billion euro development assistance to Serbia.

There are numerous examples of cultural cooperation.

Just one example is the major theater festival BITEF that took place recently. Two highly respected theater companies from Berlin participated. In mid-October, a festival of German movies organized by the Goethe-Institut will start. The Serbian audience will be able to see the latest and best German films. Culture creates strong bridges between people, which then make political and economic cooperation easier.

I am also pleased that German is the second most common foreign language in Serbia. More than 130,000 Serbian children learn German at school. Student exchanges between Germany and Serbia are also very popular.

There are numerous scholarships to study at German universities.

All this is a strong basis for mutual understanding and for further cooperation between our two countries.

I also want to stress our extensive people-to-people contacts: more than 300,000 people with Serbian background live in Germany. In the Serbian province Vojvodina there is a Council of the German minority.

■ What are your personal ambitions in this context when it comes to improving mutual bilateral relations?

- Assisting Serbia on its way towards the EU will be a key priority of my work. In this respect, it is important that Serbia continues its reform process – with regard to the economy but also with regard to the rule of law and fundamental freedoms.

Also, I want to help in further developing the economic exchange between our countries and help to attract additional German investment. In addition, I want to work on further intensifying our cultural exchange and peopleto-people contacts. So there is a broad variety of issues I want to focus on.

■ The Special Envoy of the German Federal Government for Germany’s 2016 chairmanship of the OSCE, Gernot Erler, also visited Belgrade recently. How do you rate Serbia’s engagement as chairman of the OSCE to date, especially when it comes to key issues like the situation in Ukraine?

- We want to thank Serbia for the professional manner in which it has been conducting the chairmanship of the OSCE in 2015 and its engagement and manifold initiatives to tackle difficult political issues through cooperation, negotiations and confidence building. This is an approach we want to continue during our chairmanship 2016.

Already now, Germany has an Visit of the German Chancellor excellent working relationship to Belgrade on 8th and 9th of with Serbia and jointly with Switzerland in the OSCE Troika July showed how close our format and we are looking forpolitical, economic, but also ward to continuing this cooperation next year. cultural relations are

■ In addition to Chancellor Merkel, Serbia has been visited recently by a number of high-ranking German politicians, such as Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the delegation of the Parliamentary Friendship Group of Southeast Europe, Vice-Chancellor and Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel, among others. How do you see the future of German-Serbian relations?

- These visits are a testimony to the importance that Germany places on its relations with Serbia. Germany is a close, dedicated and reliable partner of Serbia. It is our goal to develop our already excellent bilateral relations even further, and I am sure that our partnership will become even closer as Serbia makes progress in its EU accession process.

■ In this context, how do you view Serbia’s commitment to run a foreign policy that fosters good relations with both Russia and China, for example?

- Serbia and Russia have traditionally close ties. The EU accession does not exclude good relations with other countries – on the contrary. However, it is also clear that the accession process towards the EU involves increasingly aligning itself to EU policies, e.g. in the area of our common foreign and security policy.

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■ When Germany is mentioned, it is always expected to be the one to give the last decisive signal that Serbia can start with the opening of negotiation chapters.

Such hopes were also expressed recently by Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić. How realistic do you consider that if we are talking about the period until the end of this year, for example?

- Germany fully supports Serbia in its EU accession process. We have always stated that we support chapter openings as soon as the necessary preconditions are fulfilled. Regarding chapter 35 on the normalization with Kosovo, after the breakthrough achieved at High Level Dialogue on normalization on August 25, I am confident that the European Union and Serbia will be able to open this chapter later this year.

have requested asylum in Germany. Almost 99,9% of these applications are rejected. These people simply have to return to Serbia.

They will also be put under a re-entry ban to the entire Schengen area. To request asylum in Germany is not the way to pursue if you want to live and work in Germany.

■ There is ever more frequent reference to the possibility of the forces of the so-called Islamic State expanding in the region and the threat to stability in the region. How realistic do you assess that as being, and how much do you think it is as an excuse for political instability with sources that lie elsewhere?

- Together with our Serbian partners, we are monitoring the situation closely. We appreciate the proactive approach of Serbia and the Western Balkan countries in taking preventive measures. At the same time it is crucial to avoid all rhetoric that could fuel religious or ethnic tensions.

■ As someone who is very familiar with Kosovo and the issue of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, how would you assess the quality ■ One can hear very often in the Serof the current dialogue between the bian intellectual scene that Greece’s two sides and the progress made in exit from the euro zone would see fulfilling the Brussels agreement?

Germany lose all interest in this re- Normalization of relations with Kosovo gion. How would you comment on is one of the key preconditions for the EU such fears? accession of Serbia. The first task will be to - In June, the Eurogroup and Greece agreed implement the Normalization Agreement on a comprehensive set of measures. An of May 2013. While there is still considerexit of Greece is not an issue under discusable work to be done, we believe that subsion. Our strong commitment to the stantial progress has been achieved Our strong commitment to the EU EU accession process of the Western in the Serbia-Kosovo talks in BrusBalkan region is unrelated to develsels on 25th of August. Things are accession process of the Western opments in the Euro area. Germany moving in the right direction. On Balkan region is unrelated to stands by the commitment of the that basis we now support the opendevelopments in the Euro area.

EU’s Thessaloniki agenda. ing of chapter 35 this year. But it is Germany stands by the commitment important to stress that improving ■ You recently paid complirelations between Serbia and Koof the EU’s Thessaloniki agenda ments to Serbia for managing sovo has to be a continuing process. to maintain a low budget deficit. How important is it for This will be important in the course of the accession negotiations, future EU members to lead a functioning market econoas has been agreed in the EU’s joint negotiating framework. my today, as a kind of entry ticket for the EU? - Chancellor Merkel has greeted the Serbian economic reforms, ■ It was recently reported that Germany will return a such as the labour law, the law on privatisation or the new regulalarge number of asylum seekers from the Balkans and tions for issuing building permits, as important steps on Serbia´s prohibit them from re-entering the country in the next way towards a market economy. Serbia´s measures of budget five years. How much does this issue strain relations besavings and improving tax administration to consolidate the pubtween Germany and the region? lic budget are part of a complex programme to re-start Serbia´s - Germany expects more than 800,000 asylum seekers in 2015. We economic growth. The EU is not only a political, but also an ecostrongly believe that people who are fleeing from political persecunomic union. Countries that want to become members must meet tion and civil war have to be granted asylum or international prothe economic standards of the EU, such as a functioning market tection in the European Union. But citizens from Western Balkan economy, a balanced budget, respect for the rule of law and a good States do not fall into these categories. They are coming from safe investment climate. Serbia can reach this goal – together with its countries of origin. Asylum seekers from Serbia, a European counEU partners, including Germany, and in cooperation with other try that is preparing to join the EU, are currently the fourth largest international partners like the IMF and the World Bank. ■ group. From January to July, more than 18,000 people from Serbia

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INTERVIEW

MARKO ČADEŽ

PRESIDENT OF THE SERBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Politics Opens the Door to

STRONGER ECONOMIC COOPERATION

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Serbia is increasingly seen in Germany as a centre of political and financial stability in the region, which is the first and most important prerequisite for attracting new investments. This provides additional impetus to the growth of economic cooperation, which is experiencing a continuous rise

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rowing interest among German companies for investing and reinvesting in Serbia is a result of the good experiences of those companies that are already present in the country, as well as the increasingly frequent calls from German officials for their companies to invest more in our country, says Marko Čadež, President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce.

These are signals that oblige the continuation of reforms and the improvement of the business climate.

■ We recently saw

A special role in strengthening the links between the two economies, as well as attracting new investors to Serbia and increasing exports to Germany, is played by the German companies that already operate here successfully and send positive messages to other German business leaders

the commemorating of 15 years of German-Serbian bilateral cooperation. What are the greatest achievements of this cooperation from an economic perspective?

- Germany is at the very top of the list of Serbia’s economic partners. The impact of growing economic cooperation over the past decade and a half is perhaps best illustrated by the figures.

Germany is one of the biggest investors in the Serbian economy, with 1.6 billion euros of direct foreign investments, mainly in production

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capacities, and another 1.3 billion euros of bilateral development assistance, making it Serbia’s most important bilateral donor. Depending on the year, it is either the number one or two trade partner: in 2014, for example, Germany was the second biggest export market and the number one destination for exports from our economy.

The total trade exchange between the two countries exceeded three billion euros last year, with exports accounting for 1.3 billion. Serbia’s exports to Germany have increased more than fivefold since 2002, with imports 2.3 times higher, while the coverage of imports by exports has doubled, to 72 per cent. Serbia’s trade deficit with Germany last year was 2.3 times lower than in 2008. The structure of our exports is also improving dramatically, in favour of products with higher added value – as much as half of exports are represented by machinery and transport equipment.

The strengthening of relations between the two countries in the past year, with an emphasis on economic cooperation, has contributed significantly to the overall rise in economic cooperation. A special role in strengthening the links between the two economies, as well as attract-

ing new investors to Serbia and increasing exports to Germany, is played by the German companies that already operate here successfully and send positive messages to other German business leaders.

■ You have had numerous important meetings in Germany recently and presented encouraging information on possible new investments, employment and the expansion of companies already operating in Serbia.

Which of these announcements are in the operational phase?

- There are about 400 companies operating in Serbia whose founders are German firms, and which are present in all vital sectors of the economy, are largely export-orientated, and employ around 25,000 workers, contributing to the transfer of technology and the establishment of EU standards, especially in the field of environmental protection, use of renewable sources energy and sustainable development. About 90 per cent of companies surveyed in research conducted by the German Business Association noted that they would choose again to invest in Serbia.

Many of them also have specific plans for the expansion of existing facilities and the opening of new facilities, which are at various stages of operationalization.

It would not be proper to speak on their behalf the specific details of those plans, which they will disclose when they estimate that the time is right. Siemens recently confirmed news of yet another expansion of their production; that they have begun hiring 220 new workers and announced plans to relocate plants to Serbia from other countries. During the last visit of Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić to Bavaria, another company that is already present in Serbia expressed its willingness to invest further and create more than 2,000 new jobs in Novi Sad, with agreements now being finalised. We also heard recently, during the visit of Bavarian Minister Beate Merk,

an announcement of the further expansion of Draexlmaier’s operations in Serbia, a company that already employs 3,400 people. Leoni last year completed construction of its factory in Doljevac. Kontinental this summer signed a memorandum of understanding with the Serbian government that will enable the employment of 500 new workers and an investment of 17 million euros. A few months ago I visited the factory of IGB Automotive Comp. in Inđija and the owner of this company announced the expansion of its production capacity, which will lead to the number of employees increasing from 1,300 to 2,000. These are the best recommendations for new investors.

Relations between the two countries have intensified in the past year, while the focus has shifted from politics to the field of the economy and strengthening Serbia’s capacity for European integration, sustainable development and new employment

■ Lately, however, with the exception of Tönnies, we have not had announcements of the arrival of new, major German companies.

- What we must bear in mind is that large, multinational companies carefully plan their investments carefully, weighing thing up well when making investment decisions and preparing meticulously for the launch of the realisation of investment plans. It is unrealistic to expect us to have announcements of such large investments every month.

It is also a fact that companies already operating in Serbia have a better opinion about this investment and business destination than those who have never operated here. However, the perception of those who have not done business in Serbia, influenced by the negative image of the country in the 1990s, has improved significantly.

Serbia is increasingly seen in Germany as a centre of political and financial stability in the region, which is the first and most important prerequisite for attracting new investments. This provides additional impetus to the growth of economic cooperation, which is experiencing a continuous rise.

■ From the perspective of German companies, what are the main obstacles hindering their arrival in Serbia?

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- Obstacles do not exist, rather there are only elements of the busi ness environment that could be further improved and which is an insistence of foreign investors’ associations, but also the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, as the largest national association of entrepreneurs, which brings together domestic and foreign companies.

Serbia has made significant progress in reforms since June last year – with the consolidation of public finances by adopting a package of reform laws in various fields (from labour, through privatisation and bankruptcy to construction) and the promotion of the Serbian economy in the world. The Law on Investment will also be adopted soon and will provide investors with additional certainty.

tive location for investment. How could that look in practice and which Serbian institutions are involved in this task?

- In Germany, politics opens the door to the economy and also provides it with signals about new desirable markets. If a German chancellor or economy minister invites companies to invest more in Serbia and other Western Balkan countries, as they did recently at a conference in Vienna, then this is certainly a good signal and one that provides additional security to businesses.

Likewise, the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) plans to work in the coming period on the networking of existing initiatives and organisations already active in

■ Close cooperation between the countries of the Western Balkans could prospectively also mean the arrival of much larger investors, although, on the other hand, there is constant competition among these countries to attract foreign investors. In your view, what impulses have been prevalent in this cooperation to date?

- Of course, each country of the region is individually important to each foreign investment and every euro from the export of goods and services. However, thanks to the activities of the chambers of commerce of the region, among other things, there is ever-increasing awareness Serbia, and to seek from them additional support in the promotion of Serbia among German business leaders. For example, German regional chambers of commerce and Development Bank KfW will invite their members to the chamber meetings that Serbian organises in Germany or Serbia, which will certainly help to ensure that positive news from Serbia reaches German businessmen. On the Serbian side of this process, in addition to the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, the Ministry of the Economy and the future Development Agency of Serbia (RAS) will also participate.

This type of support also includes help in strengthening capacities for the internationalisation of the Serbian economy. Thus, for example, alongside financial assistance from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, we will soon begin training for export managers under the auspices of the training programme that the German Chamber of Commerce organises for its members. Upon the completion of this training and the passing of an exam, graduates will receive an internationally recognised certificate.

Alongside financial assistance from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, we will soon begin training for export managers under the auspices of the training programme that the German Chamber of Commerce organises for its members that our national economies and our small companies have an insufficient individual capacity to produce on their own sufficient quantities for foreign customers, conquer foreign markets and participate independently in tenders, and that investors increasingly view the region as a whole, with overall potential. As such, the essential question of national economies in the former Yugoslavia is not how to compete with each other, but rather how we can work together to become more attractive, for us to implement joint infrastructure projects and for us to improve the business climate of each country and the entire region.

■ You have announced that the German Ministry of the Economy has offered help in promoting Serbia as an attrac-

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■ Forum Serbia-Germany was established a year ago.

What have been the key successes of the forum during this period?

- Following two decades of communication between Serbia and Germany being confined almost exclusively to the area of politics, relations between the two countries have intensified in the past year, while the focus has shifted from politics to the field of the economy and strengthening Serbia’s capacity for European integration, sustainable development and new employment. Also contributing to this were the “Belgrade dialogues” and other activities of Forum Serbia-Germany: the networking of professionals, institutions and organisations that cooperate intensively in order to improve relations between the two countries, as well as the organising of formal and informal meetings of decision-makers in Serbia and Germany.

■ Part of Germany’s development assistance to Serbia is realised through projects aimed at encouraging the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, improving living conditions, especially for the young generation, and professional education orientated towards professional practise. How much of an impact can this kind of support have on the establishing of SMEs in Serbia and speeding up the pace of hiring young workers?

- One of the key causes of high youth unemployment in Serbia, according to the estimates of employers, lies in the fact that the education system has not been adjusted to meet the needs of the economy and there is a lack of appropriate qualifications. The solution to this problem is actually the dual education, the introduction of which is being worked on by the SCC, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and with the support of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), according to the best model and the precious experience of Germany in promoting and developing human resources as the most important factors of competitiveness for both companies and national economies.

Dual education will also support self-employment and encourage productivity, because students will be in a position, in a realistic working environment to learn a lot that is not taught in school, acquiring various skills and able to develop the entrepreneurial spirit and perhaps decide to launch their own business upon graduation from school.

■ The Serbian-German Chamber of Commerce should be established soon. What will this mean for future cooperation in practical terms?

- The establishing of the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce is another step in strengthening bilateral cooperation. By developing the existing Delegation of German Industry and Commerce (AHK) into the German-Serbian Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the German presence in Serbia will be strengthened further, which provides confirmation for the German economy that Serbia is a reliable business partner. ■ PLENTY OF ROOM TO IMPROVE COOPERATION

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INTERVIEW

MARTIN KNAPP

DIRECTOR OF THE DELEGATION OF GERMAN INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE IN SERBIA

Better

BUSINESS CLIMATE

pupils with solid knowledge and allows them to acquire the skills required by the market.

■ A number of German companies that are already doing business in Serbia announced the expansion of their capacities recently. Can we consider that as a good sign and an indicator of new German investments in Serbia?

- If a company is expanding its production capacities in Serbia, that is always a sign that the company believes in the positive prospects of Serbia as a location where they can invest their money.

■ With the signing of the three-year arrange-

The decision of some German investors to expand their production capacities in Serbia is a sign of their appreciation for the market’s perspectives. They are also actively supporting the pilot project of implementing dual education in Serbian schools

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f Serbia this year achieves GDP growth of 0.5%, that would be a very positive result, considering that the country is in the midst of making comprehensive austerity measures in the public sector. German companies operating in Serbia are mostly export orientated, and while they enjoy macroeconomic stability they do not necessarily face adverse results from the lower level of consumption.

From the perspective of companies, the biggest achievement in the last year was the adoption of the labour law. The construction law and the law on insolvency are also steps in the right direction, but there is still room for improvement, says Martin Knapp, Director of the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Serbia.

Knapp also emphasises the role of the German companies in Serbia in the dual education pilot project being conducted by the German Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in collaboration with DSW. This system of vocational training provides

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ment with the IMF, Serbia has committed itself to a number of reforms, with the ultimate goal of ensuring the stability and predictability of the business environment. From DSW’s standpoint, how do you see the progress made to date in terms of overall macroeconomic developments?

- The recent IMF report predicts growth of 0.5 per cent in 2015. Should that be realised, it would be remarkable. Normally we would say that no growth should be expected during times when the public sector is forced to cut spending.

■ From the viewpoint of the everyday operations of German companies in Serbia, do you see changes to the overall business environment?

- From the companies’ point of view, the new labour law is an especially significant improvement of the business environment. A lot has been happening in

The distrust which prevails in Southeast European societies prevents decision makers from making a decision even though they know it is useful, because they are afraid that someone may accuse them of being on an investor’s payroll

other areas too, such as the construction law or the law on insolvency, but there is still room for improvement.

■ One of the key complaints of German businesses is an insufficiently strong fight against corruption, coupled with insufficiently effective work of the public administration and a lack of transparency in public procurement. Have you noticed any progress in these areas?

- An even bigger problem than corruption is the distrust which prevails in Southeast European societies. It is difficult for a decision maker to support an investment proposal, even though they may think that an idea is good and useful. Everybody is afraid that somebody could think that they are on an investor’s payroll. Many people try to forward the decision to the next higher level. At the end, it is the ministers who decide on individual cases, although that is not their job.

craft profiles through the introduction of dual training elements. At the same time, the project provides great assistance to reducing the youth unemployment rate. As we all know, Serbia faces the challenge of solving the problem of unemployment for approximately 51 per cent of the youth population. Many young people have never had any practical training, due to the fact that curriculums in high schools do not always offer an equipoised selection of theoretical and practical courses. Despite the fact that companies criticise this lack of practical knowledge among high school graduates, it can hardly be said that they themselves offer training opportunities.

This, of course, is one of the reasons for the low social status of blue collar jobs.

Since September 2014, welders, electricians and industrial mechanics have been taking part in the reformed training programmes. In order to implement new training courses, eight vocational schools, whose lecturers and principals had also undergone company-offered trainings, were selected. One of several positive effects was an initiative to organise a national conference on development possibilities for vocational training. Having proved very successful, the conference now takes place regularly every two years. The aim is to further increase the social recognition of vocational education in our society. This project also serves also the Serbian Chamber of Commerce as a pilot project, because the SCC plans to establish the dual vocational education system as an alternative to the existing model.

GIZ, the German Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, in collaboration with our organisation, is carrying out a pilot project regarding the introduction of a dual vocational education system in Serbia, which is of great assistance to reducing the youth unemployment rate

■ How much are the activities of German enterprises in Serbia limited by low consumer demand domestically?

- Only some of the German companies here in Serbia manufacture products for the Serbian market. These companies, of course, feel the developments on the demand side, just like any other company.

■ What are your expectations when it comes to dual education and how important a factor is that when it comes to attracting German companies to Serbia?

- In collaboration with our organisation, GIZ is carrying out a pilot project regarding the introduction of a dual vocational education system in Serbia. The project has received active support from German companies, but they are not our only target group. The dual education model is an important topic on the agenda of governments all over the globe. This system offers a solid vocational education that is built to meet real economic needs. The pilot project is focused on the modernisation of handi-

■ What will the formation of the Serbian-German Chamber of Commerce mean in practical terms?

- After the changes in Eastern Europe at the beginning of the ‘90s, socalled Delegations of the German Economy were established by the German side in the states concerned. They were dependent branch offices of the German national chamber organisation. Later, these delegations were converted into bilateral chambers of commerce. When this happens in Serbia as well, we will show the German business community that we now see Serbia as a regular European market economy. ■

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ECONOMIC COOPERATION

Good Results Entice

NEW INVESTORS Excellent bilateral relations between the two countries are followed by an increasingly more intensive exchange of goods and the growth of German investments in Serbia

MARTIN KNAPP, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (LEFT) AND DR. RONALD SEELIGER, CHAIRMAN OF THE DSW EXECUTIVE BOARD: THE GERMANSERBIAN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES

G

ermany has been, and remains, one of Serbia’s leading partners in all sectors of the economy – second foreign trade partner, second largest export market, one of the leading foreign investors and the largest bilateral donor.

At the same time, Siemens recently announced that it will hire another 220 people at its factory in Subotica.

The most common form of cooperation between Serbia and Germany is the exchange of goods, and in the overall standings, German companies that have operations in Serbia contribute significantly to increasing Serbia’s export performance.

According to the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, trade between the two countries recorded growth of 6% during last year compared to 2013, and particularly pleasing is the improvement of the export structure, where there is a growing share of products with a higher level of processing. The total trade exchange in 2014 amounted to €3.18 billion, an increase of nearly 6% compared to 2013, when the best result so far in the history of mutual trade exchange was recorded, totalling €2.787 billion.

According to the German Federal Ministry of Economy and Energy, the trade exchange grew by 11.7% in 2013, with Serbian exports also achieving a record of €1.20 billion.

Germany imported goods from Serbia worth €1.202 billion in 2013 (+23.8%), while, on the other side, the country’s exports to Serbia totalled €1.584 billion (+4%).

Serbia increased its exports to Germany in 2014 to €1,330.1 million (slight increase of 1.8%), while imports amounted to €1,853.1 million, up 9.1%.

Exports to Germany accounted for 11.9% of Serbia’s total exports in 2014, which is identical to the share of imports from Germany in Serbia’s total imports - 11.9.

In the period between 2002 and 2014, exports from Serbia to Germa-

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ny increased more than fivefold, while imports more than doubled. The trade deficit last year was 2.3 times lower than in 2008, when it stood at €968.29 million. Coverage of imports by exports last year reached 71.8%, thereby more than doubling in the period since 2002 (increased 2.2 times).

At the same time, the structures of our exports to Germany have improved significantly in favour of products with higher added value, where half of the exports comprise machinery and transport equipment. German production companies that operate in Serbia contributed particularly to these results.

The most significant exporters to Germany in 2014 were: Siemens Ltd. Belgrade (13.1%), Leoni Wiring Systems Southeast (6.1%), DAD Draxlmaier Automotive, Zrenjanin (5.3%), Fiat Automobiles Serbia, Kragujevac (3.8%), IGB Automotive Comp Ltd. Indjija (3.3%), Hemofarm AD Vršac (3.3%), Impol Seval ad, Sevojno (2.8%), Gorenje Ltd. Valjevo (2.8%), NIS ad Novi Sad (2.7%)and Fresenius Medical Care Serbia Ltd. (2.4%).

The most important importers that year were: Siemens Ltd. Belgrade (9.5%), Bayer Ltd. (3.2%), Ball Packaging Europe Belgrade Ltd. (2.5%), Tetra Pak

Production Ltd. Belgrade (1.7%), Tigar Tyres Ltd. (1.6%), Henkel Serbia Ltd. Belgrade (1.5%), Tarkett Ltd. Bačka Palanka (1.4%), Fiat Automobiles Serbia, Kragujevac (1.4%), Grammer System (1.2%) and Farmalogist Ltd. Belgrade (1.1%).

All better results in terms of investment and strengthening the trade exchange contribute to extremely dynamic contacts at the level of governments and chambers of commerce.

In the period from January to May 2015, the total trade exchange with the Federal Republic of Germany amounted to €1.357,8 million, which represents an increase of 3.1% compared to the same period in 2014. Moreover, exports from Serbia to Germany reached a value of €565.7 million (down 0.4%) and imports were worth €792.1 million (up 5.7%). The coverage of imports by exports in this period was 71.4%.

Exports last year were mostly: machine parts, ignition conductor sets, frozen fruit (raspberry, cherry, blackberry), retail trade medicines, electrical resistors, dialysis equipment, parts and accessories for motor vehicles, benzene, motor vehicles, stocking socks, cigarettes, aluminium products, refrigerators, ballasts for light bulbs.

Imports during the same period included: unclassified goods by CT in storage, motor vehicles, medicines, parts for motor vehicles, aluminium alloy products, chemical compounds for crop protection, copper wiring, agricultural machinery, polyvinyl chloride, combine harvesters, blood fractions and motorcycles.

The arrival of Tonnies should significantly correct the results of the

trade exchange in agriculture, where Serbia already records a surplus. Tonnies is one of the largest private producers of meat in Europe and is of strategic importance to the recovery of domestic livestock production. After the establishing of this company in Serbia, huge investment lies ahead in pig farms, animal fodder production plants and, later, after reaching the required volume of primary production, in meat processing factories that adhere to their standards, for domestic, regional and world markets. Likewise, one of the company’s strategic goals is cooperation with suppliers from Serbia and transferring knowledge to Serbian producers.

Agricultural and food products currently represent about nine per cent of our exports to Germany and Serbia has enjoyed a surplus in the exchange of these products for years. The average value of annual exports of agriculural and food products since 2009 have totalled more than €120 million, and exports of these products in 2013 were worth €145 million, when growth of 19 per cent and a surplus of €46 million were recorded. In 2014, Serbian exports amounted to €121.5 million, which led to Germany being ranked sixth on the list of our most important partners, while we imported goods amounting to €86.2 million, making Germany our second import partner.

A surplus of €35.3 million was realised.

Plenty of room also exists for better cooperation in the field of tourism. According to Serbia’s central bank, the NBS, the country is visited by a growing number of German tourists: in 2014, with €71 million, Germany ranked second in terms of total foreign currency income from tourism

Increasingly better results in terms of investment and strengthening the trade exchange contribute to highly dynamic contacts at the level of the governments and chambers of commerce

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BOSCH SERBIA

(while spending totalled €77 million). During 2014, 60,000 tourists from Germany visited Serbia (an increase of 7.8% compared to 2013) and generated a total of 115,000 overnight stays. In the first four months of this year, our country has been visited by 13,450 German tourists, who realised 29,450 overnight stays.

Among other forms of cooperation, the stand out areas are compensation deals, cooperation in the financial sector and in the field of transport and tourism, breeding, sales in free zones, transfers of high technologies and education.

Detachment, as a special form of engaging the expert labour force from Serbia on investment projects in Germany, in recent years only about a fifth of approved quotas have been utilised, due to a relatively small number of Serbian companies meeting the high construction standards of the German market.

GERMAN COMPANIES IN SERBIA

Last year some 396 companies founded by German legal entities operated in Serbia (with another 461 founded by independent entrepreneurs from Germany). Nearly 25,000 people in Serbia (3.5% of total employees) are employed on the basis of German investments in the country.

In addition to several large companies, the structure of German investors is dominated by medium and smaller companies, primarily in the manufacturing sector. They are present in all vital sectors of the economy and contribute to the advancement of the Serbian economy as a whole, as they are mostly export-orientated and employ a large number of workers. German companies have a positive impact on the Serbian economy in terms of technology transfer and the establishment of EU standards.

Great potential exists to expand Serbian-German economic cooperation, particularly in the following areas: construction and reconstruction of infrastructure, energy and mining, the automobile industry (production of auto-components), the agro-food sector, transport, IT and tourism.

All surveys have seen German companies show increased interest in investing in Europe, especially in the countries of Southeast Europe (SEE).

In this context, Serbia is becoming an increasingly interesting market, especially when it comes to the textiles, footwear and furniture industries.

According to the statistics of the NBS, the level of German investments in the period from 2002 to 2013 amounted to €1.35 billion, while Germany is ranked fourth in terms of the level of investment, after Austria, Norway and Luxembourg. Considering that many German companies in Serbia invested through subsidiaries in Austria or other countries, this ranking list does not reflect completely the total volume of German investment in Serbia. The most German investments have been made in the manu-

MESSER-TEHNOGAS SERBIA

facturing sector, with the most important investors being Stada, Metro, Messer-Tehnogas, Henkel, Siemens, Bosch and Leoni.

According to SIEPA’s statistics, in term of the number of completed projects, the most German investments have been made in the automotive industry (7), followed by electronics (7), food (4) and the pharmaceutical industry (3). On the other hand, according to the amount of investment, the most has been invested in the pharmaceutical sector (€666 million), primarily due to Stada’s investments in Vršac-based Hemofarm. After that, according to the amount of investment, comes the chemical industry (€244 million) and the automotive industry (€160 million). According to the number of new jobs created, first place goes to the automotive industry (9,833), then the electronics industry (2,654) and pharmaceuticals (2,485).

The German companies that have invested in Serbia and employ the largest number of workers are: Stada, Metro, Leoni in Prokuplje and Leoni Doljevac, Grammer in Aleksinac and Drexlmaier in Zrenjanin.

According to the results of the tenth regular annual survey conducted by the German-Serbian Business Association in Belgrade, published in April 2015, as many as 88 per cent of respondents would again chose Serbia as an investment destination, which is a slightly lower percentage than last year, when 92 per cent of companies gave this response.

The Serbian Chamber of Commerce actively cooperates with the Delegation of the German Economy in Serbia and the German-Serbian Business Association (DSW), with which it jointly organises events in Serbia and Germany, visits of Serbian business leaders and entrepreneurs to specialised fairs in Germany, as well as other activities aimed towards developing all forms of economic cooperation between Serbia and Germany. Likewise, representatives of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce actively participate at the expert level in the work of the Serbia-Germany Business Council and cooperate with Forum Serbia-Germany.

German chambers of commerce now actively participate in the reorganization of the Serbian chamber system and in preparations for the introduction of dual education, through the training of SCC personnel, but also in attracting investments of German companies, among others, through the joint organisation of conferences in German cities.

Together with DSW, in May this year the SCC organised “Serbian Visions”, the first multi-congress in Serbia, as a specific concept for bringing together civil society organisations and businesses in one place, in order to strengthen citizens’ initiatives and create a favourable business environment.

In the period since the year 2000, Germany has invested about €1.3 billion of bilateral aid in the areas of economic cooperation and development, making it the most important bilateral donor. 

Nearly 25,000 people in Serbia are employed on the basis of German investments in the country, while several German companies have announced the further expansion of their operations and the creation of new jobs

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GERMAN ECONOMY

Strenght

AT ALL TIMES

The German economy proved to be particularly strong and adaptable even during the times of the global crisis, thanks to its strong industrial sector, investments in research and development, and innovative potentials.

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T

he world’s fourth largest national economy – after the U.S., Japan, and China – Germany tops the list of the most highly developed and efficient industrial nations.

With a population of 82 million, Germany is the largest and most important market in the European Union and is one of the world’s leading exporters, with share of around nine per cent of total world trade. In 2014, Germany recorded the highest trade surplus in the world, worth $285 billion, making it the biggest capital exporter globally. Germany is also the world’s third largest exporter, with $1.511 trillion exported in 2014. The service sector contributes around 70 per cent of total GDP, industry 29.1%, and agriculture 0.9%.

Exports account for 41 per cent of national output.

Germany’s top 10 export areas are motor vehicles, machinery, chemical goods, electronic products, electrical equipment, pharmaceuticals, transport equipment, basic metals, food products, and rubber and plastics.

Germany’s most important trade partners are France, the Netherlands, the U.S. and the UK, though

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the EU’s eastward expansion has seen an increase in trade with the EU Member States of Central and Eastern Europe. The importance of trade and economic relations with emerging nations in Asia is also growing continually.

Germany is the world’s top location for trade fairs. Around two thirds of the world’s leading trade fairs take place in Germany, with the largest annual international trade fairs and congresses held in several German cities, including Hanover, Munich, Frankfurt and Berlin.

The most important economic hubs in Germany are the Ruhr region (an industrial area that is being transformed into a centre for high-tech development and service provision), the metropolitan areas of Munich and Stuttgart (high-tech, automotive), Rhine-Neckar (chemicals), Frankfurt/Main (finance), Cologne, Hamburg (harbour, Airbus aircraft construction, media).

A small but efficient industrial sector has now established itself in the new federal states, with various high-tech centres, so-called “beacon regions”, for example in Dresden, Jena, Leipzig, Leuna and Berlin-Brandenburg.

Germany is a social market economy that sees the state guarantee the free play of entrepreneurial forces, while at the same time endeavouring to maintain the social balance. Thanks to such a concept, Germany enjoys a high degree of social harmony even during economically difficult periods. The social partnership between trade worker unions and employer associations is enshrined in the institutionalised settlement of conflicts, as outlined in the collective labour law.

Like all highly industrialised nations, Germany was hit by the global banking, economic and financial market crisis. However, thanks to the strength of its economy and a well-tempered macroeconomic policy, it was less affected than many other developed countries. The innovative capability of German business proved to be the driving force behind economic recovery. Focus on research and development (R&D) proved to be the right investment – investor

companies from Germany are among those at the top of the list of registered worldwide patents.

Germany continues to be one of the leading nations in several promising technology areas, such as biotechnology, nanotechnology, and computer science, as well as high-tech fields like biometry, aerospace, electrical engineering and logistics.

The German environmental technology sector (wind energy, photovoltaics and biomass) is extremely well positioned on international markets, with manufacturers of wind farms enjoying a world market share of almost 28 per cent.

Some of the strongest industrial branches include motor vehicle construction, plant engineering and the electronics industry, as well as information and communications technology (ICT). The ICT sector is clearly growing more strongly than the economy as a whole. In biotechnology and genetic engineering, Germany has occupied a leading position in Europe for years, while the country boasts enormous knowledge potential in nanotechnology.

German companies have an excellent reputation in the international arena.

They represent “Made in Germany”, known worldwide as a seal of quality. They represent innovation, quality and cutting-edge technology. However, the world’s fourth largest economy does not consist solely of global players, such as Siemens, Volkswagen, Allianz, SAP and BASF, which are listed on the German share index (DAX), but also many of the world’s market leaders that are actually small and medium-sized enterprises, the powerhouse of the German economy.

German SMEs are well positioned in manufacturing, in particular mechanical engineering, the supply industry, as well as nano and biotechnology, which frequently form clusters. They also provide the majority of apprenticeships for young people.

Industry is also an important pillar of the German economy. Germany specialises in developing and manufacturing complex industrial goods, primarily capital goods and innovative production technologies. The most important sectors of industry are automobile manufacturing, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and chemicals.

With six manufacturers – VW, Audi, BMW,

Daimler, Porsche (VW) and Opel (General Motors) – Germany ranks alongside Japan, China and the U.S. as one of the world’s largest car producing nations – with a significant share of the upper mid-range and luxury market segments, as well as strong investments in R&D in the automotive industry.

Mechanical engineering companies rank second behind motor vehicle manufacturers. As the largest employer in industry and the leading export sector, mechanical engineering holds a key position in the German economy. The electronics and chemical industries are among the strongest. Ludwigshafen-based BASF is the world’s largest chemicals company.

Germany’s service sector is also well developed and represents a huge employer.

Banking and insurance are a pillar of the service sector. Concentrated in Frankfurt/Main, the leading banking sector in continental Europe, it is here that the European Central Bank (ECB), the German central bank, (the Bundesbank), and Deutsche Börse are all headquartered.

The cultural and creative industry is a sector attracting increasing attention. It embraces fields such as music, literature, art, cinema and the stage, as well as radio/TV, the press, advertising, design and software. The creative industry has not only gained considerable significance for the national economy, but is also a model for a modern economy in its own right: offering aboveaverage employment opportunities, playing a pioneering role towards a knowledge-based economy and representing a significant source of original and innovative ideas.

Both domestic and international investors benefit from the sound economic conditions and excellent qualifications of the workforce.

Foreign investors value Germany’s central geographic location and legal stability. Furthermore, compared to other countries, Germany scores particularly well with regard to infrastructure (traffic, telecommunications), the quality of its higher education institutes and research facilities, R&D, and the qualifications of its workforce. More than three quarters of adults have trained in a profession and 13 per cent have a university degree. Investors also highly rate the quality of life in Germany. ■

Germany is a social market economy, where the state guarantees the free play of entrepreneurial forces, while simultaneously endeavouring to maintain the social balance

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| 23

INTERVIEW

TIJANA ADAMOV

MANAGING DIRECTOR AT SCHOLZ & FRIENDS BELGRADE

German Punctuality and

LOCAL CREATIVITY

Scholz & Friends Belgrade combines uncompromising German quality, as a symbol and guarantee of a systematic approach, with exhilarating local creativity

but in some ways this has evoked creativity and

a strong conducting idea first. A strong conducting

alternative ways of thinking, making people re-

idea leads to a higher degree of campaign success

silient and resourceful. The mixture of rich cul-

and efficiency in coordinating the harmonious inter-

S

tures, liveliness and warm spirit in people can

action of all communication channels, such as clas-

cholz & Friends, one of Europe’s leading

be sensed throughout this region. Every market

sic advertising, public relations, events, promotions,

and fastest growing networks, recog-

has its specific needs, and our team brings local

interactive, branded entertainment, trade marketing,

nised the market niche in Southeast Eu-

creativity and ideas that suit the demands of the

dialogue and social media. Thus, our methodology

rope more than a decade ago. Since then

local markets perfectly. We consider that creating

maximises the efficiency of communication, pre-

it has offered its clients a precise global communi-

tailor-made solutions for our clients, while main-

venting the waste of both the client’s resources and

cation platform, client service according to strict

taining the highest international standards, is key

communication messages. That is the key to our

regulations and constant communication with

to successful communication.

success – a skilful combination of strategic exper-

the lead team in Germany, as well as adding a lo-

tise and creative excellence, a perfect combination

cal flavour in terms of direct messages and mar-

■ Who are your main clients in the region and

of intelligence and creativity. One of our main clients

keting events. For this the company relies on its

what is the main difference in comparison

is OPEL Southeast Europe, whose presence on the

domestic team, which brings local creativity and

with other companies in the field?

market demonstrates this synergy successfully. On

humorous and emotional marketing messages

- If the system needs flexibility, the creativity needs

one hand, we have a precise global communication

specific for the market.

structure. Scholz & Friends Belgrade combines

platform, client service according to strict regulations

■ Scholz & Friends is the only German communication group in Southeast Europe.

What were your main reasons for entering this market?

- Scholz & Friends, The Orchestra of Ideas, is one of Europe’s leading and fastest growing networks. The agency is highly ranked by marketing decision-makers in terms of

The market presence of one of our main clients, OPEL Southeast Europe, demonstrates the success of the skilful combination of strategic expertise and creative excellence with a noticeable local approach

and constant communication with the lead team in Germany. On the other hand, in terms of direct messages and marketing events, a local approach is always noticeable.

■ How are German clients specific when it comes to advertising and corporate communication?

- Quality of the highest value is synonymous

strategy and creative solutions. In 2002, Scholz

uncompromising German quality, as a symbol

& Friends identified the opportunity to meet the

and guarantee of a systematic approach, with ex-

by its punctuality, direct communication, and ‘leder-

needs of its clients in the Southeast European re-

hilarating local creativity. Although communication

hosen’, which is to some extent reflected in marketing

gion. This has been the main reason for our pres-

through multiple channels presents the standard

communication. German marketing communication

ence and growth ever since.

nowadays, the perfect interaction of these channels

is strongly information driven and German clients

does not. We believe in the power of ideas and the

prefer communicating with consumers in a very di-

■ What does the West Balkan region have to

effectiveness of storytelling through “Orchestration”,

rect way. However, they understand fully the specifics

offer in terms of creativity and client service?

the agency’s trademark method. If the client wants to

of the local markets and are increasingly open for hu-

- The Balkan region has had a turbulent history,

achieve orchestrated communication, they require

morous and emotional marketing messages. ■

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with German business culture, which is characterised

GERMAN-SERBIAN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION (DSW)

Strong Business

NETWORK

DSW WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS

are organised in cooperation with a member-partner, primarily for the purposes of educating and informing participants regarding current issues relevant to the economy or useful topics for advancing business. Member co-organisers engage the audience and potential clients, while participants gain new knowledge and new skills, as well as useful information.

The largest bilateral business association in Serbia is DSW – the German-Serbian Business Association

T

he three strong pillars of the future German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, alongside DSW, comprise the Delegation of the German Economy in Serbia and the company DE International, the brand of German foreign trade and industrial chambers in the world, which provides commercial services for companies from Serbia and Germany, organises visits of business delegations from Germany that encompasses the staging of conferences and individual B2B meetings. Within the framework of DE International is also SES - Senior Expert Service, as well as representative offices of some of the most important trade fairs: the Munich and Cologne Trade Fair and the Toy Fair in Nuremberg.

DSW today boasts over 300 members, which include German, Serbian and international companies, and represents an excellent platform for advancing business operations, which is just one of the many reasons for continuous growth in the number of members of the Association over the entire course of the previous 12 years of its existence. As a representative of the interests of its members, DSW is also actively engaged in the establishing of bilateral economic relations between Serbia and Germany.

DSW President is Ronald Seeliger (Hemofarm CEO), while the executive director is Martin Knapp, Director of the Delegation of the German Economy in Serbia, while the DSW Board of Directors consists of representatives of member companies.

DSW has numerous goals that are closely related to the overall goals of member companies, while the priorities are the establishment and fostering of business links between member companies both in the country and abroad, mediating introductions, providing opportunities to establish stronger ties and fostering cooperation between interested economic circles, between companies and institutions, as well as many other forms of support for doing business.

Since its establishment to the present day, the range of events organised by the German-Serbian Business Association for its members has been constantly expanded and upgraded. These activities enable more frequent encounters and interaction between member companies, as well as towards institutions, in various ways. The building of a broad platform for contacts, training, exchanges of experience and ideas, as well as discussions of current issues within the framework of numerous informative events, workshops and seminars, have been carefully designed and developed for years, among other elements, on the model of other German chambers around the world, of which there are over 130 in 90 countries worldwide. Every day we listen to the needs of members and adapt to them and to current topics of interest.

Here we will list and describe some of DSW’s event, of which there are an average of 40 per year:

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DSW MEMBERS DINNER

is also a regular event in the form of a business dinner for representatives of companies, which is very popular among member companies. Always organised with an honorary guest speaker from the current economic and political life of Serbia, covering a relevant topic, with discussion and a post-dinner cocktail reception where experiences and opinions are more intensively exchanged among members.

DSW WELCOME

is a regular working breakfast for new members of the GermanSerbian Business Association, with the aim of familiarising them more regarding the institution, the Delegation of the German Economy in Serbia, as well as the opportunities offered by membership in DSW and useful services and discounts in DE International. Additionally, the goal is also mutual introductions between representatives of new members in a relaxed atmosphere, with a shared breakfast.

DSW SPEED BUSINESS MEETING

represents a unique innovation in methods of expanding contact networks internally and with other chambers and associations, as well as for initiating future cooperation between member companies, through the concept of swift ten-minute meetings between representatives of companies from various sectors. This event is designed so that each participant gets a chance to meet with representatives from ten companies, mostly from another chamber, in individual B2B meetings, where they represent potential business partners, exchange information and establish the kind of communication that is important for possible future cooperation.

DSW FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

is an entertaining sporting event that regularly brings together the football teams of 24 member companies for an all-day competition in football, but also supporting one another. This is a nice opportunity for family socialising among employees because, as a programme is also organised for children, providing a beautiful opportunity for team building, meeting other employees of member companies, as well as becoming familiar with DSW in a slightly different way.

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DSW CHRISTMAS PARTY AND SOMMERFEST

are organised every year in December and June respectively. In a festive atmosphere, with an honorary speaker from among the ranks of high representatives of political and economic life in Serbia, guests have the opportunity to once again gather prior to their winter and summer breaks, meeting and exchanging experiences. The Christmas party is always accompanied by a humanitarian action, with the funds collected invested in a charitable cause.

DSW HR WORKING GROUP

is the favoured event for HR managers of member companies. It is organised on a quarterly basis and consist of educational lectures on various topics in the field of human resources – from the labour law, to workers’ rights, coordination of employees and many other topics – in order to disseminate knowledge and skills, as well as provide educational information. In addition to lectures, participants have the opportunity to discuss all issues that were the topics of presentations and share their experiences, which greatly eases and improves everyday working processes.

In addition to all of the aforementioned, a special mention belongs to Dialogues with institutions, where member companies can set questions in advance and seek possible solutions to problems in direct meetings, then the already popular Survey on conditions for doing business in Serbia, as well as other surveys where members give their opinion and point out obstacles, places where it is necessary to improve conditions on the part of the state administration, as well as a whole series of other events that rightly give DSW members the feeling that they are part of an association that is not only a source of information, a collection centre for experiences, support and as a platform for exploring, but rather also much more than that. DSW gives its members the feeling that they are in their own home.

DSW in figures: ● 12 years in existence ● 312 current member companies ● 6 premium members (DHL, Hemofarm, Mercedes-Benz, ProCredit Bank, SAP, Siemens) ● Around 40 events per year ● Almost 3,000 guests attending gatherings annually ● Only 3 employees, who – along with the Board of Directors – are always available to members

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DSW OKTOBERFEST

is the largest and most authentic manifestation that DSW has been organising from year to year in mid-October, in the style of Munich’s famous Oktoberfest. The DSW Oktoberfest is held under the patronage of the German Ambassador in Serbia and with the support of member-partners, as well as other members as sponsors. This year it is being held for the sixth time and again over two days, with over 1,400 guests, where members and their guests have the opportunity to enjoy traditional Bavarian cuisine, original German beer with good music and a positive atmosphere, all in a big-top tent decorated for the occasion in the Oktoberfest manner. With this event, DSW offers the possibility of meetings and gatherings among many members of the German Business Community in Serbia and their partners, lovers of Oktoberfest and, in a different and special way, just slightly adapted to this region. The DSW Oktoberfest is also supported by numerous sponsors, who are able to use this wonderful event for the purposes of promotion and to welcome their business partners in a special way. All those who have had the opportunity to attend say that this is the best social networking event of the year. It’s great that every guest enters with only an entrance ticket and leaves happy and with a beer mug as a souvenir. Apart from an entrance ticket, guests do not require money. Well done to the organisers!

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CORPORATE

PHARMACEUTICAL WHOLESALERS

European wholesalers

IN BELGRADE Good cooperation among all participants in the supply chain can be crucial for the growth and development of pharmaceutical companies

THE CONFERENCE WAS ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 190 PARTICIPANTS FROM 28 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, AS WELL AS PARTICIPANTS FROM CHINA, CANADA AND THE U.S.

B

elgrade was the host of the 56th Annual Conference, which was held in June 2015. The Conference was organized by the The European Association of Pharmaceutical Full-line Wholesalers (GIRP) with headquarters in Brussels.

The main topic of the conference, The importance of cooperation in the supply chain management, showed that good cooperation among all participants in the chain can be crucial for the growth and development of pharmaceutical companies.

On behalf of the host country, conference participants were welcomed

by Serbian Economy Minister Željko Sertić, SCC President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (SCC) Marko Čadež, and president of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers Group, Miomir Nikolić.

It was pointed out on this occasion that, in a situation that sees the Serbian government attempting to stabilise the country’s fiscal position, spending on medicines has been, and remains, the subject of austerity cuts.

Reducing spending on medicines has been achieved in recent years through a variety of mechanisms: control of the list of medicines, freezing and reducing prices of medicines, arranging compensatory reductions in indebtedness to the pharmaceutical industry, increasing the application of public procurement and, since 2014, through the introduction of centralised public procurement.

The Serbian pharmaceutical market is among the region’s underdeveloped markets, but it is a highly regulated market and is estimated to have had a value of €640 million at wholesale prices in 2014, recording a decrease in terms of both volume and value compared to 2013. The average price of reimbursed medicines in the past year amounted to only €2.6, while from 6,038 registered drugs, only 2,352 are included on the list of medicines refunded by the Fund.

In terms of quality and safety, the regulatory body ensures that drugs placed on the Ser-

resentatives GIRP, Rene Jenny and Monika Derecque-Pois, representatives of the pharmaceutical industry, Jorge Pinto Antunes, High Representative of the European Commission for health, head of the Department in the Directorate for food and medicine safety, Luc Besançon, general secretary and CEP of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), Philip Chircop, board member of the European Patients’ Forum (EPF), Walter Andreas, representative of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), Patricia Munoz, representative of the Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU), as well as experts and consultants in the field of medicines. Among the participants were representatives of prominent German companies, including Oliver Windholz (Phoenix Pharmahandel), Marc Owen (Celesio AG) and Lothar Jenne (Max Jenne Arzneimittel), chairman of the association of smaller family pharmaceutical wholesalers (Pharma Private GmbH).

In the process of harmonization with EU directives in the field of medicines and medical devices, Pharmaceutical Wholesalers Group was actively involved in giving proposals and comments on new draft regulations with the full support of Serbian Chamber of Commerce and we soon expect the new Law on medicines and the new Law on medical devices. ■

The responsibility of wholesalers in Serbia includes not only the responsibility to ensure a safe and continuous supply of the medicine market, but also the responsibility to ensure a high quality offer of medicines bian market meet the same requirements and standards that exist in the European Union’s member states. Along with the labelling of medicines with control stamps and their monitoring based on serial numbers, householders protect supply chain from counterfeit medicines ensureing they are not legally present.

In addition to the chief executives of numerous European pharmaceutical wholesalers, including the biggest ones, the conference was also attended by the highest rep-

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| 29

INTERVIEW

UDO EICHLINGER

CEO AT SIEMENS D.O.O. BEOGRAD

Wind of

POSITIVE CHANGE – As part of one of the world’s most important technology company, Siemens Serbia has been increasing its workload on this market. The reasons for expanding capacities can be found in our good business results and the growth of demand on the world market, related to the production of wind generators at our factory in Subotica.

As a direct consequence, by the end of September 2015 the company will employ 220 new workers in the factory in Subotica. With this new employment cycle, the total number of employees at Siemens Serbia will reach around 1,500 people. Siemens will continue to be focused on further investments, business growth and employment.

■ What kind of workers are you looking

The wind generators factory in Subotica provides an example of how Siemens technologies encourage economic growth in Serbia, supported by an improving business climate

S

iemens’ longstanding devotion to the Serbian market is yielding fruit in many fields: the production of wind generators in Subotica is experiencing a strong growth in the workload, while the number of people employed is rising and the amount of exported goods ensures Siemens is on the list of Serbia’s top exporters.

At the same time, Siemens is a key player in a large number of capital projects being carried out in Serbia and has an important role in educating Serbian pupils in the dual education system.

From my perspective, the Serbian market has great business potential, which enables companies like Siemens to establish and expand business here

■ Siemens recently announced that it is to add more than 200 new jobs in Subotica. What business plan has enabled this new employment?

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for and can you find the right profiles in Subotica and the surrounding area?

– Primarily, future Siemens employees are required to have knowledge and skills that are necessary to carry out tasks at the specific workplace. Siemens Serbia, with the help of our wind generators factory in Subotica, provides probably the most important form of investment in the community in which it operates – investing in education and practical training of high school students for workplaces that require special technical skills, by cooperating in the dual education programme with Subotica’s Ivan Sarić Technical High School. All pupils that will gain practical experience in Subotica factory as part of their educational programme will have dedicated mentors to be guided and to learn from. Creating personnel that has already passed the training during school will save considerable time, improve the production process and provide young people with the kind of practical knowledge and experience that is considered highly desirable on the labor market.

■ You are very active in dual education in Serbia, i.e. in

■ Siemens is also focused on electrification, automa-

terms of cooperation with the Technical School. How many graduates of that school do you think you could eventually employ as workers?

– The Subotica-based factory produces more than 180 generators for wind power plants every month, while such production volumes dictate the need for qualified personnel, including locksmiths-welders. Currently, 17 students are being educated and trained for this profession at Ivan Sarić School in Subotica. We are presently in the selection process and we are proud to say that 12 of those 17 students named Siemens as their first choice for the practical part of their education, among other companies supporting this project.

According to the project, six of them will be selected for work experience placements in our factory over the next two years.

The new module at the Ivan Sarić School was introduced in line with the initiative of Siemens d.o.o. Beograd. This was part of a project to introduce new educational profiles to the school system that was launched by the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ), with the support of the German Government and the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development.

tion and digitisation. Where do you see Serbia in those plans?

– Siemens has identified several growth fields. Electrification, automation and digitisation are among them. Serbia has the potential and capacity to make improvements in these fields, and we are here to help with our expertise.

Energy efficiency also remains one of the strategic points of the company’s orientation in Serbia. Serbian industry could save between five and 10 per cent of total energy consumption by improving controls and regulations. This means huge savings. One programme that Siemens applies shows that 20 euro cents is returned for every euro invested in energy efficiency, which means that the investment pays off in five years.

■ Siemens also has a pro-

■ You’ve spent a lot of your career in Eastern and Central Europe. Do you think the Western Balkan region could become a new industrial base for leading European companies?

– As I already stated, this region has plenty of potential. First of all, you can find a good industrial culture here. Siemens is the first example demonstrating that this part of Europe has a lot to offer when it comes to the kind of good industrial environment that our business requires. We have been present here for many years and our plans consider further investment and the expanding of our capacities in the region. And, as we can see, other companies are also arriving. This course can lead to the creation of an even greater industrial base for the benefit of all – major European companies and local economies.

Siemens Serbia, with the help of our wind generators factory in Subotica, provides probably the most important form of investment in the community – investing in the education and practical training of high school students

ject to identify suppliers among Serbia’s SMEs. Which phase is that project in now?

– In correlation with our business growth and future plans, cooperation with local suppliers is an important part of our strategy plans. We have already established good cooperation with several local suppliers with the capacity to respond to our production needs. I am confident that this number will increase in the future and that we will find more local enterprises with which we can establish partnerships. This type of business allows us to improve our production capacities while at the same time supporting the further development of the SME segment in Serbia.

■ You have worked in Serbia before. Do you see any differences in the overall business climate since your return?

– I am very happy to come back to Serbia, a decade after my last assignment here. I can see a lot of improvements regarding the business climate compared to the situation a decade ago.

From my perspective, this market has great business potential, in terms of enabling companies like Siemens to establish and expand their business here. The best indicator of business climate change is the increase in the number of major companies choosing Serbia for their production site.

■ The Serbia government has announced plans to launch many large capital projects. Where do you see an opportunity for Siemens in these plans?

– Siemens, with its technologies, encourages economic growth in Serbia. A fact that provides special distinction for Siemens’ business in Serbia, and sets and defines the framework of world markets, is precisely Siemens factory of wind generators in Subotica. Production at this factory is fully export-orientated, which makes Siemens one of Serbia’s largest exporters, but also shows that local workers possess the level of quality that is required for the delivery of extremely complex components to the most demanding and the latest global green energy markets.

In addition, we have shown for many years in numerous areas – from modernisation of infrastructure and the development of the electronic and electro technical market, to the development of energy efficiency – that we have the capabilities to remain a strong and reliable partner of Serbia. ■ PLENTY OF ROOM TO IMPROVE COOPERATION

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INTERVIEW

VLADIMIR M. JANKOVIĆ LAW OFFICE

Reliability and Quality We offer domestic and foreign clients complete legal services in the field of business operations

F

or 17 years, the law office of Vladimir M. Janković has provided the widest variety of legal services in the areas of business law, with domestic and international users of services.

 What kind of legal advice does your office provide for domestic and international clients from the business sector?

– The Office has a significant number of companies in its portfolio to which it provides a full legal service, some of which are on the list of most successful Serbian companies.

The quality of services is ensured through the monitoring of positive regulations in the area of business operations, as well as the number of service providers in the framework of the expert team, which consists of seven lawyers and a larger number of external experts from the domains of tax law, finance and accounting, completed with court interpreters, as mandatory collaborators in doing business with foreign clients.

Membership in such a prestigious organisation as DSW provides the possibility of introducing a wider circle of potential users of our legal services

 How much has the arrival of foreign investors in Kragujevac changed the nature and scope of your office’s work?

– The arrival of foreign investors, particularly FIAT and its related subcontractors, has had a significant impact on both increasing the volume of business and on the type and quality of the legal services sought. There has been a significant increase in the number of requests for the provision of services in the field of labour relations and harmonisation with the requirements of foreign clients pertaining to specific ways of doing business and relations towards employees, with our positive right in this area. Likewise, there has also been an increase in the need to provide domestic subcontractors with legal services relating to the contractual regulating of business relations with foreign clients.  What does DSW membership mean to you?

– Membership in such a prestigious organisation provides the possibility of introducing a wider circle of potential users of our legal services, as well as helping us to better understand mechanisms and processes within the EU as a whole. 

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COMDATA

Excellence in Execution ComData’s approach is based on knowhow and best practice in applying cutting edge technologies

www.comdata.rs office@comdata.rs

C

omData is a Software Solution Provider that was founded in 1992 and is based in Novi Sad. ComData has delivered bespoke turnkey ICT solutions for more than 20 years, tailored to clients’ requirements and operational methods. Our defined approach is based on knowhow and best practice in applying cutting edge technologies, including Agile and Scrum development methodologies.

Our Products include: IIS – among the best domestic ERP systems, specialised for large and medium-sized Serbian companies, focusing on production, trading, finance and HR, and eBudget – a unique software solution on the Serbian market that is an application for planning and monitoring budgets for local communities, based on Serbian laws and regulations.

Our Products include: For foreign ICT companies we offer our capacities based on a dedicated team with a strong technical background, defined approach and fixed price.

ComData can sole source your entire project or work in tandem with your team. Our defined approach contains a concept for technology and knowhow transfer, so that your team can assume full responsibility and control for further independent development or on-going maintenance.

With our Application Migration Services, we can convert your legacy system into modern Service Orientated Architecture and Cloud Services, using sophisticated and responsive Single Page or Hybrid applications. We use either HTML5 and cutting edge JavaScript frameworks or .NET technology, or a combination.

We can also provide you with Prototyping services utilising the aforementioned technologies that we have mastered.

Expertise-Vertical market: agriculture and the food industry, meat industry, metal industry, energy efficiency, food packaging, wholesale, retail, finance, accounting, human resources, healthcare, government and web marketing; and knowhow in: ERP systems, production management with MRP2 and Lot Tracing, supply chain management, financial management, HR management, custom relations management, healthcare management, management of local communities, web shops and SEO management. 

For foreign ICT companies we offer our capacities based on a dedicated team with a strong technical background, defined approach and fixed price

With us you save both time and money Company SLOVAS d.o.o. (Ltd.) has been the absolute leader on the domestic market for trade in stainless steel materials for two decades already, with products such as: - Sheet metal profiles, tubes and piping, rods, pressed bars, Steel L-Profiles, as well as all basic utensils and additional material.

Alongside the trade aspect, SLOVAS is also engaged in designing and fitting installations, manufacturing equipment and project execution works. Company personnel are qualified in the use of the latest production equipment for the following industries: food processing, chemicals, construction, machine engineering and mining, as well as other branches of industry.

In 2008, SLOVAS launched operations at its most modern service centre for processing stainless steel materials. This enables the company to respond to any technical and technological demand, ensuring SLOVAS’s customers are able to find, in one place, the right raw materials and the finished products they desire.

SLOVAS d.o.o.

Bulevar Oslobođenja br. 106, 32000, Čačak Tel: 032/ 300-201 ; 300-202; 300-203; 374-444; 320-550 slovas@slovas.rs; www.slovas.rs

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INTERVIEW

DR. MATTHIAS MÜLLER

WIEFERIG, DIRECTOR OF GOETHE-INSTITUT BELGRADE

Let us

ENJOY OUR DIFFERENCES

T

he number of young people showing interest in learning the German language is growing constantly. GoetheInstitute Belgrade strives to cater to this interest, but also to offer a variety of other programmes and projects that have proven to be very well appreciated among Serbia’s culture workers and the broader public.

Interest among Serbian culture workers in meeting their counterparts from European contemporary art scenes, including Germany’s, and vice versa, is precisely what the cultural exchange facilitated by Goethe-Institut is all about

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 Within the political discourse in Serbia, we are hearing Germany mentioned ever increasingly as a role model and a model for Serbian society in many areas. To what extent do such statements impact on the growth of interest in the work of the Goethe-Institut and German culture?

– “German” ways of doing things are highly regarded in Serbia – often almost stereotypically. German political, legal, and educational institutions, as well as German arts, crafts and industrial products, are considered reliable, technologically advanced and distinguished by precision and timely delivery. However, these traits can also be seen here: At our “construction site” in the Goethe-Institut (which is currently undergoing structural enhancements), we see Serbian construction companies and workers working to the best German standards! I do think that developing a professional training system, which in Germany or Austria is known as “Duale Ausbildung”, has proven merits that would be potentially fruitful for Serbia and the region. These systems combine school education and hands-on learning that produce highly qualified and ready-for-work employable future employees. Furthermore, we see a new “culture of welcome” (“Willkommenskultur”) in Germany, welcom-

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ing refugees that are crossing EU borders, which is an approach that is shared and supported by Serbian authorities and humanitarian aid organisations.

However, in a more general sense, and especially regarding cultural matters, I think it is not entirely appropriate to compare Germany and Serbia. They possess different political, economic and cultural traditions, conditions and potentials, which cannot be compared as a basis for one serving as a “role model” for the other, nor can they indicate the “right way of doing things”. In the arts, and culture in particular, it very much depends on individuals – artists, scientists or curators – and their exchange of different perspectives, experiences, ideas, skills and approaches. Indeed, this is exactly what the cultural exchange and dialogue facilitated by Goethe-Institut programmes and projects are all about.  Looking at the activities of the Goethe-Institut in Serbia, one gets the impression that an emphasis has been placed on modern urban aspirations, contemporary artists, the new and live music scene, as well as the profound intellectual reflection of young people regarding the past and the future. What compelled the GoetheInstitut to choose to connect our two cultures in that way?

– We do indeed see a huge interest among young people in Serbia to connect with German and other international perspectives and approaches. They strive to shape their views and ideas by sharing their own visions with those of their peers in other places.

Young people know very well the kind of information, knowledge, expertise and networks that are important for them. For these young people, it is not a question of

To be open to a true and sincere dialogue with former opponents in war is a very cultural and civilised way to look forward to a better future with some good and bad history in common

‘if’, but rather ‘how’ they can shape their own future in their own neighbourhoods and cities, in their own local and national culture and society and in the political sphere.  From the Goethe-Guerilla has emerged the City Guerilla – the new generator of creative ideas and a synonym for action and artistic intervention, creativity and openness. In your opinion, to what do we owe the longevity and popularity of this project; and will it survive if Sava Mala disappears in the form we have known to date?

– Goethe-Guerilla and City Guerilla (the Goethe-Institut’s platforms for fostering innovation and exchange among young artists and culture workers) have developed very well over the years. These initiatives, within the wider framework of the “Urban Incubator: Belgrade” and other international programmes, have helped shape the ambitions and attitudes of participating young artists and creative and culture workers towards life, enhanced their resumes, and created opportunities for future careers. They have created their own, growing network of national and international young experts and “ambassadors” for cultural, political and social change.

Some of the Goethe-Guerilla / City Guerilla projects that are based in Savamala, and which have been going on for the last five years, are “best practice” examples. New urban developments – such as the Belgrade Waterfront – will indeed create new urban conditions and grassroots expert knowledge, participatory processes and cultural strategies, as generated by our “next generation” projects, will be given a reality check.

included many local centres and stakeholders in Serbia?

–The latest German art-house films from the annual Berlinale have attracted a lot of attention and occasional huge audiences in the cities and cinemas in which they have been presented. These films reflect artists’ views on the most important topics being de-

bated publicly. European art-house cinema is a tradition very much associated with “author’s films” – highly individualised, autobiographical or thematic, aesthetic or artistic concepts, which a film communicates in an authentic and uncompromising way. Serbia and Germany share this tradition of author’s films. This is one of the reasons why art-house cinemas across Serbia, film clubs, libraries and schools seek to cooperate with the Goethe-Institut and to share German films, all of which are translated and subtitled into Serbian. These films are a very popular way to gain first-hand insight into other cultures and into other people’s daily lives, and to share stark visual impressions or moments of intense emotions.

The next edition of GoetheFEST, this October, will present renowned German directors such as Fatih Akin, Andreas Dresen, Christian Petzold, Oliver Hirschbiegel, and, again, many newcomers’ surprise debuts – among them “The Lab-

We see huge interest among young people in Serbia to connect with German and other international perspectives and approaches

 Thanks to GoetheFEST, the latest German film productions, starting from 2012 onwards, are now available to the public in Belgrade, Novi Sad and Niš, and this year you also sent them on a tour of Serbia. What kinds of experience and impressions did you gain, considering that this endeavour

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yrinth of Silence”, which the German Film Academy nominated for the best foreign film “Oscar”, or _”Victoria”, a one-take film following young people through a Berlin night.  The exhibition “Europe. Southeast – Recorded Memories” deals with issues of reflecting the recent past in the region, in terms of the previous and current conflicts in Southeast Europe from the perspective of an artist. Why is remembrance important at a time when the countries of the Western Balkans are going through a new phase of coming closer together?

– Concerning the topic of “collective memory” and the “culture of remembrance”, in Germany there is a very particular term: “Vergangenheitsbewältigung”. This is a way of forgiving without forgetting. We feel that 70 years after World War II, Germany and its former enemies and victims have found ways to overcome historical conflicts and come to terms with individual recollections of hideous atrocities. Many of our partners in culture in Serbia and Southeast Europe connect their own histories and ways of coping to this idea. It has taken Europe and Germany more than 70 years to “come to terms” with our history; the impact of the conflicts of the 1990s in the Western Balkans still has a strong presence.

However, the way that artists in particular – writers, intellectuals, visual artists, filmmakers, even musicians and performing artists – view conflict as part of a common European experience can be very interesting. To be open to a true and sincere dialogue with formeropponents in war is a very cultural – and civilised – way to look forward to a better future with some – good and bad – history in common. In Europe, for example, dialogue between Germany and France over many decades has been very fruitful, overcoming former enmity, sharing the things we have in common and, at the same time, preserving and mutually respecting different approaches to collective memory and rituals of remembrance. Artists – through their videos, photographs and installations – can sometimes take the public by surprise, capture their attention and find ways to share precious moments of individual history, which can help the rest of us come to terms with the past.

beginners to those at more advanced levels who are required to study or work in Germany or in German companies in Serbia. Both at school level and in our classes at the Goethe-Institut, we have seen a rise in interest in learning German, especially with young pupils and students. We can now provide language tuition for about 2000 students a year, for exams from level A1 to C2. We respond to the high demand for German, which is mainly driven by the strong labour market and very attractive university courses in Germany.

A joint German Foreign Office and Goethe-Institut initiative “Schools: Partners for the Future” connects 1,800 schools all around the world. Six schools in Serbia have been selected and take part in summer camps, school exchange programmes and theatre projects in Serbia, the region and in Germany, as part of the initiative.  Are you recording growth in the number of visits to your library and website; which topics are of the greatest interest to library members and website visitors?

– In the last three years we’ve witnessed constant growth in the number of library visitors. We have seen 20 visitors more per day, a 30% increase in new members, 100% more active members, and a 45% increase in media inventory borrowed. The most interesting topic is learning German. The borrowing of language material has quadrupled in only the last three years. The second most popular topic for our visitors is contemporary German literature. Website visitors and Facebook shares and likes reflect the same priorities: Learning German comes first, and second is mein.goethe.de, which covers all of the activities going on at the Goethe-Institut. Websites for Goethe-Guerilla and Urban Incubator show smaller counts among our core group of followers.  You recently completed the “Europe-List” project, which aimed to enable people to experience Europe not through financial and political crises, but rather primarily through culture. How successful was this project in terms of fulfilling its purpose and how much did it attract the interest of Serbian citizens?

–The project “Europa-List” gives answers to such questions as: What keeps us together? What are our most eminent cultural achievements? Our Goethe-Institut project teams in Germany and Serbia were particularly interested in the views of Europe’s neighbours – from Casablanca to Beirut. The project’s webpage was active in 2013. It was a very good example of how online competitions, social interaction and web games can enhance awareness that Europe is, at its core, very much a cultural project. Among the 22,235 participants from Europe, 2,006 people from Serbia took part in the project. That’s almost 10% of all participants, so it’s fair to say that Serbian citizens showed quite strong interest in this topic – as much as in the fun of participating in online projects. 

The next edition of GoetheFEST, this October, will present renowned German directors such as Fatih Akin, Andreas Dresen, Christian Petzold, Oliver Hirschbiegel, and, again, many newcomers’ surprise debuts

 In light of the rise of the popularity of the German language in Serbia as an optional foreign language in schools, how important for the Goethe-Institut is the programme of educational cooperation that is realised through support to teachers, schools and other institutions that are implementing the teaching of the German language?

– Goethe-Institut runs exchange and educational programmes with schools. Online and face-to-face programmes provide teaching material and methods of teaching German as a Foreign Language. This prepares teachers to provide the best support to their students, from

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CORPORATE

ELNOS GROUP

Quality for

CHALLENGING MARKETS

Many completed construction, reconstruction and modernisation projects have led to Elnos Group being ranked among the leading companies for objects of up to 400 kV , enabling it expand to take on new challenging markets that are able to recognise the quality and knowhow offered by this company

A

demanding conditions on two projects. The markets. Continuity of good operational first was the modernisation of the 400 kV results and participation in the realisation Vietas substation, in the area of the Arctic poof capital projects not only led to strengthlar circle. The second project was in Iceland, ening, but also to the significant growth of the land of fire and ice, where staff carried out Elnos Group, which in 2015 gained two new electrical installation works on the 220 kV members and two new representative officSigöldulína 3 transmission line. es. The new members are Elnos Vienna and When it comes to the German market, Elnos Croatia, while the representative ofElnos Group has long-standing cooperation fices are Elnos Germany and Elnos Iceland. with some of the country’s most famous The newly established Elnos Group today has over 350 manufacturers, such as Siemens, Voith, Rittal, members and reprePhoenix Contact, Tyco and others. By opensentative offices will employees and the group's operations are ing its representative office in Frankfurt and strive to be among the concentrated in the regions of Southeast, positioning itself in Germany, Elnos Group is most reliable partners Central and Northern Europe also taking a further in the field of engineerof leading European ing by appearing on what is for Elnos a new, companies in the energy field.

Elnos Group is an international electrilarge and extremely important market.

Elnos Group today has over 350 emcal energy concern. By successfully moniThe trajectory of Elnos Group is directed ployees and the group’s operations are contoring global trends in the field of electrical towards long-term growth and achieving centrated in the regions of Southeast, Cenengineering, Elnos Group offers competitive economic, ecological and social progress. The tral and Northern Europe. In recent years, solutions for even the most complex jobs.

Elnos Group has achieved Many completed construction, reconstrucBy opening its representative office very significant results on tion and modernisation projects have led to the Swedish market. This is Elnos Group being ranked among the leadin Frankfurt and positioning itself in best illustrated by projects ing companies for objects of up to 400 kV (at Germany, Elnos Group is also taking and references in the field of power plants, electricity grids, infrastructure constructing transmission a further in the field of engineering by projects, industry and installations). lines up to 400kV , including appearing on what is for Elnos a new, One of the most important drivers in participation in capital en- large and extremely important market the growth of Elnos Group is its engineering ergy projects in Sweden. portfolio, which encompasses a full range of goal is to be a synonym for a company with The current year has brought new chalservices in the field of electrical engineerknowhow, thanks to the personnel’s great lenges for Elnos Group in the far north of ing. The group’s development is dictated professionalism, and to provide its partners Europe. Elnos proved its professional and by its long-term development strategy, with the highest level of standards. ■ organisational skills working in particularly portfolio and development on international t Elnos Group they are proud of the 70 years of tradition and professionalism they have nurtured.

They are also proud to be continually strengthening their capacities, with the long-term goal of strengthening the company’s position and its results, but also create opportunities and lasting values for future generations.

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TOURISM IN GERMANY

Not Just

ABOUT BEER Apart from Oktoberfest – the best known German festival in Serbia, there are many others that are worthy of attention and which entice millions of tourists to Germany.

Regional harvest festivals, annual fairs and religious holidays ensure the events calendar is full yearround.

OKTOBERFEST BEER FESTIVAL

S

Some three million events in Germany annually provide plenty of cause for celebration. Munich’s famous annual Oktoberfest beer festival – which actually begins in September – is a celebration of one of Germany’s most successful exports.

The Oktoberfest is known as the largest Volksfest (People’s Fair) in the world. In 1999, six and a half million visitors came to the 42-hectare Theresienwiese, and since these numbers have continued to rise each year.

Festivities traditionally begin precisely at noon on the first Saturday after 15th September, when the Mayor of Munich hammers a tap into the first keg and yells “O’zapft is!” Once Oktoberfest has been open officially, a twelve-

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gun salute signals to the bar staff to get the beer flowing, and then there’s no holding back. The 10,000 seats in the beer tents start to fill up, the fairground rides whirl, the band strikes up and it’s party time.

While the majority of people coming to Munich are from Bavaria, about 15 per cent of visitors come from foreign countries, from the surrounding EU-countries and other nonEuropean countries, but also the United States, Canada, Australia and East Asia.

Besides the Oktoberfest, there are other public festivals that take place at the same location. In April/May it’s the Munich Frühlingsfest (Spring Festival) and Tollwood Festival in December, which attracts 650,000 visitors.

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After the Oktoberfest, the next largest folk fairs in Germany are the Cannstatter Volksfest in Stuttgart, with about 4.5 million visitors each year, the Cranger Kirmes in Herne (WanneEickel) (the largest fair in Northrhine-Westphalia), attracting 4.4 million visitors, the Rheinkirmes in Düsseldorf (dubbed the Largest Fair on the Rhine) and the Freimarkt in Bremen (the biggest fair in northern Germany), visited by over four million people every year. Also noteworthy is Schützenfest Hannover, the world’s largest marksmen’s fair, which brings over a million visitors to Hanover each year.

There are other interesting festivals that also deserve attention. Consider, for example, the spectacular Rhine in Flames fireworks

NIBELUNGEN FESTIVAL 2015

displays that take place along the most scenic stretches of the River Rhine every year between May and September. From Rüdesheim to Bonn, spectacular pyrotechnics and curtains of fire bathe the riverbanks and landmarks in a magical red glow, while a flotilla of illuminated riverboats glide beneath mesmerising patterns of light in the night sky – a romantic and unforgettable experience for the whole family.

T h e r e ’s always a traditional wine festival or similar celebration happening at the same time, along with music and dancing. Bonn’s Rheinaue Park provides the venue for the biggest single Rhine in Flames event – a festival that draws some 300,000 visitors, spreading excitement during the afternoon and offering a wonderful view of the fireworks spectacular until midnight – the climax and cul-

mination of an unforgettable evening.

There are also numerous music festivals, of which we will mention just a few.

The Elbajazz Festival was established in 2010 and took place over the last weekend of May. Since then, the festival has conquered new horizons of jazz styles and has developed not only into a cultural and musical highlight of Hamburg, but also one of the biggest and most popular jazz festivals in Europe.

Held in the unique setting of the Port of Hamburg, its extraordinary venues include an old freight ship or ship yard, huge docks and barge trips from stage to stage.

The Fusion Festival, which takes place at a former Russian military airport in Neustrelitz, Mecklenburg, is the “Burning Man” of Germany; the eclectic programme of this

The spectacular Rhine in Flames fireworks displays take place along the most scenic stretches of the River Rhine every year between May and September

RHINE IN FLAMES

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CANNSTATTER VOLKSFEST IN STUTTGART

four-day open-air festival follows the motto “anything goes”, fusing electronic music with film, theatre and art.

The Richard Wagner Festival (Bayreuth Festival) takes place every summer and attracts visitors from around the world with its exceptional productions of Wagner’s operas.

The Bardentreffen, or Bard’s Festival, takes place in Nuremberg. Over the years, it has become a world music extravaganza among songwriters, with traditional music from all over the world and experimental bands. It attracts some 200,000 visitors to the city’s historic centre.

The Nibelungen Festival in the city of Worms takes place in August and features different performances. It is staged against the impressive backdrop of the 900-year-old Worms Cathedral.

PEOPLES’ FESTIVALS The cities of the Historic Highlights of Germany have preserved their customs and traditions, as well as their “Volksfeste” (lit. peoples’ festivals), whose characters are often closely connected to the history of the respective cities.

A number of different festivals cater for every taste throughout the year. For example, every year in March the Thuringian capital of Erfurt celebrates the bratwurst with the “Thüringer Bratwurstfest” (Thuringian Bratwurst Festival) – a big barbecue to welcome the new summer season – during which Erfurt’s cathedral square is transformed into probably Germany’s biggest barbecue pit. Some 20 barbecue grills glow while friends and makers of the Thuringian bratwurst present their skills.

The Send in Münster, or the Dult and Plärrer in Augsburg, are deeply rooted in the coun-

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was punishable. The “Send” takes place three times a year on the square in front of “Schloss Münster” (Münster City Palace).

The existence of a fun fair in Augsburg can be traced back to the year 967AD. Originally a cloth market, the “Osterdult” continued to develop over the centuries and nowadays it offers all sorts of goods for sale. The “Dult” is accompanied by the “Plärrer”, another fun fair with amusements and rides, whose name derives from the “Geplärre” (German for ‘blubbering’) of the visitors. In his poem “Das Plärrerlied” (lit. The Plärrer Song), Augsburg-born author Bertolt Brecht honours the event, which can now look back on a 1000-year tradition.

The tradition of erecting a maypole dates back to pre-Roman times and is an old Germanic custom. In Osnabrück, this ceremony is celebrated each year with the “Maiwoche” (May Week). The entire Old Town transforms into a festival, with culinary delights met by music of all styles and the whole city takes on a party atmosphere. For those who love Christmas markets, this will seem like an atmospheric summer version.

The maritime history of the Hanseatic city of Rostock is well represented in having preserved the tradition of sailing regattas, especially in the seaside resort of Warnemünde. The spring time “Warnemünder Woche” (Warnemünde Week) marks the start of the summer season and is also a living tradition. A special event is the so-called “Niege Ümgang”, which takes place

The first “Volksfest” in Würzburg takes place in July, with classic beer tents and festival beer that has been specially brewed for the Kiliani Volksfest try’s history. The name “Send” is derived from the German word “Synode” (Engl. ‘synod’), the meeting of clergymen and senior representatives of the diocese in Münster, which has been held twice a year since the 9th century. A market has been set up to mark this occasion since the 11th century – differing from the regular weekly market for townspeople by lifting sales restrictions or privileges for local merchants and craftsmen. Since 1578, the so-called “Sendschwert” (lit. Send Sword) has been hanging for all to see at Münster Town Hall, as a reminder that any unruly behaviour at the fair

ROSTOCK “WARNEMÜNDER WOCHE” (WARNEMÜNDE WEEK) MARKS THE START OF THE SUMMER SEASON

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CRANGER KIRMES FESTIVAL IN HERNE (WANNE-EICKEL)

on the first Saturday in July. Brass bands, local costume groups, Neptune and his entourage, pilots and fishermen, millers and bakers, butchers, merchants and innkeepers, come together in a historical parade through the town. Accompanied by drums, barkers and shanty singing, another highlight of the event is the traditional “Warnemünder Hochzeit” (Warnemünde Wedding), with the “Brautwaschen” (lit. washing of the bride). The event ends with the tapping of the beer keg by the “Hanseatische Brauerei Rostock” (Hanseatic Brewery Rostock).

Kiliani Volksfest Würzburg is celebrated every June, the “Johannisnacht” (Johannis Night) in Mainz is a festival in honour of the city’s most famous son: Johannes Gutenberg. This “Volksfest” is closely linked to the tradition of the art of printing in Mainz. One event highlight is the so-called “Gautschen” in front of the Gutenberg Museum. This traditional ceremony in the book printing trade is often described as a baptism ritual for apprentice printers. As new journeymen of their guild, the former apprentices are dunked in a large tub of water in public. This ritual is meant to wash away the lead dust and the sins of the apprenticeship.

The first “Volksfest” in Würzburg takes place in July, with classic beer tents and festival beer that has been specially brewed for

the Kiliani Volksfest. A traditional festival, with folk music, traditional costumes and fun rides, it is held in honour of Saint Killian, the patron saint of the city of Würzburg. The Regensburg Dultfestival, which has roots that can be traced to the 14th and 15th centuries, has something of an Oktoberfest feel. Numerous amusement park rides and stalls, offering an array of local crafts and wares, freshly prepared fish and other food specialities, take centre stage for many of the visitors.

The “Heidelberger Herbst” (Heidelberg Autumn Festival) is a street festival in Heidelberg’s Old Town, celebrated every September. A large arts & crafts market is held in the main street, while the medieval spectacle “Churpfälzer Market” (lit.

Electoral Palatinate Market) takes place on “Universitätsplatz” (University Square). A wide range of different music styles is offered on all squares of the Old Town and the attractive culinary dimension includes all kinds of specialities.

Wiesbaden Stadtfest (City Festival) is another autumn festival celebrated at the end of September. Entertainment programmes and attractions await visitors throughout the city centre, on all squares and in the parks in front of the “Staatstheater” (Hessian State Theatre). The first wines of the new season, hot chestnuts or painted pumpkins and crafts, are always popular among visitors.

Every year in March the Thuringian capital of Erfurt celebrates the bratwurst with the “Thüringer Bratwurstfest”, during which Erfurt’s cathedral square is transformed into Germany’s biggest barbecue pit

COLOGNE

Get to know the incredibly rich tradition and diverse customs of Germany! Inhale the scents, sample the tastes and inspire yourself with experiences or imagining – join journalists, bloggers and tourists from around the world by visiting our Social Wall and explore the “traditions and customs” by touring Germany via social networks using the hashtag #joingermantradition. Will we take you to the Bremen Fair, the Störtebeker Festival, the Bavarian breweries or exploring the beautiful costumes of the Lusatian Serbs in the Spreewald, or the very unusual habit of the naughty residents of the Rhineland? It all depends only on your wishes and adventurous spirit. In addition to sampling the outstanding traditional cuisine and magical Christmas markets across the country, we recommend you indulge in a little extravagance at numerous museums. We await you readily and cordially at www.germany. travel, and then in one of Germany’s provinces!

BERLIN

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CUSTOMS AND TRADITION

Dancing

THROUGH WINTER to join in the masquerading, singing, dancing and general carnival revelry in the city centre. On Faschingsdienstag, the traditional dance of the market women takes place on the Vikualienmarkt. Once a year, a week before Fasching Sunday, the active whip-crackers from Salzburg meet to practise their favourite hobby: Aperschnalzen. From Boxing Day to Shrove Tuesday, small groups of nine people, carry out the so-called “Passen” – a loud cracking of the whip – to drive the winter away.

The word “Aperschnalzen” is derived from the High German word “apir”, which means “free from snow”. This so-called noise tradition is not maintained in any other region as it is in the Berchtesgaden Region each year. When the “goassl” whips crack, it means the time has once again come in Bavaria: With the Rupertigau whip competition, winter is driven away and the highlight

The picturesque villages, medieval towns and the Bavarian capital city of Munich are the epitome of authenticity.

Customs passed down through the ages turn entire cities into winter carnivals

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G

ermany’s largest and Munich’s Fasching has its origins in the most southerly state dancing and pageantry which accompanied is a land rich in natueconomic changes, as well as changes in ral beauty, cultural customs and festivities themselves heritage, lively traditions and cosy hospitality. of the Aperschnalzen season is here.

Consider Fasching, which is celebrated all over “Fosanegl”, “Fasenickl” and “Schecken” all Bavaria in many colourful ways. In Munich, the cause havoc in the Altmühltal during the Faschnext Fasching Carnival is scheduled to take place ing carnival season. Dressed in bright patchwork from 6th January to 9th February 2016. Munich’s Fasching has its origins in the dancing and pageantgarments and sporting carved wooden masks, ry that has accompanied economic changes, as well they charge through the towns and villages, as changes in customs and festivities themselves. cracking their “Goaßln” whips in the air and At 11.11am on the 11th day of the 11th month, handing out pretzels and “Guatsln”. If they catch the Fasching Prince and Princess are crowned, in someone, they paint their face with soot. The preparation for their reign over the “crazy season”, costumes worn by the wild men and women are which begins on 7th January and continues through carefully created by hand: around 6,000 dark red Shrove Tuesday, or “Faschingsdienstag”. The wildfelt sequins are sewn onto rough hessian, then est days of Fasching are the last ones, culminating gold braid and small bells are added, along with in a climax on Faschingssonntag (the Sunday prehand-knotted green woollen lace. The masks are ceding Shrove Tuesday), as well as on Faschingscarved and designed by local artists. The Altdienstag itself. On these days, Fasching doughnuts mühltal natural reserve is renowned for its Fasching carnival traditions. are sold by the dozen and Munich invites everyone

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NOSTALGIC SKIING IN ST ENGLMAR

Kötzting to Steinbühl on their beautifully decorated horses.

This tradition dates back to 1412. Over the years, the Kötztinger Pfingstritt has grown to become one of Europe’s largest pilgrimages on horseback and thousands of visitors line its path to watch the procession.

The procession leaves on Whit Monday morning, led by a cross bearer, headed for the Whit Riders’ pilgrimage Church St Nikolaus in Steinbühl. A special service is held there for the riders. After a break, they head back towards Bad Kötzting around lunchtime, where the religious part of the Whit Ride ends with a brief ceremony.

Every year on Whit Monday over 900 AUER “DULT” A Volksfest, or festival riders dressed in magnificent period The history of Munich’s and fair, is held before, durcostumes ride from Bad Kötzting to ing and after the procespopular annual fair with its folkloric flair can be Steinbühl on beautifully decorated horses sion day. One of the highlights of Whit week is the traced back to the Middle symbolic Whit wedding. A Whit bridegroom is nominated, Ages. Nowadays the event is organised by the Munich Tourist Office. Three times a year, locals flock to the Mariahilfwho may then choose his Whit bride. Dressed in traditional platz, in the part of town called the “Au”, meaning “meadow” costumes, the ‘couple’ then parade through the town’s festively decorated streets to the Haus des Gastes venue, where or “pasture”. Here they can walk around at their leisure, shop the symbolic Whit wedding takes place. for bargains, have a bite to eat and enjoy a good time. The Auer Dult is Europe’s largest market for tableware products PERPETUAL ADORATION IN POTTENSTEIN and all kinds of pots and pans. Innovative household products are praised proudly as “kitchen marvels”.

The parish of Pottenstein celebrates the festival of perpetual adoration every year on 6th January. The event sees touCORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSIONS IN BAVARIA sands of people flock from near and far to see the magic creThe Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of Corpus Christi ated by 1,000 or so fires all around the town of Pottenstein. ten days after Whitsun, always on a Thursday. Many places This custom of lighting mountain beacons to honour in Bavaria mark this occasion with magnificent processions, God can be dated, with some historical accuracy, back to which had their heyday at the time of the counter-reforma1905. It was then that this festival, held to mark Epiphany tion, when the processions served as a militant display of and the eve of the Epiphany (5th and 6th January), was established as a celebration of perpetual adoration in PottenCatholic belief. The Feast of Corpus Christi was inspired by stein. The celebration of perpetual adoration itself can be a vision experienced by the Belgian canoness regular Juliana traced all the way back to 1759. ■ of Liège. She subsequently applied to Pope Urban IV for the institution of a special feast day dedicated to the Holy Eucharist, or the ‘Corpus Christi’, the body of Christ (called ‘Fronleichnam’ in Middle High German, which is why the processions are called Fronleichnamsprozessionen in Bavaria).

The Feast centres on the processions; the procession path is lined with small birch trees and the streets are strewn with fresh grass and a carpet of flowers. Depending on the region, the procession is accompanied by musicians, companies of traditional mountain marksmen, or cannoneers.

The Fronleichnamsprozession is still a symbolic embodiment of contemporary Bavarian Christianity. Besides the Corpus Christi processions in Ruhpolding and Altötting, the only procession to take place on a lake, the Staffelsee in Seehausen near Murnau, is certainly one of the highlights of the traditional events marking this feast day.

In the tracks of Telemark and Co. – under this motto, a piece of history will be brought to life on Shrove Tuesday, 9th February, 2016. The town, which has a history of winter sports dating back to the beginning of the last century, invites visitors to watch participants in this unique race compete in old costumes, with traditional wooden skis, and brave the rapid journey over the “Glashütter Hänge”. The meeting point for the wild spectacle is Kirchplatz Square, from where participants and spectators make their way to the venue accompanied by a brass band.

BAD KÖTZTING WHIT RIDE

Europe’s largest procession on horseback passes through the Bavarian Forest. Each year on Whit Monday over 900 riders dressed in magnificent period costumes ride from Bad PLENTY OF ROOM TO IMPROVE COOPERATION

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GERMAN CULTURE

Land of

PASSIONATE READERS With around 94,000 titles published or republished annually, Germany is one of the world’s leading nations when it comes to consuming books.

In addition to books, Germans have also been avid readers of newspapers and magazines for some 500 years

G

ermany is a book country, with 94,300 new publications or new editions published each year. The Frankfurt International Book Fair, which is held every October, is the international publishing world’s most important gathering, while the smaller Leipzig Book fair, held each spring, has also made a name for itself as festival of literature for the general public. Berlin has also established itself as a literary centre and international city of publishing, with exciting new production.

The advent of the internet hasn’t dampened Germans’ passion for reading books and newspapers. Events such as Lit. Cologne, the Poetenfest in Erlangen and several other literary festival attract huge crowds. Yet, only a few authors sell millions of copies of their publications on the German book market. As in many other countries, the most popular authors include those who produce lighter literature, such as J.K. Rowling, Dan Brown, Ken Follet and German children’s author Cornelia Funke, while quality works, such as Daniel Kehlmann’s bestseller “Measuring the World” (2006) and Charlotte Roche’s novel “Wetlands” (2008), attract

much fewer readers. The German Book Prize (bestowed for the first time in 2005), which honours the best novel of the year, has helped make quality authors visible to the public: Julia Franck’s family story “Lady Midday” (2007), Uwe Tellkamp’s almost 1,000-page epic about the collapsing GDR “The Tower” (2008) and Kathrin Schmidt’s autobiographical novel “You’re not going to die” (2009) spent months on the bestseller lists. Several of the great post-War literary figures, such as the Nobel laureate Günter Grass, Martin Walser, Hans Magnus Enzensberger and Siegfried Lenz, are still writing, but their recent works are not moving public debates as they once did.

Younger artists are much more interested in personal topics than political and moral stances. Yet, in what would appear to be a retreat into the private sphere, writers are looking to explain what the new global world is bringing to individuals. In that sense, in contemporary literature, the private sphere is indeed political after all.

In addition to books, newspapers and magazines represent a medium that has kept its basic structure

Readers and viewers enjoy free media, pluralist views and subjects, highbrow and entertaining content that is both nationally and internationally focused

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for some 500 years, while the content, form and dissemination are constantly undergoing modernisation processes. Germany invented printing and produced the first newspapers, but for a long time the country didn’t have a newspaper that could assume a dominant position. The first daily newspaper appeared in 1660 in Leipzig. Among the most influential media today are national quality newspapers like “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”, “Süddeutsche Zeitung” and the traditional weekly “Die Zeit”.

The German newspaper market is characterised by a large number of publications and regional differences. Alongside 335 local and regional daily newspapers, there are ten national dailies, ten quality publications and nine so-called popular newspapers that concentrate on matters of general interest. In this category, the influential “Bild”-Zeitung, which is published by Axel Springer Verlag, has a circulation of 3.2 million. Overall circulation figures for some 350 German daily newspapers total 25 million copies. However, the financial footing of the classic daily press is under pressure: the younger generation is reading fewer newspapers and advertising revenue, the most important financial pillar of the press, is clearly declining on the back of the 2008-09 financial crisis. Furthermore, all manner of content tends to be procured from the internet, which has now advanced to become a leading medium among almost all age groups. Some 70 per cent of all Germans are now “online”, while just as many read a daily newspaper on a regular basis.

The German newspaper market has seen the emergence of an increasing number of special interest publications. The entire range of popular magazines includes some 1,500 publications and boasts a total average quarterly circulation of around 114 million.

“Stern”, and “Der Spiegel”, which play an active role in discussion in society or have themselves been the subject of important discourse, are among the country’s most widely-read publications. Of these, “Spiegel“, a weekly political journal with perhaps the greatest longterm influence on society of any weekly publication, is outstanding.

The biggest publishers of popular magazines are Heinrich Bauer Verlag, Axel Springer Verlag, Burda and Gruner+Jahr, which is part of the Bertelsmann Group. Springer and Bertelsmann are also the two media corporations that, by virtue of also owning successful radio and TV stations, generate sales in the billions. This has triggered debate about media ownership concentration and trans-media concentration of opinion. In addition to the online versions of print publications that entice high visitor figures, such as Spiegel.de, bild. de and FAZ.NET, there is an unfathomable spectrum of news and opinion sites. Even though only a fraction of readers/users overlap, publishers worry that online media may kill print.

Germany has some of Europe and the world’s largest public broadcasters (ARD and ZDF), which are financed by license fees, and private, free stations (RTL, SAT.1, ProSieben), as well as the payTV channel Sky. From news, films, series, and shows, to sport, the general channels offer an entire range of individual genres, while special interest channels feature news (n-tv, N24), music (VIVA,

MTV) or sport (DSF). Depending on the technical platform (terrestrial, satellite, cable, broadband, mobile), and analogue or digital mode, hundreds of German-language and international channels, such as CNN, BBC and TV5, and more than 20 different public TV channels can be received. These include the two national channels, ARD and ZDF, as well as regionally produced stations broadcast nationwide, such as WDR, MDR, BR, and special-interest channels, such as the primarily political docu-station Phoenix and kids’ TV KIKA. Then there are three international broadcasters: Deutsche Welle, Franco-German arte, and Austro-German-Swiss cultural channel 3sat. In addition to their standard programming, these broadcasters also have considerable online activities. The public

Alongside 335 local and regional daily newspapers, there are ten national dailies, ten quality publications and nine so-called popular newspapers that concentrate on matters of general interest

network broadcasters, however, are always threatened by conflict with the private stations, who fear competition will be distorted by the strong market influence of the “subsidised” stations. Further pressure on public network channels is emerging due to the fact that more and more young people are taking advantage of their programmes. Even though user behaviour has in some cases changed enormously through the internet and mobile communication, Germany still has one of the most diverse and multifaceted traditional media landscapes. Free and pluralist, highbrow and entertaining, nationally and internationally focused. ■

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COMPANY REGISTER

AAA-1 RENT D.O.O. Olga Milićević Žorža Klemensoa 19 11000 Beograd office@sixt.rs 381 11 328 70 70 381 11 218 10 88 www.sixt.rs ADECCO OUTSOURCING D.O.O. Marko Kolenc Vladimira Popovića 40 11070 Beograd info.srbija@adecco.com 381 11 669 23 92 381 11 669 51 31 www.adecco.rs ADRIA MEDIA GROUP D.O.O. Aleksandar Rodić Vlajkovićeva 8 11000 Beograd office@adriamedia.rs 381 11 635 72 01 381 11 334 69 75 www.adriamedia.rs ADVOKAT GORDANA STEVIĆ DULIĆ Carice Milice 3 11000 Beograd gordana.stevic@stevic-dulic.co.rs 381 11 306 65 50 381 11 328 52 26 www.tomic-stevic.co.rs ADVOKATSKA KANCELARIJA JANKOVIC, POPOVIC & MITIC Nemanja Stepanovic Vladimira Popovica 6-8 11070 Beograd office@jpm.rs 381 11 207 68 50 381 11 207 68 99 www.jpm.rs ADVOKATSKA KANCELARIJA JOSKOVIC, STOJANOVIC & PARTNER MILAN JOKSOVIC Internacionalih Brigada 38 11000 Beograd office@jsplaw.co.rs 381 11 344 59 70 381 11 344 59 72 www.jsplaw.co.rs ADVOKATSKA KANCELARIJA KARANOVIC I NIKOLIC Dejan Nikolic Resavska 23 11000 Beograd knserbia@karanovic-nikolic.com 381 11 309 42 00 381 11 309 42 23 www.karanovic-nikolic.com ADVOKATSKA KANCELARIJA HRLE Vladimir Hrle Simina 1 11000 Beograd office@hrle-attorneys.rs 381 11 328 32 95 381 11 328 30 61 www.hrle-attorneys.rs ADVOKATSKA KANCELARIJA MIROSLAV STOJANOVIĆ,

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COOPERATING LAW OFFICE OF WOLF THEISS Miroslav Stojanović Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 6 11070 Beograd miroslav.stojanovic@wolfheiss.com 381 11 330 29 00 381 11 330 29 25 www.wolftheiss.com ADVOKATSKA KANCELARIJA MORAVČEVIĆ, VOJNOVIĆ & PARTNERS IN ZUSAMMENARBEIT MIT SCHÖNHERR Matija Vojnović Francuska 27 11000 Beograd office@schoenherr.rs 381 11 320 26 00 381 11 320 26 10 www.schoenherr.rs ADVOKATSKA KANCELARIJA PETRIKIĆ & PARTNERI, U SARADNJI SA CMS REICH-ROHRWIG HAINZ Dr. Radivoje Petrikic Cincar Jankova 3 11000 Beograd belgrade@cms-rrh.com 381 11 320 89 00 381 11 320 89 30 www.cms-rrh.com ADVOKATSKA KANCELARIJA TSG Tomić Sinđelić Groza Ljubica Tomić Carice Milice 3 11000 Beograd office@tomic-stevic.co.rs 381 11 328 51 53 381 11 328 52 27 www.tsg.rs ADVOKATSKA KANCELARIJA TOMISLAV ŠUNJKA Tomislav Šunjka Sremska 4I 21000 Novi Sad office@sunjkalawoffice.com 381 21 472 17 88 381 21 661 75 41 www.sunjkalawoffice.com ADVOKATSKA KANCELARIJA VLADIMIR M. JANKOVIC Vladimir Janković Save Kovacevića 1 34000 Kragujevac 381 34 331 825 www.vmjank@beotel.net ADVOKATSKA KANCELARIJA VUK TAX ATTORNEYS Veljko Vukovic Toplicin venac 19-21 11000 Beograd contact@vuk-ta.com 381 11 202 80 44 381 11 202 80 45 www.vuk-ta.com ADVOKATSKA KANCELARIJA VUKOVIC & PARTNERS Dejan Vukovic

Vladete Kovačevića 2a 11000 Beograd office@vp.rs 381 11 264 22 65 381 11 264 22 58 www.vp.rs AGENCIJA ALMAS 1 Aleksandra Borlja Gandijeva 79 11070 Beograd beoalmas@eunet.rs 381 11 245 62 98 381 11 245 62 98 AGS BELGRADE D.O.O. Elie Alain Taieb Vladan Janković Višnjička 91 11060 Beograd manager-belgrade@agsmovers.com 381 11 208 59 17 381 11 208 59 18 www.agsmovers.com AIR BERLIN PLC & CO. LUFTVERKEHRS KG Wolfgang Prock-Schauer Maja Vrcelj Saatwinkler Damm 42-43 D- 13627 Berlin mvrcelj@etihad.ae www.airberlin.com ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA D.O.O. Ivan Novcic Makenzijeva 67II 11000 Beograd office@aim.rs 381 11 245 05 08 381 11 242 01 22 www.cordmagazine.com www.aim.rs ALSTOM HOLDINGS REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE Miodrag Jelisavcic Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 6 11070 Beograd 381 11 220 05 80 381 11 220 05 89 biljana.jocovic@power.alstom.com www.alstom.com AQUALAB PLUS D.O.O. Sinisa Vucinic Ugrinovačka 101 11080 Beograd office@aqualab.rs 381 11 244 15 51 381 11 244 15 57 www.aqualab.rs ARMONT SP Dejan Slavulj Batajnički drum 283 11080 Zemun office@armont.biz 381 11 375 01 41 381 11 748 91 19 www.armont.biz ASSOCIATES TREASURY SOLUTIONS Aleksandar Koprivica Balkanska 2 11000 Beograd

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aleksandar.koprivica@associates.rs 381 11 404 80 90 www.associates.rs ATAIR GMBH Reiner Baumbach Wilmsbergerweg 12 48565 Steinfurt ermem@atair.de 49 255 292 911 40 49 255 292 95 03 www.atair.de ATLAS BANKA AD PODGORICA PREDSTAVNISTVO BEOGRAD Vesna Pavlović Furht Nušićeva 15 11000 Beograd predstavnistvo@atlasbankars.com 381 11 333 63 10 381 11 333 63 01 www.atlasbanka.com ATRIA GROUP SEE D.O.O. BEOGRAD Predrag Jovanović Kisela Voda 20 11000 Beograd office@atria.rs 381 11 412 34 10 381 11 412 34 70 www.atria.rs ATRIUM CONSULTING D.O.O. Roman Klott Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 165G 11070 Beograd office@atrium-consulting.com 381 11 220 58 10 381 11 220 58 11 www.atrium-consulting.com BACCO D.O.O. Branislav Cvetković Balkanska 35-39 11000 Beograd bacco@eunet.rs 381 11 268 66 28 381 11 264 62 92 www.bacco.rs BALL PAKOVANJA EVROPA BEOGRAD D.O.O. Colin Gillis Batajnicki drum 21A 11080 Beograd nenad.djurdjevic@ball.com 381 11 377 06 00 381 11 377 08 44 www.ball-europe.com BASF D.O.O. Michael Stefan Nam Omladinskih brigada 90b 11070 Beograd mirela.andjelkovic@basf.com 381 11 309 34 00 381 11 309 34 01 www.basf.rs BAULEX D.O.O. BEOGRAD Radivoje Spasojević Vladimira Popovica 38-40 11070 Beograd baulexqatar@gmail.com 381 64 570 65 89 381 11 850 07 23

www.baulex-bau.com BAYER D.O.O. Miodrag Stankovic Omladinskih brigada 88b 11070 Beograd office@bayer.rs 381 11 207 02 00 381 11 207 02 77 www.bayer.rs BB ELEKTRONIK D.O.O. Slobodan Sipić Rumska 161 22429 Voganj info@bbelektronik.co.rs 38 12 243 14 32 38 12 243 14 32 www.bbelektronik.co.rs BDO D.O.O. Ksenija Ristic-Kostic Kneza Mihailova 10 11000 Beograd bdo@bdo.co.rs 383 11 328 18 08 382 11 328 13 99 www.bdo.co.rs BEO-LAB LABARATORIJE Marko Pazman Resavska 58-60 11000 Beograd office@beo-lab.rs 381 11 362 27 77 381 11 265 64 20 www.beo-lb.rs BEO NETWORK EXPERT D.O.O. Ivana Cvetković Autoput 2, SC 11. april 11070 Beograd beo.network.expert@gmail.com 381 11 319 67 98 381 64 111 23 77 www beonetworkexpert.wix.com BERLIN CHEMIE AG PREDSTAVNIŠTVO BEOGRAD Nenad Vučković Milutina Milankovića 19a 11070 Beograd office@berlin-chemie.rs 381 11 655 60 90 381 11 267 24 76 www.berlin-chemie.rs BEST WESTERN HOTEL ŠUMADIJA D.O.O. Njegomir Kilibarda Šumadijski trg 8 11030 Beograd office@hotelsumadija.com 381 11 305 41 00 381 11 355 43 68 www.hotelsumadija.com BG REKLAM D.O.O. Marko Kukić 29. novembra bb 11460 Barajevo info@bgreklam.rs info@bgreklam.rs 381 11 785 64 64 381 785 64 65 www.bgreklam.rs BHG BRECHTEL GMBH- OGRANAK

Milan Lazarevic Balkanska 47 11000 Beograd mlazarevic@t-online.de 381 11 761 74 55 381 11 761 74 55 www.bhg-brechtel.de BIG DUTCHMAN INTERNATIONAL GMBH Saša Đurić Bulevar Oslobodjenja 30a 21000 Novi Sad office@bigdutchman.rs 381 21 633 41 41 www.bigdutchman.rs BILJANA PETROVIĆ PR IZVRŠITELJ Ulica kneza Višeslava 58 A 11000 Beograd izvrsiteljbpetrovic@open.telekom.rs izvrsiteljbpetrovic@gmail.com 381 11 355 56 80 381 289 07 96 www.izvrsitelji.rs BIO SAVE D.O.O. Milovan Kovačević Vojislava Vučkovića 10 11000 Beograd info@biosave.rs 381 11 369 22 06 www.biosave.rs BIOTEC INTERNATIONAL D.O.O. Gordana Juran Zdravkovic Resavska 2 11000 Beograd biotec@eunet.rs 381 11 334 01 48 381 11 334 15 61 www.biotec.rs BOZIC I SINOVI D.O.O. Nikola Egić Maksima Gorkog 3 26000 Pančevo office@bozic.rs 381 13 361 444 www.bozic.rs www.it-recycling.biz BSH KUĆNI APARATI D.O.O. BEOGRAD Nikola Vujatovic Milutina Milankovića 11a 11070 Beograd 381 11 205 23 99 381 11 205 23 89 www.bsh-group.com www. bosch-home.rs www.siemens-home.rs BUCK D.O.O. BEOGRAD Zoran Vasiljević Milorada Jovanovica 9 11147 Beograd office@buck.rs 381 11 205 24 00 381 11 205 24 01 www.buck.rs BWC D.O.O. BEOGRAD Slobodan Škundrić Beogradska 129-131 11277 Ugrinovci-Beograd

office@bwc.rs 381 11 840 86 54 381 11 840 86 59 www.bwc-bg.rs CARBO CONCEPT D.O.O. Miroslav Štulić Jabučki put 219 26000 Pančevo office@carboconcept.com 381 13 345 442 www.carboconcept.com CATERING PLUS D.O.O. Aleksandar Durović Vladimira Popovica 50412 11070 Beograd office@catering.rs 381 11 260 84 10 381 11 260 84 11 www.catering.rs CBS INTERNATIONAL D.O.O. (AFFILIATE OF CBRE GROUP) Dragan Radulović Omladinskih brigada 88b 11070 Beograd office@cbre.rs 381 11 225 87 77 381 11 228 19 69 www.cbre.rs CENTAR JEZIKA NEVEN Nevena Čekić Bulevar Zorana Đinđića 1661 11070 Beograd nevena@centarjezikaneven.com 381 11 260 70 20 381 60 316 98 76 www.centarjezikaneven.com CENTAR ZA RECIKLAŽU D.O.O. Zdravko Mihaljević Tome Buše 14 11250 Beograd office@czr.rs 381 11 658 05 86 381 11 657 73 15 www.czr.rs COMDATA D.O.O. Dragan Majkić Mileševska 6 21000 Novi Sad office@comdata.rs 381 21 472 04 96 381 21 662 21 46 www.comdata.rs COMMERZBANK AG REPRÄSENTANZ BELGRAD Oliver Schufmann Vladimira Popovica 6, A-112 11070 Beograd fi.belgrade@commerzbank.com 381 11 301 85 20 381 11 301 85 23 www.commerzbank.com CONDATA D.O.O. Branko Kujundžić Carice Milice 3 11000 Beograd office@condata.rs 381 11 262 90 21 381 11 328 51 53 www.condata.rs CONFIDA CONSULTING D.O.O.

Christian Braunig Knez Mihailova 22 11000 Beograd c.braunig@confida.rs 381 11 303 91 04 381 11 303 91 05 www.confida.rs CONTITECH FLUID SERBIA D.O.O. Markus Murk Živko Topalović Batinska 94 24000 Subotica milica.markovic@fluid.contitech.rs 381 24 415 52 44 381 24 415 00 50 www.contitech.de CREDITREFORM D.O.O. Kaja Ristic Palmira Toljatija 5III 11070 Beograd info@creditreform.rs 381 11 269 60 59 381 11 2672998 www.creditreform.rs CROWE HORWATH BDM D.O.O. Bogdan Đurić Terazije 54 11000 Beograd bogdan.djuric@crowehorwath.rs 381 11 655 85 00 381 11 655 85 01 www.crowehorwath.rs CROWNE PLAZA D.O.O. NBGP PROPERTIES D.O.O. Zivorad Vasic Vladimira Popovica 10 11070 Beograd begcp.frontdesk@ihg.com 381 11 220 40 04 381 11 220 41 04 www.ihg.com/crowneplaza DAD DRÄXLMAIER AUTOMOTIVE D.O.O. Andreas Josef Weber Skladišna hala 1 Lokacija Bagljaš Aerodrom 23000 Zrenjanin info@draexlmaier.com 381 23 519 001 381 23 519 056 www.draexlmaier.com DAUN & CIE AG Claas Daun Bahnhofstrabe 21 26180 Rastede info@daun-ag.de 49 440 29 98 00 49 440 29 98 025 DB INTERNATIONAL OGRANAK Nikola Ristić Terazije 16 11000 Beograd nikola.ristic@db-international.de 381 11 361 52 38 381 11 361 35 87 www.db-international.de DDOR NOVI SAD Giorgio Ambrogio Marchegiani Bulevar Mihajila Pupina 8

21000 Novi Sad ddor@ddor.co.rs 381 21 488 60 00 381 11 662 48 31 www.ddor.co.rs DEG DEITSCHE INVESTITIONS - UND ENTWICKLUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH Bruno Wenn Kämmergasse 22 50676 Köln wilhelm.icke@deginvest.de 49 221 4986 1610 49 221 4986 1290 www.definvest.de DEGUSTA D.O.O. BEOGRAD Boško Jakšić Osma Sutjeska 252 11060 Beograd office@degusta.rs 381 11 655 44 00 381 11 331 74 34 www.degusta.rs DEKRA ZAPOŠLJAVANJE D.O.O. Daniele Divjanović Bulevar Zorana Đinđića 64A3 11070 Beograd office@dekra.rs 381 11 212 04 54 381 11 212 04 59 www.dekra-zapo.rs DELTA MOTORS D.O.O. Nemanja Lazić Radnička 8 11030 Beograd office@bmw.rs 381 11 353 99 00 381 11 353 99 04 www.bmw.rs DERTOUR D.O.O. Vili Mitova Gerhard Begher Francuska 17I 11000 Beograd prodaja@dertour.rs 381 11 404 91 40 381 11 334 91 16 www.dertour.rs DEUTSCHE BANK AG - REPRÄSENTANZ BELGRAD Nemanja Žugić Balkanska 2 /1402 11000 Beograd marija.glodevic@db.com 381 11 205 50 50 www.db.com DEUTSCHE LUFTHANSA AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT -LUFTHANSA PREDSTAVNIŠTVO BEOGRAD Hannes Steinacker Terazije 3III 11000 Beograd 381 11 30 34 944 www.lufthansa.com DEWACO D.O.O. Srđan Pezo Bulevar Arsenija Čarnojevića 102 11070 Beograd

office@man.rs 381 22 366 400 381 22 366 402 www.man.rs DHL MEĐUNARODNI VAZDUŠNI EKSPRES D.O.O. Darko Babić Jurija Gargarina 36v 11070 Beograd info-rs@dhl.com 381 11 310 55 00 381 11 310 55 10 www.dhl.rs DINOTEC SR D.O.O. Biljana Radivojević Čuburska 11 11000 Beograd dinotec@ikom.com 381 11 242 19 82 www.dinotec.de DOBA FAKULTET ZA PRIMENJENE I DRUŠTVENE STUDIJE MARIBOR Jasna Dominiko Baloh Prešernova ulica 1 2000 Maribor info@doba.si 38 62 228 38 60 38 62 228 38 61 www.doba.si DOM ZDRAVLJA VIZIM Marija Dinić Knez Miletina 36 11000 Beograd office@vizim.co.rs 381 11 785 77 77 381 11 785 77 78 www.vizim.co.rs DR. HEIMEIRE & PARTNER MANAGMENT- UND PERSONALBERATUNG GMBH Cristina Langen, Dr. Reiner Mark Morsenbroicher Weg 200 40470 Dusseldorf aleksic@heimeier.de 49 211 55 921 14 49 211 55 922 55 www.heimeier.de DR. OETKER Zoran Mitić Vladimira Popovica 40 11070 Beograd info@oetker.rs 381 11 205 28 00 381 11 205 28 21 www.oetker.rs DRÄGER TEHNIKA D.O.O. Predrag Gvorić Danijelova 12-16 11010 Beograd office.serbia@draeger.com 381 11 391 12 22 381 11 391 13 33 www.draeger.com DSD KONSTRUKTION D.O.O. Harald Stutzer Dr. Milana Petrovica 21 21000 Novi Sad office@dsd-serbia.co.rs 381 21 679 18 88

381 21 548 228 www.dsd-serbia.co.rs DUNKERMOTOREN D.O.O. Uwe Lorenz Batinska 94 24000 Subotica office.subotica@ametek.com 381 24 630 100 381 24 630 101 www.dunkermotoren.com ECOLOGICA URBO D.O.O. Evica Rajić Save Kovačevića 31 34000 Kragujevac office@ecourbo.com 381 34 331 332 381 34 337 237 www.ecourbo.com ECOVIS CONFIDAS D.O.O Alexander Samonig Imotska 1 11000 Beograd belgrade@ecovis.com 381 11 395 68 00 381 11 395 68 88 www.ecovis.com/belgrade EDR GMBH Helmut Ferrari Dillwächterstraße 5 80686 München info@edr.de 49 89 547 11 20 49 895 471 12 50 www.edr.de EKAPIJA.COM D.O.O. Zdravko Lončar Bulevar Mihaila Pupina 10A 11070 Beograd management@ekapija.com 381 11 715 22 40 381 11 715 22 41 www.ekapija.com EKO-DUNAV D.O.O. Ivan Grbin Barička reka bb 11504 Beograd office@eko-dunav.co.rs 381 11 367 57 69 381 11 367 59 04 www. eko-dunav.co.rs ELNOS BL Borko Torbica Blagoja Marijanovića Mose 6 11070 Beograd officebg@elnosbl.com 381 11 787 00 93 381 11 748 88 71 www.elnosbl.com ELTEC PETROL D.O.O. Aleksandar Stanković Patrijarha Dimitrija 12v 11090 Beograd marketing@eltec-petrol.rs 381 11 256 24 39 381 11 256 24 39 www.eltec-petrol.rs EMBASSY TECHZONES D.O.O. Ramgopal Narayanan Dedinjska 10 11040 Beograd

office@embassytechzones.rs 381 11 266 07 26 381 11 266 13 96 www. embassytechzonrs.rs ENEL PS D.O.O. Sasa Mihailovic Zelengorska 1g 11070 Beograd office@enelps.com 381 11 313 21 13 381 11 269 12 62 www.enelps.com ENERGOMONTAŽA A.D. Mladen Žujković Živojina Žujovića 14 11050 Beograd office@energomontaza.com 381 11 381 49 00 381 11 380 96 92 www.energomontaza.rs ENVOY HOTEL BEOGRAD - ADOC D.O.O. Biljana Obradović Čika Ljubina 13 11000 Beograd info@envoyhotel.rs 381 11 414 46 46 381 11 414 46 44 www.envoyhotel.rs EOS MATRIX D.O.O. Jelena Jović Milentijević Đorđa Stanojevića 14 11070 Beograd kontakt.rs@eos-matrix.com 381 11 330 07 00 381 11 330 07 77 www.rs.eos-solutions.com ERNST & YOUNG D.O.O. BEOGRAD Stephen James Fish Španskih boraca 3 11070 Beograd ey.office@rs.ey.com 381 11 209 58 00 381 11 209 58 90 www.ey.comrs ERSTE GROUP IMMORENT SERBIA D.O.O. Dr. Claus Graggaber Milutina Milanovića 11a 11070 Beograd office.rs@immorent.com 381 11 228 74 82 381 11 228 74 82 www.erstegroupimmorent.com EURO LOGISTIK SERVICE D.O.O. Saša Orlov Vladimira Popovića 50 A-456 11070 Beograd office@els.co.rs 381 11 712 98 44 www.els.co.rs EUROFAST GLOBAL D.O.O. Panayiotis Diallinas Beogradska 314 11000 Beograd belgrade@eurofast.eu 381 11 324 14 84 381 11 303 88 48

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www.eurofast.eu EUROMEDIC APOTEKE, Z.U. Vjekoslav Vukajlovic Kralja Milutina 57 11000 Beograd vjeko@euro-medic.net 381 11 218 21 08 EUROPCAR FRANCHISE -PRIMERO RENT A CAR D.O.O. Stanko Jankovic Vladimir Ilic Bulevar Mihaila Pupina 10g532 11070 Beograd info@europcar.rs 381 11 785 27 97 381 11 212 94 86 www.europcar.rs EXECUTIVE GROUP D.O.O. Darko Matijašević Knez Mihailova 9 11000 Beograd info@eg.rs 381 11 328 44 88 381 11 328 44 80 www.eg.rs EXSON PLUS D.O.O. Stefan Milošević Vladimira Popovića 38-40 11070 Beograd stefanmilosevic@gmail.com 38 16 235 37 85 381 11 715 69 00 www.lohn-konfektion.com FALKE SERBIA D.O.O. Thomas Martin Krüger Olaf Kaiser Tekstilna 71 16000 Leskovac falke.serbia@falke.com 381 16 315 00 50 381 16 315 00 48 www.falke.com FALKENSTEINER HOTEL BEOGRADE ALBA INVEST D.O.O. Aleksandar Vasiljević Bulevar Mihaila Pupina 10K 11070 Beograd reservations.belgrade@ falkensteiner.com 381 11 225 00 00 381 11 225 00 01 www.falkensteiner.com FARMALOGIST D.O.O. Silvana Džudžević Mirijevski bulevar 3 11060 Beograd office.dir@farmalogist.rs 381 11 331 50 01 381 11 331 50 10 www.farmalogist.rs FERDINAND BILSTEIN SOUTH EAST EUROPE D.O.O. Zoran Petrović Brđanska 412 11232 Beograd Lidija.Aleksic@Bilsteingroup.com 381 11 865 28 74 381 11 865 26 03 www.febi.com

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www.bilsteingroup.com FESTO GESELLSCHAFT M.B.H. OGRANAK BEOGRAD Ivan Zekavica Omladinskih brigada 90 V 5 11070 Beograd info@festo.rs 381 11 785 39 00 381 11 785 39 11 www.festo.com FINVEST D.O.O. Dušan Radovanović Generala Anrija 34a 11141 Beograd dusan@finvest.rs 381 11 309 81 17 381 11 309 64 95 www.finvest.rs FLUIDTERM EXPORT-IMPORT D.O.O. Marija Anđelković JNA 541, Zaklopača 11306 Grocka info@fluidterm.com 381 11 85 25 107 381 11 85 25 412 FOND ZA PODRŠKU INVESTICIJA U VOJVODINI- VIP Nataša Pavićević Bajić Narodnog Fronta 23 d 21000 Novi Sad office@vip.org.rs 381 21 472 32 40 381 21 472 19 21 www.vip.org.rs FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE SRBIJA D.O.O. - SPECIJALNA BOLNICA ZA HEMODIJALIZU Dr Stevan Pavlović Jurija Gagrina 11-11a 11070 Beograd 381 11 228 05 22 381 11 228 07 12 www.fmc-srbija.com FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE SERBIA D.O.O. Prof. dr. Rajko Hrvačević Beogradski put bb 26300 Vršac Vera.Trunic@fmc-ag.com 381 11 395 10 00 381 11 395 10 09 www.fmc-ag.com G.P. GRADJEVINAR Nenad Ćirić Trnska 25 11000 Beograd office@gradjevinar.rs 381 11 344 66 15 381 11 344 70 19 www.gradjevinar.rs GEA FARM TECHNOLOGIES SERBIEN D.O.O. Thomas Czutta, Managing Director Konstantina Jovanovića 10 11080 Zemun luka.bjeletic@gea.com 381 11 405 36 18 www.gea.com

GEBRÜDER WEISS TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS D.O.O. Dragan Simović, Director Beogradska bb 11272 Dobanovci gw.serbia@gw-world.com 381 11 371 52 00 381 11 371 52 01 www.gw-world.rs GENERALI OSIGURANJE SRBIJA AD Andrea Simoncelli Vladimira Popovica 8 11070 Beograd kontakt@generali.rs 381 11 222 05 55 381 11 711 43 81 www. generali.rs GEZE D.O.O. Vanja Milić Elemirski drum bb 23000 Zrenjanin office-serbia@geze.com 381 23 519 600 381 23 533 321 www.geze.com GFA SOUTH EAST EUROPE D.O.O. Zoran Kapor Maršala Birjuzova 3-5 11000 Beograd mirjana.mrgic@gfa-group.de 381 11 328 30 17 www.gfa-see.com GFK D.O.O. Marijana Agić-Molnar Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 10bVI 11070 Beograd ivan.borota@gfk.com 381 11 715 58 88 www.gfk.com GI GROUP HR SOLUTIONS D.O.O. Olga Svoboda Prote Mateje 52 11000 Beograd office@gigroup.com 381 11 244 39 80 www.gigroup.rs GIZ - DEUTSCHE GESELLSCHAFT FÜR INTERNATIONALE ZUSAMMENARBEIT GMBH Siegmund Müller Brzakova 20 11000 Beograd giz-serbien@giz.de 381 11 369 81 28 www.giz.de GLOB METROPOLITEN TOURS Mirjana Ljubinkovic Makenzijeva 26 11000 Beograd glob@metropoliten.com 381 11 243 08 99 381 11 243 08 52 www.metropoliten.com GRADING D.O.O. Miroslav Mihajlovic

PLENTY OF ROOM TO IMPROVE COOPERATION

Dimitrija Marjanovica 26 35250 Paracin bgoffice@grading.rs 381 35 887 14 01 381 35 887 04 01 www.garding.rs GRAH AUTOMOTIVE D.O.O. Aca Zlatić Kneza Miloša Obrenovića 9A 34227 Batočina aca.zlatic@grah-automotive.com 381 34 501 060 381 34 501 061 grahlighting.eu GRAMMER SYSTEM Pierluigi Ghiome 22. Decembar 18220 Aleksinac bobana.petrovic@grammer.com 381 18 809 100 381 18 802 255 www.grammer.com GRAND MOTORS D.O.O. Stanko Radić Milutina Milankovića 21 11070 Beograd ana.tomovic@ford.rs 381 11 209 06 61 www.ford.rs GRUNER SERBIAN D.O.O. Vladica Stanković Marka Oreškovića bb 16210 Vlasotince 381 16 230 800 381 16 230 801 www.gruner.de GUSTAV HENSEL GMBH & CO.KG FELIX G. HENSEL Gustav-Hensel-Strabe 6 D-57368 Lennestadt info@hensel-electric.de 49 2723 60 90 49 2723 67 267 www.hensel-electric.de GUSTAV KAESER TRAINING INTERNATIONAL D.O.O. Nikola Mirčić 8. marta 951 11250 Beograd serbia@gustavkaeser.com 381 63 221 910 www.gustavkaeser.com HARRISONS Mark William Harrison Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 624 11070 Beograd office@harrison-solicitors.com 381 11 312 98 25 381 11 312 98 23 www.harrison-solicitors.com HEMOFARM A.D. Dr. Ronald Seeliger Beogradski put bb 26300 Vršac svakodobro@hemofarm.com 381 13 80 31 00 381 13 80 41 00 www.hemofarm.com HENKEL SRBIJA D.O.O.

Gordana Brašić Bulevar Oslobodenja 383 11000 Beograd info@rs.henkel.com 381 11 207 22 00 381 11 207 22 98 www.henkel.rs HILL INTERNATIONAL D.O.O. Mina Čandrlić Ruzveltova 45 11000 Beograd hill@hill.rs 381 11 389 45 04 381 11 329 45 00 www.hill.rs HÖDLMAYR ZASTAVA D.O.O. Markus Wäger Trg Topolivaca 4 34000 Kragujevac serbia@hoedlmayer.com 381 34 323 239 381 34 335 916 www.hoedlmayr.com HOFFSCHMIDT FLAGPRINTER D.O.O. Rüdiger Hoffschmidt Majora Zorana Radosavljevića 370 11273 Beograd info@flagprinter.rs 381 11 414 44 28 www.flagprinter.rs HOLIDAY INN BELGRADE, BELEXPOCENTAR D.O.O. Slobodan Petrović Španskih boraca 74 11070 Beograd reception@hibelgrade.rs 381 11 310 00 00 381 11 310 01 00 www.belexpocentar.rs HOLLEMAN TRANSPORT D.O.O. Dejan Tubić Milinka Kušića 13 11250 Beograd info@holleman.rs 381 11 657 13 07 381 11 657 13 89 www.holleman.rs HÖRMANN SERBIA D.O.O. Bojan Simović Udarnih desetina 32 11271 Surčin b.simovic@hormann.rs 381 11 844 08 21 www.hormann.rs HRG SERBIA & MONTENEGRO, BT PEGROTOUR D.O.O. Predrag Španjević Topličin Venac 19-21 11000 Beograd office@rs.hrgworldwide.com 381 11 202 80 90 381 11 202 80 92 www.hrgworldwide.com HUMAN CONSULTING D.O.O. Ana Arzanović Sarajevska 386 11000 Beograd info@human.rs

381 11 366 01 76 381 11 362 91 54 www.human.rs I.C.P.S. INFINITY D.O.O. Damir Miladin Jaše Prodanovića 36 11000 Beograd office@icps-infinity.com 381 11 208 38 82 www.icps-infinity.com IB INTERBILANZ CONSULTING D.O.O. Marco Egger Milutina Milankovića 136a 11070 Beograd office@ibgroup.rs 381 11 655 70 43 381 11 669 39 99 www.ibgroup.at IHK CHEMNITZ K.D.Ö.R. Hans Joachim Wunderlich Straße der Nationen 25 9111 Chemnitz chemnitz@chemnitz.ihk.de 49 371 6900 0 49 371 6900 191565 www.chemnitz.ihk.24.de IMO D.O.O. Mirko Vinčetić Stevana Markovića 8 11070 Beograd imo@eunet.rs 381 11 210 64 04 381 11 316 29 06 www.merdevineiskele.com www.imo.co.rs IMPERIAL TOBACCO SCG D.O.O. Tomaž Grmovšek Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 6XII 11070 Beograd office@rs.imptob.com 381 11 220 08 00 381 11 220 08 40 www.imperial-tobacco.com IN HOTEL BEOGRAD D.O.O. Ružica Petrović Dedijer Bulevar Arsenija Čarnojevića 54a 11070 Beograd office@inhotel-belgrade.rs 381 11 310 53 00 381 11 310 53 51 www.inhotel-Beograde.rs INFOBIRO D.O.O Bojan Trajković Kursulina 13 11000 Beograd office.bgd@infobiro.tv 381 11 334 82 09 381 11 324 18 62 www.infobiro.tv INFOSTUD 3 D.O.O. Branislava Gajić Stanojević Aleja Maršala Tita 263 24000 Subotica info@infostud.com 381 24 415 56 15 381 24 415 56 12 www.infostud.com INFOTERM D.O.O. NIŠ

Dr Džo Mikulović Prvomajska 113II 18000 Niš tbrkanovic@infoterm.rs 381 18 250 422 381 18 250 422 www.infoterm.rs INPRO-SRB D.O.O. Boris Lavrič Bulevar revolucije 22a 11224 Beograd dejan.ilijev@inpro.pro 381 11 341 90 93 www.inpro.sirs INTEGRALTEHNIC Nikola Sebic Bulevar vojvode Mišića 14- hala 3a 11000 Beograd office@itcg.co.rs 381 11 361 18 28 38111 361 14 24 www.itcbg.co.rs INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS PARTNERS Kristina Vukanović Obilićev venac 4 11000 Beograd office@icp-co.com 381 11 262 03 66 381 11 262 04 22 www.icp-co.com IVA 28 D.O.O. Bojan Erčević Jurija Gargarina 231322 11070 Beograd office@iva28.rs 381 11 301 56 40 381 11 301 56 35 www.iva28.rs JIE ENGINEERING D.O.O. Jordanka Belić Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 10A513 11070 Beograd info@jie-engineering.com 381 11 311 23 78 381 11 311 23 87 www.jie-engineering.com JUGO-KAOLIN D.O.O. Nebojša Ilinčić Bulevar Mihaila Pupina 10V/312 11070 Beograd m.mladenovic@jugokaolin.rs 381 11 311 65 78 www.jugokaolin.rs JUGO-IMPEX E.E.R D.O.O. Ninoslav Milenković Bulevar Sv. Cara Konstantina 82-86 18000 Niš office@ereciklaza.com 381 18 415 01 26 381 18 415 01 31 www.ereciklaza.com KESZ D.O.O. Breier Szabolcs Bulevar Kneza Aleksandra Karađorđevića 23 11000 Beograd breiersz@kesz.hu 381 11 367 44 08

381 11 367 44 07 www.kesz.rs KFW OFFICE BELGRADE Arne Gooss Brzakova 20 11040 Beograd kfw.belgrade@kfw.de 381 11 369 81 22 www.kfw-entwicklungsbank.de KLASTER MODNE I ODEVNE INDUSTRIJE SRBIJE Slađana Milojević Omladinskih brigada 1435 11070 Beograd info@clusterfacts.org.rs 381 11 269 83 90 www.clusterfacts.org.rs KLETT IZDAVAČKA KUĆA D.O.O. Gordana Knežević Orlić Maršala Birjuzova 3-5IV 11000 Beograd office@klett.rs 381 11 334 83 84 381 11 334 83 85 www.klett.rs KNAUF INSULATION D.O.O. BEOGRAD Tihomir Civkarovski Batajnički drum 16b, 11080 Zemun office.belgrade@ knaufinsulation.com 381 11 331 08 00 381 11 331 08 01 Proizvodnja: Industrijsko naselje Belo Polje bb 17530 Surdulica office.surdulica@ knaufinsulation.com 381 17 401 910 381 17 815 774 www.knaufinsulation.rs KNAUF ZEMUN D.O.O. Todor Delovski Batajnički drum 16b, 11080 Zemun delovski.todor@knauf.com.mk 381 11 207 45 00 381 11 207 45 52 www.knauf.rs KORPUS D.O.O. Pavle Knežević Surčinski put 1b 11070 Beograd office@korpus.co.rs 381 11 712 92 61 381 11 712 93 63 www.korpus.co.rs KPMG D.O.O. James Thornley Kraljice Natalije 11 11000 Beograd info@kpmg.rs 381 11 205 05 00 381 11 205 05 50 www.kpmg.rs KRAFTANLAGEN SERBIA D.O.O. Jens Wolters Omladinskih brigada 88a

11070 Beograd beograd@kraftanlagen.eu 381 11 440 74 41 381 11 440 74 43 www.kraftanlagen.de LA LUBENICA D.O.O. (BERLITZ) Aleksandar Nikolić Vladimira Popovića 44lokal A L 23 11070 Beograd office@berlitz.co.rs 381 11 312 11 45 381 11 312 11 47 www.berlitz.co.rs LAHYER D.O.O. Dragan Carić Bulevar Arsenija Čarnojevića 7818 11070 Beograd info@layher.rs 381 11 212 96 88 381 11 313 35 83 www.layer.rs LEGI-SGS D.O.O. Sebstijan Babić Novo Naselje 10 11184 Beograd office@legi.rs 381 11 800 16 73 www.legi.rs LEITNERLEITNER CONSULTING D.O.O. Pavo Đedović Knez Mihajlova 1-3III 11000 Beograd office.belgrade@leitnerleitner.com 381 11 655 51 05 381 11 655 51 06 www.leitnerleitner.com LEONI WIRING SYSTEMS SOUTHEAST D.O.O. Joerg Paechnatz Pane Dukića 1 18400 Prokuplje jasmina.milosavljevic@leoni.com 381 27 319 111 381 27 319 499 www.leoni.com LETAČ D.O.O. Mile Savić Kralja Petra I bb 22320 Inđija info@letac.rs 381 22 510 031 381 22 560 524 www.letac.rs LIDL SERBIA SUPERMARKETI K.D. Dragan Čigoja Tošin bunar 272 v 11070 Beograd olga.drskovic@lidl.rs 381 11 655 40 00 381 11 655 40 15 www.lidl.rs LINDE GAS SRBIJA Zoran Popov Petrovoselski put 143 21220 Bečej office@rs.linde-gas.com 381 21 681 10 00

381 21 681 10 51 www.linde.com LINDE VILJUSKARI D.O.O. Vesna Jovanović Moše Pijade 17b 11224 Vrčin info@linde-mh.rs 381 11 805 57 06 381 11 805 57 08 www.linde-mh.rs LINDNER D.O.O. Vojislav Popović Koste Abraševića 12 11050 Beograd office@lindner-beograd.com 381 11 382 24 54 381 11 382 24 53 www.lindner-beograd.com LMB SOFT D.O.O. Klaus Dieter Jentsch Dragan Janković Bulevar Nikole Tesle bb 18000 Niš klaus.jentsch@lmb.de dragan.jankovic@lmbsoft.rs 381 18 200 825 381 18 577 640 www.lmbsoft.rs LOSBERGER GMBH Berndt Zoepffel Gottlieb-Daimler-Iling 14 74906 Bad Rappenau export@losberger.com 49 7066 980 0 49 7066 980 232 www.losberger.com M+W PROCESS ENGINEERING D.O.O. Josef Kriegl Lotterbergstr. 30 70499 Stuttgart marko.elez@mwgroup.net 381 11 655 79 10 www.pi.mwgroup.net MACE D.O.O. Branislav Simovic, General Manager Heroja Milana Tepica 3 11000 Beograd serbia.office@macegroup.com 381 11 400 02 22 www.macegroup.com MANPOWER D.O.O. Aleksandar Hangimana Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 115v 11070 Beograd office@manpower.rs 381 11 414 30 93 381 11 414 30 96 www.manpower.rs MARINA BOSNJOVIC PR AGENCIJA ZA KONSALTING Marina Bošnović Đorđa Stanojevića 11dj29 11070 Beograd marina@bosnjovic.com 381 11 630 21 85 381 11 308 81 05 MAŠINOPROJEKT KOPRING A.D.

Slobodan Lalić Dobrinjska 8a 11000 Beograd office@masinoprojekt.co.rs 381 11 363 57 00 381 11 363 57 80 www.masinoprojekt.co.rs MCB EDUKACIJA D.O.O. Bojan Šćepanović Ustanička 189 11050 Beograd mcb@eunet.rs 381 11 304 71 26 www.mcb.rs MEDINIC EKSPORT -IMPORT D.O.O. Ljiljana Belčević Danicareva 57 11000 Beograd office@medinic-b.com 381 11 304 77 44 381 11 283 70 09 www.medicin.com MEHLER PROTECTIVE SYSTEM D.O.O. Zoran Popović Bagljaš Aerodrom 131873 23000 Zrenjanin mehler@mehler.rs 381 23 532 870 381 23 532 874 MERCK D.O.O. Ina Bulat Omladinskih Brigada 90v 11070 Beograd merck@merck.rs 381 11 217 57 61 381 11 217 67 81 www.merck.rs MERKUR GAMES D.O.O. Branko Kokir Mileševska 64 11000 Beograd ivasiljevic@merkur-casino.com 381 11 630 40 21 381 11 283 38 30 www.merkurautomatklub.com MESSER TEHNOGAS A.D. Ernst Bode Banjički put 62 11090 Beograd postoffice@messer.rs 381 11 353 72 70 381 11 353 72 99 www.messer.rs METRO CASH & CARRY D.O.O. Roberto Mancuso Autoput za Novi Sad 120 11080 Beograd vanja.tadic@metro.rs 381 11 377 74 00 381 11 377 75 39 www.metro.rs METROPOL PALACE D.O.O. Ioannis Daskalantonakis Georgios Margaritis Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 69 11000 Beograd office@metropolpalace.com 381 11 333 31 00 381 11 333 33 00

www.metropolpalace.com MILŠPED D.O.O. Nebojsa Iković Savski Nasip 7 11070 Beograd marija.ikovic@milsped.com 381 11 201 51 00 381 11 201 51 33 www.milsped.com MOKROGORSKA ŠKOLA MENADŽMENTA D.O.O. Srdjan Janjicijevic Naselje Mećavnik, ulica Ingmara Bergmana br. 1 31243 Mokra Gora office@msm.edu.rs 381 65 303 50 87 381 11 362 36 28 msm.edu.rs MMM MÜNCHENER MEDIZIN MECHANIK GMBH Michael Geutler Semmelweisstr. 6 82152 Planegg-München info@mmmgroup.com 49 89 899 180 49 89 899 181 18 www.mmmgroup.com MOVEM & CO Njegoslav Trifković Milentija Popovića 9 11070 Beograd office@movem.co.rs 381 11 311 14 37 www.movem.rs MUEHLBAUER TECHNOLOGIES D.O.O. Hubert Forster Evropska 17 22300 Stara Pazova info@muehlbauer.de 381 22 215 51 60 381 22 215 51 30 www.muehlbauer.de MULTI-TEC D.O.O. Niko Bubić Liparska 50 21208 Sremska Kamenica mbubic@multi-tec.net 381 21 625 28 20 381 21 625 28 24 www.multi-tec.net NDP AUDIT & CONSULTING D.O.O. Vladimir Dabić Topličin venac 3IV 11000Beograd office@ndp-audit.rs 381 11 308 57 80 381 11 308 57 82 www.ndp-audit.rs NEIMAR PROJEKT D.O.O. Goran Djordjevic Vazduhoplovaca bb 18000 Nis 381 18 458 20 50 381 18 458 36 88 www.neimarprojekt.com NENAD POPOVIĆ ARCHITECT D.O.O. Nenad Popović

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Požarevačka 18 11000 Beograd info@nenadpopovic.com 381 11 405 69 75 www.nenadpopovic.com NESTLE ADRIATIC S D.O.O. Yana Mikhailova Milutina Milankovića 11a 11070 Beograd info@cs.nestle.com 381 11 201 93 01 381 11 313 20 22 www.nestle.rs NITEA D.O.O. Vesna Ječmenica Đorđa Stanojevića 14 11000 Beograd office@nitea.rs 381 11 228 73 89 381 11 228 73 88 www.nitea.rs NORMA GRUPA JUGOISTOCNA EVROPA D.O.O. Philip Humphries Thomas Kraus Batinska 94 24000 Subotica info.rs@normagroup.com 381 24 644 500 381 24 644 533 www.normagroup.com NOVOS D.O.O. Nenad Vuković Cara Dušana 207 11080 Zemun novos@novos.co.rs 381 11 377 35 03 381 11 377 35 04 www.novos.co.rs OFFICECOM D.O.O. BEOGRAD Kai Aufenberg Tronoska 18 11185 Beograd prodaja@officecom.rs 381 11 377 45 38 www.officecom.rs OPEL SOUTHEAST EUROPE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY PREDSTAVNIŠTVO Dragan Nenadović Bulevara Mihajla Pupina 165G 11070 Beograd aleksandra.nedeljkovic@opel.com 381 11 301 52 02 381 11 301 52 03 www.opel.rs OSRAM EOOD PREDSTAVNIŠTVO Miroslav Laješić Elvis Lyubchev Georgiev Antifašističke borbe 12 11070 Beograd office@osram.com 381 11 228 17 17 381 11 228 17 16 www.osram.com OST- UND MITTELEUROPA VEREIN E.V. Miloš Mitić Am Weidendamm 1A

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10117 Berlin info@o-m-v.org 49 305 900 995 75 49 305 900 994 75 www.o-m-v.org OVATION BBDO D.O.O. Dragoslav Ilić Velislava Vulovića 16 11000 Beograd office@ovationbbdo.rs 381 11 414 61 60 381 11 414 61 64 www.ovationbbdo.rs P3 COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING Vladimir Obradović Majora Gavrilovića 1 14000 Valjevo info.communications@ p3-group.com 381 14 292 100 381 14 292 101 p3-group.com PALCO D.O.O. Goran Negovanovic Nova 9 bb 15000 Šabac palco@eunet.rs 381 15 355 150 381 15 355 150 www.palco.de PANASONIC LIGHTING DEVICES SERBIA D.O.O. Dirk Bantel Karl Rojm bb 35210 Svilajnac Ana.Marincic@ vsu.vossloh-schwabe.com 381 35 815 01 00 381 35 815 01 01 www.vossloh-schwabe.com PEDIMENT D.O.O. Goran Blagojevic Kraljice Natalije 392 11000 Beograd marijana.dubljevic@pediment.co.rs 381 63 211 231 www.pediment.rs PERI OPLATE D.O.O. Mile Bojanić Zmaja Ognjenog Vuka 2 22310 Šimanovci office@peri.rs 381 22 408 28 200 381 22 408 28 250 www.peri.rs PERIHARD INŽENJERING D.O.O. Bogdanka Pešić Kneginje Zorke 24 11000 Beograd prodaja@perihard.com 381 11 276 00 16 381 11 276 00 19 www.perihard.com PERTINI TOYS D.O.O. Aleksandar Ignjatović Sinđelićeva 4 11000 Beograd office@pertinitoys.co.rs 381 11 2448 384

www.pertinitoys.com PEWO ENERGIETECHNIK GMBH Egbert Petrick David Piegazki Geierswalder Straße 13 02979 Eisterheide info@pewo.de 49 357 148 980 49 357 148 98 28 381 65 505 49 03 www.pewo.com PFEIFFER D.O.O. Slobodan Pilipović Kumodraska 241 b 11000 Beograd offece@pfeiffer.rs 381 11 398 26 67 381 11 398 27 52 www.ludwigpfeiffer.com PHIWA D.O.O Rudolf Walter Matija Korvina 17 24000 Subotica phiwa@phiwa.com 381 24 647 231 381 24 647 220 www.galleria-center.com PHOENIX PHARMA D.O.O. Aleksandra Drašković Bore Stankovića 2 11000 Beograd office@phoenixpharma.rs 381 11 353 81 00 381 11 353 82 00 www.phoenixpharma.rs POWER SYMBOL TECHNOLOGY D.O.O. (PSTECH) Branka Radovanović Milutina Milankovica 11b 11070 Beograd office@pstech.rs 381 11 205 74 00 381 11 312 09 74 www.pstech.rs PREDSTAVNIŠTVO PAUL HARTMANN AG Alfred Raček Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 619 11070 Beograd nikola.stankovic@si.hartmann.info 381 11 440 45 00 381 11 440 45 01 www.si.hartmann.info PRE-PRINT D.O.O. Stanko Krstin Josifa Marinkovića 10 21000 Novi Sad office@pre-print.rs 381 21 644 79 99 381 21 633 60 04 www.pre-print.rs PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS D.O.O. Biljana Bogovac Omladinskih brigada 88a 11070 Beograd rs-office@rs.pwc.com 381 11 330 21 00 381 11 330 21 01 www.pwc.rs

PLENTY OF ROOM TO IMPROVE COOPERATION

PROCREDIT BANK A.D. BEOGRAD Svetlana Tolmacheva Dingarac Milutina Milankovica 17 11070 Beograd info@procreditbank.rs 381 11 207 78 55 www.procreditbank.rs PROEL A.D. Vesna Milošević Đorđa Stanojevića 9a 11070 Beograd proel@softnet.rs 381 12 221 955 381 12 221 942 www.proel.rs PROFINE D.O.O. Bojan Predojević Batajnički drum bb 11080 Zemun serbia@profine-group.com 381 11 210 19 86 381 11 307 60 12 www.profine-group.com PROMINENT MAĐARSKA PREDSTAVNIŠTVO BEOGRAD Ottó Horváth Slaviša Milović Mokroluška Nova 1b 11010 Beograd s.milovic@prominent.co.rs 381 11 630 42 42 381 11 630 45 19 www.prominent.co.rs PROTEKTORWERK FLORENZ Maisch GmbH & Co. KG Dr. Christof Maisch Viktoriastrasse 58 76571 Gaggenau info@protektor.com 49 722 597 70 49 722 59 77 11 www.protektor.com R. E. FOUR D.O.O. (MEMBER OF OTP GROUP) Gyula Péter Németh Bulevar Oslobođenja 82 21000 Novi Sad sasa.verc@refour.rs 381 21 480 08 47 381 64 885 01 51 RADISSON BLU OLD MILL HOTEL, BEOGRAD Thomas Swieca Bulevar Vojvode Mišića 15 11000 Beograd info.belgrade@radissonblu.com 381 11 635 73 57 381 11 635 73 58 www.radissonblu.com REHAU D.O.O. Nikola Ivošević Stražilovska 7 11272 Beograd beograd@rehau.com 381 11 377 03 02 381 11 377 03 19 www.rehau.rs REISSWOLF SERBIA D.O.O. Milan Bogovac

Volarsko Polje BB 22300 Stara Pazova office@reisswolf.rs 381 22 317 720 381 22 317 721 www.reisswolf.rs REPRO MARKET D.O.O. Slobodan Milenković Patrijarha Varnave 49 11000 Beograd office@repromarket.rs 381 11 3444 963 381 11 2446 079 www.repromarket.rs RILEX CO D.O.O. Dragan Ristivojević Sime Igumanova 60 11000 Beograd office@rilex.co.rs 381 11 383 68 84 381 11 383 68 85 www.rilex.co.rs ROBERT BOSCH D.O.O Jovanka Jovanović Milutina Milankovića 11a 11070 Beograd jovanka.jovanovic@bosch.com 381 11 205 23 03 381 11 205 23 22 www.bosch.rs S&FRIENDS Tijana Adamov Makedonska 34 11000 Beograd office@s-and-friends.com 381 11 322 9668 www.s-and-friends.com S&T SRBIJA D.O.O. Rajko Jovanović Đorđa Stanojevića 15 11070 Beograd info@snt.rs 381 11 311 62 21 381 11 311 76 65 www.snt.rs SAINT-GOBAIN GRAĐEVINSKI PROIZVODI D.O.O.-SEKTOR RIGIPS Aleksandar Grujić Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 115d 11070 Beograd aleksandar.grujic@saint-gobain.com 381 11 22 82 444 381 11 3149795 www.rigips.rs SALESIANER MIETTEX BOGSIM Markus Kühböck Batajnički drum 23 11185 Beograd d.milosevic@salesianer.rs 381 11 6192 353 www.salesianer.rs SANO SAVREMENA ISHRANA ŽIVOTINJA D.O.O. Branimir Kampl Josifa Pancica 8 21000 Novi Sad sano@sano.rs 381 21 478 03 20 381 21 444 326 www.sano.rs

SAP WEST BALKANS D.O.O. Vojislav Genić Omladinskih brigada 88b 11070 Beograd infowb@sap.com 381 11 353 69 00 381 11 353 69 19 www.sap.com SAUTER BULIDING CONTROL SERBIA D.O.O. Mladen Vukanac Alekse Nenadović 15-17 11000 Beograd info@sauter.rs 381 11 383 55 71 381 11 245 22 60 www.sauter.co.rs SCHENKER D.O.O. Neven Marcesku Batajnički drum 283d 11080 Beograd sales@schenker.rs 381 11 414 18 70 www.dbschenker.comrs SCHMITZ CARGOBULL D.O.O. Vujo Crnomarković Auto put za Novi Sad 211 11080 Zemun office@cargobull.rs 381 11 377 46 30 381 11 377 46 33 www.cargobull.rs SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC SRBIJA D.O.O. Dragoljub Damljanović Vladimira Popovića 38-40 11070 Beograd dejan.markovic@ schneider-electric.com 381 11 377 31 13 381 11 312 12 22 www.schneider-electric.com SCHUCH D.O.O. Steve Hoffmann Đorđa Stanojevića 11đ 11070 Beograd d.devic@schuch24.com 381 11 630 33 18 381 11 630 33 19 www.schuch24.com SCIRENT CLINICAL RESEARCH AND SCIENCE D.O.O. Jovan Vesković Alekse Nenadovića 31/2/10 11000 Beograd info@scirent.org 381 11 308 86 67 381 11 308 86 68 www.scirent.org SECURITAS SERVICES D.O.O. Aleksandar Hajduković Milentija Popovića 9 11070 Beograd office@securitas.co.rs 381 11 228 40 50 381 11 228 40 51 www.securitas.co.rs SEE BUSINESS EMBASSIES D.O.O. Paulo Henrique Dias

Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 619 11070 Beograd EMEA.Sales@regus.com 381 11 715 68 02 www.seeoffices.rs SGS BEOGRAD D.O.O. Marinko Ukropina Jurija Gagarina 7B 11070 Beograd sgs.beograd@sgs.com 381 11 715 52 77 381 11 228 42 41 www.sgs.com SHIPCARE MANAGEMENT GMBH & CO. KG Falk Holtmann Zeissstrasse 1 49733 Haren (Ems) info@shipcare.de management@shipcare.de 49 441 770 50 80 49 441 770 50 822 www.shipcare.de SIEMENS D.O.O. Udo Ajhlinger Omladinskih brigada 21 11070 Beograd office.rs@siemens.com 381 11 209 63 05 381 11 209 60 61 www.siemens.rs SINGI INZENJERING D.O.O. Aleksandar Marinovic Molerova 746 11000 Beograd prodaja@singi.rs 381 11 244 90 54 381 11 245 08 10 www.singi.rs SIXSENTIX D.O.O. Branko Milikić Temerinska 102 21000 Novi Sad info.serbia@sixsentix.com 381 64 644 11 86 www.sixsentix.com SKVOŠLEND D.O.O. Snežana Jovanović Kneza Višeslava 27 11000 Beograd uprava@squashland.com 381 11 754 80 40 381 11 630 80 48 www.squashland.com SLOBODNA CARINSKA ZONA SVILAJNAC Marina Maksić Svetog Save 101 35710 Svilajnac slobodna.zona@svilajnac.rs 381 35 312 151 381 35 312 265 www.usz.gov.rs SLOVAS D.O.O. Slobodan Vasiljević Bulevar oslobođenja 106 32000 Čačak slovas@slovas.rs 381 32 374 444 381 32 300 204

www.slovas.rs SOPREX D.O.O. Smilja Stojilković Takovska 45A3 11000 Beograd smilja.stoiljkovic@soprex.com 381 11 334 25 45 381 11 676 78 55 www.soprex.com SOS DECIJE SELO – KRALJEVO Vesna Marković Jokanović Prvomajska 46 A 36103 Kraljevo vesna@sos-kraljevo.org 381 36 375 452 381 36 375 468 www.sos-kraljevo.org SPIEGELFELD INTERNATIONAL D.O.O. Radivoje Nijemčević Milentija Popovića 5a 11070 Beograd sofija.vojnovic@spiegelfeld.eu 381 11 660 37 20 381 11 614 91 07 www.spiegelfeld.eu ŠTAMPA SISTEM D.O.O. Vasilije Zerdo Milutina Milankovića 19 11070 Beograd office@stampa.rs 381 11 715 95 34 www.mojkioskstampa.rs STAR IMPORT D.O.O. Rolf-Jűrgen Seyerle Omladinskih Brigada 33 11070 Beograd informacije@starimport.rs 381 11 301 90 01 381 11 301 90 49 www.mercedes-benz.rs STIHL D.O.O. Dijana Peškir Batajnički drum 194b 11080 Beograd office@stihl.rs 381 11 655 63 84 381 11 748 06 48 www.stihl.rs STRATEGA EAST D.O.O. Zoran Ignjatović Topličin venac 19-21 11000 Beograd zak@strategaeast.com 381 11 202 80 44 381 11 202 80 45 www.strategaeast.com SUPERIOR D.O.O. Nebojša Đinović Bulevar Oslobodjenja 132 11320 Velika Plana milan.eric@superior-seeds.com 381 26 415 01 50 381 26 54 12 51 www.superior-seeds.com TEBODIN D.O.O. Zoran Petrović Bulevar Zorana Đinđića 73VI18 11070 Beograd

tebodin.rs@tebodin.com 381 11 313 24 65 381 11 313 24 22 www.tebodin.bilfinger.com TECON SISTEM D.O.O. Slađana Petrović Antifašističke borbe 21 b 11070 Beograd office@tecon.rs 381 11 301 78 74 381 11 311 66 50 www.tecon.rs TEHPRO D.O.O. Zoran Šukalo Lole Ribara 120 11250 Beograd kontakt@tehpro.rs 381 11 258 09 11 381 11 258 07 85 www.tehpro.rs TELEOPTIK - GASNA OPREMA D.O.O. Lela Lakić Tršćanska 21 11080 Beograd teleoptik.gasna@ open.telekom.rs 381 11 316 00 16 381 11 316 35 24 www.teleoptik.co.rs TELESIGN D.O.O. Nenad Vucinic Tresnjinog cveta 1 11070 Beograd okrstic@telesign.com 381 11 765 75 00 381 11 765 75 24 www.telesig.com TERMOINZENJERING D.O.O. Nebojša Miletić Miloja Đaka 2 11040 Beograd office@termoinzenjering.com 381 11 206 54 00 381 11 367 29 57 www.termoinzenjering.com THALES TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM GMBH Volker Schenk Thalesplatz 1 71254 Ditzingen henrik.klaner@thalesgroup.com 49 711 869 46890 49 711 869 43316 www.thalesgroup.com TIM CENTAR D.O.O. Milica Novkov Svetozara Miletića 32 21000 Novi Sad office@timcentar.rs 381 21 527 013 381 65 661 58 12 www.timcentar.rs TMF SERVICES D.O.O. BEOGRAD Predrag Krdžić Jelena Čuk Bulevar Zorana Đinđića 64a 11070 Beograd serbia@tmf-group.com

381 11 220 93 00 381 11 220 93 10 www.tmf-group.com TMS CEE D.O.O. Boško Gavović Rudnička 2 11118 Beograd office@tms.rs 381 11 244 11 11 381 11 244 22 55 www.tms.rs TPA HORWATH SRBIJA Bojan Žepinić Makedonska 30III 11000 Beograd office@tpa-horwath.rs 381 11 655 88 00 381 11 655 88 01 www.tpa-horwath.rs TRANSFER PRICING SERVICES D.O.O. Marko Milojević Svetozara Markovica 25 11000 Beograd marko.milojevic@ transferpricingserbia.rs 381 11 408 17 15 381 11 408 43 64 www.transferpricingserbia.rs TRC PRO (TECHNICAL RESEARCH CENTER) Hotimir Ličen Peradovićeva 31 21131 Petrovaradin hotimir.licen@trcpro.rs 381 21 643 37 74 381 21 643 38 24 www.trcpro.rs TRUCK LITE EUROPE GMBH Stephan Pfingsten Vor dem Melmen 8-10 99817 Eisenach service@truck-lite.eu.com 49 36920 870 49 36920 87 222 TURISTIČKA ORGANIZACIJA NEMAČKE (GERMANY TRAVEL) Petra Hedorfer Knez Mihailova 9 11000 Beograd 381 11 655 54 62 381 11 655 54 63 www.germanu.travel TÜV RHEINLAND INTERCERT D.O.O. Zoltan Karaszi Resavska 40V 11000 Beograd info@rs.tuv.com 381 11 361 61 56 381 11 361 61 60 www.tuvcert.rs UNICREDIT BANK A.D. Claudio Cesario Rajićeva 27 - 29 11000 Beograd office@unicreditgroup.rs 381 11 320 45 90 381 11 334 22 00

www.unicreditbank.rs UNIFARM-MEDICOM D.O.O. Dragana Jaćović Cara Dušana 264 11080 Beograd office@unifarm-medicom.rs 381 11 316 82 06 381 11 261 22 92 www.unifarm-medicom.rs VAILLANT D.O.O. Zoran Biserčić Radnička 59 11030 Beograd info@vaillant.rs 381 11 354 00 50 381 11 254 43 90 www.vaillant.rs VALMAN D.O.O. Goran Galić Gospodara Vučića 35I3 11000 Beograd info@valman.rs 381 11 744 60 94 381 11 744 60 84 www.valman.rs VB LEASING D.O.O. BEOGRAD Christoph Leitner Đorđa Stanojevića 12 11070 Beograd office@vbleasing.rs 381 11 201 65 60 381 11 201 65 67 www.vbleasing.rs VIA OCEL D.O.O. Predrag Šekeljić Tadeuša Košćuška 56 11000 Beograd office@viaocel.rs 381 11 655 79 29 381 11 655 79 27 www.viaocel.rs VICTORIA GROUP Claudio Scarrozza Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 115b 11070 Beograd office@victoriagroup.rs 381 11 353 27 00 381 11 353 27 28 www.victoriagroup.rs VIESSMANN D.O.O. BEOGRAD Bojan Grujicki Tabanovačka 3 11000 Beograd viessmann.srb@sbb.rs 381 11 309 78 87 381 11 309 78 86 www.viessmann.co.rs VIP MOBILE D.O.O. Andreas Graf Omladinskih brigada 21 11070 Beograd komunikacije@vipmobile.rs 381 11 225 61 00 381 11 225 53 33 www.vipmobile.rs VPC EAST D.O.O. Dr. Daniel Seibt Denis Vukašinović Nemanjina 34

11000 Beograd daniel.seibt@vpc-group.biz 381 11 361 81 33 381 11 361 25 89 www.wpc-group.biz WEISHAUPT D.O.O. BEOGRAD Zoran Veljkovic Bulevar Mihaila Pupina 6 11070 Beograd info@weishaupt.rs 381 11 220 06 01 381 11 220 06 10 www.weishaupt.rs WIG D.O.O. Snežana Gavrilović Pirec Puškinova 1c 11000 Beograd info@wig.rs 381 11 395 30 00 381 11 395 30 99 www.wig.rs WILO BEOGRAD D.O.O. Dragan Simonović Mijačka 3 11000 Beograd office@wilo.rs 381 11 285 12 73 381 11 285 12 75 www.wilo.rs WINTERHALTER GASTRONOM YU D.O.O. Zorica Mitrović Zrenjanski put 84c 11000 Beograd info@winterhalter.rs 381 11 208 59 50 381 11 271 03 48 www.winterhalte.rs WOLF GMBH Bernhard Steppe Postfach 1380, Industriestr. 1 84048 Mainburg info@wolf-heiztechnik.de 49 8751 740 49 8751 741600 www.wolf-heiztechnik.de WOOD MASTER D.O.O. Ivan Stojaković Majora Gavrilovića 1 14000 Valjevo office@woodmaster.rs 381 14 292 100 www.woodmaster.com XELLA SRBIJA D.O.O. Nikola Boroja Diše Đurđevića bb 11560 Vreoci ytong-serbia@xella.com 381 11 442 74 00 381 11 442 74 37 www.ytong.rs ZOP INZENJERING D.O.O. Zoran Opačić Karađorđeva 61 11000 Beograd office@zopinzenjering.com 381 11 628 68 02 381 11 628 68 03 www.zopinzenjering.com

PLENTY OF ROOM TO IMPROVE COOPERATION

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