Invest in Vojvodina 2021

Photo: Nenad Mihajlović / Shutterstock

2021

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DONAUJÄGERS AND STRAUSS

THE PIRATES FROM THE DANUBE

Johann Strauss was a good friend of Futog Count Chotek. He is believed to have writtern the „The Blue Danube“ in the Chotek Castle, having heard the melody previously from the Donaujägers, the part-time workers living by the Danube shore.

The citizens of Stapar were well known as pirates during the 18th century, when piracy ruled the world oceans and seas.

The difference is that these ones robbed German colonist travelling down the Danube.

04 THE DENSIEST RAILWAY NETWORK The first railway in Vojvodina was made in 1854. In 1918 Vojvodina possessed the densest railway network in Europe of 8.7 km of lines per 10,000 inhabitants and a total of about 2,200 km of lines.

06 THE AUTOCHTONOUS There is one language spoken almost exclusively in Vojvodina (and few neigbouring villages in Croatian Syrmia) – it is Pannonian Rusyn (Ruthenian), a language between Slovakian, Ukrainian and Serbian, an official provincial language.

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THE HOLY MOUNTAIN Fruška Gora is sometimed nicknamed „The Serbian Mount Athos“ since there are many Orthodox monasteries there.

Ottoman documents mention 35 monasteries, of which 16 survived and are still active today.

05 A NEW GARDEN? WHERE IS THE OLD ONE? Novi Sad means „New Garden“ or „New Plantation“ in Serbian which makes us ask ourselves where was the old one?

Actually, the old one is Petrovaradin, and the plantation or a garden was – a vineyard.

07 SIRMIUM SAINTS It sounds like an American football team, but in fact, the city of Sirmium (Sremska Mitrovica) produced a dozen of early Christian saints-martyrs (like St Anastasia), since it was a Roman capital and a religious centre.

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Photo: R. Hadžić

INTERVIEW

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IGOR MIROVIĆ President of the Government of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina

VOJVODINA LEADS IN OVERALL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT This year has demonstrated the quality of Vojvodina's economic structure. Significant growth of exports and agriculture and preventing layoffs in our province, which has not been the case in many economic sectors in the region and around the world, indicates that we have had a really good year

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onstruction of a new COVID hospital in Novi Sad's Mišeluk, reconstruction of the local road network, large infrastructure projects, faster and better development of local governments and procurement of state-of-the-art equipment for production and processing of agricultural products, are just some of the topics we discussed with Igor Mirović, head of Vojvodina's government, in the interview for this year's edition of D&C magazine, Invest in Vojvodina.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused numerous problems, but it seems that Vojvodina responded best to this crisis.

What expectations did you have for this year and what challenges await you?

— We have been working hard since 2016 on overhauling our health care system. Just to illustrate the point, ten

clinics of the Clinical Centre of Vojvodina have been reconstructed, while the construction of the Block B and Block C has begun. Bearing in mind that Vojvodina started purchasing protective equipment at the very beginning of the COVID pandemic in Europe when there wasn't a single case of the coronavirus in the country and that our health care institutions had had state-of-theart equipment for many years before the outbreak, this facilitated our good response to the crisis.

This year, we are quite optimistic that we are going to overcome challenges and with the huge help of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, we will build a new COVID hospital in Mišeluk. Considering the fact that over 50% of people in Vojvodina have been vaccinated, which unfortunately is not enough to be very optimistic in the second part of the year, the

fight continues and we hope that everyone, especially health workers, will give their maximum.

THE ISSUE OF QUALITY AND INCENTIVES FOR NEW PROCESSING CAPACITIES WILL BECOME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT IN THE FUTURE AND WE WILL WORK ON THAT IN THE COMING YEARS ture, all in agreement with the relevant local governments and based on individual economic development projects. I can't say that I am completely satisfied, but changes are visible in many local areas, which is really easy to verify. However, in a dozen or so municipalities, which are mostly located

near the state border and which have inherited numerous problems in terms of closed economic potentials, we still have a lot of work to do to be able to say that they have started progressing.

Agribusiness is an important driving force behind the development of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. Which agricultural segments will receive the biggest investments in the coming period?

— The programmes funded by the Provincial Government mostly relate to the procurement of the latest equipment for the production and processing of agricultural products. In the previous years, we have increased the agrarian budget, which is a part of AP Vojvodina’s budget, and we are going to do that in the next period as well. The assistance of the Government of the Republic of Serbia was important in terms of the revitalization of our canal network and the overhaul of the irrigation system. In the coming years, significant funds will be allocated towards the procurement of irrigation systems in agricultural holdings. The issue of quality and incentives for new processing capacities will become even more important in the future and we will work on that in the coming years.

How would you rate the overall investments in the Province, in terms of their size and quality?

Photo: Djordje R / Shutterstock

Have you completed all the projects launched in 2020? What projects do you plan to implement this year when it comes to local development?

— Compared to other s tate budget beneficiaries such as the government ministries, cities and municipalities, the Vojvodina administration has recorded the highest level of implementation, especially of capital investments. Extensive works are underway on the reconstruction of the local road network in the Zapadnobački and Srednjobanatski districts, then on the territory of Fruška Gora, and the implementation of large-scale projects such as the construction of the Kamenica 3 Clinic and the National Theatre in Subotica which are near completion. Another big ongoing project is the complete reconstruction and automation of the hail protection system. We have already completed such a project in the Srem district. We have also worked hard on completing important tasks in several cities and municipalities, as initiated by their local authorities. The projects that are not finished will be completed during this and in the coming years, because we believe that balanced local and regional development is important for the development of our entire country.

How much effort have you been putting into ensuring that investments in Vojvodina towns are even, i.e. to avoid the impression that more has been invested in certain towns than in others?

— Unfortunately, we still have municipalities that, according to the level of development, belong to the third and fourth group, and we have been doing everything in our power to help them develop faster and better, to stop their population from migrating, to open new factories and improve infrastruc-

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What are your plans on improving the infrastructure, which is a prerequisite for all development segments?

— We have been participating in numerous segments of work done by the Government of the Republic of Serbia and in the preparation of urban and project documentation. The contract on the Fruška Gora corridor was signed and the works have already started. We expect that by the end of the year, a contract on the construction of the Belgrade-Zrenjanin and Zrenjanin-Novi Sad motorway sections and the Sombor-Kikinda expressway, stretching from the border with Croatia to the border with Romania, will have been signed too. At the same time, we expect the construction of the high-speed railway from Novi Sad to Subotica to continue, as well as the completion of the reconstruction of the Belgrade-Novi Sad high-speed railroad in the next few months. These projects will change Vojvodina in the best possible sense, because the less developed municipalities we talked about earlier will have access to the highway and expressway, and thus become more attractive for all types of investments.

In the past four years, you have built ten new and reconstructed twelve in-

Photo: R. Hadžić

— This year has demonstrated the quality of Vojvodina's economic structure.

Significant growth of exports and agriculture and preventing layoffs in our province, which has not been the case in many economic sectors in the region and around the world, indicates that we have had a really good year, relative to the really good year of 2019. I hope we are going to perpetuate this trend, which will rank Vojvodina first in the long run, not only when it comes to the overall economic development of Serbia, but also much wider, i.e. in comparison to other regions in this part of Europe.

WE HAVE ALSO WORKED HARD ON COMPLETING IMPORTANT TASKS IN SEVERAL CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES, AS INITIATED BY THEIR LOCAL AUTHORITIES dustrial zones in Vojvodina, all with funds from the provincial budget.

What will be the priorities for the rest of this year?

— We analyzed municipalities’ needs for new industrial zones. Vrbas is certainly one of the priorities because there is no rational explanation as to how the Vrbas municipality does not

have enough capacity for additional economic development when it is located near the highway. With the incentives allocated by the Serbia Development Agency and the Vojvodina Development Agency, I think we will steer domestic and foreign investors towards investing in industrial zones in less developed municipalities. That should be our main goal. We will continue with the infrastructural equipping of those zones that are currently being developed and where there is a demand for new investments. Our new zones are already showing results in terms of direct investment – these are the zones in Šid, Sombor, Ruma, Pančevo and a few other towns that did not exist until four or five years ago, and are now development hubs not only of their municipalities but also of our entire country. 

FRUŠKA GORA IS MY FAVOURITE If you were a foreign tourist, what would you visit in Vojvodina?

— I like the area of Fruška Gora the most, although I am aware that it still needs a lot of investments. We reconstructed close to 50 kilometres of local roads there. This year, we will complete the reconstruction of the segment from Čortanovci to Banstol and from Grebenski road to Beočin. Fruška Gora

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lacks more hotel capacities too. I will launch an initiative to put state-owned facilities into operation, privatize them and get additional capital for the opening of new tourist facilities. With its monasteries, numerous wineries and hidden natural attractions, Fruška Gora is and must continue to be a magnet for tourists from all over the world. Hence, Fruška Gora is my favourite.

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INTERVIEW

WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMY AT ALL LEVELS

NENAD IVANIŠEVIĆ Provincial Secretary for Economy and Tourism

By increasing the Provincial Secretariat for Economy and Tourism's budget in the new fiscal year and the new convocation, more opportunities have been created to improve measures to support the economy

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n the new convocation, and thanks to the budget increase of over 60 percent, the Provincial Secretariat for Economy and Tourism has allocated significant funds intended for projects from underdeveloped municipalities aimed at developing entrepreneurship, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, which are the main driving forces behind the development of individuals and communities alike.

The Secretariat for Economy's focus is certainly on the SME sector. How did the Secretariat influence the overall economic structure in Vojvodina?

— Thanks to the decision to increase the 2021 budget, the Provincial Secretariat has managed to allocate over 300 million dinars in the first half of this year as direct assistance to the SME sector, tourism-related companies and

companies that operate in other economic branches. 120 million dinars were set aside for boosting tourist capacities, and the rest of the funds were spent on the purchase of new equipment and machinery, as well as for subsidies for the purchase of raw materials.

I have to point out that the Secretariat received about 2,500 applications for these funds, which shows that micro and small companies have managed to continue to improve their business and business processes.

In the current year, the Secretariat for Economy has allocated employment funds in the amount of 42 million dinars, and we expect to see 200 new jobs created.

Concerning employment in the tourism sector, as well as in the business and entrepreneurship sector, the Provincial Secretariat has created special terms and conditions for companies to

take part in competitions, with one of them being companies not allowed to lay off workers for six months, to preserve as many jobs as possible.

What are the Secretariat's plans for the coming period?

— We have launched an arts & crafts competition, which is extremely important for the preservation of history, tradition and cultural idiosyncrasies in Vojvodina. We also assist small business owners, as well as micro and small companies, namely, the Provincial Secretariat allocates grants to improve and preserve the production process, in a way that does not jeopardize the traditional technology used in old arts and crafts and home-made products. The goal of allocating funds for this purpose is to increase competitiveness and thus improve entrepreneurship and the economic climate in Vojvodina.

Furthermore, in the last quarter of this year, we are planning to launch a competition for women's entrepreneurship, but also organize events, given that they are the driving force behind tourism. As a result, we should attract a large number of domestic and foreign tourists who want to spend more than they initially planned at these events.

The Secretariat has been also cooperating with social partners in the public

UNTAPPED POTENTIAL MAINLY RELATES TO RELIGIOUS, CULTURAL, RURAL, WINE, HUNTING AND CYCLO TOURISM sector. To what extent and volume does this cooperation take place?

— We have successfully formed a network of social partners with whom we pool resources and capacities, intending to define and create an infrastructure based on the given guidelines conditioned by the market policy. With this approach, I believe that we will significantly contribute to the development and regional uniformity, strengthen the economy and support and encourage businesses to participate in public competitions, while actively reducing the negative population trends related to the demographic structure.

The Provincial Secretariat subsidizes the fee for processing the loan application and interest rates related to the competitions launched by the Development Fund of Vojvodina for longterm loans for the development of general and rural tourism. The Secretariat also co-finances the beneficiaries of the Fund's loans which are allocated to support the development of tourism

by improving the equipping of tourist facilities, creating prerequisites for increasing the quality and expanding the offer in the provision of tourist services, raising the level of competitiveness and increasing employment, in the total amount of 10 million dinars.

What does the re-launch of the Best of Vojvodina product quality label entail?

— At the initiative of the Provincial Secretariat for Economy and Tourism, the Best of Vojvodina quality label was relaunched, which shows the quality of products, where and how they were produced and promotes a certain area in Vojvodina in the best possible way.

With this new concept, the label now covers tourist services and travel destinations. The sign is used to mark natural, agricultural, craft, industrial and domestic products. The fact that it was awarded to a particular product or service in tourism, confirms it belongs to the group of the top quality products and services, which have undergone very strict quality control. With this project, we will certainly elevate the limits of product quality, while focusing on the domestic economy and production, as well as on the services provided by businesses in Vojvodina.

However, a lot more should be done relating to better use and practical value of the product that carries the Best INVEST IN

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of Vojvodina label, while the expansion of the scope to tourism services will encourage tourist workers to raise the quality of their services to a higher level, in order to meet the prescribed criteria.

The Autonomous Province of Vojvodina certainly has untapped capacities.

What do you think they are?

— People in Vojvodina, as well as the rest of the Republic of Serbia, do not know what tourist potentials Vojvodina has, so together with the Vojvodina Tourist Board, we have been investing in the promotion of local tourist boards with the view of increasing the visibility of their tourist offer. The idea is to establish local tourist boards in municipalities where they do not exist, as well as to strengthen the existing ones.

This should encompass as many wineries, river inns, farms, religious and cultural heritage, the attractions on the Fruška Gora, the City of Novi Sad with Petrovaradin Fortress, all the features of Sremski Karlovci, the City of Vršac with Vršac Hill, the Bela Crkva lakes and Deliblato Sands, the Danube, Tisza and Sava rivers and the network of internal canals, which make up the lifeblood of Vojvodina.

The abundant diversity of an environment like Vojvodina greatly affects how art and culture are perceived. It is the artists and creative economy that shape natural resources, and by strategically connecting the two, artists are given the freedom to shape the environment and transform it into business.

Untapped potential mainly relates to religious, cultural, rural, wine, hunting and cyclo tourism. Religious tourism is a great treasure, bearing in mind that all religions are represented in Vojvodina. Sremski Karlovci is a special gem in Vojvodina's tourist offer. Hunting tourism in Vojvodina has been functioning for years, but the public is not sufficiently aware of it. Vojvodina is located en route of several European bicycle paths. The Novi Sad – Belgrade bicycle path will be built, which is one of the capital projects that was proposed under the auspices of the National Tourism Plan.

Domestic tourism has shown that it can recover quickly in comparison to international travel, which represents a chance for regions such as Vojvodina to

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IN THE LAST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, WE ARE PLANNING TO LAUNCH A COMPETITION FOR WOMEN'S ENTREPRENEURSHIP, BUT ALSO ORGANIZE EVENTS recover faster from the social and economic consequences of the pandemic.

You have modernized your approach to launching public competitions and you are keeping pace with modern technologies. What novelties have you introduces?

— The Secretariat wants to be more actively involved in the use of the latest digital technologies and have bet-

ter two-way communication with businesses and citizens. In addition to advertising all information, events and activities through our website and social media, we have also launched a service called 'A Free Call', thanks to which, for the first time, people can call and get information about all the details related to the recently closed competitions. So far, the reactions have been very positive.

In April, we presented a mobile application intended for the general public, which contains information about the Secretariat's all ongoing activities.

The application is called "Economy and Tourism APV" and it aims to better and more effectively inform the public about all developments in the work of the Provincial Secretariat and facilitate better interaction with the public. The idea is for the Secretariat to be as transparent and open as possible in the future too. 

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C O R P O R AT E

AGRO-INVESTMENT LOANS WITHOUT A MORTGAGE Photo: Nikola Mraković

OTP banka, for the first time in Serbia, is approving investment loans for agricultural farms for 60 months without collateral or guarantors up to the amount of 50,000 euros

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fter the most complex integration on the local banking market, finalized in May 2021, the new OTP banka Srbija, offers corporate and retail clients a wide range of universal banking products and services through various digital channels. OTP banka’s factoring, including supply chain financing and agro financing teams and products are recognized as market leaders with subs t a n t i a l p o r t fo l i o , t a i l o r m a d e approach, effective reach and servicing through SME client clustering around the largest companies operating on the local market. With proven track record in banking innovations, OTP banka became the first bank in Serbia to start approving investment loans without a mortgage for up to five years through a software platform that can process over 100 requests in just one hour.

In terms of products, our SME clients have at their disposal payment services incl. e-banking, cash management, e-commerce, treasury services, short term and long term investment financing, structured lending, agro financing, trade finance services, factoring incl. digital platform for e-factoring and custody and capital market services. OTP banka has also developed digital services for SME clients to help them along the way and provide all the necessary support. Our clients can use an e-commerce service, which is a perfect way for businesses to improve their sales by opening a new sales channel completely online, as well as a Pay by link service for payment by email or SMS regardless of lo-

cation and online store.

We provide a strong service for significant SME agro client segment with different agro packages and dedicated account of registered producers, where clients can chose between several types of loans: working capital loans, investment loans for all-purpose, investment loan for purchase of agricultural land and real estate. The European Investment Fund has recognized our efforts and granted special conditions of support for such a significant improvement in agricultural financing. For the first time in Serbia, investment loans are approved

THE TOTAL NET LOANS IN Q1 2021 AMOUNTED TO EUR 3.8 BILLION, THUS POSITIONING OTP BANKA AS A MARKET LEADER WITH 16.9% OF MARKET SHARE IN THE LOAN SEGMENT for agricultural farms for 60 months without collateral or guarantors up to the amount of 50,000 euros. We have developed a fully automated approval process for agro-investment loans with five years tenor and approval time of 30 minutes.

Our main approach is to adjust client’s needs with their business model, and to create tailor made approach in order to satisfy all stakeholders, min-

imizing risk profile and maximizing profitability side. In order to predict and minimize all business, production, interest rate risks or oscillations in fx rates risks, we provide wide treasury products.

Our retail clients have a wide choice of benefits including online cash loan and automatic overdraft renewal, online purchase of travel-health insurance, online standing order and direct debit activation, early credit card debt repayment, use of phone as a card (with mCard and ApplePay), P2P payment and transferring funds to private individuals by e-mail and phone, and a lot more.

MARKET LEADER IN THE LOAN SEGMENT During the integration process of 19 months, the Bank achieved excellent business results, fully maintaining its business dynamics and meeting the needs of its customers. Upon generating the annual growth in loans of 15% in 2020 the total net loans in Q1 2021 amounted to EUR 3.8 billion, thus positioning OTP banka as a market leader with 16.9% of market share in the loan segment, and the second largest bank in terms of asset size with a total of EUR 5.3 billion. OTP banka has the largest number of ATMs in Serbia at 322 locations and more than 200 branches across the whole country.

OTP Leasing Srbija also operates within OTP Group in Serbia, as well as OTP Insurance, which through OTP banka provides life insurance services as an insurance agent.  INVEST IN

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INTERVIEW

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MILOŠ VUČEVIĆ Novi Sad Mayor

WE ARE CONTINUING WITH THE CITY'S INTENSIVE DEVELOPMENT Large world-renowned companies have opened their branches and factories in Novi Sad, and with an unemployment rate of 6.5%, which has never been this low in Novi Sad, the city has become a real IT hub

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n his interview for the Invest in Vojvodina edition, Novi Sad Mayor, Miloš Vučević, talks about what kind of city Novi Sad has become and the vision of what the city should be like. Among other things, the mayor pointed out: "One of the indicators that Novi Sad is not lagging behind the rest of the world is certainly the level of development of its IT industry. The city is becoming an IT hub. In addition to large infrastructure projects, such as the construction of Covid hospital on Mišeluk, we are continuing to invest in education, social and health care, construction of bicycle paths, new parks and green areas and development of the Danube's shore.“ What investment and infrastructure projects will the City of Novi Sad im-

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plement in 2021?

— This year's city budget is also development-oriented, with a very pronounced social component, and when planning investments, we made sure that all parts of the city should be developed evenly. One of the biggest investment projects this year is the construction of the Covid hospital on Mišeluk, a project of great importance both for Novi Sad and the entire Vojvodina. The Novi Sad authorities allocated 250 million dinars for the construction of traffic areas with accompanying infrastructure in order to equip the hospital's location.

We are continuing to build apartments for the state security forces and refugees, as well as equipping the North 4, North 2 and Kać work zones.

The construction of the bridge over the

Danube, which is an extension of Europe Boulevard, is a project of national importance. We have drafted the General Project documentation and a feasibility study. In this year's budget, we have also allocated funds for the drafting of technical documentation for the construction of a new bridge on the pillars of the former Franz Josef Bridge, the Santandrejski Bridge over the DTD canal, and the regular maintenance of the Sloboda Bridge. Novi Sad has also joined the Clean Serbia programme and secured funds for the construction of the sewerage grid and wastewater treatment plants under the Programme's auspices. We are now resolving decades-old problems and preparing for the future because contemporary infrastructure must follow suit of such an intensive city development.

an National Theatre (SNP) are financed by the Vojvodinian government, while the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments of the City of Novi Sad has provided funds for the works on the ground floor and installation of the fence around the Church of the Assumption. The total value of this investment is 378 million dinars. The plan is to plant 25 new trees and 708 pieces of shrubs, and out of a total area that is currently being worked on, which

When are the works in the city centre going to be completed, and how much will they cost? What else does the city government plan to do this year?

— The works are carried out in several phases and I follow the progress every day. This is probably the best-organized construction site in the city because the works have never stopped for a moment. The section from the Theatre Square and the Church of the Assumption to the City Hall will have been completed by November 25th. The works on the reconstruction of the facade and decorative lighting on the Serbi-

spans 8,110 square metres, a third will be covered in greenery, i.e. 2,714 square metres. The Memorial Ribbon will be a special feature here and will be reminiscent of a small Jewish street, which existed here until the 1970s. The Novi Sad centre will look phenomenally good once the works are finished.

AS FOR THE VALUE IN TERMS OF EXIT PROMOTING OUR COUNTRY, THAT CANNOT BE MEASURED

What is Novi Sad's potential to become an IT and innovation hub for attracting foreign companies?

— The fact is that we have been had an expansion of information and communication technologies for years here, which has become one of the basic directions of economic development in Novi Sad. The city is today rightly called the Silicon Valley in this part of Europe.

Photo: Slobodan Kunevski / Shutterstock

What is the situation with Novi Sad's economy today? What are the key investors in the city and which industries do they come from?

— When we won the election in Novi Sad in 2012, the city's investment map

was almost bare because no factory had been built in the city in the previous 40 years. From 2012 to date, we have had 29 investments in Novi Sad, of a total value of around 370 million euros, which created at least 11,500 new jobs. This does not include new workers that will be employed by Nidec and Continental, i.e. another 1,000 new jobs in one year.

People are mostly familiar with large multinational companies, whose arrival in Novi Sad created a real boom because all the countries in the region fought to have these countries invest in them. I am referring to Lear, Aptiv, Barry Callebaut, the Continental Research and Development Centre and 3Lateral, to mention some of them. Today, Novi Sad has the lowest ever unemployment rate of 6.5%. During the Serbian Progressive Party's last two terms in the office, over 27,000 people found employment in the city. We expect even better results in the coming period, i.e. by the end of our third term.

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We have prestigious scientific research centres such as BioSense, the Science and Technology Park and the Artificial Intelligence Centre. This is our trump card that attracts large global companies to open research and development centres here.

Large world-famous companies such as Continental, Nidek and 3Lateral have opened their branches and factories in Novi Sad and thus created new jobs for the citizens of Novi Sad and the surrounding areas. Vega IT bought the premises of the former Radnički University and I expect that the reconstruction of this building will start in 2022. As far as high-rise buildings are concerned, this one will, indisputably, become the new landmark of Novi Sad. Also, 3Lateral, which bought the site at 32, Radnička Street, which used to belong to the now-bankrupt Albus factory, is building a new IT hub there. 3Lateral operates under Epic Games from the USA, a giant in that software industry. These are fantastic projects and new pillars of development of Novi Sad, and in general, the whole IT sector, that is, the whole digital concept in the city.

What is required of Novi Sad in terms of being declared the 2019 European Youth Capital and 2021 European Capital of Culture? How important are these titles for the city's development?

— Those two titles have already become an integral part of the city's image, and I

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THE WHOLE IT SECTOR, THAT IS, THE WHOLE DIGITAL CONCEPT IN THE CITY IS THE NEW PILLAR OF NOVI SAD'S DEVELOPMENT see that the people of Novi Sad are now completely familiar with them. In terms of visible effects, and thanks to these titles, our youth policies have been redefined, that is, we are working on modernizing and decentralizing cultural activities. Also thanks to these titles, we are building creative and cultural youth centres. A Novi Sad quarter, popularly called Chinatown, has been transformed into a creative district and we also have the Svilara Culture Station. As part of a series of European Capital of Culture programmes, we will have 46 'urban pockets' throughout the city.

How important is that Exit Festival takes place in Novi Sad? How significant is this festival for tourism development?

— We have demonstrated that, in an epidemiologically very unstable environment, we were completely capable of organizing the festival and make close to 40,000 festival-goers feel safe. Exit was safer health-wise than any mass celebration or wedding in Serbia. This

year, in addition to celebrating its 20th anniversary, Exit symbolizes a return to normal life after the coronavirus pandemic. Everything finally came alive, but with precaution.

I would like all people, especially youth, to finally understand that vaccination is the "entry ticket" to a normal life, the one we were used to living before the coronavirus outbreak. The festival's importance both for our tourism and Serbia's overall image is immeasurable. Last year, millions of people worldwide were able to see fantastic new shots of the Petrovaradin Fortress and Novi Sad, as well as entire Serbia, thanks to Exit's LifeStream. Since its founding, the Exit Festival has generated over 200 million euros for domestic tourism and we expect the festival to generate another 200 million by 2030. As for the value in terms of Exit promoting our country, that cannot be measured.

Could you please list the most important parts of the cultural heritage of Novi Sad? What would top your list?

— It is difficult to make such a list, but Matica Srpska is still our oldest literary, cultural and scientific institution. Since it was moved from the Tekelijanum in Pest to the Novi Sad Platoneum in 1864, Novi Sad has been known as the Serbian Athens ever since. The city got that name because it was considered that the wisest and most educated people gathered around Matica Srpska. Matica has become a symbol of civil society, culture, enlightenment and charity. It is both Novi Sad's symbol and support.

In which way will Novi Sad 'pay back' Djordje Balašević for everything he did for the city?

— The Balašević family will make a final decision about that. We will find a locality that will be named after him, although every part of this city belongs to him. Various ideas and initiatives have been circulating, but we will not change the names of the streets he sang or wrote about, because Djordje would certainly not want that. He is the epitome of Novi Sad's spirit which is so special and fascinating. Because of him, we love Novi Sad and always come back to it. The legendary Djordje Balašević will live forever in every corner of his beloved city. 

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CARLSBERG MOVES US ALL TO BETTER Excellence through a relentless commitment to incremental improvement is our daily motivation. It Is part of our collective Carlsberg DNA

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t Carlsberg we have been making great beer for over 170 years. We have always sought to elevate the art of brewing, respecting the quality of the materials we use and the craftsmanship that lies behind the beer. When J. C. Jacobsen began his working life he found it wasn't easy to make consistently high quality beer. So he set out to discover for himself how to do things better, travelling across Europe to meet with the finest brewers and bringing back the best yeast and as much new knowledge as he could borrow. Then he set about ceaselessly refining and Improving, using the skills around him to turn his vision into reality. We continue to show this dedication today, exploring every opportunity to hone our craft. “I would not concern myself with anything but brewing, a little chemistry and physics and a dash of aesthetics” - J. C. Jacobsen. He made It his mission to show that methods and research from chemistry and biology could be applied to the pursuit of better beer. When his laboratory discovered how to purify yeast he freely shared the secrets with Carlsberg's rival breweries, secure In the knowledge that through collaboration everyone could succeed and the whole industry would move forward, with

Carlsberg constantly leading the way to Better.

Carlsberg moves us all to Better. It is the brand purpose that sits at the heart of everything we do. From our yeast and barley to our packaging and glassware, we believe it must always be possible to do things better.

Excellence through a relentless commitment to incremental improvement is our daily motivation. it inspires us as Individuals, as a company and as a brand. It Is part of our collective Carlsberg DNA. A brew constantly bettered from 1847 onwards. Betterments are

A BREW CONSTANTLY BETTERED FROM 1847 ONWARDS the daily evidence of our positioning, grounded in our brand's heritage.

We have a wealth of Betterment examples that began with J. C. Jacobsen and have continued in the intervening 170 years.

At Carlsberg, we care about how things are made and enjoyed. We never stop trying to make them better.

When we feel we have reached our 'best, we look to improve and constantly experiment and refine.

Is it our progressive pursuit of better beer and a better tomorrow that sets us apart, keeping us one step ahead? Probably. We believe Progress starts with Probably. Betterment Is the opportunity to create and share stories that substantiate the brand purpose through our two pillars. PILLAR 1 - Better beer experiences Ideas to make our beer and the way you experience it better and PILLAR 2 - Better tomorrow Sustainable ideas to create a better tomorrow.

BETTER BEER EXPERIENCES Our DraughtMaster system keeps beer fresh for over a month, takes up less space, is lighter to operate than steel kegs and, in some markets, has a smaller carbon footprint.

We continually discover new ways to protect our beer, for example the Zer02 cap, which removes oxygen from the bottle and makes for a consistently fresher beer.

BETTER TOMORROW We wondered could our green ink be `greener'? Ironically it Is the least environmentally friendly colour to print. So we switched to recyclable, `Cradle to Cradle' inks, made using renewable energy sources.

To reduce plastic waste we're introducing our new Snap Pack which uses a revolutionary glue technology to hold the cans together.

This Is the power behind 'Probably.

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INTERVIEW

WE ARE RETURNING TO THE PATH OF GROWTH

BOŠKO VUČUREVIĆ President of the Chamber of Commerce of Vojvodina

The results show that in the first six months of this year, the economy has recovered, thanks to the implemented measures that gave results. After a standstill that marked 2020, the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina’s external trade continues to grow in 2021

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n an interview for this year's edition of Invest in Vojvodina, Boško Vučurević, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Vojvodina, spoke about the economic environment in the Province, how and to what extent the crisis has affected its economy, which sectors in Vojvodina need the biggest investments, as well as projec t s that will be implemented in Vojvodina.

How would you assess the overall economic environment in the Province, given that the COVID 19-induced crisis is ongoing?

— The crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the global economy. We made a comparison in the results of the first six months of this and 2019, a pre-crisis year. The results show that in the first six months of this year, the economy recovered, thanks to the implemented measures that gave results.

In the first half of 2021, relative to the same period in 2020, the industri-

al production of AP Vojvodina recorded a 7.5% growth, driven by the growth in the manufacturing industry, as well as an increase in activity in the energy sector. The service sector, which was most affected by the pandemic during the previous year, will play the role of the dominant driving force behind the growth this year, per its share in GDP. In the second quarter of 2021, retail turnover continued to grow, so the real turnover, in the first six months increased by 12.8% year-on-year at constant prices. After the fall in April and May of the previous year and the stagnation throughout 2020 caused by the coronavirus pandemic, we can confidently say that the AP Vojvodina’s external trade has started growing again and even surpassed the results from the same period in 2019.

Could you tell us something about FDI influx in Vojvodina in the last few years and how much has this influx changed the situation in the Province’s economy?

— In the past three years, foreign direct investments in the AP Vojvodina have brought several companies here and have certainly changed the economic picture of the Province. A total of 6,120 jobs were created in over 30 foreign companies as a result, while the investments in new plants, new business or in the expansion of the existing business capacities was worth around 1,321.8 million euros.

Which economic branches in Vojvodina should receive the biggest investments and which branches can be the driving force behind the Province’s economic development?

— We, in the AP Vojvodina, have a clear picture of economic subjects and branches that generate development.

The economic presence of renewable energy sources and the circular economy has been growing and much is expected from these sectors in terms of development. The IT industry and food industry are the two sectors that have been rapidly developing. A lot of money has been invested them and we have many foreign companies that operate in these two branches. The wastewater sector will certainly need large investments in the future. By the way, through its Circular Economy Council, the Chamber of Commerce of Vojvodina has been helping initiatives and proposals for changes in legal regulations to reach the right address.

public of Serbia, as well as other institutions important for the development of Vojvodina’s economy?

— Our cooperation with both the provincial and state government, as well as all other institutions, is a natural segment of our operations, because only with the synergy of all institutions can we create an adequate economic environment. This is demonstrated in our joint activities, initiatives, promotion and, in the end, the results that our companies have achieved. As part of a single chamber system, we are working on creating an economic space that fosters business opportunities for our companies.

You have been cooperating a lot with chamber systems in Europe and the region. What plans and projects are you going to implement until the end of 2021?

OUR KEY MISSION IS TO CONNECT COMPANIES AND OPEN NEW MARKETS. INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION IS CRUCIAL FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISE

— Interregional cooperation is one of our focuses, hence, we have been working with our colleagues from the region and Europe to promote and open new markets for export-oriented companies. During the last year and due to the epidemiological situation, we held online conferences with partners from the region and the world and exchanged experiences on overcoming the crisis.

We are looking forward to the International Agricultural Fair, which will be held in Novi Sad from 18th to 24th September, and after a year-long recess, we expect a number of regional and European delegations to come and hold business forums with us. We are also looking forward to the business community having the opportunity to they see their peers face to face and discuss new business opportunities.

What measures do you consider the most important for improving the business environment in the Province, and what will you work on the most in the coming period?

— Maintaining the good business environment in the times to come and the existing results that I mentioned earlier will significantly affect the development of the Vojvodinian economy in the future. As before, we are always open to the business community and together with them, we will work on promoting the Vojvodina economy, improving the business environment and opening of new markets. 

Photo: fauxels / Pexels

What are the most important priorities of domestic companies in Vojvodina today and what programmes does the Chamber of Commerce of Vojvodina implement?

— Our key mission is to connect companies and open new markets. International expansion is crucial for small and medium-sized enterprises. The activities of the groups and sections that operate under the Chamber’s auspices are focused on educational activities with our regional partners, especially during the pandemic. As far as the priorities of Vojvodinian companies are concerned, they relate to increasing their market share and market presence as key prerequisites for doing business.

Could you tell us about the Chamber’s cooperation with the Provincial Government, the Government of the ReINVEST IN

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C O R P O R AT E

WE ARE CONNECTING NOVI SAD WITH EUROPE AND THE WORLD I am also confident that a large number of our domestic companies, in cooperation with the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and the Government of Serbia, will take part in Expo Dubai 2020. Serbia has a lot to offer and show to the world

company, DP World wants to demonstrate the incredible work it does in all the countries in which it operates. DP Word connects the world, all people and businesses, and DP World Novi Sad connects Novi Sad with Europe and the world.

EXPO DUBAI 2020 IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DP WORLD TO SHOWCASE ITS LATEST ACHIEVEMENTS AND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS MAJA ANTOLOVIĆ Executive Director of DP World Novi Sad

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or DP World Novi Sad, as the owner of the port of Novi Sad, this year has been one of great excitement and milestone achievements, but there is still much to be done and a number of challenges that lie ahead, according to the company’s Executive Director, Maja Antolović.

"First of all, we are excited for the start of 2020 Expo Dubai in October, because where our headquarters is

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based, in the UAE. This is a truly global event taking place over six months and is expected to be the biggest event ever to be held in the Middle East. It will be a huge opportunity for DP World to show its latest achievements and innovative solutions in the field of logistics and transport, industrial parks and supply chain management, on a global stage with the eyes of the whole world firmly fixed on it.

As a proud Dubai born and based

I am also confident that a large number of our domestic companies, in cooperation with the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and the Government of Serbia, will take part in Expo Dubai 2020. Serbia has a lot to offer and show to the world.

What are the biggest challenges you faced last year and in 2021?

— We have faced many challenges, especially those brought about by the pandemic, but we have met them head-on and surpassed expectations with DP World Novi Sad recording its best results since the establishment of the port.

Thanks to good organization and

out employees, we handled more than 1.6 million tonnes of goods, invested in a new port crane and fertilizer packaging machine, and we also procured a new pusher ship called Albatross, which increased the work safety and efficiency at the port.

In late May, we completed the renovation of the new passenger terminal on the Danube, in which we invested 500,000 euros, offering another an entrance into Novi Sad for passengers and guests who come to this city via the Danube. Now, we must continue the investment cycle worth 35 million euros, not only to maintain our leading position, but also to further expand the capacities and efficiency of our port.

DP World Novi Sad plans to implement development projects worth 35 million euros in the coming period.

Could you elaborate on that?

— What we are planning to do at the Port of Novi Sad this autumn is, first and foremost, the construction of a container terminal for transport of goods, which DP World is renowned for worldwide.

Along with our container terminal in Novi Sad, we are building a new grain silo because cereals, primarily wheat and corn, are the main commodities which are handled through our port. It is also necessary to extend the vertical quay and to complete the examination of the Danube-Tisa-Danube river canal in our port to check for any possible unexploded ordnance.

Once we finish this work, not only will the port have a completely new modern look, but we will be ready to fulfill the strategic goal of DP World Novi Sad, which is to make the city of Novi Sad and our port the most important point on the entire Danube, because Serbia is and will remain a key market for DP World.

grow our presence and importance in Serbia and on the Danube.

We believe strengthening the port of Novi Sad is also strengthening the City of Novi Sad, which will help bring prosperity to the people. DP World has a long and proud record for delivery in this area, therefore we are a company that knows what it’s doing.

Do you have a vision of what Novi Sad will look like in a few years and what role will the Port of Novi Sad play in that?

— Novi Sad is flourishing, and I am confident that it will become the largest business, trade and traffic center of Vojvodina and the entire north of Serbia for years to come. The new high-speed railway to Belgrade, which will go to Budapest, further investments in water transport and investments in education, culture and tourist facilities, will strengthen the prestigious rank of Novi Sad. I have no doubt that our port will play a key role in that growth.

Working with the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and the Government of Serbia, we want to establish the Novi Sad - Constanta – Dubai container line.

By utilizing the vast logistical experience of DP World, which already man-

DP WORLD NOVI SAD REMAINS COMMITTED TO AN INVESTMENT CYCLE WORTH 35 MILLION EUROS

ages some of the largest ports in the world, I believe Novi Sad will become a European transport and trade hub.

If we can offer one of the easiest, fastest and safest ways to export goods from Europe to the Middle East, further into the American continent and also to the largest European centers, the sky is the limit. We are aiming high because we believe in Novi Sad’s potential.

However, DP Word did not come to Novi Sad just to deal with port affairs.

We want to be a responsible member of our community. We want the city and its citizens, wherever we can, to take part in environmental, humanitarian, cultural and educational actions that are carried out in Novi Sad, because we and the city live together, we are there for each other.

In the end, we have a slightly more personal question. You were born in Belgrade and you were the youngest participant in the Olympic Games as a member of the Serbian national swimming team. Today, you hold one of the highest positions in a company from the United Arab Emirates.

— Yes, you are right about my participation in the Olympic Games in Atlanta when I swam for Serbia. I was barely 16 years old at that time. It was great experience that determined my life later because I was given a chance as a child to learn that only if you apply strong will, work hard and sacrifice, as well as have help from your team, can you achieve success. There are no shortcuts to that, both in life and in business. 

You have been involved in the project from the very beginning. Can the Port of Novi Sad become the leading port in Serbia and what needs to be done to make it so?

— It is not a question of whether Novi Sad can be one of the largest port in Serbia, because it certainly already is, along with for the port of Smedrevo.

The challenge is what we can do to INVEST IN

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WE ARE EXPERIENCING A CONTINUOUS GROW Each of our products was designed with one thought in mind: How to offer the best possible solution and maximize the value for our customers

markets. The investment has exceeded the amount of €36M and annual revenues are exceeding the amount of €45M. Almost 70% of our production is exported to European industrial markets. The company is committed to contributing to the sustainable development of the Serbian industrial sector. We are working daily to help to achieve the goals of country’s development plan and support local economy and communities by providing more than 365 jobs and by increasing continually our company‘s footprint with exports to Western European markets.

STYLIANOS TSOKTOURIDIS Alumil YU Industry, Managing Director

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LUMIL is one of the largest and most trusted names in home windows and patio doors with over 30 years of designing high-quality aluminium products. We talked with Managing Director Stylianos Tsoktouridis about 20 years of successful business in Serbia, period of business during the coronavirus and future plans.

Alumil Yu Industry made the first greenfield investment in Serbia in

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2002, with the acquisition of land in the Nova Pazova’s industrial zone.

How did company evolve in the last 20 years?

— Alumil YU Industry has been growing and developing since its establishment. We have developed throughout this time a fully integrated production, logistics and commercial facility with annual capacity of 15,000mt of state-of-the-art, precision engineered, surfaced treated aluminium profiles, distributed to Serbian and European

HE CURRENT YEAR HAS BEEN EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD FOR ALUMIL YU AND FOR THE WHOLE ALUMIL GROUP IN GENERAL You have acquired land and plan to start the construction of a new industrial building. What does that mean for your company and for Serbia?

— Focusing on our corporate plan Alumil Yu Industry is expected to grow

and penetrate further with sophisticated technical aluminium products within the next couple of years in these markets creating more job opportunities, increase exports contributing further to local economy and industrial growth. The new investment includes industrial building and a new production line that will almost double our annual capacity.

What challenges have you faced this year?

— The current year has been exceptionally good for Alumil YU and for the whole Alumil Group in general. Specifically in Serbia this year we are experiencing a continuous grow of the value of construction projects that started in 2019, where the value of the projects was increased by 35% compared to 2018 and continued in 2020 and in 2021. However the growth, the market is becoming increasingly demanding, while competition is ever stronger and that is one of the major challenges for Alumil YU. New demands are born every day. Modern buildings require the design and construction of fenestration systems with high standards. By focusing always on the specifications and the requirements of the most advanced markets worldwide, ALUMIL has created a product portfolio which

incorporates innovative products and responds perfectly to the modern building needs. The needs of our customers are quite wide, and so is our product portfolio. Each of our products was designed with one thought in mind: How to offer the best possible solution and maximize the value for our customers.

THE COMPANY IS COMMITTED TO CONTRIBUTING TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SERBIAN INDUSTRIAL SECTOR During the pandemic, the company succeeded in continuing to implement its investment plan. What are your immediate plans, as well as for the rest of the year?

— Indeed during the pandemic crisis we managed not only to sustain but even to increase significantly our manpower, maintain our pace in exports to Western European markets and increase our market share in large scale projects of domestic mar-

ket. This year Alumil YU is focused on improving its technical services to its esteem customers and penetrate further to existing markets by continually investing on development of its people, systems and products in order to ensure that they meet the specifications and requirements of the most advanced markets worldwide.

Are you going to expand to the region, considering that you are the biggest company for the production of aluminium extrusions in Southeast Europe?

— Though initially our plans have been slowed down due to COVID-19 situation we still remain decisive on investing more in Serbia in order to penetrate further through the support of Alumil YU to the regional ex Yugoslavian markets and not only and increase our market share and footprint in large scale projects, of both public and private sectors. Our plans also include the penetration to Western European industrial markets, such as automotive, with sophisticated, stateof-the-art, precision engineered, surfaced treated, ready to use aluminium products. Our expansion plan can be translated in up to 100 new direct job positions, many of which with highly educated, specially trained staff. 

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NEW GENERATION MOBILITY: NOW! HERE!

Within ambitious plans for the future, ZF decided to come to Serbia and invest in a new production site. This was the biggest German investment in Serbia, it initiated the new industrial zone in Pančevo

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he story of ZF Serbia began in 2018 when the foundations of this important location of the youngest and innovation driving ZF’s division E mobility were laid in the greenfield in the City of Pančevo, in Vojvodina, in Serbia.

At that time ZF was already leading the transformation to new mobility and making big steps to advance new technologies and products with strong conviction that electromobility is the future of automotive industry, and all strategic decisions were made in order to develop, expand and accelerate this change.

Within ambitious plans for the future, ZF decided to come to Serbia and invest in a new production site, and by the time this modern production facility was officially opened in June 2019, the investment was already increased and plant extension and research and development center were in construction.

The significant investment of EUR 160 million was agreed for the con-

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struction of Phases I and II of the Pančevo plant, as an expansion of ZF's global production network and in the second phase of investment additional funds in the amount of 35.6 million EUR were alocated for the construction and equipping of ZF Serbia engineering center Pančevo.

OUR GOAL IS VERY CLEAR: WE BECOME A WORLD LEADING COMPANY IN ELECTRIFIED MOBILITY! This was the biggest German investment in Serbia, it initiated the new industrial zone in Pančevo and was a signal to other investors to come to Serbia. ZF understood and recognized the positive change in investment climate, local efforts that will secure long-term political and economic stability, and also adequate in-

frastructure and work force potential, and most important factor- that there is a credible and consistent local and countries government support and understanding that will enable the desired progress for this project.

Today, after just 3 years we can have real view on impressive results ZF Serbia has achieved here and state that this location is evident example of strategical thinking, right decisions, great visons and kept promises and joint effort of ZF team members and successful cooperation and also great friendship between Serbia and Germany, the company ZF and the city of Pančevo, that will continue through new plans and challenges in the future.

Today ZF Serbia Pančevo location is the biggest E-mobility location outside of Germany covering full design and production process from the first customer product to serial production, bringing advantages of all those processes being set at the same time in the same location. Currently, grow-

ing team of highly skilled, trained and educated employees at the 58.000 m2 of production facilities are mainly working on the production of starter generators for Volvo, electric motors for the third generation of hybrid transmissions for BMW, and electric axle drives for Mercedes-Benz. Furthermore, microswitches and gear shift systems are produced at the plant in Pančevo.

The state-of-the-art engineering center consisting of 3.000 m2 of office space and 3,600 m2 of high-tech test area and currently employees 100 engineers. A cross-functional engineering team deals with the development of new products of the Division Electrified Powertrain Technology, the design of electric motors, the development of electric axle drives, as well as software calibration, testing, and validation.

Within the test center, in which approximately EUR 20 million were invested for modern test equipment, there are 16 test rooms for testing and verifying electric motors as well as endurance and performance tests in active and passive operation as well as for validating the overall system.

In January 2021, the first tests in this most modern research center in Serbia started, and have been in operation since, also supporting the serial production in Pančevo Plant.

ZF Serbia Pancevo plant together with the center for research and development currently employs close to 1000 people.

We as the new E Division are convinced, that the time to put sustainable mobility at the heart of every-

THE TIME TO PUT SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING WE DO IS NOW thing we do is now. We contribute by electrifying mobility globally, with ZF technology inside.

Our goal is very clear: We become a world leading company in electrified mobility!

ZF is a global technology company and supplies systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and industrial technology, enabling the next generation of mobility.

With its comprehensive technology portfolio, the company offers integrated solutions for established vehicle manufacturers, mobility providers and start-up companies in the fields of transportation and mobility. ZF continually enhances its systems in the

areas of digital connectivity and automation in order to allow vehicles to see, think and act.

The company has a global workforce of 153,500 with 271 locations in 42 countries. In 2020, ZF achieved sales of €32.6 billion. Founded in 1915, ZF has evolved from a supplier specializing in aviation technology to a global mobility technology company. With the acquisition of WABCO, the company significantly increased its competence, especially in the technology field for heavy commercial vehicles, buses and trailers. Last year, ZF spent more than seven percent of its sales on research and development.

With its innovative portfolio, ZF is focusing on the “Next Generation Mobility” for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and industrial applications.

Group shareholders include the Zeppelin Foundation, administered by the City of Friedrichshafen, holding 93.8 percent of shares, and the Dr. Jürgen and Irmgard Ulderup Foundation, Lemförde, with 6.2 percent. 

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ECONOMY

TRANSPORT, LOGISTICS, WINE AND IT

by Žikica Milošević

New and old branches of the economy are both trump cards

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ojvodina used to be a region in the Austro-Hungarian Empire with the densest railroad network, perhaps even the densest in European terms. Vojvodina was also known as a wine region that supplied European courts with good and expensive wines. Today, railroads and roads are being built, vineyards resurrected, and a new, productive and propulsive branch is emerging – the ICT. These are today's trump cards of Vojvodina’s economy The first railway in Serbia was built in Vojvodina, in the mid-19th century.

Vojvodina's plain, which is a great terrain for the construction of roads and railway, soon made this region a magnet for immigration, a bread basket of

VOJVODINA WAS ALSO KNOWN AS A WINE REGION THAT SUPPLIED EUROPEAN COURTS WITH GOOD AND EXPENSIVE WINES Europe, a place that was easy to reach, by boat or train, and the place from which was easy to take goods. Therefore, 40 or so nations gathered in Vojvodina, living, more or less, in harmony, side by side.

Today, this potential has been recognized by the Government of Serbia.

Hundreds of motorway and expressway sections are being built in Vojvodina including Belgrade - Zrenjanin - Novi Sad, Novi Sad - Ruma – Šabac, the Fruška Gora corridor and Kuzmin - Sremska Rača, as well as the road from Sombor to Kikinda, which will be the shortest link between the two EU Member States - Croatia and Romania. Geographical-

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ly, Vojvodina is an observatory and Serbia's distended platform in the EU, and as such, it must not be pushed into the background but rather viewed as having a comparative advantage in terms of the construction of infrastructure.

Vojvodina also creates new benefits.

Agriculture Minister Branislav Nedimović has said that Sremska Mitrovica, as the only town in Serbia that has 3 highways, will become the country's logistics hub. Over 60% of the country's GDP is generated by only three regions in Serbia - Srem, Novi Sad and Belgrade.

Now is the time to expand this to neighbouring areas too. The Belgrade-Subotica railroad will be completed in a few years, and when it connects with the Budapest-Serbian border railroad, it will become a new lifeline on the Belt and Road transversal.

Viticulture is yet another development asset of Vojvodina. Once home to top wine industry, during socialism, Vojvodina was reduced to the lowest levels by making huge quantities of bad wine. Now, large and especially small wineries are emerging everywhere, with even TV series made about them.

Since Fruška Gora is situated at 45 degrees N latitude, it is an ideal location for viticulture. The number of wineries and wine brands here has increased exponentially. Vojvodina has become a European paradise for wine lovers.

The third trump card is the one that entire Serbia has, and that is information and communication technology.

Belgrade has become one of the glob-

THE REGION OF VOJVODINA IS IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF THE ICT SECTOR, BUT ALSO KNOWN FOR THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND AS A GREAT TRAVEL DESTINATION al ICT hubs, but smaller towns are often profiled as the most propulsive in this sector. In Romania, this is Timisoara, in Ukraine, it is Lviv (both closer to the EU border than the capitals of Bucharest and Kyiv), and Minsk is already

an old 'player' in the industry. Novi Sad has long been a very important location on the IT map of Europe, with software development outsourcing and the gaming industry developing rapidly.

Recently, Subotica has launched a project that will transform the town into a new IT hub, since it is located halfway between Budapest and Belgrade. There is no reason why Sombor, Zrenjanin, Sremska Mitrovica and other Serbian towns should not follow Subotica's suit.

All in all, except for agriculture, which has been the greatest hope for the Vojvodinian economy for centuries, old but revived branches of the economy, as well as the new ones, are starting to emerge with tourism being one of them. But more about it later!. 

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WINE ROADS OF FRUŠKA GORA All Fruška Gora wineries have a long and arduous journey that leads to a glass full of divine drink. It begins in the vineyards, by choosing the assortment of grapes and taking care of the vine

T

he history of Fruška Gora’s vineyards tells an exciting story. Many people know that the planned planting of vines on Fruška Gora dates back to the reign of Emperor Probus (Marcus Aurelius Probus), who allowed vineyards to be raised in the Roman provinces as well.

The disappearance of the Romans from the historical stage did not endanger the vineyards on Fruška Gora.

Like the flower called Natalie’s Ramonda (lat. Ramonda Nathaliae), they survived empires, monarchies and various governments during the centuries that followed, overcoming wars, migrations and the crisis caused by phylloxera. The love for vineyards and wine, and the diligence with which the great-grandfathers of today’s winemakers preserved the vineyards and the knowledge of making wine, has helped the Fruška Gora vineyards survive through the past centuries. The tradition of winemaking and viticul-

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ture has been passed down for generations as an unobtrusive truth from grandparents to the grandchildren (boys and girls) of later successful winemakers.

In the villages of the winemaking Srem district, every house used to have a vineyard. Saćurica (a round

IN EACH WINERY YOU VISIT, YOU WILL ENCOUNTER A ONE-OF-A-KIND ATMOSPHERE smaller basket made of rushes) full of grapes was exchanged with the neighbours from lower Srem for saćurica with grains. At that time, the wealth of families living on Fruška Gora was measured by barrels of wine, and the viticultural business

was most valued among all rural businesses. There is a significant heritage that monasteries and manorial estates have given to the development of viticulture over the centuries, especially those owned by the aristocratic family called Odeskalki. They were informal hubs of knowledge, skills and technology of winemaking, but also the first exporters of Fruška Gora’s wine to European towns which was ultimately served to royals and other aristocrats.

Contemporary wine stories from the Fruška Gora area, which originated in a tradition that rests on love for the mystery of wine and preserves the beauty, gentleness, and richness of the regions in which they originate, have made it to the Republic of Serbia’s tourist offer. These are stories about the families of vine growers and winemakers, about the vineyards they nurture, the wines they make, celebrations in honour of the

wines they keep, and the serenity with which they welcome guests. There are also privately owned wineries that can produce the amount of wine that is necessary for continuous export to European and other markets.

In each winery you visit, you will encounter a one-of-a-kind atmosphere and even if you go on fifty different wine tours, you will experience something new, undiscovered and special.

You will experience an abundance of gastronomic tastes, aromas and colours in just one family-run vineyard or a neighbouring village.

All Fruška Gora wineries tread on a long and arduous journey that leads to a glass full of divine drink, and begins in the vineyards, by choosing the assortment of grapes and taking care of the vine. Fruška Gora wineries currently produce the following white wines - the Italian Riesling (White Grašac), Rhine Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon White, Traminer, Muscat Crocant, Muscat Ottonel, Neoplanta, Sirmium, Župljanka, Sila, New Dinka, Petra, Zlata, Lela, Liza, Mila, Lasta, Bačka, Panonija, early Riesling and other wines. As for red wines, the following are the most popular: Merlot, Frankovka, Portuguiser, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Pino Red, Shiraz (also known as Syrah), Marselan, Prokupac, Tamjanika, Vranac, Probus, etc. It was the white wines of Fruška

Gora that first brought awards at the world's most important festivals. In recent years, thanks to awards for rosé and red wines, given at the most important wine festival, Decanter World Wine Awards and ratings on the Wine Advocate platform, a new, more comprehensive perception of the wine of the Fruška Gora vineyards has developed at the international level.

Fruška Gora wineries have sprung up thanks to the favourable terroir and love for wines that has lasted for

ALL FRUŠKA GORA WINERIES TREAD ON A LONG AND ARDUOUS JOURNEY THAT LEADS TO A GLASS FULL OF DIVINE DRINK generations, as well as on the attractiveness of Fruška Gora and its abundance of natural attractions, cultural monuments, legends and myths. It is difficult to resist the chance to visit the wineries and not, at the same time, visit Serbian Orthodox monasteries, churches, famous places and lakes or go hiking through the woods, enjoy in spas, have a picnic… One way to master this wonderful part of the world, crisscrossed with win-

eries, is to follow in the footsteps of six wine routes. These are: "Novi Sad and Temerin Winemakers and Wineries", "Wines of Ornate Srem (Beočin – Čerević - Banoštor)", "Sremski Karlovci - Wine Galaxy", "Vineyards Embraced by the Danube with a View of the Tisza (Novi and Stari Slankamen – Slankamenački Vinogradi - Krčedin - Indjija)", "On the Trail of the Aristocratic Odeskalki Family (Susek - Neštin - Šid - Erdevik - Bikić Do)" and "The Irish Wine Stories".

Wine routes combine the natural attractions and values of Fruška Gora with exploration of towns and villages that are known for their cultural and historical values such as Sremska Kamenica, Ledinci, Rakovac, Beočin, Čerević, Banoštor, Sremski Karlovci, Susek, Neštin, Erdevik, Šid , Bikić Do, Stari Slankamen, Novi Slankamen, Slankamenački Vinogradi, Indjija, Krčedin, Mala Remeta, Irig, Rivica and others, which are also known as the centres of wine tourism. On this road filled with wine-related temptations, every winery you visit will make sure to provide you with their special kind of joy and the drinkable aroma of Fruška Gora, as if they are telling you a folk story from yesteryear that will envelop you in warm emotions.  Novi Sad Tourism Organisation www.novisad.travel/vinarije

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C U LT U R E

LAND OF ART NOUVEAU

by Žikica Milošević

Luxurious art in everyday life

F

ollowing the example of their European counterparts, Hungarian avant-garde artists believed that industrial development would destroy of all that is beautiful, and that art, relying heavily on folk architecture, should be introduced into everyday life.

At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the commotion in European art, science and life, in general, reached Subotica via Budapest, with both towns belonging to the same country at that time. The changes that came from Europe slowly crept into the architecture of Subotica. One segment turned to the European centres of Munich, Vienna, Paris and London, and the other, more dominant, to the national, Hungarian variant of Art Nouveau. Although the European version was more dominant,

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the Hungarian one is heavily featured in Subotica, which resulted in Subotica dubbed ‘the Art Nouveau town”. Beautiful buildings designed in this style can also be found in Novi Sad, Senta, Sremska Mitrovica, Zrenjanin...

THE CHANGES THAT CAME FROM EUROPE SLOWLY CREPT INTO THE ARCHITECTURE OF SUBOTICA TOWN HALL, SUBOTICA Unlike many European cities, downtown Subotica is not dominated by a cathedral or church, but the Town Hall.

With its location, dimensions and or-

nate architecture of the Hungarian variant of Art Nouveau, the Town Hall has become a well-known landmark, a symbol of Subotica. The decorativeness of Art Nouveau here is enriched with a romantic note of Hungarian folklore through patterns of stylized flowers and floral decorations made of ceramics and wrought iron. Carved wood, brass fittings, lamps and ceramic eosin tiles enhance the building’s artistic value and luxury.

RAICHL PALACE, SUBOTICA Architect Ferenc Raichl chose one of the most beautiful locations in Subotica as his future home and office. The monumental entrance to the palace is indented as part of the facade that features a stylized heart. The wrought iron gate is also heart-shaped, as is the dec-

oration on the balcony railing. Raichl built his home in 1904 in the Hungarian version of the Art Nouveau, inspired by the folk art of Erdelj. Today, the Palace is home to the Gallery of Modern Art.

SYNAGOGUE, SUBOTICA The Jewish community in Subotica utilized one of the winning projects of the Szeged synagogue design competition and used it to make one of the "most beautiful synagogues in this part of Europe". The synagogue was built in 1902.

It was designed by Marcel Komor and Deže Jakab. In addition to its artistic and aesthetic value, it is exceptional because

UNLIKE MANY EUROPEAN CITIES, DOWNTOWN SUBOTICA IS NOT DOMINATED

BY A CATHEDRAL OR CHURCH, BUT THE TOWN HALL this is the only synagogue in Europe that is designed in the Hungarian variant of Art Nouveau with its typical floral decorations. The tiles used here were made

by the Zsolnay ceramic factory from Pécs. The synagogue can take up to 1,600 people - 850 men on the ground floor and 550 women in the gallery.

PALIĆ Two large blue pottery vases, featuring the image of the Water God, which stand in front of two hotels in Veliki Park (The Big Park), arrived in Subotica in 1910 as a gift from the owner of the Zsolnay ceramic factory from Pécs.

Palić is brimming with Art Nouveau buildings. It also features the popular water tower, which seems to defy gravity with its unusual slenderness. 

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by Žikica Milošević

TRADITION

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SALAŠI – THE WORLD OF ITS OWN, DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHERS Salaši emerged from the need of farmers, especially cowboys, to be close to the land. In these times, land was more frequently used for pasturage, which grass was used for nutrition of sheep and cows

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n the beginning, they were just shelters from the rain and storms for people (light fences made of reed or wattle) and shelters for the cattle and enclosed spaces for horses and cattle Salaš is a property on the field, with the object in which owners (workers) are settled and necessary economic buildings (often improvised) – stables, sheds and barns. Draw-well is inevitable part of such a property. Salaši emerged in middle age and they were present in all of Pannonia plain, from Alphas to Carpathian. The most typical and long lived are szalases placed in the plain of today's Vojvodina, and its northern and eastern neighbors. The name originates from the Hungarian word “szállás” meaning house or accomodation. In this region, all such properties are called szállás, and in other parts of the world equivalent words would be

ranch, hacienda, majur, baija, tanya…

Salaši emerged from the need of farmers, especially cowboys, to be close to the land. In these times, land was more frequently used for pasturage, which grass was used for nutrition of sheep and cows. In the beginning, they were just shelters from the rain and storms for people (light fences made of reed or wattle) and shelters for the cattle and enclosed spaces for horses and cattle). Later, when crop farming became its development, hence in the 19th century, salaši took different forms. A typical salaš had a building for the owner. It consisted of two rooms separated by the kitchen, a stable next to the house, hovel for cattle, tools and other engines, roost, pigsty, mow, barn, threshing floor for hay and straw, sanitary with the fence and a dump for manure. Depending on owner's econom-

terbellum time. During the 50th years of last century, salaši became to decay, because of the state's policy, agrarian reform, collectivization, inclusion of farmers into cooperatives. Some szalases were taken by the state, and some were destroyed. However, a lot of them survived but were impoverished, since the area of arable land for private owners, was limited to 10 hectares.

Then came era of agricultural modic strength, salaši had more or less additional objects. They were noticeable from the distance, by their shadoof, device for taking water from the well, a kind of wooden cranes.

Salaši were places of hard work – from down to dusk. That's why they were built that way – they enabled farmers to go to field, stable, pigsty, thrashing floor, as soon as they are awaken.

They aware able to cultivate corps, take care of cattle, milk cows, make cheese and butter, prepare products for storage, grind corn, pluck geese, butcher pigs in autumns, make sausages…

During the wars and in other crisis times, they were abandoned, empty. To bring them to life after the II WW was very difficult. It was hard to provide for town and cities, and not to mention remote salaši. Hard life, separation from the other people and community, never-ending care for children and animals, made salaš people different from the villagers, and much more different from town people. However, salaš people are known by their patience, restrainedness, hard work, persistence and thoughtful decision making.

The golden era of salaši was the in-

TODAY, SALAŠI IN VOJVODINA ARE USUALLY WEEKEND HOUSES, RESTAURANTS, ETHNO-HOUSES FOR HOLIDAYS AND RECREATION

ernization and tractors, land was closer to village and horses were rarely used.

Some salaši were turned into large cattle farms, inappropriate for family life.

Today, salaši in Vojvodina are usually weekend houses, restaurants, ethno-houses for holidays and recreation. They offer healthy and exotic food based on salaš tradition in animal breeding and preparation of the food.

Salaši are places for more fun and less work, except from the hosts.

There are at least a hundred salaši in Vojvodina, and they are not only green oases on endless plain, but also hostels, restaurants, and these are the most popular: Salaš 137 on Čenej near Novog Sada, Salaš Katai near Mali Iđoš, Rokin salaš in Hajdukovo, Majkin, Sunčani and Cvetni salaš near Subotica, Salaš Stojšin near Krčedin, Dida Hornjikov salaš on Palić lake, Zekin salaš in Krčedin, Jelen salaš on Palić… 

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TO U R I S M

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IT'S BEACH D TIME! The River Escape is what this Summer needs!

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ue to bad circumstances, last year shed new light on vacationing in our country. And what resembles the sea coast more than wide rivers and lakes? Yet again, Instagram and Facebook were flooded with photos from Vojvodina's beaches since Vojvodina has a lot to offer in that department.

THE SAVA RIVER When you mention Vojvodina, one often associates it with the longest Serbian river – the Danube. But before it merges with the Danube, the Sava River enters Vojvodina from the west. It is near Sremska Mitrovica that it makes one of the beautiful bends that created some of the most beauti-

THE DANUBE RIVER The mighty Danube comes down from the north and forks out into many tributaries, known as Dunavci. This is due to the frequent changes in the Danube's riverbed, which also made it possible for the villages on the shore to have picnic areas, river inns and beautifully landscaped beaches on the warm, emerald green water. In addition to the rural gems such as Bezdan and Bački Monoštor, there are also Šebešfok, Korlatoš or Podunav. Downstream, in Apatin, there is the famous White Rose (Bela Ruža), a tributary of the Danube that turns into a hive of activity during the summer. The people who live in Sombor often come to Apatin to swim in the Danube, despite Sombor also having a beach that was opened over 120 years ago.

THEREFORE, IF YOU ARE TIRED OF YOUR LOCAL BEACH, HEAD NORTH! VOJVODINA HAS HUNDREDS OF BEACHES THAT WILL REFRESH YOU

ful beaches in this part of the world. The beach called Brioni is considered the best here and one of the most beautiful river beaches in Serbia. Brioni is a sandy beach that has a wonderful view of the Mačva district and several restaurants, cafes and sports fields. This impressive beach complex is the hub of activities during the day and the cen-

tral location for nightlife from late June to mid-September. Even back during the Austro-Hungarian days, this beach was used by locals – of course, men wore striped one-piece swimsuits and women had to wear caps in addition to a swimsuit. Men and women were separated, and each had their own part of the beach.

If we go further downstream, we come to Vajska and Provala, the most popular beaches in southwest Bačka and the pride of the town of Bač, which is located on a small lake near the town.

The Tikvara beach in Bačka Palanka is yet another excellent choice for swimming because it is well-arranged and has a beautiful view of the medieval INVEST IN

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town of Ilok in the Srem district in Croatia. People in Novi Sad love their 'string of river pearls' that starts with Begečka Jama, beaches in Beočin and Futog and Ćerevićka Ada and finishes at Štrand, the famous Novi Sad beach.

This is a beach that can compete for the title of the most beautiful beach in Serbia and which Exit goers usually compare to a sea beach. Štrand is the most urbanized of all beaches and home to a bunch of events, concerts, and sports fields. Alternatively, there is the Oficirac beach, on the Petrovaradin side, the former beach of Habsburg officers, a place liked by hipsters and those who "don't like crowds". There is also the Karlovac beach, known as the location of the iconic Serbian movie „Varljivo Leto '68“. A river island further downstream,

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called Ko Chang, became popular because of its crazy parties and often likened to the island from the movie „The Beach“ with Leonardo DiCaprio.

Krčedinska Ada is a paradise for wild horses and cattle, so an animal or two might accompany you on your swim.

ONE OF THE NEWER ATTRACTIONS IS PAČIRSKO LAKE THAT IS PINK IN COLOUR DUE TO MELTED SALTS Last year, Slankamen attracted many tourists from Belgrade, unaccustomed to the "more natural look" of the Danube. Kovinski Dunavac is the last of the

Vojvodinian beaches on the Danube.

LAKES We should not count out Vojvodina's lakes. Belocrkvanska Jezera (lakes in Bela Crkva) are the gems of southern Banat, and due to the proximity of Belgrade, they were frequently featured on Instagram in 2020. We should not forget Zrenjanin's "sea" called Peščara.

Subotica no longer has its own beach because Palić is now unfit for swimming. This is the only big town in Vojvodina that does not have its own beach but you can at least walk along the Palić shores and enjoy the wonderful views.

One of the newer attractions is Pačirsko Lake that is pink in colour due to melted salts. Magical to look at and with healing properties… 