The 10th International Forum on Cooperation was opened at the MIND Park, gathering entrepreneurs from the country and the region, representatives of state institutions, chambers of commerce, and development agencies that support the economy and local economic development. The forum was organized by the Development Agency of Serbia and the Development Agency of Republika Srpska, with the support of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce. During the panel discussions, forum participants will address current topics such as the green economy/decarbonization and the use of artificial intelligence.
On behalf of the City of Kragujevac, the participants were greeted by Dejan Ružić, Deputy Mayor of Kragujevac.
Kragujevac, as an industrial and university center of central Serbia, is a natural meeting point for innovation, science, and business. In recent years, the state and the city have been making intensive investments in infrastructure, innovation economy, and digital transformation - from the construction of the Innovation District and the state Data Center to support for higher education and the development of entrepreneurial zones - said Ružić, adding that the city has been recognized by the Development Agency of Serbia as one of the best investment locations in the country, as shown by investor interest.
The City of Kragujevac has almost run out of land in its own ownership that can be offered to potential investors but has two large developers: MIND Park, which offers locations for purchase or long-term lease, and CTPark, which recently bought a location for the development of a new industrial center that will be in our city, so we have options to direct investors to - said Ružić.
Reflecting on the results of ten years of cooperation within this platform, Radoš Gazdić, Director of the Development Agency of Serbia, expressed satisfaction with the fact that over 2,000 business meetings have been held since the initial idea, hundreds of contracts signed between entrepreneurs, and dozens of panels organized.
The platform has contributed to the economy. When we started, trade between Republika Srpska and Serbia was around one billion euros, and we are finishing this year with three billion, in just one decade, which I must admit is a huge success - said Gazdić.
Forum participants were also greeted by Igor Crnobarać, Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Economy, who expressed his satisfaction that this year's forum is dedicated to current topics such as the green economy, decarbonization, and the application of artificial intelligence in the economy.
These are not just technical terms, these are questions related to the future of the Serbian economy, and how and in what way we will manage to preserve its sustainable growth, said Crnobarać.
On behalf of the Development Agency of Republika Srpska, the forum participants were greeted by Director Marinko Đukić.
