The Mayor of Kragujevac, Nikola Dašić, met today at the City Hall with His Excellency Dr. Slobodan Šešum, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to the Republic of Serbia, to discuss the significance of the cooperation achieved to date, as well as the potential for its further advancement, particularly in the areas of investment and economic development. Special emphasis was placed on Kragujevac’s position as a developed industrial hub offering a stable and supportive environment for new investments and long-term growth.
Cooperation with Slovenia is of exceptional importance, given that around 25 companies backed by Slovenian capital operate in Kragujevac, Mayor Dašić noted. Referring to the acquisition of Unior Components by the Kolektor Group, he emphasized that the transition marks an important step toward preserving business stability and fostering further growth, while retaining a highly skilled engineering workforce. Our objective is to turn every partnership into new investments and new jobs for our citizens, Dašić stated, adding that today’s visit reaffirms the trust placed in Kragujevac and its appeal as an investment destination.
In addition to economic matters, the meeting also addressed the long-standing friendly ties with Slovenj Gradec, with both sides noting that there is room to further enhance cooperation in both the economic and cultural spheres.
Ambassador Šešum expressed his satisfaction with the visit and underlined that Kragujevac holds an important place in the economic relations between Serbia and Slovenia. He noted that the presence of a significant number of Slovenian companies speaks volumes about the level of trust and the potential for continued development. He particularly emphasized that companies are choosing Kragujevac today not because of low labour costs, but because of its knowledge base, professional expertise, and the quality of its human resources — the city’s greatest asset.
The two sides agreed that there is considerable scope for strengthening cooperation further and announced plans to organize a major economic conference in Kragujevac this autumn. The conference will bring together representatives of leading companies, partners from Serbia and Slovenia, as well as relevant institutions, with the aim of promoting economic potential and creating new opportunities for higher value-added investments.
Following the meeting, the Mayor and the Ambassador paid a joint visit to Kolektor Components, where they were able to see first-hand the company’s successful operations and production capacities. The visit further confirmed that Kragujevac provides a stable and supportive business environment, ready to meet the demands of modern industry and attract new investors.
