Mayor of Kragujevac Nikola Dašić hosted an official reception today for Alexander Titolo, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, who has also served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Serbia since August 2024. The meeting, held at City Hall, was also attended by Danka Andonovski, Member of the City Council for International Cooperation and Local Self-Government, and Elizabeth Bersin of the Political Section of the U.S. Embassy.
The discussions focused on issues of importance to Kragujevac’s local economic development, the potential of the State Data Center, and the activities of the American Corner, which for years has served as an important platform for cooperation, education, and cultural exchange.
Kragujevac has traditionally been open to cooperation and to strengthening partnerships that contribute to the modernization of our community. The development of industrial and technological innovation has established our city as one of the leading technology hubs in this part of Europe, and the support of international partners in this process is of great importance, Mayor Dašić stated.
One of the main topics of the meeting was the State Data Center in Kragujevac, a symbol of Serbia’s technological progress. Particular emphasis was placed on the second supercomputer, commissioned on 30 April this year, with an investment value of approximately five million euros and developed in cooperation with the American company NVIDIA. The new system is seven times faster than its predecessor, creating new opportunities in data processing, artificial intelligence development, and the application of advanced technologies.
This diplomatic meeting took place in a year regarded as particularly significant for relations between Serbia and the United States, marked by the launch of the first Strategic Partnership between the two countries and the celebration of the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. On this occasion, a series of public events and campaigns across Serbia was announced as a symbol of a new era in bilateral relations.
The interlocutors also discussed the importance of Expo 2027, which has been recognized as a major opportunity for Serbia to showcase its industrial, innovation, and technological capacities to the world, while attracting new investors and companies, including those from the United States.
Mayor Dašić and the Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy agreed that there is considerable scope for further strengthening cooperation, particularly in the fields of technology, education, economic development, and support for young people, noting that Kragujevac today is a city with strong development potential and a clear vision for the future.
