BELGRADE CITY DELEGATION VISITS NOVI SAD

Mayor of the City of Novi Sad Mr. Miloš Vučević received today at the City Hall the Belgrade City Delegation headed by the Mayor of the City of Belgrade Mr. Siniša Mali. After the reception and the meeting that followed, the host accompanied the visiting delegation to the Novi Sad Agricultural Fair.
Previous meeting of the two Mayors took place last December in Belgrade, at which it was agreed that the two delegations would meet every six months in order to exchange relevant experience in the field of local administration management. At the Novi Sad meeting, held at the City Hall, various topics were discussed: the results achieved so far in the area of proactive utility policy implementation, as well as the preschool system reforms, the area in which the two cities took important steps regarding financing children education at private kindergartens. The two delegations also discussed public-private partnerships in the utility sector, confirming thereby that with sufficient exchange of experience, knowledge and best practices, the two cities will achieve most notable progress and highest quality standards. Mayor Mali particularly emphasized the progress Novi Sad made regarding IPA-project applications, pointing out that Novi Sad is the leader in these activities, and that with close cooperation and joint effort, Belgrade can make considerable progress as well.

Novi Sad and Belgrade Delegations, accompanied with the Novi Sad Fair Management, toured the 82nd International Agricultural Fair and visited the exhibitors.

- Today we send a clear message that the two largest local governments, two largest cities in Serbia, indeed know how to implement their support policies in being excellent partners to agriculture. I am fully convinced, and this has also been discussed during the meeting, that the cities will even more visibly make their appearance at the Agricultural Fair next year. Even during our today’s visit, we are able to witness that this event made a significant progress, and that its old glory and fame are returning. An enormous step forward has been made, and I am taking this opportunity to congratulate the organizers and the exhibitors. I truly hope that Novi Sad Fair will again become not only the most important event for Novi Sad and Serbia, but for the whole region and Europe as well. – said Mayor Vučević and added that Novi Sad and Belgrade see each other as partners in every future process.  

Mayor Mali extended his gratitude to Mayor Vučević for the invitation to visit Novi Sad, pointing out that this is a unique case in recent decades that one Belgrade Mayor visits the Agricultural Fair of Novi Sad.

- We convey our message and our wish for our two cities to work together. We have even agreed our joint participation for the following Fair, so we could adequately emphasize the potentials our largest cities have in the area of agriculture. It is rather interesting that some 80 000 people in Belgrade work in this field, and that we have over 33 000 registered agricultural households, as well as 250 000 ha of agricultural land, the half of which is cultivated. This means that we have the potential, and this is why we are here – to see how the City of Belgrade can encourage agricultural production on its territory. Belgrade City Secretariat for the Economy allocated funds for subsidizing up to 80% of the investments made for organic production in plastic greenhouses, as well as for training and equipment for beekeeping. Nevertheless, I still find it insufficient and we would like to, starting from 2016, invest more in agriculture, as well as to utilize all that this branch of economy has to offer. – said Mayor Mali, praising the effort of the organizers for the excellent event. He also added that this is the first time the City of Belgrade participates on its own, and that it will give its best to implement the experience and knowledge locally – for it is with joint effort that one accomplishes more.

In Nоvi Sаd, May 12th 2015