LETTER OF INTENT ON CO-OPERATION BETWEEN NOVI SAD AND THE UZBEK CITY OF SAMARKAND SIGNED AT CITY HALL

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Mayor of Novi Sad Žarko Mićin and Deputy Governor of the Samarkand Region of the Republic of Uzbekistan Khurshidbek Samiyev signed today at City Hall a Letter of Intent on establishing co-operation between Novi Sad and Samarkand.

Prior to the signing, they held a meeting attended by members of the City Council, representatives of the Samarkand Region, and representatives of two Uzbek companies, during which they discussed opportunities for developing relations and implementing specific joint projects. The signing of the document provides a basis for further strengthening friendly relations and developing co-operation between the two cities in areas of mutual interest, including the economy and investment, science and education, healthcare, tourism, sport, culture and the arts.

Mayor Mićin said that establishing co-operation with Samarkand represents an important step towards further opening Novi Sad up to the world and creating new opportunities for businesses, institutions, the scientific and academic communities, as well as the residents of both cities.

- The Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Uzbekistan have exceptionally good bilateral relations, while President Aleksandar Vučić’s visit to Uzbekistan in 2025 represented an important step in further strengthening them. I am particularly pleased that this meeting is taking place precisely at the time of President Mirziyoyev’s visit to Serbia. This demonstrates that relations between Serbia and Uzbekistan are developing strongly at the highest state level, and that this co-operation is now increasingly extending to the level of our cities and regions. Today, we can see this happening here in Novi Sad as well. There is truly great potential for co-operation with Samarkand. Novi Sad, as the European Capital of Culture, and Samarkand, a city of exceptional historical and cultural significance and part of UNESCO’s World Heritage, have great potential for building closer ties. Both cities have a rich history, culture and tradition, while at the same time looking firmly towards the future. That is why we want our friendship not to remain merely on paper, but to turn it into concrete projects that will benefit our citizens - Mayor Mićin said.

The Mayor particularly highlighted the importance of developing economic and investment co-operation, as well as strengthening links in the fields of tourism, education and culture.

- Co-operation with Samarkand can open the door for Novi Sad to a new market, encourage investment, as well as exchanges of tourists, businesspeople, scientists and artists. In the period ahead, we want to make this co-operation even more concrete and work towards establishing higher forms of formal co-operation. I believe that the partnership between Novi Sad and Samarkand will be to the mutual benefit and satisfaction of both sides - the Mayor concluded.

Deputy Governor of the Samarkand Region Khurshidbek Samiyev emphasised that Serbia and Uzbekistan have intensified their relations in recent years and that local communities have an important role to play in further deepening them.

- We believe that the Letter of Intent signed today will mark the beginning of a long-term and highly concrete partnership between our cities, leading us towards the highest-level legal instrument for twinning. Novi Sad is a city with strong economic, educational and cultural potential, while Samarkand has extensive experience in tourism development, the preservation of cultural heritage and international co-operation. We want to bring these experiences together and create new opportunities for our citizens and economies - the Deputy Governor of the Samarkand Region said.

The Letter of Intent envisages that co-operation between Novi Sad and Samarkand will be further developed and made more concrete in the period ahead, with the possibility of signing a Co-operation Agreement as the highest-level legal instrument defining the forms and mechanisms of partnership between the two cities.

Novi Sad, 7 September 2026