The Minister without Portfolio in the Government of the Republic of Serbia responsible for monitoring the situation, proposing measures and participating in the coordination of activities in the field of relations with the diaspora, Đorđe Milićević, opened officially the first event within the Diaspora and Expo 2027 program in Timișoara, Romania.

On that occasion, Milićević said that Timișoara was hosting the first of a total of twelve Diaspora and Expo 2027 programs, and added that the program aimed to visit the diaspora, to bring the importance of the specialized exhibition Expo 2027 Belgrade closer to our people, Serbian associations, institutions and partners in those countries.

It is my particular pleasure to have Timișoara as our starting point for this program, said Milićević, noting that Timișoara was a city of rich history, culture, encounters and cooperation, a city in which the Serbian community had deep roots, strong institutions, a vibrant identity and a great reputation. The Minister stressed the importance of having representatives of the economy also in Timișoara, and noted that Expo 2027 was not only a cultural and promotional event, but also a great development opportunity, an opportunity for new contacts, new affairs, new investments, new tourist visits and new forms of cooperation. He said that Serbia wanted Expo to be a meeting place - of states, companies, cities, young people, ideas, innovations and culture, and noted that Expo was one of Serbia’s most important national projects.

We want to invite our compatriots from around the world to come to Serbia in 2027, but also to be an important part of our country’s promotional network, he said, pointing out that our people in the diaspora could help a lot to get as many tourists, business people, investors, representatives of institutions, culture, sports and public life as possible interested in Serbia and visit Belgrade during the Expo.

According to him, Serbs in Romania are one of the most organized and important Serbian communities in the region, with deep roots and great reputation. The ceremonial part of the event was also complemented by a cultural and artistic program. Milićević said that our compatriots in Romania were a bridge of cooperation, friendship, economic ties and a common future for the two countries. The opening ceremony was attended by the Consul General of the Republic of Serbia in Timișoara Ivana Jakšić Matović, Metropolitan of Buda and Administrator of Timișoara Lukijan, President of the Timișoara Chamber of Commerce Florica Chiriță, President of the Union of Serbs of Romania Ognjan Krstić, as well as representatives of Expo 2027. The Minister noted the importance of discussing the Expo, inviting friends, partners, business people, neighbors and associates to come to Belgrade, and added that Serbia today was a country to visit, to invest in, to cooperate with and to which people returned.

Source: Government of the Republic of Serbia

Photo: Marija Blagojević