On 11 November, two Returnees 2023 conferences were held in Novi Sad, through projects implemented by the Citizens’ Association Povratnici (returnees) 2022 from Futog.

One of the activities was the organization of conferences, which brought together returnees from the diaspora, representatives of the diaspora, religious organizations, cultural organizations, citizens’ associations dealing with diaspora and motherland matters, and other public actors from city, provincial and local administrative centres from both the Republic of Serbia and the APV Vojvodina.

The projects supported by the Republic of Serbia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Directorate for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region, and City of Novi Sad, City Administration for Economy of the City of Novi Sad, and implemented by the Association Povratnici 2022 Futog, presented an information leaflet for returnees, a promotional film and a series of activities with active engagement of returnees in Open Door Days activities.

The goal of the project is affirmation of returnees, cooperation of the diaspora with the motherland Serbia, networking of returnees and the diaspora, in order to influence active economic development through the opening of small and medium-sized enterprises, but also the opportunities provided by the RS Law on Social Entrepreneurship, which may motivate investment for all those who have returned as well as those who plan to return.

All conference participants were offered first-hand information about the work of the Office and support through the information leaflet for returnees, and the president of the association, Jelena Ilin Mitrović, invited all returnees to come, to receive information and to be involved through a large number of permanent info days in which, not so rarely, they can attend education at the level of various forms of lectures on entrepreneurship, rights, education, but also on all active topics for returnees upon arriving in the Republic of Serbia, in order to integrate.

All Panel 1 and Panel 2 participants agreed that the integration of returnees from the diaspora up to business development in the motherland should involve government representatives, local economic development offices, regional development agencies, innovation centres, law offices within the public sector, representatives of culture, education and religious institutions both in the Republic of Serbia and diaspora.

The Association’s mission is to make the conference traditional, to present each year novelties in the field of entrepreneurship, good stories and practices of returnee businessmen, and to motivate the diaspora for active cooperation.

One of Panel 2 participants, Ljuba Popović, introduced the audience and other panel participants to his motive for returning, which is art and potential photography revival in Serbia, its value being set as a model of living, both in family festivities and in the form of a tool for promoting women in the service of business development, but with an innovative approach, which is the one he had learned and received in distant Canada.

Source: Radio Television of Serbia – Citizens’ Association Povratnici 2022

Photo: Povratnici 2022