VIP guests and speakers at the event included Igor Pavlicic, Mayor of Novi Sad, Branislav Bugarski, Director of Vojvodina Investment Promotion (VIP) fund, as well as Jovica Jakovac, Managing Director of Colliers Serbia. Among other important municipal and provincial officials, including key local directors, Colliers also welcomed the Economic Attache of the American Embassy in Serbia, Troy Pederson.
Igor Pavlicic, Mayor of Novi Sad, said: "I would personally like to welcome Colliers International to Novi Sad. We, as the newly appointed city administration, are fully aware of the fact that there are many infrastructural and town planning problems that cannot be solved without the engagement of foreign investors. That is where we see the benefit of having Colliers here. They know how to attract the foreign investors and present them with a wide range of real estate opportunities in our city."
Colliers Serbia also used this media conference to present its latest research studies of the Serbia and Vojvodina real estate market, establishing Colliers Serbia as a key authority for local real estate facts and figures . This information was also of use to the provincial administration, as Branislav Bugarski, Director of Vojvodina Investment Promotion (VIP) fund, confirmed. With five years experience of leading an organization responsible for attracting EUR 3.5 billion of Foreign Direct Investments to Vojvodina in the last decade, he said: "We see Colliers as a partner to the provincial administration. Their market research studies – facts and figures, are of great importance to VIP when approaching foreign investors. They are credible, and their reports make the provincial administration credible, which is a clear benefit to us."
Colliers also presented details on a number of key local projects which will be announced in the coming weeks and months.
Jovica Jakovac, Managing Director of Colliers Serbia, concluded, "The province of Vojvodina and the city of Novi Sad have always been prosperous and progressive parts of our country. The situation is the same now. People and organizations in this region are more than prepared for the entry of foreign investors to Vojvodina and there is a place here for Colliers International. We, as real estate consultants, are delighted to be opening an office here in Novi Sad and look forward to making a major contribution to the local community. We think our international standards of professionalism and expertise will help bring significant investment to the area."
Colliers International Southeast Europe was named Property Consultant of the Year for the region in 2008 for the third straight year. It now has eleven offices in six countries: Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro and Serbia, and performs selected assignments in Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, FYR of Macedonia, and Cyprus.
