The Finnish group Olvi has signed an agreement to acquire Bosnia and Herzegovina’s largest brewery, Banjalucka Pivara, including its subsidiary in Serbia, according to the Serbian Economist Telegram channel.
The exact name of Banjalucka Pivara’s Serbian subsidiary has not been disclosed. Publications indicate that Olvi has acquired both the brewery itself and its Serbian subsidiary, expanding its presence throughout the Balkan region and gaining access to the markets of Serbia and Montenegro.
Financial and product indicators for Banjalucka Pivara (Bosnia and Herzegovina):
1. Revenue in 2024: approximately €28 million.
2. Profitability: the company is consistently profitable with growing market shares in the region.
3. Brands: including the popular Nektar, the fastest growing in all countries in the region.
By acquiring Banjalucka Pivara and its operations in Serbia, Olvi strengthens its regional network and gains access to the Balkan markets, as well as logistics corridors to Mediterranean tourist destinations.
The merger allows the Finnish company to develop its product range (non-alcoholic beverages, cocktails), strengthening its range at Banjalucka Pivara’s facilities.
The transaction is awaiting approval by the Bosnian antitrust authorities and is expected to be completed no later than the first quarter of 2026.
Source: https://t.me/relocationrs
As Serbian Economist reports, Belgrade’s preparations for EXPO 2027 are gaining momentum: the authorities and investors are actively modernizing the hotel infrastructure. The most notable project is the reconstruction of the Hotel Slavija, which has been authorized by the Serbian Ministry of Construction for a complete renovation.
The hotel, built 63 years ago and long considered a symbol of Belgrade hospitality, after the completion of the reconstruction at the end of 2026, will receive the category of “four stars” and will offer 465 rooms.
According to the hotel association HORES, there are now 120 hotels with about 8 thousand rooms in Belgrade, and by the exhibition they will be 20 more, adding about 2 thousand more accommodations. Private apartments will also play a significant role.
HORES Director Gjorge Genov stressed the need to organize shuttle transport between Belgrade and neighboring cities (Novi Sad, Šabac) in order to use additional accommodation reserves.
EXPO organizers said that more than 120 countries, including the world’s largest economies, have already confirmed their participation in Belgrade:
– China;
– Germany;
– France;
– Italy;
– Turkey.
The total number of participants is expected to exceed 130 countries.
EXPO 2027, which will last 93 days, will be the largest international event in the history of modern Serbia. For the hotel and tourism sector, it is a chance to reach new service standards and attract long-term investments.
https://t.me/relocationrs/1466
According to Serbian Economist, the Serbian Economists’ Association (SEA) will host the 11th World Congress of Economists, which will take place in Belgrade from June 22 to 26, 2026, the SEA announced.
More than 1,000 leading global economists from prestigious universities are expected to attend. A delegation from the International Economic Association (IEA) was in Belgrade during this time, with SES representatives, led by Chairman Aleksandar Vlahovic, agreeing on the organizational and program details of the forum.
“We had very productive meetings, discussed key issues, and proved that we are ready to organize such a prestigious event at the highest level,” Vlahovic said.
According to him, the importance of the congress is underscored by the fact that the program committee is headed by Harvard University professor and Nobel Prize winner in economics Eric Maskin. Other Nobel laureates and experts who have held key positions in the economic policy of the world’s leading countries are also expected to arrive in Belgrade.
The congress is being held in Southeast Europe for the first time and is returning to Europe after 20 years. The SES believes that this forum will be an opportunity for universities and research institutes in Serbia and the region to establish strong ties with the global academic community, and for businesses and authorities to receive direct recommendations from leading economists.
The World Congress is organized by the International Economic Association (IEA) every three years. The forum brings together hundreds of scientists and experts to discuss global economic trends and new scientific approaches. In 2023, the congress was held in Medellin, Colombia, and brought together representatives of the academic and business worlds from all continents.
The main role of the congress is to bring together academic science and practice, develop dialogue between economists and politicians, and shape innovative solutions for the global economy.
https://t.me/relocationrs/1463
Most Ukrainians take a neutral stance toward Serbia, but among those who expressed a clear opinion, negative assessments outweigh positive ones. This is evidenced by the results of a survey conducted by Active Group in cooperation with the Experts Club think tank.
According to the study, 58.0% of respondents said they had a neutral attitude toward Serbia. At the same time, 26.0% of Ukrainians expressed a negative attitude (4.7% — completely negative, 21.3% — mostly negative). Only 13.7% of respondents gave positive assessments (2.3% — completely positive, 11.3% — mostly positive). Another 2.3% said they were not familiar with the country.
“Serbia remains a country with an ambiguous image for Ukrainians. Despite historical and cultural ties, Belgrade’s political positions shape a predominantly negative attitude among part of Ukrainian society,” said Alexander Pozniy, head of Active Group.
Maksym Urakyn, founder of Experts Club, emphasized that trade and economic relations between Ukraine and Serbia are developing at a moderate pace.
“In January-August 2025, trade turnover between the countries amounted to $220.6 million. At the same time, exports from Ukraine to Serbia amounted to $85.1 million, and imports from Serbia amounted to $135.5 million. The negative balance for Ukraine is $50.4 million. This small trade balance is quite insignificant and does not reflect the potential of the countries.”
Thus, although most Ukrainians do not have a clear position on Serbia, the balance of assessments is rather negative.
The full video can be viewed at the link:
You can subscribe to the Experts Club YouTube channel here:
ACTIVE GROUP, EXPERTS CLUB, Pozniy, SERBIA, SOCIOLOGY, TRADE, UKRAINE, URACIN
According to Serbian Economist, Chinese heavy vehicle manufacturer SHAC (Shanghai Huizhong Automotive Manufacturing) plans to build a plant in Novi Sad. This will be the company’s first European plant, and it is expected to open by the end of 2025.
The investment is estimated at around €40 million. The plant will be located in the CTPark Novi Sad East industrial zone and will produce chassis for European automotive giants, including BMW. Initially, around 200 jobs are planned, of which around 50% will be for highly qualified local specialists.
Serial deliveries to European markets are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2027.
This project is part of efforts to attract foreign direct investment to the regions and increase industrial production in Serbia.
The official name of the investor is Shanghai Huizhong Automotive Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (SHAC). The company was founded in 1992 (although the company’s roots in automobile manufacturing date back to 1958, when the first truck of this type was assembled in China).
The company’s products include heavy trucks, buses, minibuses, chassis, components, and accessories for the automotive industry. The company has multiple production facilities in China (several factories), two R&D centers (one in Shanghai and a sub-center in Ningbo), and partnerships with major brands such as GM, Volkswagen, and others.
The leader of the European Parliament’s largest party, the European People’s Party (EPP), Manfred Weber, has announced the initiation of a procedure to expel Serbian ruling SNS party of Aleksandar Vucic from the right-wing conservative party group. This is reported by Euractiv.
It is reported that Weber’s initiative is related to the ongoing anti-government protests in Serbia, provoked by the tragic collapse of the canopy at the train station in November 2024. Sixteen people died as a result.
Symbolically, the SNS party was an associate member of the EPP, which means establishing cross-party ties with limited rights and without full membership. Serbia, meanwhile, remains a candidate country for EU accession.
After announcing the procedure, Weber emphasized: “The EPP is not turning a blind eye to what is happening in Serbia.”
https://t.me/relocationrs/1394
