Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

Serbia invests 50 mln euros in supercomputer and AI

Serbia has signed a €50 million contract with Eviden, a member of the Atos group, to develop a supercomputer and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The move is aimed at strengthening the country’s position in high-performance computing and AI.

The Serbian Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation has signed an agreement with Eviden, part of the Atos group, worth 50 million euros. The purpose of the contract is to develop a supercomputer and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies that should strengthen Serbia’s position in the field of high-performance computing and AI.

According to the ministry, the project will enable Serbia to become a regional leader in digital technologies and provide opportunities for research and innovation. The supercomputer is expected to be used in various fields, including medicine, energy, and environmental protection.

Global investment in supercomputers

The world’s largest countries are actively investing in the development of supercomputers and related technologies.

China: In 2025, China plans to allocate about 398.12 billion yuan (approximately 55 billion US dollars) for research and development, in particular in the field of semiconductors, artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

THE UNITED STATES: In 2024, the US Department of Energy announced a budget of $425 million for the construction of two new supercomputers – Sierra and Summit. These systems are intended for scientific research and simulations, including nuclear testing.

Source: https://t.me/relocationrs/774

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At least four Russian oligarchs to become Serbian citizens in 2025 – media

In recent years, Serbia has been actively granting citizenship to foreign nationals, especially from Russia, using the naturalization procedure as an exception. According to the Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Serbia, the government may grant citizenship to individuals if their admission is of interest to the state.

According to the Serbian media outlet Nedeljnik, at least four Russian oligarchs were granted Serbian citizenship in 2025:

Oleg Boyko – estimated to be worth $1.5 billion.

Sergei Lomakin – worth about $1.2 billion.

Yevgeny Strshalkovsky and Yuri Kushnerov – the exact amounts are not disclosed, but are likely to be several hundred million dollars.

The decision to grant citizenship was made by the Serbian government under the leadership of former Prime Minister Milos Vucevic. The formal basis for this was “interest for the Republic of Serbia”, according to Article 19 of the Law on Citizenship. However, the specific reasons and criteria for these individuals to receive Serbian passports remain unclear, especially given the lack of information about their previous business ties to Serbia.

So far, there is no data on whether the new Serbian citizens plan to develop business in the country. However, experts speculate that the granting of citizenship may be related to the desire to attract investment and capital to Serbia. In recent years, Russian entrepreneurs have been actively buying up real estate in Belgrade, Novi Sad, and Serbian resorts.

Statistics on citizenship and residence permits for Russians:

2022: Of the 84 foreign nationals who received Serbian citizenship by government decision, almost two-thirds were Russians.

From February 2022 to December 2024: Russian citizens submitted 73,197 applications for temporary residence in Serbia, of which more than 90% were approved.

February 2025: The number of Russians actually living in Serbia is estimated at 80,000-110,000.

Reasons for granting citizenship

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has previously stated that the accelerated granting of citizenship to Russians and Ukrainians is due to a shortage of labor in the country. Priority is given to those who open companies and create jobs for Serbian citizens. However, in the case of Russian billionaires, it is unclear how their citizenship contributes to the development of the Serbian economy.

Thus, Serbia continues to use the granting of citizenship as a tool to attract investment and business ties. However, the lack of transparency in the criteria for naturalization raises questions about the real motives behind such decisions. Against the backdrop of the geopolitical situation, the interest of Russian businessmen in the Serbian passport is likely to be related not only to investment opportunities, but also to the possibility of obtaining a new legal status in Europe.

Source: https://t.me/relocationrs/755

 

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Chinese company to build new plant in Serbia for 40 mln euros

The Chinese company SHAC will invest 40 million euros in the construction of a plant in Novi Sad, Serbia. The company has already signed an agreement with the German automaker BMW. The plant is expected to open by the end of 2025, with the first serial deliveries to European customers scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.

Other Chinese investment projects in Serbia:

Energy sector: In May 2024, the Serbian Ministry of Mines and Energy signed two agreements with Chinese companies totaling about €2.7 billion. These investments include the construction of an oil and petroleum product refinery in Smederevo and the construction of a solar panel plant in Paracin.

Infrastructure: The Chinese company Shandong High-speed Group is involved in the construction of the Belgrade-Zrenjanin-Novi Sad highway, as well as in the reconstruction project of the Constantine the Great airport in Niš.

Automotive industry: Mei Ta has invested 60 million euros in the construction of a plant for the production of automotive components in Obrenovac.

These projects demonstrate the expansion of Chinese investment in various sectors of the Serbian economy, contributing to industrial development and job creation in the region.

Source: https://t.me/relocationrs/741

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Mehiläinen buys largest private healthcare network in Serbia

MediGroup becomes part of Finnish Mehiläinen in the largest deal on the private healthcare market in Central and Eastern Europe

Finnish medical group Mehiläinen acquires the largest private healthcare network in Serbia, MediGroup, in the largest private healthcare transaction in Central and Eastern Europe.

MediGroup, founded in 2013, comprises 13 clinics, three maternity hospitals, two laboratory centers and three laboratories across Serbia. The network provides a wide range of medical services, including diagnostics, outpatient and inpatient care.

Mehiläinen, a leading Finnish operator of medical services, is already present in the markets of Sweden, Germany and Latvia. The purchase of MediGroup opens up an opportunity for the company to strengthen its position in Southeastern Europe and increase patients’ access to high quality healthcare.

Mikko Vetterviri, Director of Mehiläinen International, said that the move is in line with the company’s strategy of international expansion and introduction of new technologies in medicine. He emphasized that the investment in the Serbian market is driven by its high growth potential and the growing demand for private healthcare.

Closing of the transaction is expected after regulatory approvals. In the future it is planned to modernize MediGroup’s medical centers, expand the range of medical services and introduce digital technologies, which are already used by Mehiläinen’s patients in other countries.

Source: https://t.me/relocationrs/737

 

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Shelters in lyceum and kindergarten in Mykolaiv region of Ukraine were equipped with support of Serbia

In one of the settlements of the Mykolaiv region (Voznesensk district), modern shelters were equipped in a lyceum and a kindergarten with financial support from Serbia. This was part of efforts to protect children and teachers in the context of the military conflict. The shelters are designed for more than 800 lyceum students and more than 90 kindergarten children. The new safe spaces were restored and equipped by the Olena Zelenska Foundation.

The project was funded as part of Serbian humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The shelters are equipped with the necessary conditions for children and staff to stay during air raids. Officials expressed their gratitude to Serbia for its support in a difficult time.

Serbia has already provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine several times. Last year, Belgrade sent several batches of medicines, food, and basic necessities. In addition, Serbia has participated in projects to restore civilian infrastructure and secure humanitarian corridors.

Serbia remains neutral in the military conflict in Ukraine, but continues to support the population of Ukraine through humanitarian initiatives.

Source: https://t.me/relocationrs/666

 

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Ukrainian Nibulon expands its operations and plans to carry out cargo transportation on Danube in Bulgaria, Serbia, and Romania

One of the largest grain market operators in Ukraine, Nibulon JV LLC, is entering new markets in the Middle and Upper Danube, expanding its operations in the region and offering a full cycle of grain and metal exports, as well as cargo transportation of all types of goods via the Danube, the grain trader’s press service reported on Facebook.

The agricultural holding reminded that the first steps in the Middle and Upper Danube markets were voyages with metal products on the routes Izmail – Lom (Bulgaria) and Izmail – Smederevo (Serbia), which were carried out by the tugs Pereyaslavsky and Kozatsky using barges of its own production. These shipments confirmed the company’s readiness to work efficiently with various categories of cargo, opening up new business opportunities in Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania and other countries in the Danube region.

“Our fleet is capable of transporting various types of cargo, and this is just the beginning. We offer comprehensive solutions to the Balkan business: grain exports combined with our logistics on the Danube to Constanta, as well as river transportation of any goods between the ports of the region,” said Sergey Kalkutin, Nibulon’s Logistics Director.

Nibulon assured that expansion to the Middle and Upper Danube is part of the agricultural holding’s long-term strategy aimed at developing international river logistics.

Currently, the agricultural holding is ready to offer a competitive alternative to traditional ways of supplying grain and other cargoes. This includes grain exports to 75 countries using its own river fleet, cargo transportation on the Danube for the agricultural, metallurgical and construction sectors, and flexible terms of cooperation: DAP, EXW, FCA, FOB, real-time online cargo tracking, international experience and reputation as a reliable partner.

“Thanks to its own modern fleet and efficient logistics, Nibulon guarantees stable and safe transportation on the Danube, which opens up access to new markets,” the agricultural holding emphasized.

Nibulon JV LLC was established in 1991. Prior to the Russian military invasion, the grain trader owned 27 transshipment terminals and crop reception complexes, facilities for simultaneous storage of 2.25 million tons of agricultural products, a fleet of 83 vessels (including 23 tugs), and the Mykolaiv Shipyard.

“Before the war, Nibulon cultivated 82 thousand hectares of land in 12 regions of Ukraine and exported agricultural products to more than 70 countries. In 2021, the grain trader exported the highest ever 5.64 million tons of agricultural products, reaching record volumes of supplies to foreign markets in August – 0.7 million tons, in the fourth quarter – 1.88 million tons, and in the second half of the year – 3.71 million tons.

Currently, the grain trader is operating at 32% of capacity, has set up a special unit to clear agricultural land of mines and had to move its headquarters from Mykolaiv to Kyiv.

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