LocationsIvana Živković Opened the Biotech Future Forum and Met with Key Partners in Serbia
UNDP Director for Europe and Central Asia Visits Serbia
October 25, 2024
Visit to the Tiršova 2 Construction Site
Photo: UNDP/Jakov Simović
Belgrade, October 23-25, 2024 – UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Director for Europe and Central Asia, Ivana Živković, paid a three-day visit to Serbia, where she opened the Biotech Future Forum and discussed UNDP’s support for the country’s sustainable economic and social development with key partners.
Ms. Živković reiterated UNDP’s commitment to build on its strong partnership with Serbia and leverage the digital and green transitions to support the country’s economic growth, in line with national and EU accession priorities.
During her stay in Serbia UNDP RBEC Director for Europe met with several high-level officials, including Speaker of the National Assembly Ana Brnabić and Minister of Science, Technological Development and Innovation Jelena Begović.
The Speaker of the National Assembly Brnabić and UNDP RBEC Director Živković discussed UNDP's contribution to the improvement of parliamentary practice in Serbia, particularly in digitising parliamentary work, and potential new areas of collaboration with the Assembly including gender-based violence and environmental protection.
Photo: Peđa Vučković
On the second day of her visit, Ms. Živković opened the Biotech Future Forum, an international conference on emerging technologies organised by the Government of the Republic of Serbia and its Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum and UNDP. She emphasised that UNDP supports the Serbian Government in its pursuit of knowledge-based economic development, which requires responsible and inclusive use of AI and biotechnology for the benefit of all citizens.
Photo: Marko Edge
During this event, the UNDP RBEC Director met with the Minister of Science, Technological Development and Innovation Jelena Begović, Minister of Education Slavica Đukić Dejanović, State Secretary in the Ministry of Environmental Protection Sandra Dokić and Director of the Office for IT and e-Government Mihailo Jovanović.
Minister Begović mentioned UNDP’s important role in helping citizens gain new skills that will enable them to benefit from the development of AI and biotechnology, as well as in attracting talent that Serbia needs to be a leader in these fields. She singled out UNDP's expert support in the design and development of the BIO4 Campus - a hub of knowledge and innovation for the next generation of biotech leaders.
Minister Begović i Ivana Živković
Photo: Zoran Petrović
In the conversation with the Minister of Education Slavica Đukić Dejanović, Ms. Živković reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to further development of education infrastructure in Serbia and the digital skills of teachers and students. The discussion with the Director of the Office for IT and e-Government Mihailo Jovanović focused on implementation of artificial intelligence and citizen centric approach in development of electronic services.
The State Secretary in the Ministry of Environmental Protection Sandra Dokić emphasized the partnership with UNDP in the implementation of the Green Agenda, particularly regarding policy and legislative improvements and joint support for innovative green solutions.
UNDP RBEC Director Živković rounded-off the first day of her visit by attending the UN Day celebration in Serbia, where she discussed with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Marko Đurić strengthening of ties with citizens in the diaspora, by promoting circular migration and knowledge exchange. There she also met with the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality Brankica Janković. The conversation reflected long-term cooperation in promoting gender equality and combating gender-based violence in Serbia, as well as the most recent initiative to ensure that women are equally represented in the labour market.
Visit to the Steel Impex Company
Photo: Jakov Simović
On her third day in Serbia, UNDP RBEC Director met with the Minister of European Integration Tanja Miščević, who recognised UNDP’s ongoing support to Serbia on its path towards EU membership. Together with the Minister for Public Investment Darko Glišić, Živković visited the construction site of children’s hospital “Tiršova 2” in Belgrade, where UNDP is engaged in developing the technical design and supervision of works. UNDP RBEC Director also visited the automobile recycling company Steel Impex, supported by the EU through a UNDP-implemented initiative, to recycle cars in an environmentally friendly way and thus contribute to cleaner air and circular economy.
At the end of her stay, Ms. Živković stressed that UNDP will continue to support Serbia to achieve the national social, economic and environmental development goals for the benefit of all people in Serbia.
Photo: Jelena Babić
