Danilo Jerinić, EXPO 2027 director: The Expo will create 40,000 new jobs and completely shift the urban focus to Surčin

I`ll just remind you that all of us who work at the Expo have really valuable work experience, acquired in the previous period on strategic projects of national importance in the field of infrastructure and demanding urban transformations of the city. The Expo 2027 project brings together the best professionals in all key areas, from operations, IT, marketing, to programs and international relations, and many have previous work experience at one of the exhibitions, whether in Dubai, Milan, Japan or Astana. I look at the fact that we are all making a pledge for the future of new staff in Serbia.

- Two studies are currently being developed - the first one relates to the economic, social and environmental impact assessments of the Expo 2027 Belgrade Specialized Exhibition, and the second to the strategic development of the heritage plan for the Expo 2027 site, with a ten-year operational business plan, including the transformation of the Belgrade Fair. We are aware that projects such as our Expo or Belgrade on the Water are necessary for the development of any country. And the investment of 1.29 billion euros in the Expo will have an impact on all of Serbia and all those companies that will be hired to work on it. Bearing in mind that the Expo as a project represents an investment of the whole world, not just the host country, as well as that around 130 countries will come to our country, our expectations are that more than 60 countries will have larger budgets of 10 million euros for participating in our Expo. The vast majority of that money will be spent right here, in our country - both on the labor force, the purchase of furniture, as well as on the hiring of the necessary personnel to work on the pavilions, lawyers, accountants, etc.

According to estimates, in the wider chain, from construction, transport, tourism and hospitality, to IT and creative industries, the Expo could generate between 30,000 and 40,000 new jobs in the coming period. This includes both temporary engagements during the Expo itself, and long-term jobs that will be created through new hotels, business zones, logistics centers and services that will remain even after 2027.

I`ll give you one more great example. The world`s largest technology fair "Giteks Global" is coming to Belgrade in 2027 during Expo 2027. The event will take place within the 93 days of the exhibition, which will position Serbia as a regional center for innovation, artificial intelligence and digital transformation, and we all know that these are the most important topics of the future globally. We are working on bringing more well-known global fairs and events, such as the Web Summit, and I am sure that after the Expo, Belgrade will be a new meeting place and world dialogue. On the other hand, in addition to the fact that we will have new museums, galleries, sports halls, 1,500 housing units, all modular buildings will be converted into schools, kindergartens and gymnasiums throughout Serbia.

- There are still a little less than two years until the beginning of the Expo, and the works are proceeding according to the planned dynamics, both on the Expo complex and on the accompanying line infrastructure. A year ago we were in the phase of preparatory and earthworks, today we have assembled steel structures on most of the seven Expo halls, on some of them the installation of roofs is already underway, and glass facades have been ordered for most of the buildings. At the same time, works are being carried out on annexes, parking lots, roads, fire protection, urban furniture and planters, while in Zone B intensive work is being done on the Forum, National Pavilion and thematic pavilions.

On the construction site itself, more than 2,500 architects and engineers were engaged in all phases, as well as around 4,000 workers, in addition to people working through the Expo company, which clearly shows the transition from the planning phase to the intensive execution phase.

- All countries are obliged to open official companies that are registered within the APR, and it is through these companies that Serbian companies of various professions will be engaged, from lawyers, accountants, architects, engineers, designers, artists, etc. And that`s why I call on all domestic companies to prepare in order to be ready for whatever awaits us in the next year, especially in 2027.

All host countries of previous Expos faced the same or similar challenges to a greater or lesser extent. We will certainly all agree that the public must be familiar with all aspects of spending budget funds. However, we cannot dispute the fact that Expo 2027 is very often misused for political purposes, which actually leads to the replacement of theses, because so far we have not heard any substantive objections to the Expo project. And the Expo should encourage social inclusion, creativity to promote Serbia as a global platform for cultural exchange and dialogue, to strengthen mutual understanding between nations, by attracting international attention by showing the cultural, creative and economic potential of Serbia and the region, not to mention the contribution to local economic development, the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises, the creation of new jobs and the development of innovative sectors.

The EXPO 2027 company communicates its work to the public very intensively, precisely with the aim of ensuring that everyone is adequately familiar with the project.

When it comes to the program, more than 8,000 events are planned, from large concerts and sports events, to scientific forums, children`s workshops, daily presentations in national pavilions and special events dedicated to innovation, culture and the future. We are working hard on a programming framework that will have something to offer to all generations. Naturally, we care a lot about creating a great opening and closing ceremony, which we consider not only a mandatory artistic spectacle, but the first impression the world will get about us. It is an opportunity for us to present our culture in a modern, dignified and innovative way in a moment that will be transmitted across the globe. I am sure that we will present ourselves as a country that can confidently stand side by side with the experienced hosts of major world events, which we enjoy watching on small screens.

The first public concept of the entire Expo program will be presented in 2026, and the citizens of Serbia and visitors from all over the world will be informed in a timely manner about everything that awaits them during the duration of the exhibition.

When it comes to the pavilions, we will have the National Pavilion and the themed pavilions "The Power of Games", "Let`s Play Together", "Play for Progress" and "Sports for All".

In June of this year, the first Meeting for planning international participation in the Expo 2027 Specialized Exhibition (IPM) was held, which gathered representatives from as many as 154 countries. It was the biggest international meeting so far, incomparably bigger than the summit of the Movement of Unknown Countries, which took place in 2021.

I will remind you that the SEE agreement was signed between the Republic of Serbia and the International Bureau of Exhibitions (BIE), one of the key documents on the way to 2027. Thereby, clear rules and procedures have been set that will facilitate the arrival and participation of international delegations, as well as support for each country participating in its representation. That moment was not only a diplomatic act, it was a sign of maturity, proof that Serbia acts as a safe, organized and reliable host of world-class events.

Also, we have started signing participation agreements with countries that have confirmed their presence at Expo 2027. These are all our obligations according to the BIE rules, the continuous implementation of which shows that we are consistently fulfilling what we committed to when we were given the role of host country.

Serbia submits a report twice a year to the BIE General Assembly, when it is assessed whether we are progressing according to plan and whether we are fulfilling all our tasks. So far we have only had positive reviews, and I am confident that it will remain so until the gates of the specialized exhibition close.

- In 2027, Belgrade will be the center of the world, where cultures, nations, innovations and ideas for the future of humanity will meet. It will be a unique opportunity for our country to show ourselves as good hosts and to strengthen our international reputation even further. Expo 2027 is the largest national project in the history of Serbia so far and a development opportunity for our country in every area, which we must not miss. And the citizens, in whose best interest all this is, will feel the real effects in the years ahead.