- Unlike the 2009–2015 Economic Development Strategy, whose effects are being evaluated, we have opted for a more comprehensive document which will, besides economy, cover other vital domains such as education, health, utilities and infrastructural development, environmental protection, culture, as well as poverty reduction. The local government is facing challenges and has to be aware of the limited resources, which should then be dispensed reasonably and wisely, supported by strategic decisions arising from a good strategic plan. At the very start we will collect data on the current state in all the mentioned fields, as well as identify risks and measures.

While using the most advanced methodology, owing to professional support of our partners from the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities, we will adopt a high-quality Strategy for Novi Sad, which will cover the period until 2020, taking into account the fact the the EU budget has also been projected for that period – said Marijana Dukić-Mijatović, adding that the methodology is harmonized with national legislation, as well as with the standards of sustainable EU cities.
As she pointed out, through the Local Economic Development Office around five million euros were attracted in the previous five-year period from various donors, hence, through the implementation of this complex and comprehensive Strategy the present expectations are that we will further enhance our performance in this field.
Assistant Secretary General at the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities Aleksandar Bućić said that Novi Sad is one of the most active members of the SCTM and thanked the Mayor of Novi Sad Milos Vučević on the initiative for the cooperation in this project.

- Novi Sad has often been the first local self-government that has implemented important projects in cooperation with us. Although this is the City with the most powerful and most organized budget in Serbia, the situation can still be improved. We have begun working together in order to develop a document that will be the main instrument for the implementation of local policies with enhanced effects - Aleksandar Bućić said.

It was concluded that the importance of the document will be multifaceted, while one of the most important principles will be the linking of the program budgeting and strategic planning in order to improve the overall effects in all areas of life.

Novi Sad, 13th January 2015