Head of the Local Economic Development Office of the City of Novi Sad Olivera Simović received the award for an innovative solution of the Business Incubator within the Champions of the Local Development Contest, in the opinion of the Radio Television of Serbia and the National Alliance for Local Economic Development jury, which awarded the City of Novi Sad a title of the Local Development Champion in 2013/2014 in the Business Support category.

- I thank you on behalf of the City of Novi Sad for this valuable award that will motivate us to bring even more energetic measures of support to entrepreneurs and to the economic development in general. Novi Sad has recognized the importance of its role in the overall improvement of conditions in both our City and in the Republic of Serbia. This role relates primarily to the incentives and simplifying of the administrative procedures, as well as to the establishment of synergies with other levels of government, the institutions and organizations that aspire to the same goal. By hard work that brings success, I am confident that we will justify your trust and earn this title again, thus confirming our orientation to have a favorable business climate and the City attractive for investment and life – Olivera Simović emphasized.

According to her words, the Business Incubator provides the logistic support to the start-up  companies in the field of information technology for three years, in order to make them more ready for the participation in the market competition. Olivera Simović also stressed that the intention of the City is to provide such support to companies from other industries as well. In this respect she pointed out the importance of the multi-purpose hall, the main project financed by the European Union funds.

The Champions of the Local Development Contest was launched by the Radio Television of Serbia and the National Alliance for Local Economic Development.

The total of 31 local self–governments applied and competed in several categories such as: investment promotion, public administration reform, citizens’ service, business support and public-private partnership. The jury decided on the winners evaluating applicability, the level of innovation and the cost-benefit ratio.

Novi Sad, 26^th December 2013