DIPLOMACY&COMMERCE AWARDS given at the celebration.
The awards were presented to individuals, companies and organizations that distinguished themselves in humanitarian work, CSR activities, merging business and culture, and contributing to the improvement of business conditions, bilateral cooperation, civil society and the economic environment in our country.
The Diplomacy&Commerce Awards were given out in eight cateogries to companies and organizations, and in one category for “contribution to development of civil society and advancing economy.
The jury members were the following: Marko Čadež, President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Martin Knapp from AHK, Sanja Ivanić from CCIFS, Mirjana Kojić from CCIS, Ana Grujović from SSCC, Marija Radulović from the HPK, Danijela Fišakov from the SPK, Fanina Kovačević from the HBA, Ruža Ristanović from Diplomacy&Commerce, and Robert Čoban, President of the Color Press Group.
The magazine’s director, Ruža Ristanović said that over 60 companies and organizations had been nominated for the award and that deciding on the winners was no easy feat.
President of the Color Press Group, Robert Čoban thanked the guests and said: “In the latest Orient Express film, the train is stuck in Slavonija, somewhere between Vinkovci and Slavonski Brod, because of an avalanche. However, in the film, the flat Slavonija resembles the Italian Alps where the scenes were actually filmed. The film director obviously thought that the Slavonian Plain was not interesting and inspirational enough for the audiences. This is also often the case with our media, especially those which are geared towards foreigners. The truth that they portray is often one-dimensional. When we launched Diplomacy & Commerce magazine two years ago, we had exactly the opposite idea which is to show the readers – both domestic and foreign – the Serbian economic, political and public world exactly as it is, with all the nuances, positive shifts and problems.
Why is the Orient Express the underlying theme of this year’s event? Through its several routes, for the past 135 years, this train has been connecting exactly 10 countries and cities, from the United Kingdom in the West to Istanbul, Turkey in the East. The Great Britain is on its way out of the EU, while Serbia and Turkey are still not members. Switzerland does not want to become a member, while other countries are en route to the EU membership. Regardless of their statuses, all 10 countries are in Europe and apart from the railroad, we are all also connected by the fact that we belong to this continent and that we aspire towards the same values. Since our previous celebration, last year, we have also launched a Croatian edition of Diplomacy & Commerce magazine, as well as organized a number of new conferences and events.“
Executive editor in Croatia, Boban Spasojević was the host of the celebration.
The guests enjoyed in the dishes from eight international cuisines of the countries that lie on the legendary Orient Express blue route, prepared for them by the chefs from the Stanica 1884 restaurant. Bands Sputnik and Girls, Boys and Toys were in charge of musical entertainment.
The celebration was attended by a number of guests; the representatives of the Government of Serbia, diplomatic corps, and political, cultural and public figures in Serbia, including: Gordana Predić, State Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Gender Equality Commissioner Brankica Janković, Advisor to the President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce Mihajlo Vesović, German Ambassador H.E. Mr. Axel Dittmann, Bulgarian Ambassador H.E. Mr. Radko Vlajkov, Slovenian Ambassador H.E. Mr. Vladimir Gasparič, Swiss Ambassador H.E. Mr. Philippe Guex, Turkish Ambassador H.E. Mr. Tanju Bilgic, Israeli Ambassador H.E. Ms Alona Fisher-Kamm, the ambassadors of Egypt, Korea, Qatar, Algeria, Portugal, Brazil, and Mexico, and the representatives of the Italian, French, Bulgarian, Polish and other Embassies. The following representatives of the business community also attended the reception: Predrag Ćulibrk, Director of Telekom Serbia, Ingeborg Ofsthus, General Manager of Telenor Serbia, Abhay Parnerkar, Country Manager at Coca-Cola Central Eastern Europe, Rita Lozinski, Director of Alumil, Dušan Mihajlović, Member of Eurobank’s Executive Board, Suzana Djordjevic, Director of the Hemofarm Foundation, Vesna Djukic, Director of BOS, Giorgio Marchegiani, Director General of DDOR Osiguranje, Dragan Filipović, Director of Generali Osiguranje, Daniel Berg, EBRD Director, Dubravka Negre, EIB Director, Predrag Radlovački, Director of MPC Holding, Jasmina Knežević from Bel Medic, Attorney Goran Draganić, Srđan Šaper from I & F McCann, Ivan Stanković from Communis, Sanda Savić from Hemofarm and many others
Award Winners
Special award for contribution to the development of civil society went to the Beogradska otvorena škola – BOŠ
Award for improvement of bilateral cooperation and economic environment went to the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia.
Award for business innovation went to Eurobanka ad Belgrade.
Award for the foundation of the year went to Hemofarm foundation.
Award for humanitarian work went to Telekom Srbija and Alumil Yu Industry.
Award for contribution to the development of art and preservation of heritage went to DDOR Insurance.
Award for the best socially responsible campaign went to the Coca-Cola company for their project Rosa Parenting School
Award for the best socially responsible campaign went to Telenor.
