Mali: "We launch a new investment cycle"; EXPO 2027 flag officially handed over to Serbia VIDEO

In the Sava Center, a ceremony began where the Prime Minister of Serbia and the representative of the President of the Republic, Miloš Vučević, will receive the flag of the EXPO 2027 international exhibition.

Finance Minister Siniša Mali

"Three years ago we sat and considered how to attract as many people as possible to our country. We sat with the president and we said why not bring the EXPO to Belgrade. I remember when I first took Dimitri to the Belgrade Tower and showed what we did. We weren't the favorites, but we managed to get 81 countries to vote for Serbia," said Finance Minister Siniša Mali.

"It's a great honor for our country, we beat America, Thailand, Argentina... We won't stop, we still have a lot to do. We expect the largest number of countries to ever be at the exhibition. EXPO is not only Belgrade, EXPO is all of Serbia," Mali added.

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At the ceremony held on the occasion of the presentation of the EXPO flag to Serbia, he pointed out that the Leap into the Future program has been defined, which includes 323 projects throughout Serbia.

"It is about the infrastructure that we need to improve, the new roads that we are building, hospitals, schools, kindergartens. All of that is the EXPO. And in 2027, we want not only to present ourselves in the right way to the largest number of countries in the world, to a large number of visitors, but also to raise the quality of life and infrastructure in our country. That is our goal for 2027," Mali said.

Regarding the criticisms and objections that can be heard that a lot of money is being invested and what will happen to everything invested after 2027, he stated that we will only start a new investment cycle in 2027.

"Everything that we build for the new EXPO remains for the citizens of Serbia, remains for the future. And the new fairgrounds and new museums and the new national pavilion and sports grounds, everything that we build remains and will be the basis for the further growth and development of our economy and our Serbia in the future," he emphasized.

"We will only start a new investment cycle in 2027. The EXPO flag is finally in Belgrade. Everything we do for the EXPO will stay in Serbia," concluded Mali and said, "Serbia is winning, we are fighting for Serbia."
 

Address by Dimitri Karkentzes

Director of International Exhibitions Dimitri Karkentzes pointed out that this is a key event.

"The EXPO represents a transformative opportunity for the whole of Southeast Europe. It is a chance for Serbia to confirm its leading role. As invitations have been sent to all the capitals around the world, we are looking forward to the international community. I am very happy that this event will be held in Belgrade," he said.
 

Vučević took over the flag

Prime Minister Miloš Vučević, as a representative of President Aleksandar Vučić, took over the EXPO 2027 flag, and the flag was handed to him by Dušan Boravčanin, director of EXPO Belgrade.

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"Today is a great day for Serbia. This flag is proof of a huge success. This is a great honor and responsibility. This is a turning point in our overall development. The flag is the result of a job well done. Serbia has recognized this exceptional opportunity. Belgrade is a bridge that connects different nations, ideas and visions," said Vucevic.

"We are aware that every achievement is the result of joint effort. I must thank President Vučić first of all. That is why I will be happy to take this flag to the Presidency on Monday. I want every citizen of Serbia to feel pride. EXPO is an opportunity for Serbia to become a place where the world gathers. Such an important day has come for us. I invite everyone to join in this goal," said the Prime Minister.