Serbia selected to be the Partner Country at GITEX Global in Dubai

Thanks to its strong cooperation and successful participation in major tech exhibitions, Serbia has been selected as the partner country at GITEX Global in Dubai, one of the world’s largest technology events. The announcement was made by Marko Čadež, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS), in a live appearance from Berlin on the morning program of Radio Television of Serbia (RTS).

“This is a major recognition for us. It confirms that, over years of collaboration, Serbia has been recognized as a country that creates high-quality solutions and whose innovative companies can compete—not just in Europe or the region, but globally,” Čadež stated. He is currently leading a Serbian business delegation at GITEX EUROPE 2025 in Berlin, where 22 Serbian startups are presenting their solutions at the national pavilion from May 21–23.

According to Čadež, these types of expos are a unique opportunity for Serbian companies to showcase their innovations, gain access to investors, and enter new markets. He emphasized that the main goal is connecting Serbia’s innovation-driven economy with traditional industry, which is essential for competitiveness and survival in global markets.

“It’s important for innovative companies to grow big enough to offer their solutions to large, traditional industries—those are the systems that need to stay competitive globally,” Čadež explained.

In an era where new technologies level the playing field between large and small, developed and developing countries, creativity and innovation are what stand out. “If you're looking for fast, creative, and high-quality digital solutions—whether for your company, your product, or your operations—Serbia is the right place,” Čadež affirmed.

Responding to a question about the atmosphere at the fair and interest in Serbian companies, Čadež shared that three Serbian startups made it to the semifinals of the competition for top solutions—a great success in itself. The Serbian pavilion has been a hub of continuous meetings with investors and major companies interested in innovation.

Reflecting on recent business agreements reached at GITEX Asia in Singapore, he noted that international outreach is essential for Serbian startups to scale their solutions for global markets.

“This is exactly what the CCIS is doing—through GITEX, Web Summit, and other platforms and programs. Through the ‘Scale Up’ program, we help startups develop their products, connect early with traditional industries, test their solutions, and, if successful, scale them up,” he explained.

In parallel, CCIS works with the Serbian government on creating a supportive digitalization framework. Čadež highlighted that Serbian startups can access the State Data Center and supercomputers to test their solutions—something only a few countries in Europe offer.

“The new innovation ecosystem doesn’t just mean giving someone a workspace—it means providing the infrastructure and connecting them with business partners,” he said.

He also spoke about organizing GITEX within EXPO 2027 in Belgrade and efforts to establish Belgrade as a global hub for the world’s top tech companies.

Regarding cooperation with Germany, Čadež noted that the recent change in government has opened up opportunities for stronger collaboration, not only through new investments but also in addressing global challenges in energy, modernization, and digital transformation.