The 11th LEADER Project Serbia 2026 for Youth Launched at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia

The prestigious international entrepreneurship development program, “LEADER Project Serbia 2026,” designed for 40 young entrepreneurs, startup founders, and young professionals from various industries, officially began today at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS) and will run until May 15.

The project is implemented by the Canadian-Serbian Business Association (CANSEE), in cooperation with one of Canada’s leading business schools, Ivey Business School, with the support of the CCIS and the Embassy of Canada in Serbia.

At the opening ceremony, Executive Director of the Canadian-Serbian Business Association, Mirjana Dončić-Biton, stated that this marks the 11th edition of the LEADER program in Serbia.

She emphasized that the program represents a unique educational concept that has, for decades, brought together young entrepreneurs and professionals with the aim of enhancing their business knowledge and skills.

Dončić-Biton specified that during the ten-day intensive course, participants from Serbia will have the opportunity to learn about global best business practices through interactive MBA-format workshops led by five Canadian instructors.

“Our goal is to empower young people through practical examples. These programs introduce the most advanced approaches in entrepreneurship, business management, leadership, as well as managerial skills that participants can take away from this program,” she said.

According to her, tracking participants who have completed the program in Serbia shows that they remain active in the domestic economy and enter the market with new products and startups.

Deputy President of the CCIS, Mihailo Vesović, addressing the participants, stated that entrepreneurial education and continuous professional development in business are becoming increasingly important, highlighting that joint initiatives in this field are among the most valuable activities carried out by the CCIS.

He announced that in three weeks, a CCIS delegation along with around 30 Serbian business representatives will take part in a promotional flight on the Belgrade–Toronto route, marking the launch of a direct flight by the national airline Air Serbia.

“This is not only about a promotional flight and the launch of a permanent direct Belgrade–Toronto route, which will provide significant support to the business community in developing cooperation, but we will also organize a business forum in Toronto on that occasion,” Vesović said.

According to him, this level of visit and organization of a business forum is rare in previous practice, but also represents an exceptional opportunity to enhance economic relations.

Vesović added that, in addition to the business forum and direct meetings with business representatives from Toronto and the Province of Ontario, the delegation will have specialized visits to companies in the aviation industry, including Bombardier, with the aim of learning about experiences and cooperation opportunities in the high-tech sector.

He also emphasized that the services sector dominates economic cooperation between Serbia and Canada, adding that geographical distance and logistical challenges are not key obstacles to competitiveness.

“Serbia is a well-positioned and attractive market for Canadian investors, while for us, Canada represents an opportunity to raise our technological level and establish partnerships on a global scale,” Vesović said.

He noted that Serbian-Canadian relations represent an important form of transatlantic cooperation and expressed expectations that, following the business forum and the establishment of the direct flight, there will be a significant increase in trade exchange, particularly in the services sector, information technology, and artificial intelligence.

Ambassador of Canada to Serbia, Michelle Cameron, stated that the “LEADER Project” is one of the flagship programs that has, across 23 countries, supported more than 10,000 young entrepreneurs in launching their ideas.

“What I value most about this program is that it encourages and develops entrepreneurship, enabling participants to remain in their home country, start their own businesses or, if they are already employed, become even better by applying newly acquired techniques,” she said.

Cameron emphasized that the program will enable young people to develop their ideas, start their own companies, operate successfully, and bring those ideas to the global market.

“As an ambassador, I assign each participant the role of an ambassador—to, through developing their ideas and launching businesses, become carriers of new business ties between our two countries,” she stated.

Cameron added that she believes participants, upon completing the program, will gain new ideas for launching businesses that are significant for Serbia.

As stated, the LEADER program was founded in 1991 by MBA students of Ivey Business School, with the mission to support the development of entrepreneurial ideas and empower a new generation of leaders.