Even in regular circumstances, the sense of solidarity should be implied. But it seems that whenever the crisis emerges (and Serbia has had too many of them in my lifetime), we all remember those words. Both individuals and companies.
“We need to be aware that this crisis will cause serious damage to the companies and the domestic economy. I must mention solidarity here again and urge all Serbian citizens to buy goods produced in Serbia. By doing so, they would save jobs for their neighbors, provide income to people who will spend their money on some goods or services that they produce themselves”, said Nikola Žeželj, Director of Vojvodina Development Agency.
How did you organize your business activities and communication with your business partners and clients?
Almost all activities of Vojvodina Development Agency involve mostly personal and direct communication with the users of our services. Unfortunately, some of our activities have been postponed: “Suppliers’ Day” originally planned for April, investor visits, our visits to local small and medium-sized enterprises … Some activities, such as Verona Wine Fair, where we were supposed to present the winemakers from Vojvodina, has been all cancelled.
The key limiting factor for us is not our capacity, but simply the fact that during such crisis whose duration is unknown, or how much it would “cost“ the society, country, each individual and company, entrepreneurs have halted their investment projects. They ceased looking for new locations, additional sources of financing for new employment, building facilities and purchasing equipment, new partners, customers and suppliers. In addition, all of that represent our core business.
Communication via e-mail and telephone, which used to serve as a mere preparation for the meetings and visits, has become the only type of communication we have been practicing these days.
How important is it for companies to stand in solidarity and help in these extraordinary circumstances?
Even in regular circumstances, the sense of solidarity should be implied. But it seems that whenever the crisis emerges (and Serbia has had too many of them in my lifetime), we all remember those words. Both individuals and companies.
In March, we conducted a survey with companies in the textile sector to check which ones were already sewing the protective masks, which ones showed the interest and the enthusiasm in doing so, which supplies they lacked and, ultimately, whether they would donate a part of the production. Among the companies that have the technical capabilities were two groups: those who were already sewing masks and those who were ready to start immediately. The only help they needed from us was to provide the fabric, since the materials that they use were not appropriate for such usage.
We need to be aware that this crisis will cause serious damage to the companies and the domestic economy. I must mention solidarity here again and urge all Serbian citizens to buy goods produced in Serbia. By doing so, they would save jobs for their neighbors, provide income to people who will spend their money on some goods or services that they produce themselves. There are few things we can do, but the things we can do are not small.
How do you spend your free time during pandemic?
I have to admit that curfew from 8 pm to 5 am did not represent a problem for me, because at that time I am usually at home watching movies, series or programs about economics, geopolitics or politics, which I missed out, so I watch them on YouTube. Ever since the curfew has been instituted from 5 pm, my measure of escapism involves playing online games with my brother and friends (all men are children, it is only a matter of which period of childhood they have been trapped in).
Until recently, I have made pizzas and bruschetta by buying ready-made phyllo and baguettes. Now, in the evening my fiancée teaches me to knead dough, so I will come out of this crisis with some new skills.
What are the first steps you will take after a state of emergency has ended?
Analysis.
Communication with the entrepreneurs. Status check. Loss overview. Come up with the ideas to overcome problems that have arisen. Numerous after-care visits to small and medium producers in Vojvodina.
Communication with potential investors. Checking the situation. Finding out whether the plans remain unchanged. If changed, have they been canceled or just delayed?
Setting up new dates for delayed promotional activities.
Continuation of activities that have been interrupted or delayed in other sectors. We are preparing the “Development Plan of AP Vojvodina for the period 2021-2027”.
This is not the first or the last crisis that has hit us.