Minister Mali on EXPO 2027: Great Potential, But Also a Responsibility – We Want It to Be the Most Successful Ever

In an interview with Newsmax Balkans, Mali said that Serbia presented itself in the best possible way at the EXPO exhibition in Osaka and that this serves as an invitation for EXPO 2027 in Belgrade. The Serbian pavilion at the Osaka EXPO was visited by 400,000 people, and on that occasion, Mali handed out gifts.

"We presented ourselves properly; we are the only green pavilion in Osaka. We’re talking about play, about everything Serbia has achieved recently, about individuals who have changed history, from Nikola Tesla onward. This is an invitation for people to come to Belgrade," Mali emphasized.

He reiterated that more than three million visitors are expected in Belgrade, which, as he stated, represents huge potential but also a great responsibility.

In this context, he noted that a large number of engineers and architects involved in organizing EXPO 2027 also came to Osaka to familiarize themselves with the overall logistics.

"This is a great experience for me and for the people here. Our goal is not only to be good hosts and to do a lot in terms of infrastructure but also to show that we can and know how to organize such major events," the minister emphasized. Lebanon is the 116th country to confirm its participation in EXPO 2027, and Mali stated he expects at least 130 countries to take part in Belgrade.

"There are 158 countries participating here. That’s not a big difference, even though this is a World EXPO, while ours is a specialized EXPO. Serbia has become an extremely attractive destination both for investments and tourism. The fact that 400,000 people visited our pavilion in just two months is a huge confirmation that we are on the right path and that Belgrade will be a huge success," said Mali.

Foto: Newsmax Balkans

Earlier today, Minister Mali opened the “Investment Conference – Expo Osaka 2025” and invited Japanese companies to come to Serbia. According to him, the goal was to present Serbia and everything that has been achieved in recent years.

"Serbia has proven itself to be an attractive investment destination. We are absolute leaders in foreign direct investment – €5.2 billion last year, with more than 60% of all investments coming to the Western Balkans going to Serbia. Additionally, we were the third-fastest-growing economy in Europe last year, we maintained macroeconomic stability, received an investment-grade credit rating for the first time in our history, and we have agreements with the IMF and free trade agreements with countries representing a market of 2.8 billion people," he stated.

He also added that Serbia’s candidate status for EU membership guarantees stability. According to him, Japan and Japanese investments are very important, and there is room for improvement in that regard.

The finance minister also believes that the fastest growth is expected after 2028, following the EXPO exhibition in Belgrade.

"A second investment cycle, new investments, new jobs, rapid increases in salaries and pensions. Because EXPO 2027 lays the foundation for further growth. That’s why we want that event in Belgrade to be the biggest and most successful ever," Mali concluded.

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