in the countries technology sector, tubby says, says the launch of, you know, tax in 2012. it has nurtured numerous emerging tech companies. companies participating in the exemption can engage in various programs, including are versed, speech and other platforms. were startups compete and showcase their products. several have already secured funding and investments, enabling them to achieve success over the past few years, more than $2500.00 uranium companies have showcase the products and services at the event. at this gathering, hundreds of millions of dollars in investments are expected to flow. not only from local accelerators, but also from it was critical trade partners to rectify that prevailing investment vacuum left by the absence of western companies. leaders from technology, parks, and innovation centers from different countries, including russia, south africa, and china are attending the event details. one discounts for talents and commercialize viable tech products. the south african delegates says,

now that it one is a member of the brakes. there numerous contact opportunities in innovation and technology awaiting the country. you would know that because i didn't recently became a member of bricks. it's one of the new members of the critics, locals countries. and as such, these are some of the initiatives that we are doing and undertaking to strengthen by lots of our corporation, especially in science and innovation. i'm here with the 7 startups. as the western sanctions tightened their grip on different year one year industries, the government is increasingly capitalizing on domestic know how to keep the wheels of the economy. turning experts, a it was capacities had been overshadow with prior to the sanctions, but are now coming to light. there is a silver lining to the sanctions. the restrictions have compelled technology companies, including those in attendance to strive for self sufficiency in creating cutting edge global technologies from the round up. for instance,

they're embarking on the development of artificial intelligence from scratch and standing on their own 2 feet. if one is going to, oh it's karen took cape of rush for the fastest growing technological trends, minutes one correct so. so the words, latest technologies, excess get us even invited western check for us to take part would have opted out to stay safe from the repercussions of us sanctions. for now, they won't, continues to capitalize on a ceiling to show us on these vicious people seems to be confident that they could shoulder this heavy burden. they say, all they need is a financial push. let's you know tags and get them there. use something already on the front just as cool, cause is now with thousands of georgians of hit the streets of the capital city in fresh protests against the so called foreign agents. bill demonstrate just converging. going to place a central square under the pouring rain people chanting nationalist and pro

e slogans and waving flags. the controversial bill is backed by the georgian government, which says it needs to limit the influence of foreign funded energy use. the us and the united nations have spoken out against the legislation with the un human rights chief forcing concerns about police, vines, and dates. the protest is for that. so we have time for this. i will have more news and these do at the top of the next one. i do hope you can join us again. the joining me is no mind. you're sort of which minister of labor, employment veteran and social affairs, mr. minister. thank you for taking the time to speak to us. let's speaking with the person that she's visits. china is among the serbia's foreign direct investment

partners. the number suggest chinese investment opportunities are currently providing 20000 jobs. what are the opportunities? does china have to offer? well 1st and foremost the, let's say that the was it the, the chinese present she's in think represents both great on a and quite jolly for the people of serbia because it is the 2nd time that the chinese lita is visiting oliver. not so big country and because during the his 1st day you were pen to or officer full 5 years, he decided to visit the only parents bellwood, and were the 1st. and we believe that this was, it actually serves as yet another proof of iron clad friendship. that's beyond china, managed to, to, to, to construct or establish in the previous decade. you mention some of the numbers and if you allow me, i will add to it. on the 12 years ago, all our overall exports to china. we're in

a range of $6789000000.00 us dollars. so very minute scale. and coming to the previous year, 10 to $23.00. the increase to that to 1200000000. so the multiplied our exports to china in previous 10 or so years by a factor of 450, for example. so we can hold or the issue of the lot during the course of all the strategic partnership. and as we like to call them both sides a, i reflect friendship, but this particular visit which i can see the very, very important. it's also kind of a spring board for even further enhancement the father relation since various fields that just to mention $29.00 different agreements that have been inc or signed during the course of this of this visit. so of course,

the most important thing that we are working on right now is the free trade agreement between so the and china that has been signed last year and that will come into effect on july the 1st. so in less then in less than 2 months, our overall trade exchange with the china is around $6000000000.00 us dollars. and we really believe that after this f t a comes into effect in 2 months, we will be able to increase its to more than $10000000000.00 us dollars in a very short period of time for a country. the size of the via this is you can understand extremely significant, i think. and you mentioned, of course the, the many chinese investments here with go presidents. she mentioned use the very strong and the size it where it's inside that for the people's republic of china. the republic of serbia is the most important part,

the country in the whole region of central and eastern europe. and that's, you know, a, something that the mattress much when expressed by such a great world leader, you know, and those words serve also as a kind of obligation for future endeavors. but let me give you some couple of examples. you know, 3 of the chinese old companies are now pop 3 exporters from so the, i'm just thinking about chinese investments that came to said being last 5 or 6. yes. one of the most vivid examples concerning solving largest steel mills, steel mill decks that exist fit for decades seems a socialist times and all a big company with more than 5010, please come, but stopping me, the night 9th is the company was struggling. and off the year, 2000, we had to to, to, to subsidize heavily on the company. yet we tried to do the prioritization in the

early 2, thousands us steel and major american company came and bought the largest steel really sort of yep, bought today, we're producing only losses and that's a couple of years they gave us the company back for $1.00 you know, and we still, again had to bleed hundreds of millions of euro's each year to a subs those subsidies just to keep the pro ration of just to keep more than $5000.00 people in the paycheck and the whole city that depends. so that's the only one we were trying to find strategic partner who could be able to invest and new technology is to preserve the jobs to preserve the operations. so that's very, very important. the company. and it's also the chinese who decided to jump in to come to sub yeah. so by the company to place, preserve full employment, to invest hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars into new technologies. and now the 1st bill mill is again, one of the top 3 exporters from sub you power. these opportunities,

different from the opportunities presented by say that your opinion, well 1st and foremost, the speak about the cooperation with the people's republic of china. they can see the official badging to be some kind of a benevolent part because of inevitably speak about the economy and it make some arrangements seem to feel that the economy there is, there are no political things attached to all. there is no political conditionality whatsoever imposed by the aging and that is a positive experience for us. i mentioned some of the examples you know when they're needed to be some kind of a strong political decision from a thought political level, the full. so then companies to come to sub be a to invest and that has proven to be very successful because those very chinese on companies are public supports us from sub years. so all their experiences are very good yet. when we try to quantify that chinese direct investments is via now

exceeds 5500000000 euros a significant amount for serbia. but if we count in all the infrastructure projects that have a they come together with the chinese barkers, so to speak, about highways about and fos, real amazing song that overall amount bills double. so it is more than 10000000000 then dealing ears. and we told us in mind v o is, are very cautious and not to fall into any kinds of for the truck. unlike some other world by countries which may look the dimension at this moment, but the republicans suddenly offer a level of fiber public depths to g. d. p ratio is of a below 50 percent. so we're very cautious severe. they below the most retry tyria of the european union, the owners taking 60 percent that, you know, talk to

a public, that's what you to pay ratio and reveal never fall into any kind of a depth trip bots. veal: will schools use the preferential loans and credit arrangements to for the develop all of our infrastructure and our economy? what is serbia's role in the belts and road initiative and how does this benefit serbia and china? well, you know about the b r i and the overall idea how to increase connectivity between east asia and central asia. and then of course, you will be on the continent, africa as well. and you can certainly go a geographical location, the depth of the parts of that geographical area. i mean, since the dawn of time to the central parts of the bulk and spinning sort of it's very, are situated was, you know, kind of a historical highway doing the roman empire retail school. the i'm really thought is that during the ottoman empire, it's was gold uh, the stumble road you know, and it, it has

a geographical area. the beach best connects to the asia minor with the central europe. so really fast forward to the present time. of course, uh, you know, it is the best way to connect the ports on the a g n with the central europe is actually to the territory of the republic of serbia. so when we look at the white picture now we can recognize the interest for the increased connectivity and being able to distribute more easily, more hastily and more efficiently. older goods from example, from china to central and western europe, or vice versa. 40 republic of serbia, it bears with significance because to the in for us to develop into father and infrastructure, which is part of either picture of the belt through the initiative of course you to manage to, to, to, to increase over internal connectivity. and that will give you the best example

which is very well known to our citizens. and, and that is the fact that these have constructed together with all the chinese for in some parts of the foster really between all the 2 largest cities, capital bell rate, and the city of thought. besides there, i happen to live still and commute each day. so we connected the 2 largest cities, which the thoughts right away and it now makes the 35 minutes coming. and so this is something that is of great, great significance for all the country. and we are continuing with the construction of that fast way away. and hopefully by the end of the 2026, the to will be finished and the fonts for the connect, we will connect the serbian capital build rate and to help him get around a capital loss with a survey. a strategic partnership with china seems crucial and beneficial for the country, but it is highly criticized by european politicians. why do you think that is? many of the what many investment countries, including the leading,

leading countries of the european union, united states of america, and so on. i would definitely like to not heavy because the republic of serbia a is not feeling to recognize intellectual, declared independence of causal and b is not feelings to join the sanction or machine against the russian federation. so they are little they're using or extra think a lot of pressure on serbia in order to change those 2 very important political decisions regarding our price. so cost to ship and regarding our not willingness to join sanctions against russia. and they were using any pressure falling to that today can find one of the pressure point is their dissatisfaction, the pitch they do express with the alber cooperation with people's republic of china. but there is also a lot of people per se, in that venue, just the you know, they can also the fact that the only 2 weeks ago console sol. so germany was always

the thing to be g officially meeting with the president sheet that just prior to the belt way to visit the president, she visited paris method president, calling the france and, and had the fuel commission that was the lo phone deadlines. then you just compared to did the trade or tour and that one gemini, or one fonts has the people's republic love china, it's compare with with the service. so no trade warranty on. it is even beyond the comparison. so sometimes, and they do criticize us for all cooperation to china and a push that particular pressure pressure point. you know the feel like could there were double standards at the place and as an old latin proverb says, quote, deletes it to your you normally said bully what is suitable for a gold is not suitable for an ox. they are too proud to be except to be

treated like an ox, and they never will be hungry. and leader says, the e u is abusing its power by meddling with the domestic affairs of member states. i'm candidate states. i understand that you has some conditions for serbia if it is to be accepted into the european blog such as the decision to implement chapter 35 of the board agreement. do you share similar sentiments with the hon, gary leader? well is it so a mention, serbia is on it's your appeal pat, pat over the membership for more than 2 decades of each have started dollar negotiations on negotiating chapters more than 10 years ago now and the know what are the rules of that process. but the problem is that what you're facing right now that the rules of are changing in the middle of the competition. so the

rules that has been set and that for valid for all the accession countries, since the ninety's in early 2 thousands actually does not apply any more to serbia or some new additional rules are being trone in the game or impose over us. why is why that's matters? why is that important to us? for example, when we speak about the, the so called alignment of the for and security policy that there was the queen clear of rule that existed when the process started. and normally, normally speaking, get this bill in place and that, that says that each exceed that the country needs to gradually align. it's for and secure the policy all the way to the process. and then to fully 100 percent align with the date of the full membership. but what you're facing right now that the major you remember countries are saying no, it doesn't,

it does not go that way anymore. they need all the candidate countries to for the online right now, although we are not able to give them the accession date, you're not able to tell them if they're going to become members in 5 years or 10 years, or 15 years. if it's still a moving target, you know, for us, and this is something that we cannot accept for the, from the common sense point to few. on top of the fact that the seats, some of our neighboring countries like what the navy, i don't know if it's a don't, you know, republican whole dania that agree to be that the approach that have fully aligned that for and security policy, including the oldest sanctions against the russian federation, but to do the debt to move them closer to the membership into you. unfortunately, not. so that is also the message that we the 3 understand would that's in mind. you mentioned that fame was chapter 35. that the exist only for serbia, all the other countries have just the for jeff,

there is no way only that the additional chapter is, is imposed over us. and they're vish for us to somehow with police the fact to recognize intellectual success. so that's the succession of fall, the southern problem is and i must be clear about that. there's something that nobody asked us about that was a kind of unilateral imposed decision by the european union and their institutions. so of course, i can only agree with this definition provided by the hon. give them prime minister, the old ones that you know there is a, that desire need, wish, whatever the, to impose things, either on the e u. member states like hungry or impose over the candidate countries. but still, you know, we base our fire and security policy on 2 pillars. one is full political

independence and the 2nd these military neutrality it and we are not going to abandon either of these to be ours. speaking of western alliances, presidents, other sounds that will just set time and time again. his government is not interested in joining nato. why is that? we believe it is our southern a decision or a southern right to choose whether you're going to join any kinds of political military alliance on not. and the overbuilding sentiment, and you know, a decision or follow, or people who just by the government a said the whole adult. of course, the government to is that the wish to remain for the sovereign and not showing on the lines in particular, not to wishing to join the nato allies. you know, in the early, 2000 for the speak about this in loudon and process with your opinion. and there was a kind of formula, nate, the 1st is 2nd,

then you should have seen in the serious of cases. i mean, all the central and eastern european countries that joined you 1st, prior to the calculators prior, joined the nato alliance. but you see that that's kind of formula is not working anymore because in the western bolton's, we see countries like montenegro like are banning. i'll export macedonia, joining nato a couple of years ago, but still being kind of stuck in their bosses over the european union. so they cannot be blind to that fact, and that is something that also needs to be counted. the accounted the in the rules are changing. and the belief that joining the european union would be in the best interest of follow or con, through an abra people. and it is closely connected with the geographic culture. reality is the position to verify the are in the very heart of the repeating

confident and thoughts. but the, to the, about the subject position it is because the that, you know, if you're just politics, is that the board during 8 to different countries. there is only germany with one neighbors on the european soil. then not so big country as the sub. yeah. is so of being connected is in our most interest, then they look at the investments, then they look at our exports. we are into connected to the european union very, very much. and what we have is an actual needs for our country, not people is convergence. converge us with all the central european surroundings convergence with the countries that like hungary check with public slovakia, romania and so on. and when i say converges, i'm in both economic convergence, political convergence and converge us security, vice. that does not mean joining maple has to be there and never do that. that is

something that is rejected by the over of ethnic majority of our people. but we do not wish to treat even natal is the kind of adverse survey or enemy be a part of the partnership for peace program. an awful thing more than 15 years. and we have a lot of cooperation programs because for us in a to it's not just us say for example, it is a good neighbor of hungry, a good neighbor or from mania oliver. a good name, ruffling bo gave me the negative. and so finally, i would like to address statements from the european commission. their argument is china is flooding the market with chinese products. they've restated the use interest and readiness to impose tariffs on cheap chinese products. and these developments have written down to the argument that the united states are failing to compete with china is true. and how does that use position affect relations with serbia? it is

a political reality that many of the people in the european union and they're politically leads and their institutions are not happy with that, but extra and there is nothing they can do about that because there is no formal rule that they can impose or apply on us, because each and every free trade agreements that we make, including the free trade agreement that we have in the russian federation and the ration union, including the free trade, the green is that you're preparing right now and that, that will be signed very soon with the egypt that united arab emirates and other countries has that the appeal ation that they will be in effect until serv yet joins the european union as a full member. whether it will happen in 5 years fully 15 years. cool, can say right now, unfortunately, nobody in brussels whose words do do matter, but it is only logical that when the time comes and so it'd be a,

becomes the full member of the e. u as a part of the block. they will apply the same trade rules and regulations just by the rest of the european union. so, you know, again, we come to that kinds of keep offices and they criticize us for using some opportunities that are good for our country. it's a good for our people, but to not offering the full membership on the other hand, for membership in that into your opinion, for us is a free trade agreement is a great spring board quite to put trinity for our economy. you know, because right now we are facing the chinese terrace and the custom duties that are in the range from i believe turkey 8 to 62 percent for different to go or is of goods as an als starting to july, the 1st some of these customs with these will be both the boldest songs. you'll be glad, julia, politician, and all are for the produce the goods are good. so they will be much,

much more competitive on this huge chinese chinese market. but it also goes to that the other way around it feel make a lot of chinese investments or new chinese investments inside the zip brought to the bill, never allowed to be used. our country as a stage for serv combat vend things. i'm, you know, a tre stipulations or regulations that exist within to opinion in the people's republic of china. and of course, because if we don't have a kind of free trade regime, the repeating unit is a country that the country which has somebody's ation and association agreement, of course then have a chinese investor comes and produces stuff q as of yet. we still have been produced goods and we'll have access to the european union market. so there is nothing specific and that it is not a normal normal rule. so the game,

the it's, it's almost uh, almost a cliche in the west. but this whole idea of, with my, to the last your brain in some truth behind it. i mean, think about it for the american, the $60000000000.00 for the reason. a package, not a lot of money. a lot of money stays within the united states in terms of the defense contracts and the like and pulled off money that, you know, they fight side. they prolonged the war, but keep russia busy. you know, this is the, ultimately, this, what the west is doing is on a file, you know, trying to preserve west to the hague higgin. many the

0 near ship did it should. so with the general miles scam, i don't only neely dot gov i the that i need this dive yet, give us kind there some way or image started the 1st okay branch and to show us where to give, sit pushed in when you come or or whatever sure, absolutely. you have to put it on

a bunch of stuff. i gave me that that might or a certain name with frontier that wouldn't be able to lower need to visit with dukes or cuz you talked to his tours to perform of the but i just she was with us on hold. so you know, trying to settle a september sister i was in de la or courtney church debris one year or 2 very heavy were a sheet of or what have so there's no money orders to bills or here there's or before in june gate to their mom or there are 3 yeah. corner santori, georgia or the

ukrainian shelling 3 civilians died and at least 9 more in children, jeanette sitting on the 10th anniversary of the republics referendum, gab loses of a 100 soldiers with dozens, to surrendering to a new russian offensive or new queen, 2nd largest city, several settlements in talk of a full and on the most goes as fun. it's also next the dominance of the united states which started off to the end of the quarter i think today has effectively come send india as far.