The Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, visited the national pavilion of Serbia at Expand North Star 2025 and met with Marko Čadež, President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS), to discuss the development of Serbia’s IT sector, digitalization processes, and the growth of the startup ecosystem, the PKS announced.
Marko Čadež described the visit as a great honor for Serbia. He presented the Crown Prince with an overview of the Serbian IT sector, highlighting software exports exceeding $5 billion and the country’s commitment to educating children in digital skills. He also emphasized that Serbia is the only European country with mandatory programming in primary schools, and noted that in the last decade, Serbia has become a major technology hub.
Čadež shared that the world’s largest tech fair, Gitex Global from Dubai, will be held in Belgrade starting in 2027, and additional major international fairs are expected to follow, positioning Belgrade as a key center for exhibitions in Europe.
Čadež also met with Mohammed Lootah, President of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, agreeing on multiple joint initiatives. Plans include a business delegation visit to Dubai in November, and a major Emirati company visit in January, organized jointly by the Dubai Chamber and PKS. A platform will be established for startup development, support, and financing.
Highlighting Dubai’s role as a hub for investment funds, Čadež noted the strategic partnership focuses on commercializing products developed by Serbian engineers, helping turn solutions into market-ready offerings.
At Expand North Star 2025, over 20 innovative Serbian startups are showcasing their projects to the global startup and investor community.
