In April 2024, the Public Procurement Portal launched the EXPO 2027 segment, allowing the public to monitor the procurements related to the preparations for the “Expo 2027 Belgrade” exhibition. Since the portal’s activation, a total of 250,446,913 euros has been allocated through procurement activities for the event.
The signed contracts are divided into two categories: concluded contracts and framework agreements. The framework agreements indicate jobs that are spread over a longer period, such as annual agreements, while concluded contracts are for specific, short-term tasks.
So far, eight framework agreements have been concluded, amounting to 1.5 billion dinars (approximately 12.8 million euros). These agreements cover various aspects of the EXPO preparations.
Among the notable contracts, one has already drawn public attention due to its connection with prominent figures. For instance, companies associated with Srđan Šaper have secured marketing services for the promotion of the exhibition.
Another noteworthy contract involves the Belgrade Fair, which was awarded 59.4 million dinars for advisory and consulting services related to the exhibition. These services will be provided monthly, according to the available contract details. The agency Big Blue was awarded 60 million dinars for handling the organization of official trips, both within Serbia and abroad.
Legal services for the EXPO have been assigned to Igor Isailović, a well-known lawyer, especially for his role as the legal representative of Serbia’s Finance Minister, Sinisa Mali.
Translation and language development services for the international exhibition will be provided by the Ilija M. Kolarca Foundation, which secured a contract worth 1.3 million dinars.
Deloitte has been hired to provide accounting services, while the Public Company Pošta Srbije will manage parcel delivery for EXPO 2027.
Several foreign companies have also been involved. A Hungarian firm, Market Epító, won a contract worth 23.8 million dinars for preparing urban planning and technical documentation for the construction of the Aquatic Center.
For promotional purposes, Miloš Avramović’s production company, “Režim,” was awarded an 11.8 million dinar contract to produce a film about the exhibition, in collaboration with two other companies.
A significant portion of the funding for EXPO 2027 will come from citizens, with approximately 12 million dinars allocated for the creation of models related to the exhibition. One entrepreneur from Novi Sad, who previously worked on the BIO4 campus model, was contracted for this task.
Unlike other public procurement processes, the EXPO 2027 event is exempt from Serbia’s standard Public Procurement Law. Instead, the “Regulation on Procurement Procedures for Goods, Services, or Works Required for the Realization of the International Specialized Exhibition EXPO Belgrade 2027,” adopted in February 2024, governs the process. This regulation increases the value thresholds for public invitations and practically eliminates the minimum time limits for bid submissions.
For comparison, the thresholds for the regular law are much lower—1 million dinars for goods and services, and 3 million dinars for works. Under the special regulation, public invitations are only published for procurements over 12 million dinars for goods and services, or 24 million dinars for works.
This shift has raised concerns among the professional public, as the lack of adherence to the standard public procurement procedure could limit companies’ ability to challenge decisions and protect their rights. This issue was previously reported by Nova Ekonomija.
In response to concerns, the European Commission has emphasized the need for Serbia to comply with public procurement rules in line with national legislation and EU standards. Ana Pisonero, a spokesperson for the Commission, pointed out that while the new law does not apply the standard procurement rules, transparency and proper oversight of the procurement process are crucial.
The Serbian Parliament adopted the law allowing for special procedures for EXPO 2027 last year. The legislation enables the formation of a coordinating company that will oversee all activities for the event, along with various special-purpose companies responsible for infrastructure development. These companies are not subject to the existing public procurement law but must follow the specific rules laid out in the new regulation.
Regarding the exhibition itself, Serbia expects significant participation, with 28 countries already confirmed to participate, surpassing initial expectations. The EXPO 2027 will be the largest international event ever hosted by Serbia, with the government expecting between 3 and 4 million visitors.
Minister of Finance Siniša Mali highlighted that the EXPO will be supported by 323 projects across the country, with an estimated total value of nearly 18 billion euros. Serbia aims to surpass the record set by the 2017 EXPO in Astana, Kazakhstan, which hosted 117 participating countries. The goal is to reach at least 120 to 130 countries for the 2027 event.
