Although the coronavirus pandemic has slowed economic growth worldwide, the IT industry is recording strong growth. Belgrade and Novi Sad are domestic centers of information technologies.
How do smaller cities find their place on the map of interesting destinations for young IT professionals? Can the city of farms and tambourines become the regional center of the IT industry? A cluster of twenty companies from Subotica, which already employs about 500 highly qualified workers with a salary of more than 1,000 euros, has launched the “IT Subotica 2030” initiative.
“In the next 10 years, the project should contribute to strengthening the IT community, profession, economy, education in Subotica, make a good connection for young people – education, practice, work and complete life,” said Branimir Gajic, director of the Infostud group from Subotica.
George Salfeld from Sweden founded a company in this city. He says that IT experts in the world are fleeing big cities and that Subotica has a huge chance to be a diamond in the offer for young people.
“We are here to find specialists and develop long-term business. Many large global companies are moving their research and development sectors to a place where there is a peaceful environment and harmony and we are trying to do that in Subotica. You have fantastic nature, the climate is good, you have calm and many experts and they attract other experts as well,” states George Salfeld, director of the company “Auksaliti” in Subotica.
The IT industry in Serbia is recording high growth rates and now generates almost six percent of GDP. This has created a huge number of jobs and opportunities to work in their own country and from home.
“There is a lot of space in the IT industry for hiring new people. In the next period, our company will sign contracts for three scholarships with students of the Faculty of Economics and the Higher Technical School in Subotica,” said Mladen Prijic, director of the Concordsoft.
Subotica has a good base for young professionals in the education system who are aware of the importance of connecting with the economy.
“We are vitally interested in making Subotica a city interesting for young people. Our interest is to develop, to educate experts in the IT sector, this initiative is great for us,” says Igor Firstner, director of the Higher Technical School in Subotica.
A quality environment for the life of young professionals and their families today implies the establishment of high environmental standards and an interesting social and cultural life of the city.
The IT cluster will seek support in city structures to make Subotica an attractive place to live for young professionals from all over the world, Kamatica reports.
