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On the Road to EU
With the population of over 300.000 residents the City of Nis is the
third largest city in Serbia. It is the regional center which accumulates
administration, economy, politics, culture, sports and tourism of the
South East Serbia. As such it is definitely the source of huge development
potentials. The city territory of 600 m2 is divided into five municipalities
and there are 74 suburban and rural settlements. It is a communication
knot of the European roads and railway lines.
Roads and Railways
The City of Nis is at the Corridor 10, at the intersection of roads E-75 and E-80, which are
going into two directions: South, towards Macedonia and Greece and East, towards Bulgaria
and Turkey. Relevant to importance in the road network of Serbia, the directions Budapest
– Subotica – Novi Sad – Belgrade – Nis – Leskovac – Vranje – Skopje – Thessaloniki has a
prominent place since it goes through economically developed areas with high density.
Air Traffic
Air traffic is carried out over the Airport Constantine the Great, the international airport
with the destination code INI. The airport is located in the zone of very favourable climate
conditions during the whole year with a small number of foggy and snowing days and it
is used as an alternative airport for airports in Priština, Belgrade, Podgorica, Skopje and
Sofia. Every week passengers can fly to 19 different European destinations such as: Vienna,
Frankfurt, Paris, London, Rome, Copenhagen, Moscow and others.
Water Traffic
Nis is connected with the Corridor 7 and the Danube River, as well as with the Port Smederevo,
by the highway and the railway in the length of around 200 km, and with the Aegean Sea, that
is, the port Thessaloniki by the highway and the railway in the length of 400 km.
Having in mind that the City of Nis will be the centre of capital projects important for the
Republic of Serbia in general in the following period, we are doing everything within our
powers to show to potential partners that investing in our city and implementing joint projects
could be worthwhile.
ABOUT NIS
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Archaeological findings from IV century BC testify that Nis was inhabited as early
as New Stone Age and Early Bronze Age. We can follow further city development
through important historic events in which Nis played a very prominent role.
From 75 BC until V century AD, Nis was under Roman rule. Ancient Naissus
flourished in prosperity as a military and administrative centre of the Roman
Empire. The present archaeological site Mediana is the witness of wealth and glory
of the Imperial Naissus.
During V century AD the city was devastated by the Huns, only to flourish again
during next century under the rule of Byzantine Emperor Justinian.
The period of Slavic arrival (VII and VII century) remains without written testimony.
A historically important period was between IX and XII century when Nis became
a part of the Serbian state under the rule of Grand Prince Stefan Nemanja. The
Nemanjić family brought high level of development and significance to Nis. Grand
Prince Stefan Nemanja attached Nis to Serbia in 1183 with the intention to make it
the capital. Nis had been a great economic, cultural and strategy center until Serbia
fell into Turkish power.
The Turkish rule started in XIV century. During five centuries of Ottoman rule Nis
was one of the seats of Turkish military and civil administration. The Fortress,
best preserved and most beautiful medieval fortification in central Balkans, dating
from beginning of XVIII century, dominates the urban nucleus of the city today and
presents a condensed picture of uninterrupted urban history. It is one of the most
significant bases for the redefinition of the Nis cultural identity.
Skull Tower Monument, one of its kind, was built after the Battle on Čegar in
1809 during the Serbian uprising against Turkish reign. This horrific monument
incorporating human skulls of dead Serbian rebels was built along the road to
Constantinople as a warning to anyone rising against Ottoman rule. French poet
Lamartine on his passage through Nis in 1833 left the following message: May the
Serbs preserve this monument! It will teach their children the price paid for the
independence of one nation!
City of Nis has always been the meeting point of many people, different ideas, cultures and traditions which
provided the City with abundant historical and cultural legacy. Romans, Goths, Illyrians, Thracians, Celts,
Huns and other nations created the history of the city. Each new conqueror gave the town a new name: Celtic
Navissos, Roman Naissus, Byzantine Nysos, German Nissa and Slovene Nis.
HISTORICAL CULTURAL HERITAGE
On the Road to EU
Upon liberation from the Turks in 1878 by the Army of Prince Milan Obrenović Nis
flourished culturally and developed politically and grew from a small Turkish provincial
town into a modern European town. The city got:
During World War II, Nis was again a vital
strategic point on the communication lines
to Thessaloniki and the Black Sea. The
memorial museum where concentration
camp once was and memorial park built
on the location of biggest execution site of
that time provide authentic testimony to
the perils of the citizens and supporters of
liberation movement during World War II.
The post war years were marked by
intensive revival and development and
soon Nis became a center of South East
Serbia. Nis started to develop as industrial
center with the revival of tobacco, textile
and mechanic industry and starting of the
electronic industry. The general literacy
increased and first faculties of Medical,
Economic, Law and Technical Sciences
were opened in 1960 while the University
of Nis was officially established in 1965 and
that shaped the city development direction.
Immediately before World War I, the
National Assembly and Serbian Government
moved to Nis. At its session in Nis, Serbian
National Assembly adopted the declaration
which justified the liberation war goals and
called for unification of South Slavs – Serbs,
Croats and Slovene – into a single state.
which consequently led to the wars and disintegration of Yugoslavia. Economic crisis in Yugoslavia reached unprecedented highs in mid 1990s.
The protests of Serbian opposition and university students in winter 1996/97 were triggered by electoral fraud attempted by the government of
Slobodan Milošević after 1996 local elections. And the protests started in Nis first. After 96 days of rallies Milošević accepted the opposition
victory and instated local government in several cities. On January 27, 1997, the first democratic Nis City Assembly was constituted.
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As dynamic medium sized city Nis offers its inhabitants and visitors
much of what big city life has, but without the urban chaos and without
diminishing the quality of life. As focal point of South East Serbia, Nis
today is also a city of commerce and services and a growing centre
of leisure and culture.
Nis is blessed with moderate continental climate and four distinct seasons, although
autumns last longer than springs but the autumns are famous for warm Indian summer.
July is the warmest month in a year and January is the coldest. The whole area around
city is characterized by a rich geomorphologic diversity with intact nature. The City of Nis
is dedicated to smart environment preserving our natural resources and making efforts
towards environmental protection.
Nis City as local self government is trying to nourish smart living in the city practicing
smart economy which includes all around economic competitiveness, innovative spirit,
entrepreneurship, trademarks, productivity and flexibility of the labour market as well as
the integration in the (inter)national market; integrating aspects of political participation,
services for citizens as well as the transparent functioning of the administration; smart
mobility with local and international accessibility as well as the availability of information
and communication technologies and modern and sustainable transport systems.
NIS TODAY
On the Road to EU
The residents and visitors alike are blessed with great cultural and entertainment
opportunities. The cultural life of Nis is shaped by the numerous institutions - the
National Theatre, the Public Library, the National Museum, the Symphony Orchestra,
the Puppet Theatre, Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments, the University
Library, the City Archives, the Gallery of Contemporary Art, the Centre for Culture and
Education, several publishing houses, and many amateur organizations in arts and
complete whether we are talking about jazz music, national film, choral performances
and mastery of art colonies.
Nis has become recognizable as new destination on the map of extreme sports fan and
sportsmen. The exquisite natural attractions of surrounding mountains and gorges are
ideal for extreme sports such as paragliding, free climbing, off road (4X4), rafting and
shooting rally. The city itself offers indoor and outdoor facilities for recreational and
sports activities.
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NIS - OPEN CITYThe international activity on local level does matter; it has proved to
be a development tool for a local-self government. Direct relations
with the representatives of the foreign diplomatic missions in Serbia
represent a starting point for initiating, establishing and furthering
the cooperation in the fields of economy, culture, education. Also, it
is an opportunity for learning more about how to make a city more
attractive for direct foreign investments.
WELCOMING INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
In Summer 2008 the City of Nis open its doors wide to the representatives of the foreign
diplomatic missions in Serbia. We welcomed the ambassadors, the heads of economic
and trade departments at the embassies, the heads of development cooperation
departments with the objective to introduce the city and its potentials and to establish
our international profile. Since then City of Nis has been host to many European high
state officials and city delegations.
In November 2008 the City of Nis welcomed the ambassadors of 22 EU countries to Serbia
and the Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Serbia Ambassador Josep
Lloveras for their regular meeting. This was the first meeting of EU Ambassadors held
outside Serbian capital and organised by a local self-government.
HONORARY CONSULS
Four Nis citizens recognized the possibility of making the best of their personal and
professional engagement for the promotion of economic and cultural links between Nis
and some of European countries and cities and thus promote the city itself. Their personal
endeavours have been recognized by those European countries as well as Nis City
capacities for more intense and richer international cooperation and those four citzens
have been appointed Honorary Consuls of Great Britain, Hungary, France and Slovakia.
So we can proudly say that Nis, in Serbia outisde Belgrade, has the largest diplomatic
community.
On the Road to EU
After democratic changes in 2000 the City of Nis was recognized in international
circles as a proactive city open for cooperation and international relations.
Numerous high ranking organizations opened their door and invited Nis to
become a full member. These organizations are:
NIS NETWORKING
AVEC – since 2009
ALDA – since 2001
BALCINET – since 2000
ECAD – since 2007
ENERGY CITIES – since 2003
EUROCITIES – since 2001
THE GLOCAL FORUM – since 2002
WORLD LEAGUE OF HISTORICAL CITIES – since 2009
MAYORS FOR PEACE – since 2006
NALED - since 2010
SKGO - since its founding
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66 archaeological sites and 265 registered cultural assets are located in Nis. Heritage
preservation became the practice of managing change as a factor which balances
preserving heritage values and ensuring development. The city intensified the works on
reconstruction of all historical and cultural monuments trying to integrate the cultural
heritage into day-to-day living. In November 2009, City of Nis joined Association Alliance
of European Cultural Cities – AVEC.
AVEC is international network gathering 30 cities from 11 European countries with
the will to build a Europe of Regions based on the respect of the differences and the
interactions between cultures, the cities with rich material and spiritual cultural and
historical heritages which could serve as base on which to build a sustainable city. Each
member city takes part to the construction of a heritage with shared values, through
the conservation of the legacies of the past and the development of new creations in
accordance with the AVEC Charter. Each City or Area of Culture defines and implements,
within the limits of its jurisdiction, a detailed plan to put into practice heritage preservation,
enrichment and the valorization of its heritage.
Through the membership in AVEC,
the City of Nis will try to apply daily
European standards committing
ourselves to sustainable management
of cultural heritage and obtain quality
brand of sustainable cultural cities -
QUALICITIES label.
ALLIANCE OF EUROPEAN CULTURAL CITIES
On the Road to EU
self-government modernization led to twinning of Nis City with several towns and
municipalities from Europe. Friendship and cooperation enabled Nis City and its twin
cities to jointly face difficulties.
Experience in realization of concrete project has showed that such cooperation is very
successful and that, in most cases, it serves as a basis for further agreements between
Nis and other European cities. Cooperation in numerous fields gives twin cities a
possibility to learn from each other, overcome problems, start new projects and improve
the level of provided services.
In that way Nis City has possibility to streamline the function of its local self-government
and direct its capacities towards forthcoming integration of Serbia into EU.
TWINNING BEST PRACTICE
AARHUS OFFICE IN NIS Based on the Twinning Protocol and establishment of cooperation between the City of
Nis and City of Aarhus, Denmark, signed in June 2009, the City of Aarhus became a
leading partner of Agency for Local Democracy-LDACSS, founded by the City of Nis.
With intention to strengthen cooperation, City of Aarhus, City of Nis and LDACSS signed
the Agreement on Cooperation. City of Aarhus opened its office in Nis and the task of this
Office is to provide expert assistance to Nis City Office for Local Economic Development,
Office for European Affairs and Agency for Local Democracy.
TWINNING A STEP TOWARDS UNITED EUROPE
City of Saltdal, Kingdom of Norway, signed in 1985
City of Beersheba, Israel, signed in 1990
City of Veliko Trnovo, Bulgaria, signed in 1996,
Athens Municipality Glyfada, Greece, signed in 1999
City of Košice, Slovakia, signed in 2001
City of Kursk, Russia was signed 2006
City of Aarhus, Kingdom of Denmark, signed in 2009
City of Växjö, Sweden, signed in 2008
City of Leeds, Great Britain, signed in 2008
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Since the City of Nis is committed to the process of European integration, Mayor Miloš
Simonović decided to establish the Office for European Affairs (OEA) as an integral part
of his own office in 2009. Activities in this office are aimed at assisting local institutions,
authorities and citizens to become familiar with the objectives, values, standards and
functioning of the EU and EU policies and institutions and at promoting those same
values and principles.
The Office also maintains cooperation with EU institutions, EU-state diplomatic missions
in Serbia, European organisations and NGOs with the objection of promoting European
values and standards and creating joint projects with EU partners. The office is actively
involved in planning, following up and improving institutional and organizational
capacities of local administration in line with the requirements of EU accession. It also
prepares implements and coordinates projects related to the use of EU development and
technical assistance programmes.
The process of accessing EU and future Serbian membership are the
strategic objectives not only of the Republic of Serbia but also of all
its local self governments and Serbian citizens. That is why the City of
Nis as local self-government established City Representative Office
in Brussels trying to become more actively and directly involved in
European integration processes.
The main task of this office is to represent the local and regional
interests with the aim of making the City of Nis and the whole region of
South East Serbia recognizable as potential partners in the realisation
of joint European projects. The office is also in charge of establishing
connections and cooperation with the representative offices of other
European cities and region in Brussels and for securing necessary and
timely information flow from the central EU administration to local self
governments in Serbia.
Nis City Representative Office will strive to improve the city administration
capacity for the EU funds absorption, increase the recognisability and
visibility for the City of Nis and whole region of Southeast Serbia with
EU institutions in Brussels and other international institutions and
organisations and thus influence the improvement of the business
climate and regional economic development. The office cooperates closely with Association of Local Agencies for Democracy (ALDA)
and Regional Development Association SOUTH.
OFFICE FOR EUROPEAN AFFAIRS
REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE IN BRUSSELS
ON THE WAY TO EU
On the Road to EU
Then it expanded to opposition-ran cities and municipalities in 2000. In order to improve
everyday life for the people, and to make clear that the oil embargo should be laid at
the door of the current FRY leadership, the democratic opposition forces offered a plan
called Energy for Democracy. The pilot project was implemented first in the City of Nis.
After 2000, EU reacted quickly with the objective to facilitate the transitional period in
Serbia and to send clear message of support to the people and new government.
The City of Nis participated in the implementation of many EU financed projects under
a variety of financial instruments, including Community Assistance for Reconstruction,
Development and Stabilization (CARDS), macro-financial support and humanitarian aid
and now IPA. In time the nature of these projects shifted from assistance needed for
the resolving of urgent humanitarian and social issues, reconstruction and sanation of
the infrastructural system to achieving of macro-economical stabilization and society
reforms initiating the process of EU integration. The City of Nis has become less of
assistance beneficiary and more of partner to EU in the implementation of projects.
EUROREGION EUROBALKANS
Cross-border cooperation as means for reconciliation and regional development proved
to be an important tool for the integration and development process in Europe. At the
initiative of the Council of Europe, a long-term process was launched to foster trans-
frontier cooperation between the border regions of Bulgaria,FYROM and Serbia. The
overall objective of this initiative was to employ intensified cross-border cooperation
as a tool for regional economic development and integration within this Euroregion as
well as to foster conditions of prosperity, security and peaceful co-existence between
neighboring peoples and states.
A year after the first meeting of this region city and municipality representatives, the
Protocol on the Establishment of Intermunicipal and Regional Association, EU Region,
was signed in Skopje in October 2002. This Protocol represented the commitment of the
cities and municipalities from this region to intensify cooperation and participate actively
in the implementation of the project. With the expert help from Council of Europe, the
Statute was prepared as a unique legal framework for the functioning of this association
defining the structure and the ways of cooperation within the Euroregion. The Statute
was signed in September 2003 and Euroregion officially became EUROBALKANS.
EUROBALKANS consisted of three national associations from Serbia, Bulgaria and
FYROM comprising in total 66 cities and municipalities. The City of Nis was chosen to
preside over the EUROBALKANS for the following two years.
NIS CITY AND EU
Since 1994 the EU support initially went to NGOs and independent media in Serbia as form of support
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EXCHANGE I,II, III
City of Nis has strengthened its local government capacities according to EU
standards by implementing EXCHANGE projects which make local administration
decentralised, depoliticized, more professional and more efficient. We have
fostered the innovations and improvements in the local government sector by
learning from European best practices, by building human resource capacities
through a colleague-to-colleague approach in which local government expertise
from partnering EU countries is recruited, by improving the provision of communal
services to citizens and companies.
SPEAK EUROPEAN
City of Nis has been preparing itself to respond to all tasks which will be awaiting
the City once Serbian application for EU membership is accepted. One of many
activities undertaken by the city is the participation in the project Speak European
- Professional Development for Accession implemented by Serbian Office for EU
integrations and financed by European Union. Project implementation is led by the
British Council in a consortium with the European Institute of Public Administration
(EIPA), Maastricht, and the College of Europe (CoE), Bruges. 10% employees of
Nis City Administration received the grants for the professional training at EU
institutions, practical training courses and work-based experience in countries of
the European Union.
EUROPEAN CORNER
Nis City and NGO Center for Civil Society Development Protecta started the
project European House supported by EC Delegation in Serbia in 2005. The main
objective and vision of the project were to enable the citizens of Nis to better
understand European Union, as well as the process of EU integrations, which
would lead to better understanding of needed social reforms in Serbia on its path
towards European Union. The project was finalized in 2010. However, recognizing
the need of having an info point located at very heart of Nis, where our citizens
can be informed about European culture, European institutions, economy,
rights and many other EU related issues, City of Nis decide to continue with the
implementation of the project idea and thus European Corner has been opened.
EU Corner closely cooperates with embassies of all EU states in Belgrade as well
as with the Belgrade EU Information Center which is a project implemented by the
Delegation of the European Union in Belgrade, aimed at providing the public with
information about the European Union, EU institutions, and EU - Serbia relations.
www.kep.ni.rs
On the Road to EU
WHY CHOOSE CITY OF NISFOR A PARTNER IN A PROJECT?
With the implementation of regulation guillotine project the simplification of administrative
procedures and improvement of services provided to citizens and entrepreneurs have
been achieved. Applying the European methods, we have standardized administrative
procedures and enhanced the transparency of functioning. The procedure simplification
refers to elimination of the documents and changing the document form, decreasing
taxes and fees, shortening deadlines, the standardization of the forms used to apply for
different services provided by administration, introduction of e-forms.
We have improved city land property management. We have created adequate data
base of the land property to which the city is entitled which would serve for systematic
and planned management of the land sites with the final aim of encouraging economic
development. So we restructured the management and administering of those land
properties. We changed the very method of leasing the land to fit better legal and urban
planning and to respond directly to the needs of future investors. The City of Nis is the
first city in Serbia to develop the Feasibility Study of Leasing Construction Land Property
in line with new Law on Planning and Construction and based on the Ordinance issued
by the Republic of Serbia Government which anticipates leasing construction land free of
charge. Also, the model of cooperation between the Republic of Serbia Army and the City
of Nis on the project of converting military owned land property for civilian purposes is
the representative example of the cooperation between the RS Ministry of Defense and
local self – governments.
In the period of global economic crisis the City of Nis managed to attract investors and
to become the most wanted destination for new businesses in Serbia. After 20 years of
stalling, we are building factories again. The year of 2011 will be the first one after two
decades with the decreasing unemployment rate.
Present City Government is probably the first one that has not used
the alibi that local self-government is not in charge of economy on its
territory. The interest of investors in Nis is the direct consequence
of the changed attitude of local self government towards local
economic development.
City of Nis decided to take pro-
active role and a new phase
has started in the development
of this city.
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Nis City Development Strategy 2009-2020
Nis City Sustainable Development Action Plan 2010 -2014
Nis City Rural Area Development Strategy
Nis City Small and Medium Enterprises Development Strategy 2009 – 2013
Nis City Safety Strategy
Nis City Housing Strategy
Agenda 21 for Sustainable Development
Agenda 21 for Culture
Local Environmental Action plan (LEAP)
Business Friendly Environment Certificate that NALED awarded to Nis City testifies that
we are doing a good job. Nis City ranked high in a select group of local communities in
Serbia which are dedicated to longterm economic development and that due to consistent
reforms of the municipal administration, managed to create conditions favorable for
business development and influx of investors. This certificate among other things prove
that a lot of has been done to set things in motion. We welcome to our communities the
international companies such as Benetton, Yura Corporation, Dytech F&F Serbia, Haj
Ararat. If we sum up the entire commercial and production projects realised during the
period of one year together with the ones whose realisation is certain Nis will have 42 new
companies hiring 8000 workers. The total value of these projects is 337 million Euros.
Strategic planning of the local community future development is important factor which
indicates the responsibility of Nis City local self-government towards its citizens. Strategic
planning enables better quality of life for our citizens, creates beter city economy, more
favourable business climate, better productivity.
The City of Nis adopted several official strategic documents:
On the Road to EU
OFFICE FOR LOCAL ECONOMICDEVELOPMENT
the business sector and the City Administration and the main instrument for attracting
investments with the task of improving the local economic development, attracting
new investments by providing assistance through the investment process, providing
support to local business sector, promoting entrepreneurship and creating favorable
preconditions for improving the quality of life and Nic City economic development.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
This council has been formed with the objective of supervising the realisation of the
plans and programs of local economic development, providing the initiatives and
opinions related to economic development priorities, monitoring the activities of Nis City
business potential promotion and considering the strategies for economic development.
The members of the EDC have been selected out of business community, experts in the
economy field and the leaders of the professional associations.
RDA SOUTH
Regional Development Association SOUTH - RDA SOUTH was established in August,
2009. The founding contract was signed by the representatives from the City of Nis, eleven
(11) municipalities from the districts of Nisava, Pirot and Toplica, three (3) companies and
seven (7) civil sector organisations. RDA SOUTH is established out of need of all actors to
participate actively in solving the local problems and promoting the regional development
by stimulating healthy business environment and by creating new jobs which would lead
to the improvement of the life quality in the region.
The objective of RDA SOUTH is to provide support to institutional efforts to achieve
comprehensive and sustainable development of the districts of Nisava, Pirot and Toplica
via building of the professional HR capacities and grounds for attracting direct foreign
investments, networking and cooperating with other regional, national and international
institutions in accordance with the process of EU integration.
OUR RESOURCES
www.kler.ni.rs
www.ora-jug.rs
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UNIVERSITY OF NIS
The quality of intellectual capital in the city is based on educational system generating
well-educated, fast learning, multilingual and IT literate people dedicated to lifelong
learning. Since the University of Nis was founded in 1965, 49512 students have graduated,
2254 master thesis and 1275 doctoral dissertations have been defended at 13 Faculties.
There is a growing number of private faculties. Not surprisingly schools of higher
learning excel in those areas where the region has a traditional comparative advantage,
such as engineering, physics, and IT.
SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANISTICSFaculty of Economics
Faculty of Law
Teacher-Training Faculty
Faculty of Philosophy
Faculty of Sport and Physical Education
MEDICAL SCIENCESFaculty of Medicine
ARTSFaculty of Fine Arts
TECHNICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL SCIENCES Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture
Faculty of Electronic Engineering
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
Faculty of Technology
Faculty of Occupational Safety
NATURAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS Faculty of Science and Mathematics
www.ni.ac.rs
On the Road to EU
CLUSTER OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES
Nis City supports new trends in business networking and strongly believes that
establishment and development of professional clusters should be priority in local
government planning and should be integrated in local development concept. 19
companies dealing with the production of electronic and electro mechanic devices as well
as with information and communication technologies formed cluster Ni-CAT. Besides the
local companies the cluster members are the institutions which are supporting those
companies: University of Nis Faculty of Electronics and Mechanics, Regional Chamber
of Commerce Nis, Business Incubator Nis and Regional Development Association South.
The objectives of associating into cluster are the operational support to cluster members
in implementing development projects; presenting of Serbia and the City of Nis to
international and local general public as important destination for doing business in
the field of electronic and informational technology industry; promotion of research and
scientific activities and development of new technological products and services as well
as development of new markets and business operations for all cluster members.
TECHNOLOGY PARK AND INCUBATOR TEHNIS NIS
City of Nis has excellent potentials for industrial and logistic complexes. Taking into
consideration the fact that it used to be the city of electronic industry, TEHNIS Nis
represents the attempt of recovering this position relying on intellectual potentials
which can be found in the experienced engineers and workers coming from the area of
electronic equipment manufacturing, ICT fields and mechanical industry. According to
these potentials, Technology Park and Incubator TEHNIS Nis is being developed in a form
of technology center and incubator within the industrial zones of a national importance.
www.nicat.irvas.co.rs
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BUSINESS INCUBATOR CENTER
Business Incubator Center - BIC has been set up in the frame of the project ENTRANSE
– Private Sector Development - financed by Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The
project objective was establishing the business incubator and implementing the training
programme for starting business with a clearly defined strategy to gradually grow into
an industrial park. The basic concept of BIC is best explained in their mission aiming to
“help the development of small and medium-size entrepreneurship through providing
business premises, offering business and other services in the most critical stages
of company development and thus influence the rise of employment and become a
respectable initiator of the economic development of the Nis region. BIC has the capacity
to accommodate 24 tenants.
REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NIS
The Region of Nis is one of the biggest economic areas regarding large industrial textile,
chemical, mechanical, tobacco and electronic industries. It is also well-known for its
transport, tourist and catering companies. Nis Regional Chamber of Commerce covers
the area of 7867km2 in the southeast part of Serbia and encompasses three districts
- Nisava, Pirot and Toplica. Its main task is the promotion of regional economy in the
country and abroad.
It provides information to its members in order to find business partners abroad and
connects them, thus improving bilateral and multilateral relations.
www.bicnis.org.rs
www.rpknis.rs
City of Nis will be a good host to domestic and foreign partners and it will present the Imperial
Nis in its best as the City which is ready to adopt new ideas, initiatives, plans.
On the Road to EU
In Rome, the most powerful empire of the ancient world, almost three centuries after the
birth of Jesus Christ only 5% of the population was Christian. At that time Constantine
was born in Nis. When his reign began, the Empire was pagan. His visions and dreams
in which Labarum or Monogram of Christ appeared followed by the words – With This
Sign You Shall Win – In Hoc Signo Vinces – led him to many victories. In 313, Roman
Emperors Constantine the Great and Licinius announced that it was proper that the
Christians and all others should have liberty to follow that mode of religion which to each
of them appeared best, thereby granting tolerance to all religions, including Christianity.
The Edict of Milan made the Empire officially neutral with regard to religious worship; it
neither made paganism illegal nor made Christianity the state religion.
Initiating the campaign of announcing the celebration of 2013, the City of Nis organised
the conference dedicated to the presentations of the experiences and lessons learned
in the field of research, protection, valorisation and promotion of cultural heritage in
Istanbul (Turkey), Carnuntum - Vienna (Austria), York (Great Britain) and Nis (Serbia).
the objective to join efforts in the organisation of this big jubilee. It also represents the
continuation of the cooperation initiated at the Archeological Park Carnuntum Symposium
within the project of Carnuntum Emperors Who Changed the World which focuses on
division of Roman Empire into Tetrarchy - Rule of Four. Constantine the Great was one of
those new Tetrarchs. This change altered and engraved our world and culture.
Also the international conference entitled Edict of Milan Everlasting Value and Permanent
gathering was CIVIS - Association of Non-governmental Organisation of Southeast
Europe in partnership with Austrian Foundation Pro Oriente and with the support of
Swiss Peace Foundation, Serbian Orthodox Church and City of Nis. This international
conference gathered prominent historians and theorists dedicated to the study of times,
role and personality of Constantine the Great with the objective to explain to the broader
public the importance of the Edict of Milan, both in the past and present times.
The message which should be sent from the City of Constantine is the message of
tolerance. In our society tolerance is often perceived as weakness. On the contrary,
tolerance, in its very essence, is the strength to accept the diversity which exist in
cultures all around the world”, as Mayor Simonović says.
City of Nis
City of CONSTANTINE The most important person from
Nis is the great ruler of Rome,
a crucially important figure of
European and world history,
the founder of Byzantium, who
convened and presided over the
First Ecumenical Council, the most
influential politician in world history,
whose vision marked the beginning
of Christian expansion – Constantine
the Great. He was well known not
only as great Roman emperor and
wise military leader, but also as a
great visionary.