Today, the delegation of the City of Novi Sad presented capital infrastructure projects relevant to economic development of Novi Sad and its tourist potential in the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Belgrade.
Managers from several Chinese companies attended the presentation of the projects, prepared by the representatives of the City of Novi Sad, led by the Mayor Miloš Vučević.
The Chinese businessmen were presented with the fifth phase of the Boulevard of Europe, which is a capital and important infrastructure project for Novi Sad. This phase includes continuation of the Boulevard of Europe from the intersection with the Boulevard of Patriarch Pavle, through Liman IV, up to the point where a new bridge across the Danube is planned. This part of the Boulevard of Europe would end with a road junction to the new Ruma-Novi Sad road near Sremska Mitrovica.
The representatives of Chinese companies were also informed about tourist potential of the city of Novi Sad that proudly holds two titles – European Capital of Culture 2021 and European Youth Capital 2019.
During the promotion of Novi Sad in the Embassy of China in Belgrade, Nemanja Milenković, the CEO of the Novi Sad 2021 – European Capital of Culture foundation, presented huge tourist potentials of the Suburbium of the Petrovaradin Fortress, and future Youth Creative Polis that will use the space of the former ‘Petar Drapšin’ factory, commonly known as the Chinese Quarter.
Namely, since the European Capital of Culture title has been won, significant funding was provided for decoration of façades and most important cultural-historical objects in the city centre, Almaš Area and Suburbium. The reconstruction of the Suburbium is especially important, since it is inseparable part of the Petrovaradin Fortress, both due to its rich and important historical importance for Novi Sad, and due to the fact that the Suburbium is visited by thousands of tourists, especially during the most famous Novi Sad festivals – EXIT festival and Street Musicians Festival One could say that the Youth Creative Polis was the ‘heart’ of the Novi Sad candidacy, and one of the crucial factors for winning the ECoC 2021 title. It is envisaged that the Chinese Quarter become a unique city centre of creative industries, youth activities, and NGO sector, where people, especially young people, would connect, find jobs, self-employ, and create new values that will make Novi Sad even more recognisable. The idea is to make Youth Creative Polis the future tourist micro-destination, unique not only for Novi Sad, but for the region.
Finally, we want to remind that a numerous economic delegation from China visited Europe a few years ago. During this visit, the delegation discussed potential investments only with cities that have been or will be European Capitals of Culture. This title alone, at least at first glance, gives small comparative advantage to Novi Sad, in comparison to other cities in the Region.
