PEXIM Foundation alumni with the support of colleagues from The British-Serbian Chamber of Commerce (BSCC), The Organization of Serbian Students Abroad (OSSA), The Office for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region under the auspices of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and corporate partners showcased that young people who get educated at world-class universities can help economic and institutional development of Serbia.

Young people from OSSA and PEXIM Foundation emphasized that the financial and institutional support of BSCC members and The Office for Cooperation with the Diaspora in the project The Partnership for Young People in Great Britain signals to them that their competitive knowledge at world-class universities and youthful energy are welcome in the collaboration of Serbia and other markets.

The fourth, now traditional, PEXIM-BSCC dinner gathered on May 1st the representatives of companies and institutions, Cambridge University professors, and special focus was given to the students who originate from Serbia, study at Cambridge and want to keep in touch with the country and contribute to its advancement.

At the dinner the honorary speakers addressed the audience: Ser Paul Judge, the President of The British-Serbian Chamber of Commerce; Mihail Petreski, the President of PEXIM Foundation and Denis Keefe, HMA to Serbia. The dinner was organized to connect students with interested employers in Serbia and to forge new partnerships between the world of education and economy. Apart from The Office for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region under the auspices of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs the event was supported by Microsoft and Bird and Bird. This support indicated that young aspiring engineers and lawyers can find suitable companies for the future employment in Serbia. Members of The British-Serbian Chamber of Commerce have also supported the event and expressed interest in offering internships and other collaboration opportunities to successful young people of Serbian origin.

Sir Paul Judge informed the international audience about more than 175 years of diplomatic relations between Great Britain and Serbia; how English nurses including Lady Paget and Dr Elisabeth Ross saved thousands of Serbian people in the First World War. Judge praised the brightest Serbian talent at Cambridge University who will drive the country advancement in the future. It was refreshing to learn that 6 Serbs play in top UK football clubs; while Novak Djokovic and other Serbian tennis players entertain audience in heart-throbbing matches every Wimbledon and St. Martin’s alumna Roksanda Ilincic dresses elite clientele such as Kate Middleton and Michele Obama.

Fourth annual PEXIM-BSCC Dinner

Supported by

Mihail Petreski, PEXIM Foundation President, thanked to guests and sponsors: Microsoft, Bird and Bird, The Office for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region, and The British-Serbian Chamber of Commerce. He emphasized that during a recent visit of Helen Pennant, Cambridge International Trust Director, the contract between the Trust and PEXIM Foundation was extended until 2020 which means that up to 5 students from Serbia and Macedonia can get a scholarship of PEXIM Foundation for their master studies at Cambridge. 

Denis Keefe, HMA to Serbia, noticed that annual networking dinner in Cambridge is becoming a significant date in the diplomatic calendar because it connects educated Serbian youth with companies and international institutions. HMA Keefe emphasized that Great Britain will continue to help EU integration of Serbia and that during a recent talk with Prime Minister of Serbia he emphasized effort of young people gathered at The University of Cambridge as the indicator how Serbia should excel. The companies also had words of praise for the evening. 

Bird & Bird were grateful to participate in the PEXIM Foundation and Cambridge University dinner because of a wonderful opportunity to catch up with their clients at NIS who attended and to expand their network of those at Cambridge who will work in the region in future. ‘‘Both the dinner in the unique Trinity College and the speakers were excellent and provided further insight into the current commercial landscape and how this will develop and opportunities will grow in the coming years.   Bird & Bird have an active presence in the region providing legal and commercial advice to a number of clients and growing our network, particularly within the energy sector in Serbia and across Europe. As we expand our business we are keen to engage with more Serbian businesses and are looking forward to visiting Belgrade in June to cement the relationships we value. Thank you again for a lovely evening and we look forward to joining you in future.’’

Microsoft, a long-term partner of PEXIM Foundation noticed that the Foundation provides great support to Serbian students who are eager to learn and gain knowledge at one of the world’s best universities. ‘‘Helping out these remarkable individuals in pursuing their dreams also provides great benefits for Serbia. They become the sort of ambassadors of our values and culture whilst hoping at the same time that they will return to their homeland and help its prosperity. Microsoft is honored to support this event and we are looking forward to attending for many years to come.’’

The day before in London, on April 30, the event promoting Serbian business and tourism was organized by The British-Serbian Chamber of Commerce and The National Tourism Organization of Serbia. The purpose of the event was to show the best from Serbia to diaspora and international audience; whereas PEXIM Foundation as the member of the British-Serbian Chamber of Commerce with partners from the Organization of Serbian Students Abroad with its example and project activities gathered a lot of UK-based guests, interested to collaborate with Serbia. The highlight of the event was the address of Honorary Speakers: Sir Paul Judge, the President of British-Serbian Chamber of Commerce; Dane Kondic, Air Serbia CEO; and Zorica Jovanov on behalf of The National Tourism Organization of Serbia. Also, because Belgrade is running a bid to host One Young World summit, as initiative of PEXIM alumna Milena Milicevic, the presence of One Young World team and program Ambassadors, praising Serbia as the destination and expressing desire to visit, showcased that one of Serbia’s best resources are its young people who have international contacts and understand global business.    

Young people collected the donation for Serbian Red Cross, the BSCC non-profit organization of 2015, marking the centenary of British nurses helping Serbian people during WWI. Guests could also buy a book about Lady Paget, a remarkable philanthropist from WWI, written by Natasa Markovic.   

Sir Paul Judge, Alderman of the City of London and distinguished businessman on all continents, opened his Penthouse and hosted around 200 figures on April 30, this time in the capacity of The Chairman of The British-Serbian Chamber of Commerce. The sophisticated reception was all about UK-Serbian collaboration in business tourism with National Tourism Organization of Serbia and Air Serbia on board while Oxbridge grads got into the limelight with Judge being Trinity college, Cambridge alumni himself.  

Since its inception PEXIM Foundation invested in partnership with Cambridge Trust and other partners approximately 650,000 EUR in 16 scholarships (11 from Serbia and 5 from Macedonia) in order to enable development of the talent from those countries abroad and integration of the knowledge gained upon the return to the country. One of the most distinguished institutional partners of PEXIM Foundation in The Republic of Serbia is the Fund for Young Talents at The Ministry of Youth and Sport. 
OSSI was formed in 1997 with the aim of creating a network of Serbian students studying abroad across diverse fields. At present, it has over 4,000 members studying at some of the most prestigious world universities. The main goals of the organization are: advising Serbian youth in terms of going abroad for studying; helping Serbian students when they return from abroad to integrate themselves in Serbian business and social landscape; and promotion of Serbian potential, especially regarding business opportunities, cultural heritage and capable people.

The Office for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region, under the auspices of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, strengthens connections among Serbian citizens living abroad and their organizations with The Republic of Serbia; includes them in political, economic and cultural life of The Republic of Serbia,etc.

After these activities of PEXIM Foundation, the youth of Serbian origin continues to promote Serbia along with their business and student commitments. During June OSSA will showcase its academic and economic strength in a series of lectures in Great Britain, showcasing the strength of the youth at Universities in London, Oxford, Cambridge.