Author: Jelena Stankovic

Belgrade, December 31, 2024. Nowadays, the pre-holiday atmosphere is simply unimaginable without visiting shopping centers, and the bustling dynamics that accompany holiday shopping are clearly present in the retail properties of the FORUM brand. We spoke with Tomislav Savić, Retail Segment Director at Marera Properties, at the end of the year.

How did the FORUM brand come about? What is its role and mission in the development of the local community?

The FORUM brand is a concept that combines the experience of great shopping, entertainment, and socializing, with modern and functional retail spaces tailored to the needs of contemporary consumers. Our goal is to offer a variety of amenities – from modern stores and dining facilities to entertainment activities, thus becoming a central meeting point for fun and enjoyment for all visitors.

The FORUM brand is part of the portfolio of Marera Properties, a company involved in investing, acquiring, and developing commercial real estate. Within this brand, there are two properties – Forum Park in Zemun and Forum Shopping Center in Niš.

Forum Shopping Center has been part of Marera’s portfolio since 2018, and since then, we have been dedicated to its development in order to offer the people of Niš and the surrounding area a modern shopping experience and help foster the growth of the local economy. Forum Park Zemun, the first retail park in Belgrade, has been part of our portfolio since 2021 and is now a top destination for family shopping for all Zemun residents.

What are the main advantages that Forum Park and Forum Shopping Center offer tenants to enhance their business operations?

Forum Park covers more than 70,000 m² and offers visitors a wide range of popular brands from various categories, including sports equipment, fashion, home decor, a supermarket, dining establishments, and facilities for children. Thanks to its modern concept, quality offerings, and convenient location just a few kilometers from the center of Zemun, Forum Park stands out as a favorite destination for all generations, providing a unique experience that combines quality and enjoyment.

Forum Shopping Center is a modern commercial building located in the heart of Niš, and it represents an essential shopping destination for residents of the city and its surroundings. It offers visitors a wide assortment of different brands, with goods catering to all categories of consumers.

You are also recognized for your charitable initiatives aimed at helping vulnerable groups in society. What activities have you been involved in?

The FORUM brand strives to be socially responsible and contribute to the creation of an inclusive society. We believe that responsible business is not only about providing a top-notch experience for visitors but also about actively caring for those who need help the most. In this regard, Forum Park regularly hosts blood donation drives in collaboration with the Institute for Blood Transfusion and the Red Cross of Belgrade, under the slogan “You’re worth three when you donate blood.” Through this activity, we aim to raise awareness among visitors about the importance of blood donation and encourage them to become active participants in preserving health and saving lives. Additionally, we support friends from the charity organization “Dečje srce” by organizing sales exhibitions of handmade crafts every last Thursday of the month, where visitors can purchase items made by the organization’s beneficiaries. Another initiative is “Silent Hour,” held every second Tuesday of the month at Forum Shopping Center, during which we dim the sound and light signals for one hour to support people with autism, attention disorders, and other sensory conditions, thus providing them with a more comfortable shopping experience.

In anticipation of the New Year holidays, Forum Shopping Center in Niš will host an exhibition by the Museum of Illusions from Belgrade for the first time. What can visitors expect from this unique exhibit?

For the end of the year, we want to provide everyone visiting Forum Shopping Center with an unforgettable experience and great entertainment, so collaborating with the Museum of Illusions was the perfect opportunity to further enrich the holiday atmosphere. The exhibition will run from December 25 to January 2 and will feature unique museum exhibits and illusionistic attractions themed around the New Year holidays. For the most creative photos shared by visitors on social media, we’ve prepared valuable prizes. We expect this event to become a real attraction in Niš, bringing together both younger and older generations who will enjoy the unique combination of fun, art, and illusion.

What are your plans for the future in terms of new projects, and how will they contribute to the further development of your portfolio?

In the upcoming year, we plan to expand the existing capacity of Forum Park in the second phase by building an additional 8,000 m² of business space. This will further enrich the offering and allow for new brands to join, creating new jobs. Another investment we are planning for 2025 is the installation of a solar power plant at Forum Park. This ecological initiative is part of Marera Group’s strategy, within which the FORUM brand operates, aimed at reducing CO2 emissions and achieving CO2-neutral status for the entire group by 2028.

Belgrade, December 31, 2024. While business space construction in Belgrade is primarily reserved for New Belgrade, Marera Properties, part of Marera Investment Group, stands out with its pioneering approach to the revitalization of buildings in the city center. In a conversation with Bojan Ljubičić, Portfolio Director at Marera Properties, we uncover how they began their business journey, why they believe in the power of brownfield investments, and how they successfully merge contemporary needs with the preservation of cultural and historical heritage.

• How did you start with brownfield projects?

Recognizing the imbalance between the concentration of business spaces in New Belgrade and the need for modern facilities in the city’s historic core, we developed a strategy focused on brownfield investments. Our vision from the outset was to identify and leverage the potential of the city center, where two-thirds of the population lives, through a unique business model that combines the revitalization of unused spaces, primarily B and C class, and their transformation into modern A-class buildings. This model not only allows us to meet market demands but also creates sustainable development by revitalizing neglected locations. Our goal is not just to restore spaces but to create new value for the community and users, helping urban development while preserving the city’s identity.

• What are the advantages and challenges of revitalizing old buildings compared to new construction?

Restoring old and abandoned buildings is an ambitious undertaking fraught with numerous challenges: preserving the architectural value of the structure, reducing urban planning pressure, applying the latest technologies in buildings that are nearly 100 years old, fighting for new green spaces, and many others. However, the end result is well worth the effort and investment – revitalized buildings once again become vibrant parts of the city’s social and business life. Additionally, we have followed the global trend of the “15-minute city,” which emphasizes proximity and easy access to restaurants, shops, cultural, sports, and other urban amenities that are part of city life and represent a huge advantage for all our tenants. One of the greatest challenges of this process, however, is the limited freedom in shaping the space. Restoration requires adapting existing buildings to modern standards while maintaining their original dimensions and characteristics, which requires careful planning, adherence to legal norms, and innovative solutions.

• Marera Properties’ portfolio is very unique, thanks to the buildings it consists of. What does a successful renovation mean to you?

Since 2017, we have revitalized 100,000 m² of business space in the heart of Belgrade, transforming it into modern A-class buildings. We are proud of projects such as Bulevar 28, Bulevar 79, and M44, which have improved their surroundings and won prestigious awards from the city of Belgrade and architectural associations. Kalemegdan Business Center, with its stunning neoclassical architecture, has become the cornerstone of the business life in Lower Kalemegdan. The redesigned facades of these buildings preserve the spirit of past times, while the interiors are fully aligned with modern technical and technological standards, with a design approach that emphasizes their cultural and historical significance. These redefined spaces attract many companies that see them as the ideal environment for business success.

• What does it mean for your company to own one of the most recognizable symbols of the capital, the Belgrade Palace, which this year marks its 50th anniversary? How did you approach its renovation?

The Belgrade Palace is not just a business building; it is a symbol of cultural and historical heritage and an integral part of the urban identity of the capital. Over time, its shine began to fade, but for us, owning such a building is both an honor and a responsibility. We approached its renovation with exceptional care and dedication, aiming to transform it into a modern business space while preserving its authentic architectural value. This is also the largest investment in the Belgrade Palace since its construction. Today, it serves as a contemporary business center, the headquarters of domestic and international companies that recognize the value of operating in a space that successfully blends tradition with modern standards.

Belgrade, December 31, 2024. Industrial parks, also known as industrial zones or business parks, represent a modern urban and organizational form of concentration for industrial and other facilities in a designated area. These are parts of urban space intended for industrial production, equipped with shared infrastructure such as roads, railways, gas pipelines, water supply, sewage, and telecommunications. This organization enables more efficient business operations for companies within the park, reducing costs and facilitating logistics. According to data from the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia from November 2020, the most common users of industrial parks are small and micro businesses, due to the cost-saving benefits, proximity to various infrastructure facilities, and the ability to easily expand or reduce space dedicated to their operations.

Industrial Park Pobeda is located in Petrovaradin, just 3 km away from Novi Sad. Since 2020, it has been owned by Marera Properties, which has invested over two million euros in its complete reconstruction, transforming the old and neglected “Pobeda” factory into a modern platform for small and medium-sized enterprises. Today, 47 companies operate within the Industrial Park Pobeda, mostly in the manufacturing and logistics sectors. To discuss the key advantages of doing business at this prestigious location, the benefits for tenants, and future development plans, we spoke with Mile Štrbac, the director of the industrial segment at Marera Properties, one of the leading investors in commercial real estate, with a portfolio of business, retail, and industrial properties worth more than 165 million euros.

• Industrial Park Pobeda offers a range of logistical, production, warehouse, and office capacities. What additional benefits does this business complex offer to current and future tenants?

Industrial Park Pobeda covers a total area of 38 hectares and currently has 110,000 m² of production capacities, with 17 hectares of land designated for the construction of new buildings. Key advantages include a large number of production halls tailored to individual businesses, connectivity to all major transportation routes, including the Corridor 10 railway passing through the park, the road Corridor 10, and the E-75 highway, which significantly eases goods transport. The park’s geographical location also allows for easy access to European cities, contributing to efficient networking and business collaboration. Furthermore, Industrial Park Pobeda functions as a kind of industrial hub, bringing together various businesses into a micro-community, which facilitates communication, strategic partnerships, resource sharing, and access to markets and innovations. The fact that the largest city in Vojvodina is just 3 km away allows many companies to easily find labor and communicate with various institutions.

• What advantages does operating within the Novi Sad Free Zone bring to companies in Industrial Park Pobeda?

In 2022, the Ministry of Finance issued a decision for Industrial Park Pobeda to start operating within the Novi Sad Free Zone. This offers significant advantages and savings for both current and future tenants. First, there are additional conditions for new investments, job creation, and tax incentives for export-oriented companies, which positively impact the further development of their businesses.

• In May 2023, Marera Properties donated a refurbished hall to the Red Cross of Novi Sad for a ten-year period, valued at one million euros. What significance does this gesture have for the local community? Do you think similar projects could inspire and encourage other companies to follow your example?

Our collaboration with the Red Cross is part of the company’s strategic vision to improve the development of the local community through socially responsible activities and help address key societal challenges and needs. We believe that such projects not only assist those in greatest need but also contribute to the advancement of society as a whole. Therefore, we encourage other companies that recognize the importance of social responsibility to engage in similar initiatives. When it comes to the results of our collaboration with the Red Cross, they have been more than successful. In its second year of operation, the Novi Sad Red Cross Distribution Center secured and distributed goods worth over 1.5 million euros across Novi Sad, Vojvodina, and other parts of Serbia. We believe that such impressive results will continue in the years to come, given the strategic position of Pobeda, its rich infrastructure, and its ability to effectively distribute aid to the most vulnerable sectors of society.

• Are there plans for expanding the park’s capacities in the future?

In the coming year, we will enter a new phase of operations, which will include the construction of new capacities. Our goal is to complete the construction of 110,000 m² of new halls over the next few years, designed to the highest industrial standards, which will meet the needs of different businesses, bringing the park’s total capacity to almost 200,000 m². Our ambition is to provide an optimal working environment that supports high productivity levels and to improve the competitive position of Industrial Park Pobeda as a key hub for launching and managing production in this part of Serbia.

Every unit of blood you donate can save up to three lives!

If you work at Pobeda Industrial Park or happen to be there this Friday, remember—it takes just 20 minutes to complete the blood donation process and make a life-saving difference.

Event Details:
Friday, February 23

10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
MPP Pobeda / Administrative Building, Ground Floor
Rade Končara 1, Petrovaradin

This initiative was launched by Marera Properties in collaboration with the Red Cross of Serbia and the Blood Transfusion Institute of Serbia, with the goal of ensuring stable blood supplies for the country’s healthcare system.

Marera Properties Launches Blood Donation Awareness Program in Cooperation with the Red Cross of Serbia and the Blood Transfusion Institute of Serbia

Marera Properties, in collaboration with the Red Cross of Serbia and the Blood Transfusion Institute of Serbia, is launching a new program to promote voluntary blood donation across its business locations.

The aim of the program, titled “You’re Worth Three People When You Donate Blood”, is to support the Serbian healthcare system by helping to secure stable blood supplies.

Every unit of donated blood can save a life—or more precisely, three lives.

With the desire to inspire as many people as possible from within its own system, partner businesses, and the general public to come together and create a life-saving impact, Marera Properties has initiated this blood donation drive program within its properties, under the slogan “You’re Worth Three People When You Donate Blood.”

The donation drives will be held periodically throughout the year, aiming to activate and engage a wide range of local communities. Marera Properties’ business units and facilities are located across four regional centers: Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš, and Kraljevo.

The first blood drive will take place on Thursday, October 19, from 11 AM to 4 PM, at the following Belgrade locations:

Kalemegdan Business Center – Desk&More, 1st floor, Masarikova 5, and

Marera Property Management – Brodogradilište parking, Savski nasip 7T, New Belgrade

The values of companies within the Marera group are reflected in their active care for local communities and environments—revitalizing historic landmarks and developing their potential for a high-quality, sustainable lifestyle. Marera represents an ecosystem of businesses in the commercial real estate industry that, beyond striving for business success, aim to foster social cohesion and respond to diverse community needs in the spirit of sustainability.

Marera Properties believes that this initiative can further encourage those who have never donated blood before—because once you donate blood, you become a lifesaver for life.

Details:

Thursday, October 19
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Kalemegdan Business Center / Desk&More ZOO, 1st Floor
Marera Property Management – Brodogradilište parking lot, Savski nasip 7T, New Belgrade

To ensure proper coordination of the Red Cross Belgrade teams and the Blood Transfusion Institute, it is recommended to register in advance by emailing:
komunikacije@mareragroup.rs by October 17, 2023.

At a ceremony held in the Pobeda Industrial Park in Petrovaradin, a newly renovated hall was officially handed over to the Red Cross of Novi Sad. The facility was restored and donated by the company Marera Properties, which granted the organization a ten-year lease as part of a donation valued at one million euros.

The event was attended by the Mayor of Novi Sad, Milan Đurić, representatives of the Red Cross of Serbia and Novi Sad, executives from Marera Properties, and other high-ranking officials.

Reaffirming its strong and long-term commitment to socially responsible business practices—and specifically its strategic partnership with the Red Cross—Marera Properties fully renovated a warehouse space of over 1,600 square meters. This facility will now be used for storing supplies intended for the most vulnerable groups.

“Since our founding, we have made it a key priority to improve the local communities in which we operate—not only through donations, but also through a range of socially responsible initiatives that together form a sustainable framework for enhancing society as a whole,” said Takis Taoushanis, Chairman of the Board at Marera Properties.

Since acquiring the park in August 2020, Marera Properties has invested over two million euros in renovating existing facilities and improving infrastructure such as roads, the electrical grid, and the water supply within and around the Park.

“By investing in the Pobeda Industrial Park and modernizing its existing facilities, Marera Properties has not only improved working conditions for tenants and enhanced the Park’s overall image, but also created conditions for increased productivity and greater opportunities for new job creation,” said Milan Đurić, Mayor of Novi Sad.

Dragan Lazić, Secretary of the Red Cross of Novi Sad, expressed his gratitude on behalf of the organization to Marera Properties for their generous donation and strategic collaboration, which has enabled the Red Cross to carry out numerous initiatives aimed at improving the living conditions of the most socially vulnerable groups.

The Free Zone Novi Sad received Government of the Republic of Serbia approval for extending its territory to the location of Industrial park Pobeda, which allows for the favourable conditions for new investments, creation of new jobs, and introduction of tax benefits for export-oriented companies.

“We see accession to the Free Zone as a major business opportunity both for us and all our existing and future lessees. We are certain that in addition to all the benefits that Pobeda is currently offering, the Free Zone will represent a foundation for further improvement of operations and achievement of greater competitive advantage,” says Mile Štrbac, Industrial Asset Class Director at Marera Properties.

More than 200 multinational companies with tens of thousands of employees operate in Serbia’s Free Zones, and their exports make up more than 13% of Serbia’s total exports. Companies operating within the Free Zone are entitled to tax benefits, such as exemption from VAT and customs duties for the import of raw and production materials, export goods, machinery, equipment and construction materials.

“The role and the importance of Free Zones in the economic development of Serbia is great, both on the macro-economic and on the micro-economic level. They allow for conditions for direct foreign investments, increase the chance for products from Serbia to become well established in the international market, and create a favourable business environment,” stated Miloš Pajović, Director of Free Zone Novi Sad.

Pobeda is the only industrial park in the northern part of the country which, in addition to logistical and production capacities, offices storage and office space. Located in the immediate vicinity of Novi Sad, Industrial park Pobeda currently has 110 thousand square meters of production capacities, and 17 hectares of land designated for the construction of new halls. There are 35 established and growing companies operating within the park, whose activities cover the most diverse fields, from processing, to commerce and transportation industry. As of August 2020, Pobeda is a part of the portfolio of Marera Properties, a company engaged in the acquisition, development, leasing and management of commercial real estate properties.

Marera Properties’ project M44 won the prestigious international award Ranko Radović, for the architectural work on reconstructing the office building in Makedonska Street, Belgrade, designed by Remorker Architects.

“The newest effort by the young team from Remorker is the latest in a series of successful reconstructions of theirs in the city’s very centre. In this case, it is primarily the contextuality, minimalism, discipline and consistency of the intervention that this city needs much more, that are captivating. All in all, undoubtedly a valuable contribution to the environment of one of the most popular squares in the heart of the city. It is interesting that the majority of citizens we talked to were not aware that the building at 44 Makedonska was replaced at all. The majority of them see the new building as an ‘old-timer’. The best compliment ever,” expert jury’s exposition reads.

The award is presented by ULUPUDUS, Belgrade Faculty of Architecture, Novi Sad Faculty of Technical Sciences – Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, Institute of Architecture and Urban & Spatial Planning of Serbia, Ilija M. Kolarac Endowment, Belgrade Urban Planning Bureau, WIENERBERGER LLC KANJIŽA, Serbian Chamber of Engineers and Radio-Television of Serbia, and was established with the goal of promoting, developing and affirming architectural work.

“We are immensely proud that another one of our office asset reconstruction projects has been crowned with such an important award, which is presented by our country’s most esteemed institutions. M44 is a modern business centre today, and this award confirms its architectural value,” said Milana Srećkov, CEO of Marera Properties, and added: “This is the second prestigious award that Marera Properties, as the investor, and Remorker Architects, as the author of the architectural solution, won together. We share a common vision with our partners, and we look to our future projects with great enthusiasm.”

In 2018, Belgrade City presented the Architecture and Urban Design Award to Remorker Architects for the reconstruction and adaptation of Trudbenik, a former office building at 79 Bulevar kralja Aleksandra in Belgrade, which is also an investment of Marera Properties.

Marera Properties is a company that invests in the development, leasing and management of commercial real estate properties. The company’s portfolio consists of more than 200,000 m2 of office, retail, and industrial properties throughout the country, which makes it one of the biggest investors on the Serbian real estate market.