INTERVIEW Dimitri Kerkentzes: We do not wash the image of the Government through Expo, we investigate every accusation of corruption
Feb 14, 2026
Link to the original article: https://forbes.n1info.rs/novac/intervju-dimitri-kerkentzes-ne-peremo-imidz-vlade-preko-ekspa-ispitujemo-svaku-optuzbu-o-korupciji/
Photo: N1Dimitri Kerkentzes, Secretary General of the International Bureau of Exhibitions (BIE), who entrusted Serbia with the organization of Expo 2027, visited our country a few days ago. As he says, in order to make sure of the developments in the organization, as well as because of the preparation of the second meeting with the participating countries. The previous one, held last year, was marked by a fence around the Sava Center and a smaller protest, but also a large number of delegates . On this occasion, Kerkentzes also gave an interview to N1 and Forbes Serbia.
– In about a month we will have the second meeting of international participants (IPM). I am currently visiting to assess the progress made, help prepare for the next meetings and help the organizer understand what the real concerns are and what issues countries want to raise at the next meeting. There is a big difference between the first and second IPM. At the first one, we presented the world Serbia, Belgrade and the very idea of Expo 2027, with many, of course, very clear ideas about the direction in which we want to lead the project and in which direction the thematic development is going. However, in this second meeting the countries become much more operational, in a sense more technical, because in the coming months they have to start preparing their pavilions, and at home they have to think about their thematic concept and content within their pavilions. So this IPM is crucial to give countries the tools to respond to the call to participate in Expo 2027.
Where are we today when it comes to the organization of the Expo? Are we within the planned deadlines?
I just got back from the construction site. I toured it this morning and I’m really impressed with the progress made. As for the construction itself, I think we will finish everything on time and, more importantly, we will hand over the pavilions to the participating countries on time. It’s always a very important moment, can we do the handover in time to give them as much time as possible to prepare. From that perspective, I think we are on schedule.
Also, I think that the Expo is starting to get its thematic form, not only from the perspective of Serbia, but also from the perspective of the countries that have confirmed participation and are developing their themes and the way they want to present them. It is important to remember that we are not asking the world to come here and all agree on one topic or one direction. We want diversity of opinion. We want different opinions on the topic of “Game(s) for Humanity”, and that is what I want Serbia to enable them to express their position, so that countries can shape their own views and show that diversity within the Expo.
When we look at the budget and figures, we see that by the end of December, only 86% of the budget earmarked for construction in 2025 had been spent. In November, it was slightly more than 60%. Does this indicate that the site is being built without anyone being paid or that payments are late? Did you ask that question?
I did not ask that question, because so far we have not heard from the International Bureau of Exhibitions that there is any concern. Now that I know that, maybe I can ask today while I’m here, just to understand the reasons. I hope the budget is unused because we managed to save money. Let’s not forget that the world moves in both directions. During the construction of Osaka 2025 in Japan, the world was going in a completely different direction, inflation and raw material prices skyrocketed. Every country that planned a certain budget suddenly had to plan at least 20% more for their pavilion.
That’s why I hope that with the improvement of the geopolitical situation, costs will also decrease, but we certainly have to be fiscally responsible. This applies to all events, not just mega events. Everything we do in life must be fiscally responsible. That’s why there must always be an explanation – both when we spend more and when we spend less than planned. I know we at BIE always like to spend less and save money, but really, that’s something to look into. I did not notice any problems at the construction site. I was there this morning and saw thousands of workers and trucks constantly moving. It seems like an extremely active construction site, I haven’t seen such and so much activity in a long time. I guess that hustle and bustle is felt more because the location is relatively small.
Ticket price for Expo
What will be the price of the Expo ticket? Did you get that information from the authorities?
I know the authorities are working on the final price. Determining the price of a ticket is always a delicate matter. On the one hand, tickets are one of the main incomes of the Expo and one of the ways to recover part of the money spent. At the same time, you must always make sure that the price is neither too high nor too low. We have seen both cases at previous exhibitions. It also happened that the prices were set too early, regardless of the current economic situation in the country, region or world, depending on the expected number of tourists, so the price changed in the early phase of the Expo. Of course, we want as many visitors as possible, but part of the fiscal responsibility of responsibility is also setting the appropriate price.
According to our information, a price of around 30 euros was considered. What do you think, is it affordable for citizens of Serbia?
I think it’s a fair price for Europe. I know that in Japan the ticket was much more expensive. What we need to take into account, and what is very important, is that 30 euros is the price of one ticket. But what I want to work on with the organizers is the introduction of different packages, family tickets, three-day tickets with a lower price per day and the like. There are many ways to get creative with ticketing to ensure a deal for everyone. Also, we had exhibitions with special prices for certain groups of people, such as people with disabilities or veterans.
So it’s not just about one fixed price. It’s not as simple as one fixed price. In the end, when the final report comes out in a month or two for Osaka, for example, you’ll realize that the price of a day ticket is usually the least important item, because people generally buy season tickets, 3-day tickets, weekly tickets or family packages, if they’re on offer. There must be a smart offer of different price categories.
What was the ratio of domestic and foreign visitors at previous exhibitions?
It varies from one Expo to another. I can give you some brief information. For Osaka, we will get the final report soon, but I know that there were about five to six percent foreigners. Statistics I’ve seen say between five and 10 percent. We will see the final number, but I think there were 5-6% foreign guests. On the other hand, the Dubai Expo had the majority of international visitors, not local ones. A typical number ranges from eight to 12 percent of foreign visitors, unless you are talking about a country like the UAE, which has a huge airport and a large number of people in transit. On the other hand, we have noticed that this percentage is usually increasing in Europe.
Why? Because we are still a small continent, so the distances between the countries are not that great. So here we could see the arrival of visitors, for example, from other European countries, whether they come from the east, from the central part or from the west. I believe we will see great economic growth in tourism. For example, when we say five out of six percent in Japan, that doesn’t sound like much, yet one of the reports from Osaka Prefecture, for example, showed that Osaka saw a growth of about 20 percent in tourism spending during the Expo. Therefore, even a small percentage of growth in foreign guests can have a huge economic impact on the city and region.
Lex specialis and building security
I have to go back to the lex specialis. Last year, the Serbian authorities changed the law and did not give up on the idea of using buildings without a use permit. Has this issue been raised again with the authorities and what explanations have you received?
This issue was raised not only before the authorities but also before the BIE Executive Committee. We received many letters of complaint on the subject, even one that was signed online by I think about 100,000 people. Not that we don’t consider it. In fact, I’m quite sure it’s still being worked on in many capitals around the world. It is important to remember that a large number of international staff from all over the world will come to work and live here during the Expo. The issue of construction safety is therefore not only an issue for Serbia, but also for 130 participating countries, whose personnel will work here and who do not want any accidents to happen to them here. They don’t want anything to happen to their staff and can become very demanding because of this.
I had an Expo where an accident happened during construction. This was followed by enormous pressure from the international community to ensure the safety of the other buildings, to confirm that this was an isolated incident where something went wrong. That’s why I promise you one thing: the states and the BIE are examining this very carefully. The question always arises: what is a license to use? What is a building permit? Each country has different procedures. The fact that there is a lex specialis, which may change the occupancy permit or not require it, does not mean that the facility has not undergone some kind of inspection to check for safety. In many cases, I am also part of those inspections.
Is that enough for you?
What we need is a technical inspection to make sure that every building is safe to use. That’s for sure.
Are you taking too much risk with Serbia?
I wouldn’t say. I don’t think the countries think that we are taking too much of a risk either. We discussed this in at least two meetings of the Executive Committee. We have considered everything in detail. I asked many countries to tell me what they expect and how they would approach it. There is the issue of technical and bureaucratic security. We have to find the right balance there. If I give you an example, and I don’t want to cite other cases, but…
When will you conclude that everything is safe? The expo is approaching.
I agree. But I think that, for example, at this IPM you will see that many countries will ask more detailed questions about the technical feasibility of each building, about the final technical realization and about the structural integrity of the buildings. I repeat, this is not about risking the lives of people in Serbia and that we don’t care. Everyone sends people. I will send staff to the Expo who will live here for three months. I want to make sure my staff is safe. Of course we’ll get through it. We have to go step by step. We need to continue to deal with it, not only at the IPM but also within the Executive Committee. And the authorities in Serbia must be able to answer every question that a member state can ask them, and believe me, there are many. And new questions keep coming up. It is not a closed topic.
What you have heard from the authorities so far is…
So far, everyone, including me, is convinced that we are on the right track. But, as you said, at the end comes the technical review. This is what we must ensure and properly understand. Who will do the inspection? What guarantees will they give? What kind of certificates will they issue? We understand that these are temporary indoor facilities, the French, the Greek, the American pavilion… these are all temporary facilities. Of course, we know that. Temporary walls separating the countries will also be erected, and then they too will disappear. But the construction itself around that shell must be safe and there is no room for error.
I will tell you one thing. I have been in BIE for 23 years. There has never been an accident with more serious consequences, that someone died or that more damage was caused. Were there any cases? At one Expo, a part of the sign fell off and, unfortunately, hit a visitor. He didn’t kill him, but he hurt him. He had to be hospitalized, but was released the same day. I also had an Expo where a worker on the false roof of a building took a wrong step, fell and died. It was not a design flaw, but an unfortunate mistake that we all deeply regret. Of course, such accidents are possible, but nothing has ever collapsed with fatal consequences at the Expo. We will work together to ensure that this does not happen in Serbia either.
Consulting and marketing
You mentioned cost transparency. We are still waiting for Expo’s 2025 financial report, so we can only analyze 2024. Most of the funds were spent on consulting and marketing. I’m not saying it’s illegal, but in the business world you raise suspicion when you spend a lot on consulting and marketing while working with public money. Have you asked the authorities that question?
Unfortunately, marketing is a part of our lives and it’s something we have to work on a lot. We want to attract interest in Serbia and Belgrade. If you spend over a billion of public funds to put together a project like Expo, you have to make sure that during those three months of Expo 2027, Serbia and Belgrade are the center of the world – that everyone watches and listens to what is happening here, just as Osaka was the center of the world during the six months of the exhibition. For that, of course, you need a marketing budget. You also need consultants. That is true.
Many who have known me for a long time know that I am not a big fan of all those consulting companies that promise that they are experts in everything and can solve every problem. I have not yet met such a person. I don’t even think I can solve every single problem. But it is an internal matter, so it is up to the state, Expo, the government and the people to examine and check whether these are normal expenditures.
There are countries that do not spend much on consulting, but there are also countries where almost 90 percent of the people hired are consultants. Each country has a different way of spending money on such projects. Yeah, I’m not a big fan of consulting. I think they have a lot of use in accounting and certain specific issues, but I’ve noticed lately that consultants believe they’re experts on every possible subject, regardless of what you actually do.
And that’s where I have a problem, because even though I’ve been at BIE for 23 years, it doesn’t occur to me to go around and say that I’m the best and the only expert for the Expo. We must listen to other people’s opinions. We have to listen to people. I am very glad that the consultants you mention are actually Serbian consultants, because in order for the project to really have an impact on the host country, it is best if most of the people who work on it and give ideas are local experts.
Another question about money. Have other countries heavily subsidized hotel construction and renovation? Here we have subsidies whose beneficiaries are companies, some of which work on public projects or are linked to the government. And now their investment costs in hotels that are not built just for the Expo are significantly reduced. How do you look at it?
I will tell you honestly. You can’t build hotels just for the Expo, because if you do that, you’re left with useless expensive facilities. I hope that every hotel or restaurant that is built will have its own life after the Expo. One of the most important things when it comes to Expo is its legacy, what it leaves to the residents of that city and country. You have to ensure… We have had many cases. You mentioned the hotel, for example. I can tell you that in Zaragoza, Spain, in 2008, a hotel was built right next to the Expo site for VIP delegations and guests. It was connected to the Expo, which made it easy to access. But those hotels must find their purpose after the exhibition, because the Expo has its end. We have to make sure that… if you build 50 new hotels in Belgrade, and this is the number I memorized…
Hotel Subsidization
Yes, but you’ve reduced their hotel costs by, say, 20 percent. Is that a lot? It sounds like a lot.
And it is a lot. But I also hope that by cutting costs by 20 percent you’re actually investing in the future and the future trade it will bring. The fact is that the Expo will create a greater incentive in the region for Serbia and Belgrade even after the exhibition itself. You see, one of the things I’m working on – and not only with Belgrade but also with Riyadh for the year 2030 – is the question: what do you offer after that? Let’s say, in your case, you say you’re cutting their costs by 20 percent. I know of other cases of Expo where land for hotel construction was given for free.
In that case, that land was probably worth a lot more than that 20 percent investment in the hotel, but the idea was to stimulate it, to encourage the growth of the country after the exhibition. I have one big question. It’s something I keep working on and keep coming back to. You invest a lot in infrastructure. We see a train. It makes sense to provide some kind of public transport leading to the Expo site. I see that in the candidates who are thinking about running for the future Expo. Just in December, I was in a country where we discussed the extension of the railway line and even the construction of a metro line. I asked them a simple question. I said, “Of course, the train will be extremely useful for the Expo, but what will happen to it after the Expo?”.
Because you can’t build a railway or a hotel, and later wonder why they are abandoned, why there is no longer a demand for them. If we cannot use this event, costs and investments to start a new way in which Belgrade will attract investments and visitors, then we must think about what is really necessary for the Expo, and what for the period after it. The two must go hand in hand. One of my rules today – when a city or country comes and says, “We’re thinking about Expo 2035″… I say, “Great. First tell me what’s going to happen in 2036, then we’ll work backwards.” Because that’s what people want to see. It is fiscal responsibility that we must demonstrate.
We may spend a lot of money, but what are the benefits? That’s why I want you to see the Japanese internal audits and reports in a few months when they’re done. Late last year, in December, a private think-tank in Japan did a major study on the economic impact… not on Osaka, but on the Japanese economy. And what they discovered, which is an independent center… and I don’t know when they worked on it… is 16.9 billion euros of investment in the region and a great impact on the Japanese economy. I mean, that’s the economy of Japan and I want to see that…
But it’s a world Expo, not a specialized…
It is not specialized, but you know that 158 countries participated in the World Expo. We are now at about 130, a little more. I don’t want to bid on a number, because what I consider confirmed and what others consider confirmed are often different. But let’s say it’s 130, the impact isn’t that different. The world is still there. That’s what made the impact, what brought people to the Expo. It’s not that it was a world exhibition. Is it six months or three months? Of course, in three months you have a smaller, limited impact. I do not expect you to make an impact of 16.9 billion euros on the Serbian economy. Besides, Serbia is not Japan. But I expect that if Japan could make almost 160 million euros in profit…
Will we be profitable?
I sincerely hope so. I will be very disappointed if you are not at least at zero. I always say that the Expo is not designed to be profitable in its operation, but a well-run Expo must cover its costs. That is crucial.
The issue of corruption
Let’s conclude this part about money. I will ask you a direct question. Are you sure that there is no corruption in the Expo project?
I’m just sure that we’re constantly investigating every allegation and we have to continue to use the mandate that the BIE has, which doesn’t allow us to go into local legislation and do that type of inspection. But we have to continue to pay attention to it, because corruption, unfortunately, is something that we see everywhere in the world. This is not a problem only in Serbia. I understand…
Have you discussed this with the authorities?
Very open. Very openly, in order to give our member states the right explanations, because I have to protect…
Did you get them?
To the questions I have asked so far… Yes, I received satisfactory explanations about certain tenders and how the public procurement procedure works. I fully understand that for a mega project like this we need a lex specialis. I would point to the fact that France had a special law for the Summer Olympics, and just a few weeks ago it adopted the lex specialis for the Winter Olympics as well. What does that mean? Changes are being made in public procurement procedures to enable construction, temporary facilities and the like. There are…
I looked it up. They accelerated the process of issuing permits, but did not cancel the use permits. Am I right?
Yes, no, you’re right. You are right. But what I want to make clear is that each country, as we said at the beginning, has its own way of working. I want to understand what is the difference between the technical acceptance of the buildings – when the building is technically inspected – and the use permit? Because I know that in some countries, I won’t name them, and I think it’s the same in Serbia, that second part, the use permit, doesn’t actually involve any inspections on the buildings themselves.
It is a long bureaucratic procedure: visiting various offices, without going out into the field and checking what has actually been built and whether it complies with the construction rules. In France, as far as I know, the occupancy permit is not part of the bureaucracy, but a key technical review with teams from different fields, including construction, because the construction company has to explain to you what they did, but also the independent bodies that issue the certificate. We need a certificate that we can trust, a legally valid certificate that confirms that the building is safe. That’s what we need. We must separate what is related to security from what is pure bureaucracy. Unfortunately, in too many countries around the world, bureaucracy is suffocating us.
Yes, but that’s not an excuse.
I don’t think that’s an excuse. I think we have a technical specification here that we have to follow. At the end of the process there must be a certificate confirming that the object is safe for use. That’s what the states will be looking for. Wait a few weeks to see what questions they get on the IPM. You will see for yourself there, because I hope you will be there like last time.
A view of Serbia in Europe
Has anything changed in the BIE perspective regarding Serbia from November 1, 2024? Are you following what EU officials are discussing now regarding Serbia?
Yes, I even just attended dinners with EU officials at the Embassy of Serbia and we talked. We are familiar with the positions of the EU and the European Parliament. I follow all the documents they publish. We have received many reports. We received many reports from Serbia as well, from groups of citizens. One thing I want to say: it is very important for us to get those reports. It is also important for us to hear the views and doubts of the citizens of Serbia. But I would also like to remind you that many EU countries have already confirmed their participation. So, on the one hand, we have what is written or said in Brussels, and on the other hand, we see that France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain and many other countries have already confirmed their participation and are actively working to be here.
That’s why I have to ask myself, my member states are country by country, not a political group. So the EU has something to say. I understand that. I want to hear it. They have a very specific view of things. At the same time, national governments still come and will be present. I have to be honest. I agree that you will have the greatest impact on change if you come and be present. No matter what you believe, you have to be there. You know the famous words of the Washington Post that democracy dies in darkness. You cannot hide when 130 countries live here and invest their own public funds in Serbia.
You mentioned corruption earlier. These are public funds from 130 countries that will invest in Serbia. Don’t you think that they also have certain concerns, that they want to be sure where their money is going, especially considering that most of those funds will be spent on Serbian companies here, for construction, logistics and the like?
It is a political decision to participate.
It’s a political decision, but it’s also something you have to defend at home when you’re asked: “You, as country X, spent six million. Where did that money go?”. You have to justify it.
Have they all confirmed participation, all 130 countries?
From what I have seen so far, I have over 120 official confirmations of participation.
So, not everyone?
But the others, apparently, have already sent verbal notes. It takes time to go through the procedure. I don’t think we’re done. During the last few months, I visited several countries, two of which told me: “In the next week or two, we will probably make a decision to come to Serbia.” I think there will be more. I don’t know if we will exceed 130 or 131 countries, but that is also possible.
BIE has received calls from various groups to cancel Expo 2027. How did you respond to them?
You see, if Serbia was the only country where we organize the Expo, and where we received calls for cancellation, my life would be very simple. Unfortunately, it is part of almost every Expo. Canceling the Expo because of calls like that…actually, I love those calls. I love the fact that people want to discuss, that they are not convinced, because part of our job is to convince them. But you saw in Japan: two years before the Expo itself, public opinion was completely against the event. When the earthquake happened in Notto and destroyed almost the entire city, voices were heard: “Cancel the Expo, use that money to rebuild Notto,” but the government moved on.
For two years, I fought in the media to remind them that the Japanese love the Expo, that this Expo is very important to the world, that the household benefits, and that we understand that they are in the midst of inflation and cost of living problems. Calls for cancellation were much louder in Japan than in Serbia. We continued on. The day it was opened – and I still say this and I told all my journalist friends in Japan, because through two years of struggle we gained mutual respect and became friends – I suddenly asked them: “Wait a minute, they won, and now you only say positive things?”. They replied, “Yes, but the Expo has an impact.”
You say that there are people who are against it – and I agree, but that’s how it should be. I wouldn’t believe anyone who tells me that 100 percent of the country wants to do this. I’d say he’s lying. I would say, “There’s something wrong,” because if there’s no opposition, if there’s no one who doesn’t see things the same way as you and I, for example, then there’s something wrong. When I see that there is opposition, it just gives me extra energy to prove what this event is supposed to bring and see what the attitudes will be. Milan Expo is almost…
But the issues raised are very serious…
I completely agree, but that’s why we have to consider every item presented and try to pass it through the system we have in BIE, in order to ensure the best possible outcome and make sure that we don’t have a problem with corruption and bad management. I wish I could tell you that this has never happened at any Expo. In Milan, for example, in addition to the hundreds of thousands of people who protested against Expo, there was a whole movement called: “No Expo”. Of course, today, after the exhibition, everyone adores him.
The impact the Expo had on the city, the way it changed Milan, the way it brought it greater international visibility. The director of the Milan Expo became the mayor of Milan, because the project was so successful that even its opponents subsequently saw how positive it was. It was the same in Japan. But you mentioned corruption. I would like Serbia to be the only country where I have to worry about corruption, but it’s not like that. In Italy, ahead of the preparations, the government had to appoint a special judge to oversee every single public procurement, to avoid corruption scandals, because someone was caught selling contracts to friends.
A good idea for the Serbian government…
Not a bad idea.
Disagreement with Siniša Mali
I assume you won’t publicly criticize the government, but have you ever had a difficult conversation with them? And about what?
I don’t like the assumption that I won’t publicly criticize the government, because I’ve done that before. And the host government, although maybe not yours yet.
Yes, but I’m talking about our government.
I know. Give me time. But I’ll be honest with you. I think I had some difficult conversations with the government these days. I had difficult conversations with people from Expo and with people in the government, because this is important. This is a question of the image of the Expo itself. This is an event… Yes, it’s not just Serbia. Both BIE and the image of Expo are at stake. This is a problem we had with many other exhibitions as well, where we had to ensure that the image of the Expo would be correct.
Maybe in the future you will have an Expo in a country that has a very negative image. What I want is for people to understand that we are using the Expo as a way to transform the country and create a better but true image of it. From all these events, I realized that if you want to highlight a problem or a disagreement you have in your own country, there is nothing better than bringing 120 or 130 countries to live and work in it. They understand that.
Do you think you are not “washing” the image of the government?
No, I hope not. So far I can tell you that we are not doing that and we will continue to do so. We will monitor the situation. I am not here to serve a government. I am here to serve the Expo, which is 184 governments. Not all of those governments… Maybe within the BIE there are countries that are very close to your government and some that are not at all. There are many of them here, one and the other. I’m not here to improve her image and I’m certainly not here to be a spokesperson for the Serbian government.
I just want a good Expo for the citizens of Serbia. I want the Serbian people to tell me what they agree with and what they don’t. I want the Expo to become a place of discussion about the future of this country, the region and the world, and that is only possible if you have an open discussion. I have no problem listening to opinions contrary to the government’s in the office. It helps me to try to work with 184 countries to ensure that this project is properly targeted. And I won’t stop there.
I have to ask you again. What issues has BIE not yet resolved with the Government of Serbia?
I think that right now one of the issues that the Executive Committee insisted on is that we know that the Expo project is worth 1 to 1.3 billion euros. As you know, I may have already mentioned it to you, I do not agree at all with the government’s attempt to tie another 18 billion euros of other investments to it. You said that I did not criticize the government. I don’t know if it’s a criticism or not, but I know that the last time in Serbia, when the Minister of Finance was standing next to me in front of the media, I said – and I don’t know how he received it – that we can’t do it that way.
We cannot connect 18 billion euros of investments in the country with one project, because in that case it is not an issue only for Serbia. All future Expo events become meaningless. There is no way you can justify that kind of investment in a project like this. Should the Expo help the country accelerate its development? Yes, of course. We must hope that they do so in a sensible, financially responsible manner. I’m not saying that Expo shouldn’t be a catalyst that raises the question: “Why should Belgrade get everything, why shouldn’t other cities also get something?”.
Today, for example, I asked… you know, there is a sector for international participants, and between that and the stadium you have the Best Practices Zone. These are temporary, small objects that will have different purposes during the Expo. I asked what would happen to them later, and I was glad to hear that these buildings – since they are prefabricated – will be dismantled and turned into schools in other cities, libraries and even gymnasiums. It is interesting that they have already thought about gyms for the future. It’s in keeping with the “Game” theme, but for me it’s something very positive.
What was temporarily built for the Expo will be dismantled and rebuilt in another city in Serbia, as a school. However, I criticized the part: “No, you can’t”. And I said that at the meeting of the Executive Committee, which agreed with me. You cannot connect 18 billion euros of investments with the Expo project. We can only hope that the Expo has stimulated the necessary investments – I hope that they are really necessary investments across the country. I think every country needs investment and development, but you can’t link them like that. I can’t defend that, and that’s why I’m telling you that I’m not here to be a spokesperson for any government, but to make sure we’re picking the right battles. And this was a battle that never made sense to me. When someone asked me how we justify 18 billion euros of investment for the Expo, I was very direct: “I don’t justify it, I can’t and I don’t accept it.”
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The theme of the Expo is game, sport. Serbia has Nikola Jokic, Serbia has Novak Djokovic, and the promoter is Jackie Chan. How weird is that?
And it is and it is not strange. I would look at it from two perspectives. I think Novak Djokovic is world famous. Even recently at the Australian Open, entering the final, he showed that he does not stop regardless of his age. I follow tennis carefully myself, because my son is an avid tennis player. But this is an international event. The point is not just to present Serbia. I think we know the international side of Serbia. As a Greek, I know that we both have a great love for basketball. There is always that rivalry, but I know Serbian basketball players who played in Greek teams.
You probably have two of the most famous NBA players right now. But what we really need is a big international appeal. The NBA is very popular in the US. Tennis is internationalized. I hope that Mr. Djokovic will see what this Expo can do for the country, and I think he is interested in what he can offer Serbia and Belgrade. But I understand that you have to attract an international audience, and who better to do that than a Hollywood actor?
Yes, but he’s a veteran.
He’s a veteran, but we’re not talking about age. And Usain Bolt is a veteran, but that’s Usain Bolt. World record holder.
He made six or seven Tiktok videos and that’s it?
Do you know how much influence Tiktok has on my kids?
What would be the success of Expo 2027 from your perspective?
For me, it’s a multi-dimensional thing. Success would be economic responsibility and an Expo that is operationally at zero, or even made a profit. I don’t think it’s always easy to make a profit, certainly not the Japanese 160 million. Milano was in the range of 14 to 20 million euros of operating profit. That would make me very happy, because I think the cost discussion has been going on for a long time, so it would be nice to have something positive to show, but at least break even.
Secondly, I think it’s important to have a really big international participation after Osaka and the importance that the event has gained because of the geopolitical context that the world is in today – where everyone is lost. Friends are no longer friends. Enemies suddenly become friends. We don’t know what will happen, every morning we wake up and ask what the news will be that day. Osaka proved that at the Expo we can silence the noise and focus on what we want to work on together.
That was a great success and legacy of Osaka, and I am convinced that this is one of the reasons why so many countries want to participate in the Expo and be in Serbia. Even a lot of what you mentioned – how the country is perceived, how its government is viewed… I think that’s why they want to be here. Everyone wants to participate, give their voice and show that the world can be united, and even if it happens, as you say, in a country where people sometimes doubt or question the legitimacy of the way everything is done.
So I think it will be a very big success for me if we can bring the world together the way we did in Osaka, because unfortunately the world hasn’t gotten better since then. And I’m sorry to say it, but it just seems to be getting worse. I hope this is something we can use to bring the world at least a little closer, even if it’s only for three months, because it still has an impact. We saw it in Osaka, Japan understood it, and the world understood it. And finally, I hope that everyone will have the opportunity to visit the exhibition, especially the citizens of Serbia, in order to see what so much controversy was about.
In Japan, the discussion lasted for two years, and they already know the Expo. Serbia does not know Expo. The Japanese were against Osaka, knowing what the Expo can bring to their country, as they have already hosted five times. You have never hosted, so I want it to be a special experience for the citizens of Serbia. After all, I also want to hear their opinion, because for me that is one of the biggest measures of success – whether the project will be popular and accepted when it is finished.