Participation in the International Scientific Conference “Opportunities and Perspectives of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises During and After the Covid-19 Pandemic”

Organized by the International University in Novi Pazar and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, with the support of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, the International Scientific Conference on the topic “Opportunities and Perspectives of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises During and After the Covid-19 Pandemic” was held on 27 March 2021.

Due to the pandemic, the conference was held online. On behalf of the organizers, the conference was addressed by the Rector of the International University in Novi Pazar, Prof. Dr. Suad Bećirović, and MSc Slobodanka Džinović Kojić, Head of the Entrepreneurship Office at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia.

The conference participants were also addressed by panelists Dr. Stana Božović, State Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Veterans’ and Social Affairs; Katarina Obradović Jovanović, Assistant Minister of Economy; MSc Amer Bukvić, President of the Management Board of Bosna Bank International; Mila Litvinjenko, owner of AURA Cosmetics; and Prof. Dr. Enis Ujkanović, Manager of the SME Sector at the EU PRO Development Programme of the United Nations Office for Project Services.

Also participating in the conference was Assistant Professor Dr. sc. Aldin Dugonjić, Head of the Centre for Halal Quality Certification, who presented a paper titled: “Halal as an Opportunity for Faster Recovery in the ‘New Normal’.” Among other points, the Head stated that the halal market represents new opportunities and chances for the growth and development of small and medium-sized enterprises, and that the halal industry is growing regardless of the pandemic. According to research conducted among producers with halal certificates in Croatia—which can essentially be extrapolated to the entire region—all indicators suggest that the halal market and the increasing demand for halal products have an extremely high potential to influence a faster recovery and further economic growth.

On the other hand, due to the size of the market and the limitations of human, financial, and production resources, it is necessary for producers to join clusters with state support and to carry out joint coordinated activities on the market in order to exploit the extremely large opportunities of the halal market.

At the end of the conference, conclusions were adopted that will be sent to all relevant stakeholders dealing with small and medium-sized enterprises in the country and in the countries of the region.