Statement of the Trade Union Organization "AD Novi Sad Fair" and the Association of Small Shareholders

Regarding the position of the participant of the panel held as part of the Kopaonik Business Forum 2026, who publicly stated that the Novi Sad Fair has died, but that no one has yet informed them, the Trade Union Organization for Several Employers AD "Novi Sad Fair" and "Fair of Techniques" as well as the Association of Small Shareholders of AD "Novi Sad Fair" issue the following statement:

Not only are these words untrue, but they are a direct insult to all of us who have been building this house for decades.

We believe that it is extremely irresponsible to talk about an institution with a tradition of more than a century in this way. The Novi Sad Fair is not just a building or a company – it has been an economic and social symbol of Novi Sad, Vojvodina and the Republic of Serbia since 1923. This is not about some kind of "personal attitude", but about an attempt to humiliate generations of workers who have created a brand recognized throughout Europe with their sweat.

While some are just trying to build their own reputation, our fair has a whole century of history behind it. We have survived wars and crises, different state communities, always remaining the main meeting place of the world economy and science. It is true that these are not the best times for us, we have survived the corona and stormy weather and great damage to buildings, we are not a budget company, but we live on our own income, but despite everything, we survive and do not give up as easily as some would hope.  Our International Agricultural Fair is not a coincidence in Novi Sad – it is the heart of Vojvodina and the engine of agricultural development in the entire region. It's a fact that can't be erased.
Especially regarding the insinuations about the relocation of the fair, we would like to point out that the International Agricultural Fair, which is traditionally held within the Novi Sad Fair, is inextricably linked with Vojvodina as one of the most important agricultural regions in this part of Europe. That is why Novi Sad has become a natural meeting place for agricultural activities, producers, experts and institutions from the country and the world over the decades.
In international fair practice, it is a well-known rule that the most important agricultural events arise and develop precisely in environments that have a strong agrarian tradition and production. For this reason, the importance and identity of the International Agricultural Fair are inextricably linked to Novi Sad and Vojvodina, where this event has grown over the decades into one of the most recognizable agricultural fairs in the region.
As it was said a long time ago: society is an alliance of those who came before us, those of us who are here today, and those who are yet to come. The Novi Sad Fair is exactly that – an imperishable value that no statements can shake. We continue to work because our history and the trust of the people are worth more than any cheap PR headline.

It is rightly said that a man is judged not only by his deeds, but also by his words.
As Socrates used to say: "Speak, so that I may see you."
History has shown many times that institutions that have arisen and developed through the work of generations are not determined by individual statements or transient polemics. Their value is confirmed by time, results and the trust of the people who have built them for decades – but each statement says a lot about the person who says it.