Vojvodina Prepares to Renew Cooperation Agreement with Almaty Region

Ambassador of Kazakhstan Madi Atamkulov, paid a working visit to the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina.

During the visit, Kazakh diplomat met with the President of the Government of Vojvodina, Maja Gojković, where mutual interest in strengthening cooperation between the two countries through more active interaction between regions and cities was emphasized.

Ambassador highlighted that a dynamic interregional dialogue would contribute to unlocking the partnership's potential in areas such as agriculture, digitalization, logistics, education, and tourism.

M.Gojković confirmed the Serbian side's intention to sign a new cooperation document between Vojvodina and Almaty Region, which will update the agreement signed in 2016, taking into account new opportunities in the economy, investments, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, culture, and sports, among other areas.

Continuing his visit, the Ambassador toured the National Institute of Field Crops and Vegetable Production "NS Seme" in Novi Sad, where he met with its management. The Kazakh diplomat outlined the most pressing issues for domestic seed production, such as the creation of joint hybrids of grain, oilseed, and vegetable crops, as well as organizing internships and preparing scientific personnel for agricultural science.

In turn, the Institute's management highlighted in their presentation of the Institute's activities that establishing cooperation with Kazakhstan is of great interest to "NS Seme," given their previous experience working with several Kazakh agricultural universities and companies. They also confirmed their intention to sign a memorandum of cooperation with the Kazakh National Agrarian Scientific-Educational Center.

The Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is located in the north of Serbia. The administrative center of the province and its largest city is Novi Sad.

Vojvodina is a major agricultural, energy, logistics, and innovation-driven region of Serbia. The province hosts key production facilities, including the oil refinery in Pančevo, the National Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops “NS Seme,” the BioSense Institute – Research and Development Institute for Information Technologies in Biosystems, as well as the Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Serbia. The capital of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, has been designated the European City of Sport for 2026.

According to the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, 90% of the trade between Kazakhstan and Serbia is attributed to Vojvodina (813 million euros).

The Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad (“NS Seme”) was established in 1938. The Institute conducts research in biotechnical sciences, including genetics and breeding, seed production, microbiology, physiology and biochemistry, agrochemistry, soil reclamation, phytopathology, entomology, plant protection and toxicology, among others.

The “NS Seme” sunflower genetic collection is the largest in the world. The Institute supplies around two thousand varieties of seeds to more than 34 countries worldwide.