Celebrating Leaders of Change: Diplomacy & Commerce Awards Ceremony for 2025 Held

Belgrade 22.04.2025. – In the beautiful setting of the Yugoslav Cinematheque in Belgrade, the 9th anniversary of Diplomacy & Commerce magazine was celebrated in front of numerous guests and friends of the editorial team

As a special segment of the celebration, twenty-three Diplomacy&Commerce awards for 2025 were awarded to individuals, companies and institutions that have made an outstanding contribution to the economic, social and humanitarian development of Serbia. The award winners were decided by an eminent jury consisting of: Marko Čadež, President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce; Vladimir Gak, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Vojvodina; Brankica Janković, Commissioner for the Protection of Equality; Tijana Palkovljević, Manager of the Matica Srpska Gallery; Igor Černiševski, Executive Director of IAB Serbia; Stevan Ristić, Media Association, Milica Pražić, Breweries Association of Serbia, Danijela Popović-Jurić, Red Communications and HRH Princess Ljubica Karađorđević. The guests present at the opening of the event were addressed by Robert Čoban, Director of the magazine “Diplomacy & Commerce”, who presented all the platforms on which the magazine operates as well as its regional coverage, HRH Princess Ljubica Karađorđević and Tatjana Macura, Minister without Portfolio in the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

At the beginning of her presentation, Minister Tatjana Macura thanked the editorial staff of the diplomatic magazine for their persistent cultivation of the culture of dialogue, emphasizing that this is a value that we need more than ever today. “I am particularly proud to emphasize the fact that on such occasions we increasingly meet strong, dedicated and visionary women who are conquering the spaces of business, politics, media, culture and diplomacy. I believe that this is just the beginning of a strong trend, in which women will continue to walk a safe, upward path – towards equality, influence and changes that shape the world,” said Minister Macura. The following awards were presented at the ceremony:

The Diplomacy & Commerce award for the best socially responsible campaign was given to Fitpass and Smart Agency, the award was received by Boris Janačković, Fitpass and Jelena Zvekić, co-founder of Smart Agency. The winners were presented with the award by Mihailo Vesović, on behalf of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce.

The Diplomacy & Commerce award for support for cultural institutions and artists was given to AstraZeneca, on behalf of the company the award was received by Aleksandar Tripković, General Manager for Serbia, and the award was presented to him by Danijela Popović Jurić, RED Communications.

The Diplomacy & Commerce award for humanitarian activity (company) was given to SBB for the project “Humanitarian action – SBB player of the match”. On behalf of the company the award was received by Minja Jugović Janjić, Marketing and Communications Director of SBB, the award was presented to her by Svetlana Kostić from MK group and last year’s laureate.

The Diplomacy & Commerce Award for projects in the field of “green economy and sustainable development” was awarded to the VipPa Group for the project “VipPa EKO Parking Tower”. The award was received by Julijan Graf Drakul, Director and Founder of the VipPa Group, while the award was presented to him by Vladimir Gak, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Vojvodina.

The Diplomacy & Commerce Award for Business Innovation in the Company Category was awarded to the company “OTP banka Srbija” for the project “OTP Junior Card and OTP m-bank application for juniors”. On behalf of the company, the award was received by Ljubiša Egelja, Director of the Marketing and Communications Department of OTP banka Srbija, while the award was presented to him by Nada Filipović, EleveneS.

The Diplomacy & Commerce Award for Business Innovation in the Product Category was awarded to the company Japan Tobacco International for the campaign “Launching PLOOM Devices in Serbia”, on behalf of JTI, the award was received by the Marketing Director for the Western Balkans, Nemanja Pucarević, while the award was presented to him by Igor Černiševski, Executive Director of IAB Serbia and also a member of this year’s Jury for the award ceremony.

The Diplomacy & Commerce award for improving business conditions and the economic environment for small and medium-sized enterprises was awarded to UniCredit Bank for the campaign “UniCredit for Serbia”. The award was received by Svetlana Bunčić, Director of Identity and Communications, UniCredit Bank. Gabriele Ingrosso from the Embassy of Italy in Serbia presented the award to her.

The Diplomacy & Commerce Award for the Promotion of Bilateral Cooperation was awarded to the Babka Gallery from Kovačica, received by Pavel Babka, and presented by H.E. Michal Pavuk, Ambassador of Slovakia to Serbia.

The Diplomacy & Commerce Award for Contribution to the Development of the Local Community and Civil Society was awarded to the JP Gold Gondola Zlatibor. The award was received by the General Director of JP Gold Gondola Zlatibor, Bojana Božanić, while the award was presented by Milica Pražić from the Breweries Association of Serbia.

The Diplomacy & Commerce Award for Best Media Relations in the Institutions Category was awarded to the Belgrade City Museum, received by the Museum Director Jelena Medaković. The award was presented to the winner by Marija Labović, Director of TOS and laureate of the D&C Awards for 2024.

The Diplomacy & Commerce Award for Best Media Relations in the Embassies Category was awarded to the Embassy of Libya in Serbia. On behalf of the Embassy, the award was received by H.E. Mohamed O. A. Ghalboun, Libyan Ambassador to Belgrade, while Danijela Galov Vujević from the Croatian Chamber of Commerce presented the award.

The Diplomacy & Commerce Award for the Promotion of Social Activism was presented to Heineken Serbia for the campaign “Heineken Volunteers: Together We Create a Greener and Cleaner Community”. Biljana Bobić Subin accepted the award on behalf of the company, while Violeta Jovanović from Naled presented the award.

The Diplomacy & Commerce Award for the Most Professional Media Personality was presented to journalist, television producer and presenter Minja MIletić, and the award was presented by Tijana Palkovljević Bugarski, Director of the Matica Srpska Gallery.

The Diplomacy & Commerce Magazine Special Award for the Most Successful Global Socially Responsible Campaign was presented to Generali Osiguranje for the campaign “The Human Safety Net”. On behalf of the company, the award was received by Dragan Filipović, President of the Executive Board of Generali Osiguranje Serbia,and Nataša Đurđević, Director of the Corporate Communications Directorate and Program Director of THSN in Serbia. The award was presented by HRH Princess Ljubica Karađorđević, a member of this year’s Jury for the awards.

The Diplomacy & Commerce Magazine Special Award for the Promotion of Digital Literacy and Education was presented to A1, for the #BoljiOnline platform, and was received on behalf of the company by Predrag Đurković. The award was presented by Željka Ćirić Jakovljević, UniCredit Bank, laureate of the D&C Awards 2024.

The Diplomacy & Commerce magazine special award for excellence in hospitality in the coastal resort category went to Huma Kotor Bay Hotel & Villas, and was received by Board Member Draško Trninić, while the award was presented by Milena Stevović, DHG Holding group, laureate of the D&C Awards 2024.

The Diplomacy & Commerce magazine special award for excellence in hospitality in the mountain resort category went to Chalet Sofija, and was received on behalf of the company by Maja Radin, while the award was presented by Mihailo Vuković, Allegra Cruises, laureate of the D&C Awards 2024.

The Diplomacy & Commerce magazine special award for best luxury concierge and lifestyle management went to Quintessentially Group, and was received by CEO Katarina Larisa Ham. The award was presented by Mihajlo Pavić, NewsMax Balkans.

The Diplomacy & Commerce magazine special award for outstanding lifetime achievement was presented to Hristivoje Milošević, owner and founder of Aleva. The award was presented to him by the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality Brankica Janković.

The Diplomacy & Commerce magazine special award for corporate security was presented to Prof. Dr. Dragan Trivan, for his contribution to the development of corporate security in Serbia. The award was presented to him by Slađana Sredojević from the Association of Serbian Banks.

The Diplomacy & Commerce magazine special award for the most successful greenfield investment in the region and the development of a new city was presented to the company Luštica Bay Montenegro, the award was received by the Marketing Director Ana Zloković. The award was presented by Bojana Knežević from AirSerbia, last year’s laureate.

The Diplomacy & Commerce magazine special award for networking “Miodrag Bogić” went to Niko Laković, Montenegro Sotheby’s International Realty, the award was presented to him by Ervin Pašanović, Adventis Real Estate Management Ltd, last year’s laureate, and Milka Bogić, Miodrag Bogić’s wife.

The Diplomacy & Commerce magazine special award for women leaders in communications was presented to Marija Pasuljević, presented by Dragan Nikolić, editor of Diplomacy & Commerce magazine.