A so-called showroom is set to be built – i.e. a facility intended to present the planned Mihajlo Pupin Serbian-Chinese Industrial Park – in Kovilovo.
Construction of the park itself was announced several years ago, and in 2022, a Spatial Plan for an area of special purpose was adopted to support its development, covering around 500 hectares on the left bank of the Danube, near the Zemun–Borča Mihajlo Pupin bridge.
The Mihajlo Pupin Serbia-China Industrial Park Company, in which Guangzhou CRBC Industrial Investment holds a 65% majority stake and the Serbian government the remaining 35%, submitted a request in early April for a temporary building permit to construct a provisional facility – a “showroom” – to be used for presentations and events related to the development of the park. The showroom will be built on plot 548/9 in Kovilovo, which is included in the Spatial Plan for the special-purpose area designated for the project.
Previously, the company had obtained location conditions for the construction of the showroom. After that, it submitted a request for approval to carry out works. However, this request was rejected, as it was determined that a temporary building permit was required for the specific works. Such a request was submitted in early April, and the procedure is still ongoing.
The showroom will consist of four facilities: a reception building, a conference hall building, and parking lots.
Joint venture
The Mihajlo Pupin Serbia-China Industrial Park Company was established in 2020. Guangzhou CRBC Industrial Investment Co. Ltd. holds 65%, while the Republic of Serbia owns 35%. In 2025, the company recorded no operating income, only expenses amounting to approximately 8.7 million dinars, largely spent on wages.
Despite the lack of operating income, the company still reported a profit due to “other” income totalling 19.75 million dinars.
Spatial Plan for special purpose
In October 2022, the Government of Serbia adopted the Spatial Plan for the implementation of the Mihajlo Pupin Serbian-Chinese Industrial Park project. The plan covers an area of 504.2 hectares. According to the plan, the park will be built in part of the Palilula municipality, on the left bank of the Danube, in the immediate vicinity of the Zemun–Borča Mihajlo Pupin bridge.
Most of the land, particularly in the north, is currently used for agriculture. A significant portion belongs to the Agro-Industrial Corporation Belgrade (formerly PKB Corporation Belgrade). The very plot where the showroom will be built is also owned by this corporation.
Industrial complexes and logistics centres
The project envisages the construction of industrial complexes, facilities for commercial and high-tech activities, and logistics centres.
“The aim is that, through the construction of such a complex, production, high-tech development, and trade exchange will be encouraged, forming a regional commercial and industrial hub,” the Spatial Plan states.
The designated area is divided into an International Trade Centre, an Industrial Park, and a High-Tech Park. The maximum gross developed area for economic activities is projected at 1,063,140 square metres, with an estimated 15,239 employees. The plan also highlights the importance of the park’s accessibility and strong connections to all modes of transport.
The Northern Tangent road provides fast access to the right bank of the Danube, where three-quarters of the city’s urban area and potential market are located. It also connects easily to the E-75 and E-70 motorways, linking the complex to the west and south.
The E-70 motorway also provides access to Nikola Tesla Airport. In terms of rail transport, the nearest link is the Zemun passenger and technical station, which connects to the Makiš freight terminal. The main railway station Belgrade Centre in Prokop, is also easily accessible via the E-70. The proximity to the Danube opens up opportunities for future river logistics and connections with Danube-region countries.
Access to the Port of Belgrade is enabled via the Northern Tangent’s connection to Zrenjanin Road and the Pančevo Bridge.
How much has Serbia spent so far?
This year, 80 million dinars have been allocated in the Ministry of Economy’s budget for the project. In 2025, 100 million dinars were earmarked within the Ministry of Domestic and Foreign Trade, although official data on actual spending has not yet been published. In mid-2025, an additional 60 million dinars was transferred from the budget reserve to the Ministry of Economy to cover “missing funds” for the project.
In the 2024 state budget, 83.5 million dinars were allocated, but only 8.3 million were spent. According to the 2025 budget, Serbia had planned to take out a loan of around €139.3 million from Chinese banks for the project, but officially such a loan was not contracted last year.
(Forbes Serbia, 21.04.2026)