We believe Serbia can achieve so much more

The students have reminded us how much this country can achieve when people come together around a common goal. They walked from town to town, helped one another and stood firm in their demand that institutions do their job. They have shown solidarity, responsibility and perseverance. Serbia has not seen a generation like this in its recent history: talented, courageous and determined, clear about what it wants and what it will not accept. This is a generation seeking to stay and make its country better, rather than leave. In them, we see the strength to move Serbia forward.

Those of us who have built companies and teams know how much these qualities matter to success. The companies we have founded, lead or invested in employ thousands of people in Serbia and around the world. We know from experience what enables people to create and economies to grow. That is why we see the students' call for a country with functioning institutions as the foundation for the Serbia we believe in.

We believe in a Serbia where people can earn a decent living. A Serbia where wages cover food, bills and housing, with enough left over to save, take a holiday and provide for our children's future; where pensions offer security and dignity. Building that Serbia requires successful businesses, lasting jobs and responsible management of public finances. We earn our wages through work and our pensions through years of work and contributions. The security of those incomes must rest on a strong economy and dependable institutions, whoever is in power.

We believe in a Serbia that creates secure, well-paid jobs. The students' demand that institutions do their job matters to everyone who works for a living. Farmers, tradespeople and large companies alike need clear rules, contracts they can rely on and institutions they can trust. The rule of law and legal certainty give people the confidence to invest, hire and plan for the long term. Permits should be issued on time, disputes resolved in court and contracts awarded to those offering the best quality and price. That confidence encourages investment in production, equipment and people. Greater competition keeps unjustified price increases in check, while increased production lays the groundwork for higher wages.

We believe in a Serbia that succeeds on the world stage through knowledge. The people we work with and learn from are already achieving success. Yet so many of our best-educated and most accomplished people are creating value far from home. We must bring them back so they can put their talents to work here, in their own country. We want many more people to have the opportunity to succeed here. That requires good schools, strong universities and collaboration between research and industry. A country that wants to succeed in an age shaped by knowledge cannot be in conflict with its own universities. Branding universities, students and professors as enemies of the state takes us in the wrong direction and puts our shared future at risk. Knowledge and technology enable us to produce more, improve quality, compete in demanding markets and pay people better. Progress and results depend on the freedom to propose different solutions and the willingness to listen.

We believe in a government that uses public money to improve people's lives. Tax revenues should translate into accessible medical appointments, well-equipped schools, reliable supplies of safe water and cleaner air. Every major investment must have a clear purpose, a reasonable cost and people who are accountable for delivering it. We know from experience that success requires a capable team, good organisation and rigorous evaluation of results. Public institutions and public money should be managed with the same responsibility, discipline and transparency.

We believe in a Serbia where people can plan for the future. A good job, an affordable home and enough nursery places give people the freedom to make decisions about their own lives. A country that works well gives people reasons to stay and reasons to return. That is what our country's development should achieve: the opportunity to fulfil our ambitions, start a family and live well here.

We believe Serbia must seize this moment. The world is undergoing one of the greatest transformations of our lifetime. Geopolitics is unstable, countries and economies are under strain, and artificial intelligence is reshaping the labour market and how value is created. We work in the industries driving these changes. We know that the countries that navigate them successfully will emerge as winners, perhaps permanently. Serbia is not ready to meet this moment. The same people have been deciding its future for decades. They have had both the time and the opportunity, yet Serbia has not emerged as a winner. Yesterday's answers cannot solve tomorrow's challenges.

The students have inspired a movement that has brought people together across the country. In the candidates they have chosen, we see the expertise and ability to lead us towards the Serbia we believe in. They are the people who will make it happen. All they need is an opportunity, and it is up to us to give them one. We are ready to contribute our experience, our work and our investment.

For all these reasons, we support the Student List, number 3, and will vote for it on Sunday. The first step towards the Serbia we believe in is a simple one. On 25 October, go to the polls, circle number 3 on your ballot and join us.