The president of Florida’s largest technology conference, eMerge Americas, TJ Villamil, expressed optimism about growing ties between Serbia and Florida, especially in the IT sector, during the opening of the Select Florida investment agency office in Belgrade and the upcoming direct flight between Belgrade and Miami expected by the end of this year.
Villamil highlighted that both Serbia and Florida are experiencing significant economic transformations and that the timing is ideal to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, and tourism. He emphasized the strategic importance of upcoming global events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Expo 2027 in Belgrade as unique opportunities for collaboration.
As a former director of Select Florida and Florida’s deputy secretary of commerce, Villamil noted that the new office in Belgrade and the direct airline route would serve as vital links to boost tourism, foreign direct investment, and business exchanges. He anticipates that by next year, both Serbia and Florida will have established offices in each other’s markets to further strengthen economic ties.
Villamil praised Serbian IT companies for their excellent global reputation and innovative potential, especially in gaming and virtual reality—areas where Florida also excels. He encouraged Serbian tech firms to leverage Miami’s unique position as a “double gateway” providing access to both the US and Latin American markets, highlighting the significant investor interest at the eMerge conference, which attracts capital from across the US.
He also reflected on how the eMerge conference helped transform Miami into a recognized technology hub, generating billions in venture capital deals in recent years, and expressed confidence that Expo 2027 will similarly boost Serbia’s economic development and global image.
Villamil pledged to support sending a sizable Serbian delegation to next year’s eMerge conference and plans to personally attend Expo 2027 in Belgrade. He described the coming years as a “window of opportunity” for Serbia to capitalize on global technological growth and strengthen its international economic partnerships.
