City of Kragujevac – the first capital of modern Serbia

City of Kragujevac is the administrative, economic, cultural, historical, university and health center of Sumadija region.With 180,000 people that live in Kragujevac, it is the 4^th biggest city in Serbia. It is located in the central part of Serbia, 140km south of Belgrade. Kragujevac was the first capital of modern Serbia from 1818. to 1839, where in 1835. was proclaimed the first constitution in the Balkans.

Kragujevac has been an important industrial and trading center of Serbia for more than two centuries. The city is known for its automotive and firearms industry.

Economy

The economic structure is relatively diversified, with the great importance of manufacturing industry, agriculture and the service sector. In manufacturing, the most significant share is for the automotive industry, defense industry, furniture industry, food complex, etc.

The auto industry has traditionally been a distinctive part of the economy of Kragujevac. With the arrival of Fiat and the formation of a joint venture of the Government of Serbia and the Italian giants, the construction of modern factories, there is a re-industrialization of the city and increase employment.

Wholesale and retail is the next most common activity, followed by food, textile, while others are less present as well, mainly at the level of entrepreneurship and small businesses.

The main companies  already doing business in Kragujevac are FIAT, JOHNSON CONTROLS AUTOMOTIVE, MAGNETI MARELLI, ZASTAVA ORUZJE, SIGIT, PMC AUTOMOTIVE, WACKER NEUSON, VIATOR&VEKTOR, RAPP MARINE, HÖDLMAYR, NELT, METRO Cash & Carz, Tempo, Mercator, Plaza Center, Delta, VIP, DIS, etc.

Infrastructure

With its central position on the map of Serbia, Kragujevac has very good road connections. The high-way Belgrade-Lapovo-Batocina-Kragujevac (E-75 – Koridor 10), regional roads Kragujevac-Topola-Belgrade.

Distance from airports to Kragujevac is the following :“Nikola Tesla “ Belgrade  - 160 km, “Konstantin Veliki” Niš - 140 km, future regional airport Lađevci (Kraljevo) - 60km.

Education

University of Kragujevac was founded as a first higher education institution in modern Serbia in 1838. The University of Kragujevac has 12 accredited faculties which are located in 6 cities of central Serbia: Kragujevac, Cacak, Jagodina, Kraljevo, Uzice and Vrnjacka Banja. It is the coordinator and partner in many international projects (TEMPUS, Erasmus Mundus, FP7, IPA, Erasmus+, etc).

Culture and Tourist Atractions

In the city there are several significant regional institutions, and some of national importance in the field of culture and artistic activities. More of them continues the tradition of the first institutions of its kind in modern Serbia, as “Serbian Knjaževski” theatre (founded in 1835), the National Library "Vuk Karadzic" (1866), the Centre for the cultivation of traditional culture "Abrašević" (1904), Student Cultural Center etc.

Kragujevac and its surroundings have rich natural resources that provide numerous opportunities for the development of transit, stationary, business and various events, sports and recreation, hunting and fishing, health and rural tourism.

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