The company Expo 2027 doo awarded contracts for the development of an impact assessment study and the strategic development of the heritage plan EXPO 2027 Belgrade, it was published on the public procurement portal, reports New economy.
The company Louis Berger will conduct an economic, social and ecological assessment study of the impact of EXPO 2027 Belgrade, for 57.440.000 dinars.
The strategic development of the heritage plan of the EXPO 2027 Belgrade location and the ten-year operational business plan, including the transformation of the Belgrade Fair, will be carried out by Ernst&Young Consulting doo and related companies, for 46.150.255,7 dinars.
As New Economy previously wrote, these studies are designed to complement each other, and their integration represents "a key step in supporting Serbia's goals in the field of sustainable development after EXPO 2027 Belgrade."
"The aim of the study is to measure and quantify the economic contribution of the EXPO exhibition to the city of Belgrade and Serbia, to assess the social impacts on relevant subjects, communities and institutions before, during and after the EXPO exhibition, as well as to evaluate the environmental performance and long-term results in the field of sustainability of the EXPO exhibition and its legacy infrastructure," the documentation states.
When it comes to the economic impact, the study should show the benefits that the City of Belgrade and the state will realize as a result of the direct growth of economic activity due to the EXPO exhibition, benefits for companies from Belgrade and Serbia realized through increased demand in the supply chain by companies involved in the implementation of the EXPO exhibition, but also increased household consumption as a result of increased employment and income associated with EXPO 2027 Belgrade activities.
Impact evaluation study: What is measured and how
Also, key points such as gross value added by sector (including but not limited to construction, catering, retail and transport), the impact on employment, calculated on the basis of sectoral productivity coefficients and sectoral multipliers (from IO tables of Serbia or comparable regional tables) should be presented by the study.
Impacts related to construction and infrastructure works should be shown before the EXPO exhibition, more precisely until May 2027, then during the exhibition (from May to August) the results should be shown that include visitor consumption and tourism, while after the exhibition (until 2037) the long-term use of the infrastructure should be shown, including the modernization of the Belgrade Fair.
When it comes to assessing social impact, the document itself states that a matrix should be developed for analysis and monitoring of social impact that includes quantitative and qualitative changes in the experiences of relevant subjects and stakeholders, using a participatory approach and proven international models.
Key metrics for this aspect are: education and skills development, cultural exchange and inclusion, health and well-being, local community engagement and social capital, accessibility, inclusion and equality, volunteerism and citizen engagement, institutional capacity building, youth education and empowerment, and constant social indicators.
When it comes to environmental impact assessment, it should show general indicators (including green belts, pollution, noise, water consumption, etc.), waste management, energy efficiency, sustainable mobility and low-carbon transport, climate conditions and other environmental indicators.
The deadline for the initial assessment report, i.e. the state of the economic, social and environmental context against which the changes will be measured, is six weeks from the date of conclusion of the contract.
The preliminary impact assessment report is a maximum of 12 weeks from the date of conclusion of the contract, while the final impact assessment report will be ready in 16 weeks.
Annual reports should be ready by June 30, 2026, 2027 and 2028.
Source: New Economy
