The Privilege of Accompanying President Macron to Serbia

The unexpected email

It was already a busy week when I got an email from the French Startup Association asking if I was available to accompany President Macron to Serbia.

Not exactly your everyday email.  And also, not like your usual spam or hacking attempt.

So, like any good tech savvy entrepreneur I started checking to see if it was a new form of spam, or a hacking attempt.

And everything checked out!  So, I said “Yes”.

the Waiting

Still not quite believing it but with a video shoot planned for the next day, and the big personal issues with our Chief Happiness Officer’s (Dakar Dingo) health to deal with I pushed it to the back of mind and carried on with everyday crazy life of a startup.

And then … a few days later, an official invitation arrives from the French Elysse Palace.

Wow!

the Official invitation

‘Would Mark Phillips be available to accompany President Macron to Serbia on a diplomatic mission to forge stronger ties between French startups and the Serbian nation?’

Of course, I said Yes in a heartbeat!

Saying yes to things without full details is one of the greatest ways to create opportunities for you in life, and in business

A few weeks of protocol, passports and program changes occurred, and then we were all ready. As much as you can be for something like this.

and then we were off

Being based 500km away from Paris in the French Alps I had an early start to grab the train to Lyon and then the TGV fast train straight to Charles de Gaulle Airport near Paris. A journey of about 3 hours using the TGV very fast train. 

We left from a private terminal which of course had the usual security and passport checks, but without the queues or shops. Networking with the entourage before we were ready as a great way to find out who was who in the zoo

3 Startups

As it turned out there were only three startups on the trip with a small range of larger French enterprises, many of whom were about to sign big agreements with the Serbian government, largely around a lot of development projects happening in Serbia at the moment.

From Paris our jet took off to Serbia where we greeted by the French Ambassador in Belgrade.

Treated like roYalty

The Serbian government then began to treat us like royalty. Motorcades, formal dinners, amazing local food and wine, beautiful art museums, and thousands of security personal stretching over 100km, helicopters, drones, … you name it.  All ensuring everything went perfectly. 

While the Mission consisted of about 100 people all up there were thousands engaged in pulling it off flawlessly.

Enjoying Lunch with President Vucic’s Chief of Staff

down to business

President Macron speaks of Nomad Stays

Presidents Macron and Vucic talk about the opportunities of AI

A chance to talk with the President directly

Educating the wider business community about opportunities is a mission for President Macron

An open discussion forum with the audience

There were plenty of speeches, most translated into 3 languages (French, Serbia and English) with a great team of translators.

A series of formal functions at the Serbia Presidential Palace was followed by lots of networking, and a private state dinner under the stars.

After the formal state dinner on the Thursday night, on Friday we headed up to the city of Novi Sad, about 100 kilometers north of Belgrade, also on the Danube River.

At the new Schneider Electric tech building we engaged in some open discussion with Serbian startups, enterprises and government about AI and the future for both France and Serbia.

A lot of the artificial intelligence industry of Serbia is now based around Novi Sad.

After another amazing meal at an ancient fortress overlooking the Danube we headed back to Belgrade airport and a return flight back to Paris, and then for me, a train back to the French Alps.

All in all, a whirlwind 48 hours of high energy, diplomatic, AI-fueled discussions with some of the biggest movers and shakers on the planet today.

Immense pleasure

It was an immense pleasure to be invited to accompany President Macron of France to Serbia and to meet with Serbia President Vucic and his entourage.

Both Presidents are very well versed in the opportunities for economic growth and leadership in AI as well as startups. Facts that my discussions with a series of Presidential Advisors confirmed in more detail.

As an Australian entrepreneur it was a rare treat. But it was that Aussie connection that gave us the advantage.

You may remember that Nomad Stays was started in Australia by two Australians, myself and my cofounder Linda. A few years ago, we migrated the startup to France under the French Tech Visa program.  We’re now set up in the French Alps with the support of the Savoie Tecnolac, and the Le Village by CA startup accelerator program.

Nomad Stays was a tacit example to the Serbian startup community of just how France opens its doors to other non-EU Startup Founders. How you can relatively easily gain long term visas, setup French companies and become an EU business.

I was able to talk with Serbian startups, government and ecosystem builders in some detail about the French Tech Visa route to accessing the EU. Apart from the broader discussion around startups, the openness of the French startup community, and artificial intelligence trends in traveltech.

This wasn’t my first visit to Serbia, and won’t be my last visit for sure. But it was my visit accompanying the French President. Again, an immense honor. Merci, Monsieur le President!