News

International fine food show ‘CULINARIA’ will premier in Belgrade, September 23-25, 2010. This fair will focus primarily on trade buyers and represents the first specialty food show in south-east Europe.

CULINARIA will gather the leading fine food producers and key regional and European trade buyers under one roof. The fair will host some of the leading buyers from all marketing channels, including exporters, importers, traders, brokers, supermarket chains, specialty food stores, HoReCa and food services.

In the last decade, countries from the south-east Europe have improved their production and marketing and have outgrown their traditional Diaspora markets. Today, they are serious players in the international food market. In 2009 alone, the countries from the region exported food and agricultural products valued at over four billion dollars.

South-east European fine food and drinks have become globally known for their exquisite taste and prime quality. Building on the increasing demand many local fine food companies have developed their brands into global names. Wild mushrooms from the region are now being served at some of the New York’s finest restaurants; organic raspberries are a specialty in Tokyo design hotels; while prosciuttos and wines are becoming a staple in delicatessen food stores in London, Rome, Berlin, Moscow and Singapore.

Some of the delicacies presented at the CULINARIA fair include: fruit preserves, fruit jams, best fruit juices in the world, Balkan truffles and wild mushrooms, hams and prosciuttos, artisan white cheeses, honey from some of the most preserved forests in Europe, purest spring water, connoisseurs’ wines and fruit brandies, rich herbal teas and a wide selection of organic food.

The range of food products at CULINARIA will display the passion and devotion of skilled craftsman committed to creating food you can talk about, dream about and enjoy with all your senses.

CULINARIA will be held at BelExpo Center in Belgrade, supported by USAID Agribusiness project, GTZ and Serbian Ministry of agriculture.

For over seven years, USAID has been assisting Serbian companies to increase exports. Well over 200 Serbian companies have participated in USAID’s buyer linkages through trade show presentations in Germany, France, Italy, UK, Russia, Japan, Dubai and especially the US.

However, the market exposure to-date has been for a limited number of companies each year from different agribusiness sectors. This is why Culinaria has been designed to bring the buyers to Serbia and to offer an even greater market opportunity for small and medium sized agribusinesses to increase their domestic and international sales.

Belgrade is not just the logistical center of Southeastern Europe, it’s also becoming the economic center and therefore Culinaria is not just a Serbian fair. It’s an international fair that offers companies from throughout the region and beyond the opportunity to meet new buyers, to learn from market experts, and to exchange experiences.

For additional information and registration, visit www.culinaria.rs

All interested parties are invited to register at: office@agropress.org.rs or by phone: 381 60 071 2350

Support for women entrepreneurs in agribusiness

USAID Agribusiness Project has launched the Program of support for Women entrepreneurship in the rural areas of Serbia focused on improving their business skills and knowledge, as well as providing the start-up grant funds for the best agribusiness ideas that will apply to the following six sub-sectors: (1) Tree fruit, (2) Berries, (3) Vegetables, (4) Dairy, (5) Livestock, and (6) Mushrooms, Herbs and Forest Fruit.

The program will consist of two components:

• For the implementation of the training program to facilitate women entrepreneurship in agribusiness, USAID Agribusiness Project would consider awarding up to five grants to Serbian non-governmental organizations to design and implant the training program for women. Organizations - potential grant applicants should enable further contacts with the banks and the Government’s subsidy programs whereby the participating women would be able to present their business ideas as to obtain funding.
• The USAID Agribusiness Project will also provide grant funds to support the best business plans of participants in training program.

The training programs shell be conducted in the following towns and cities within these selected regions: Southern Serbia: Nis, Leskovac and Vranje; Central Serbia: Kragujevac, Cacak and Kraljevo; Western Serbia: Valjevo,Uzice and Sabac; and Eastern Serbia: Zajecar,Pirot,Bor or Pozarevac.

Detailed Program description and application forms can be downloaded at the following address: http://www.agrobiznis.net/english/19/procurement/

For additional information on the Program of support for women entrepreneurs in agribusiness, please contact: Marijana Bozić, Tel: 032-371-554; Email: Marijana_Bozic@agrobiznis.net

May 13,  2010; 10-15h
Congress Center “Master” at Novi Sad Fair (address: Hajduk Veljkova 11, Novi Sad)

Trends at EU organic market, with a special emphasis on France and Germany will be presented at the conference. Representatives of the French Ministry of Agriculture, associations, companies and certificators from France and Germany will present the role of state in promoting organic production, organisation of associations, demand for organic products and newest organic EU import regulations.

Conference will be opened by Nada Mišković, President of „Serbia Organica“,  and prof. Mirjana Milošević, State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, together with the representatives of USAID and GTZ.

Presentations:


- Isabelle Mellier, director of Organic production department in the Ministry of Agriculture of France 
- Elisabeth Mercier, director Agencee Bio of France (national association of all organic traders and producers in France)
- Jean Verdier, Synabio President (Association of organic producers of France)
- Michel Reynaud, EOCC President (Council of European organic certifiers) i Ecocerta Vice-president
- Paul Van den Berge, Development and Cooperation FIBL-a (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture)
- Ulrich Reuben, Marketing Manager, Bauckhof (German Demeter Company)
- Jochen Neuendorff, General Manager, Gesellschaft für Ressourcenschutz GfRS (German Local Certification Body)

USAID Agribusiness project has launched the Program of support for agribusiness associations gathering agribusinesses (agricultural producers and companies involved in production, processing, or provision of agribusiness development services) in Serbia from the following six sub-sectors: (1) Vegetables; (2) Livestock; (3) Dairy; (4) Mushrooms, herbs and forest fruits; (5) Berries, and (6) Tree fruit.

The deadline for submission of applications and participation in this Program is June 3^rd 2010.

USAID Agribusiness project support (professional and financial assistance) is intended for registered associations of agribusinesses that operate at the regional or national level, with the goal to increase competitiveness of association members and foster growth of their commodities, create an enabling agribusiness environment and advance the sector in general.

USAID Agribusiness project grant funds will be allocated to associations that fulfill program criteria in support to members’ joint activities within a one year timeframe in the following areas:

• marketing and promotion
• joint product development
• technology transfer
• joint ventures and investments
• lobbying and advocacy to change industry-related policies and regulations, and
• capacity building of association and their members

Detailed Program description and application forms can be downloaded at the following address: http://www.agrobiznis.net/serbian/31/javni-pozivi-konkursi/

For additional information on the Program of support for agribusiness associations, please contact Pedja Cerovic, phone: 011/2436 611; Email: pedja_cerovic@agrobiznis.net