News

The United States Agency for International Development has allocated USD 400,000 through its Agribusiness Project for assistance grants in marketing and promotion of agribusinesses. 

USAID Agribusiness Project assists Serbian agribusinesses, associations and producer organizations to promote their produce on the local, regional and international market. Project assistance in this sphere is focused on market analysis, improvements in international marketing activities, effective presentation at international trade fairs and shows, media communication, negotiation, improvements in production capacity and compliance with international standards and certification. 

Marketing and promotion are crucial for effective market placement and sales and unfortunately, lack of these skills renders a large number of local companies uncompetitive.  In response to this, the USAID Agribusiness Project has devised a program of assistance aimed at addressing this shortfall. 

Only companies that produce and/ or export the following produce will be eligible to apply for grants.

• Fresh and possessed stone and berry fruit.

• Meat products.

• Specialty cheeses, kajmak and other dairy products.

• Mushrooms.

• Medicinal herb and forest fruits.

USAID Agribusiness Project is a five year project providing technical and financial assistance in the field of agriculture and food processing. The project is financed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The public call for proposals is ongoing and all those wishing to apply should do so by February 15, 2011. All relevant information can be found at www.agrobiznis.net.

New regional office of the USAID Agribusiness Project has been opened in Nis, at the address 44-46/I, Kralja Stefana Prvovencanog St. 

The office was officially opened by Milos Simonovic, the Mayor of Nish, Susan Fritz, USAID Mission Director, and Louis Faoro, USAID Agribusiness Project Chief of Party. Slobodan Kocic, Mayor of Leskovac, also attended the opening.

Louis Faoro said on the occasion: “By opening the Nish offices  we wish to support the economic development in southern Serbia, particularly in agriculture and agribusiness. We will work on creating new jobs and increasing sales of Serbian agricultural products, produced by individual farmers and agribusiness enterprises.”

USAID Agribusiness project provides advisory and financial support to Serbian farmers, producer organizations, agriculture development service providers and agricultural enterprises in all stages of the production cycle throughout the system "from farm to fork".  Special attention, within the planned activities, is given to the involvement and support of youth and women in agribusiness.

Project seeks to contribute to the improvement of agricultural production, quality and packaging of agricultural products, increased competitiveness of Serbian agricultural enterprises and to enable access to new, international markets for export. This will be achieved through advisory assistance of domestic and American agricultural experts and through the Grants program. In cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, the Project is also working on improving the Enabling Environment for Serbian Agribusiness.

79 exhibitors from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovakia, Italy and Macedonia participated at the recently held first delicacies fair in southeast Europe titled “CULINARIA”, organized in Belgrade 23-25 September.

Some 3000 visitors attended CULINARIA, including foreign buyers from the USA, Canada, UK, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Greece and Macedonia.

Companies from the whole region had the opportunity to meet new buyers, find out about  different market demands and exchange experiences. Preliminary data show potential sales of approx. 3 million USD.

Exhibitor satisfaction survey results show that 85% of companies is satisfied with the trade fair and will likely exhibit again next year. A number of exhibitors were aware of the need to prepare themselves better prior to exhibiting in the future, if they are to take full advantage of the opportunities the fine food and beverages Belgrade trade show offers.

"CULINARIA" was organized by the BelExpo company, and supported by the USAID Agribusiness project, Ministry of agriculture, Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SIEPA) and German technical cooperation organization (GTZ).

Exhibitors at the fair presented their delicacies including: fruit preserves, jams and juices, 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, herbal teas and a wide selection of organic food. Visitors were able to see some rare specialties from Serbia, for example goat cheese aged in fine Serbian oak or in chestnut leaves.

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 the US.

However, only a limited number of companies each year could take advantage of the direct foreign market access. This is why CULINARIA has been designed to bring the buyers to Serbia and to enable a large number of regional small and medium-sized agribusinesses to present their products to the world and increase their domestic and international sales.

U.S. Ambassador Mary Warlick, together with the Minister of agriculture, forestry and water management Sasa Dragin, German Ambassador Wolfram Mass and VicePresident of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce Stevan Jevtic, officially opened on Thursday September 23, 2010 in Belgrade the first specialized fine food and beverages fair in southeast Europe.

Titled “CULINARIA”, the Belgrade food trade show is held at the BelExpo Center and will be open until Saturday, September 25^th.

"We get to know people by knowing the kind of food they eat, and we can be proud of the culinarian specialties and products presented today”, said Minister Dragin.

Ambassador Warlick emphasized that the USA assisted over 120 Serbian agribusinesses to prepare for and exhibit at 22 international food fairs and contract sales of approx. 90 million dollars.

Warlick stated that Culinaria is a good opportunity for foreign buyers to come to Serbia and noted that every dollar invested in the organization of a trade show - makes three dollars for the city where the fair is held.

German Ambassador Wolfram Maas stated that his country supports overall Serbian efforts on its path to the European Union, while agriculture is an important segment of the Serbian economy.

"CULINARIA" is organized by the BelExpo company, and supported by the USAID Agribusiness project, Ministry of agriculture, Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SIEPA) and German technical cooperation organization (GTZ).

Over 80 exhibitors from former Yugoslavia republics, Austria, Italy, Bulgaria, Romania and other countries in the region, will present their delicacies including: fruit preserves, jams and juices, 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, herbal teas and a wide selection of organic food. Visitors will be able to see some products from Serbia produced for export only, like Saher cake made in Kragujevac and exported to Vienna!

First day of the fair is reserved for professional, trade buyers only (suppliers of supermarket chains, specialty food stores, HoReCa and food services), while on the second and the third day the fair will be open to the general public as well. Entry tickets will be sold at 100 dinars.

All the profits made from the sale of tickets, as well as a portion of the food and drinks samples exhibited at the fair - will be donated to the humanitarian campaign “Food for everyone”. To mark the opening of the CULINARIA fair, the BelExpo company will, additionally, donate 1800 kg of flour, 220 kg of pasta and 1200 kg rice to this charitable activity.

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 the US.

However, only a limited number of companies each year could take advantage of the direct foreign market access. This is why CULINARIA has been designed to bring the buyers to Serbia and to enable a large number of regional small and medium-sized agribusinesses to present their products to the world and increase their domestic and international sales.

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.

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.

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