Today saw the opening of Agro Belgrade 2023, the fourth annual international fruit, vegetable, and wine fair, once again recognized as the venue to meet business partners, gain new knowledge, and network with peers from the fruit, vegetable, and wine industry. Agro Belgrade 2023 is supported by the USAID-funded Big Small Businesses Project, Serbian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, City of Belgrade Secretariat for Agriculture, and the National Alliance for Local Economic Development (NALED). This year’s partner country is the Netherlands.
Agro Belgrade 2023 was formally opened by Jelena Tanasković, Serbian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, who said: “I am proud and delighted to be able to welcome you here and that an event such as this has brought so many people together. This fair shows Serbia in its best light as a land of agriculture. I wish every success to our producers: let them close many contracts beyond our borders and find new foreign markets, where they belong. The Ministry of Agriculture stands ready to support our farmers, both with financial assistance and all other forms of support they need to be able to supply Serbian produce to Europe and across the world.”
“For the next three days, Belgrade will be the regional center for fruit, vegetable, and wine growers”, said Belgrade Mayor Aleksandar Šapić at the opening ceremony for Agro Belgrade 2023. “Belgrade has more than 153,000 hectares of farmland and more than 30,000 farms. Our Secretariat for Agriculture has invested much to develop the food sector and make it stronger, more competitive and more up-to-date”, Šapić added.
Christopher Hill, the US Ambassador to Serbia, said: “There is much talk about the technology and energy sectors, but agriculture deserves more attention because it is the future of Serbia. Serbia is well placed to use its closeness to the 300-million strong European market and not only continue to develop its agriculture but also develop regional cooperation and make a major impact in exports. The United States is very proud of its agricultural tradition. We are also proud of the support we have been giving Serbia in this sector, especially through projects funded by the US Agency for International Development, USAID, to help Serbia make progress towards joining the EU, and we will continue supporting it even after it has joined the EU.”
As in 2022, the opening ceremony and tour of the exhibition was attended by regional agriculture ministers, Savo Minić, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Republika Srpska, and Ljupco Nikolovski, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of North Macedonia. This year’s keynote speakers also included Vladimir Joković, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Montenegro, and Joost Reintjes, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Serbia.
The fair is attended by more than 500 exhibitors from Serbia and the region, including producers of fresh, frozen, and processed fruit, vegetables, and grapes, manufacturers of agricultural machinery and equipment, plant nurseries, seed and chemicals producers, and other companies operating in the sector.
Agro Belgrade 2023 will be open for visitors until January 28th, with Exhibition Hall 1a of the Belgrade Fair serving hosting many panel discussions devoted to major issues facing the industry, including market perspectives in 2023, climate adaptation, workforce development, digitalization in agriculture, access to finance, and transport. This conference has brought together more than 20 experts and officers of Serbian and foreign companies, institutions, and organizations relevant for the fruit, vegetable, and wine sector. The conference agenda is available here.
