The opening of this three-day event at the Belgrade Fair was also attended by Minister of Agriculture of North Macedonia Ljupco Nikolovski, Albanian Minister of Agriculture Frida Krisca and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Republika Srpska Boris Pasalic.
Nedimovic said that in 2021 Serbia exported fruits and vegetables in the value of €1 billion, adding that Serbia will continue to open new markets and that one of the opportunities for that is the "Open Balkans" initiative.
The fair exhibits agricultural machinery, irrigation systems, hail protection, delivery vehicles and products of companies engaged in the production of plant nutrition and protection.
Seed producers and plant nurseries are also presented, and a special area is designated for companies from the food industry.
Earlier today, the ministers of agriculture of Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania, the member countries of the "Open Balkans" initiative, visited the distribution centre of the company Delhaize in Stara Pazova, where it was shown how to control goods imported and sold in Serbia.
On that occasion, they discussed the benefits brought by the "Open Balkans" initiative, i.e. the shortening of time that elapses from the packaging of goods, their import and placing onto the shelves in supermarkets.
Nedimovic gave the example of ajvar, which was sent from North Macedonia to Serbia yesterday, and is expected to be in Serbian markets as soon as today.
Nikolovski said that they got convinced on the spot that what was signed under the “Open Balkans" initiative is being implemented, that customs procedures have been shortened and that there is no more waiting at border crossings.
He pointed out that an important step in this initiative is the mutual recognition of laboratory analyses and certificates, during exports and imports, which improves business climate in the region.