Agrar remains Serbia's development opportunity - The Fair of Agriculture started in Novi Sad

Serbian Prime Minister, Ivica Dacic, said in Novi Sad that the shift in agricultural production in Serbia can lead to faster development of the country as a whole.

- Serbia is a large garden in Europe, for its dispositions, location, soil quality, climate, and I would say high-quality professionals, but it is far from being a giant in the field of agriculture. This is a great development opportunity and a chance to reverse this situation - Dacic said at the opening of the 80th International Agricultural Fair on Saturday, May 18.

The Prime Minister announced that the preparation of the Agriculture Development Strategy from 2014 to 2024 is in progress.

He said the strategy that should be adopted by the end of the year presents a plan of agricultural development over the next decade in line with EU policy.

- Our goal is to create a competitive agriculture, strengthen rural development, intensification of production and the production of high quality feed with a high degree of environmental protection - Dacic said.

He repeated that agriculture accounts for 11% of Serbia's GDP and employs a significant number of people, and on the other hand it accounts for 23% of total exports and imports of only seven percent of the country, thus generating an annual trade surplus of USD 1.2 billion.

- Our agriculture and food industry can fully satisfy domestic market. However, the specificity of the industry is that a lot depends on the weather conditions and it is important to modernize production as soon as possible- Dacic said.

The director of the Novi Sad Fair Dragan Lukac delivered Dacic gold medal on the occasion of 90th anniversary of the fair.

The Minister of Agriculture, Goran Knezevic, added that the International agricultural fair was an opportunity to present new knowledge and technology and to all who visit it, go with richer and happier.

- Agriculture of Serbia has something to show and something to be proud of. We wish to adopt new knowledge and new technologies at the upcoming fair that we would later be able to implement them successfully - Knezevic said.

The Minister of Agriculture of Croatia, Tihomir Jakovina, said that the country is a proud partner of this year's agricultural fair, and that it especially prepared to present the best in the field of agriculture from all four counties.

- Cooperation between the two countries is excellent and it is well known that trade and business always find their way. I hope that after the accession to the European Union 1 July this cooperation will be even better - Jakovina said.

The International Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad will continue until May 25 and more than 1,500 exhibitors from around 60 countries is participating.