The 90th International Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad featured more than 1,100 exhibitors from 26 countries, with Italy as partner-country, which – together with other organisers – helped make this event memorable
Trade between Serbia and Italy in agricultural and food products amounted to 583.5 million euros last year, 20% more than in 2021. There is great potential to further improve cooperation in the agricultural sector, and this is the reason Italy, already at March’s Business & Science Forum, chose agri-tech as one of the main themes.
The jubilee 90th International Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad took place from 20th to 26th May and was opened by Jelena Tanasković, Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Serbia, and Francesco Lollobrigida, Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests of the Italian Republic, which is this year’s partner country of the fair.
The largest agricultural event in this part of Europe was attended by 1,100 exhibitors from 26 countries around the world.
“I would like to congratulate the organisers and hosts on their birthday, not a small one, with a centenary of the existence and the jubilee of the 90th international agricultural fair”, said Minister Tanasković.
“The partner country of this year’s fair is Italy, which in recent times has proven to be an exceptional friend of the Republic of Serbia, especially in agriculture. This is also demonstrated by the trade of agricultural and food products between our countries, which amounted to 583.5 million euros in 2022, 20 per cent more than in 2021. The potential to improve our cooperation is great and it is certain that we will head in that direction.”
She mentioned that Italy was partner country of the agricultural fair in 2016 and 2019, while in 2015 it was a friend of the fair.
THE FAIR IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE FUTURE
Italian Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests Francesco Lollobrigida emphasised that attending this event is an opportunity to discuss the future of both countries, and above all cooperation in the field of agriculture and agri-tech.
“It is an honour for me to be here visiting for the first time a country to which we are linked by history and culture”, said Lollobrigida. “I hope there will be a connection in all other areas as well. I will talk with Minister Tanasković about the future of both countries, about the promotion system in the field of agriculture. I expect many positive results in research and production of high quality agricultural products, especially in this era of globalisation.”
In Hall 1, covering an area of 500 square metres, 21 Italian companies were present, half of them for the first time in Novi Sad
He emphasised that mutual support is very important because he is certain that cooperation will be mutually beneficial and that we will all benefit from it.
In Hall 1, covering an area of 500 square metres, some 21 Italian companies were present. These are commercially excellent companies that are among the leaders in their fields. Half of them presented themselves for the first time in Novi Sad at the Agricultural Fair.
THE ITALIANS CAREFULLY PREPARED THEIR ARRIVAL
That nothing less should be expected was known even before the Fair, when Antonio Ventresca, director of the Belgrade office of the Italian Foreign Trade Agency, said that as a partner country they are not only bringing companies. He went on to announce a rich cultural programme – organised by the Italian Cultural Institute – that will cover the entire city of Novi Sad and two seminars during the fair.
Italian Minister Lollobrigida and President of the Italian Foreign Trade Agency Matteo Zoppas attended the first seminar, which is perhaps the best demontration of how important this fair is for Italy.
Director of the Novi Sad Fair Slobodan Cvetković expressed his satisfaction with the partnership with Italy and emphasised Italy’s importance in the foreign trade exchange with our country. He emphasised that the way Italy participates in the organisation of the fair as a partner country has been a trailblazer for all other future partner countries, which will want to have the same prestigious status at the Novi Sad Fair.
Italy has recently proven to be an exceptional friend of the Republic of Serbia, especially in the agricultural sector
Otherwise, there is no need to talk much about the importance of mutual cooperation between Italy and Serbia, because the Serbian market is very interesting for Italian companies, especially because agriculture is an important sector in Serbia. That is why both countries are trying to cooperate as much as possible, to develop and exchange technologies and knowledge, because both in Italy and Serbia there are small and medium-sized agricultural companies that need high-quality solutions.
Dušanka Golubović, State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, sent special thanks to Italy.
“I would especially like to thank the Embassy of Italy, which has made the greatest effort to bring us a large number of visitors from their country. We have the opportunity to learn about innovations in agriculture, the organisation of production and opportunities to exchange experiences, but also to establish partnerships and cooperation,” said the Secretary of State.
NHABITANTS ENJOYED A WEEK OF ITALIAN CULTURE
On the occasion of the 90th International Agricultural Fair, the Italian Cultural Institute in Belgrade in cooperation with the Italian Embassy presented a rich cultural programme called Week of Italian Culture in Novi Sad. A large number of initiatives dedicated to Italian culture were organised by the IIC in the areas of music, dance, theatre, film, art, linguistics…
A tribute to Italian art was organised at Petrovaradin Fortress with the exhibition Italian Art at the Fortress. It included eight paintings from the foreign art collection of the Museum of the City of Novi Sad. An international conference entitled Italian Language, Literature, History and Culture. Encounters in Real, Virtual and Imaginary Space was held at the Department of Italian and Ibero-American Studies of the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Novi Sad, and the concert La Notte della Taranta– Rhythm and Passion of Apulia on the plateau in front of the Svilara Cultural Station.
As part of the Italian Film Day at the Cultural Centre of Novi Sad, 11 films of contemporary production were screened in the original Italian version with Serbian subtitles, the Piano&Movies concert by the Italian pianist Roberto Turino was held at the Svilara Cultural Station, and a literary recital The Knight who Did Not Exist in Youth Theatre.
At the end of an eventful week, Serbia once again proved to be a good host and Italy, as this year’s title says, an excellent partner.