People visit the Novi Sad agricultural fair in Novi Sad, Serbia, on May 15, 2018. The fair attracting over 1,500 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions opened on Tuesday and will last until May 21. (Xinhua/Nemanja Cabric)
NOVI SAD, Serbia, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Serbia has pinned its hope on a major fair to boost its agricultural sector and drive economic growth, as the country opened the fair on Tuesday.
Branislav Nedimovic, Serbian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, told the opening ceremony that the Novi Sad Fair presented latest agricultural products and machinery, and would help consolidate the agricultural sector.
The Novi Sad Fair is one of the largest fairs in Southeast Europe. It is located in Novi Sad, Vojvodina, the second largest city in Serbia. It is place of one of the largest agricultural fairs in Europe.
This year's fair will last until May 21, and it has attracted over 1,500 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions, with France as the special guest country designated to present its companies, agricultural producers, banks and organize expert seminars.
Nedimovic said the fair has over the years become a "symbol of Serbian agriculture".
"This is a place where people can both learn and purchase the latest technologies, while businessman can pursue business agreements in order to connect better with their colleagues, not only in the region, but from numerous countries across the world," he said.
He promised that the Serbian government will work to improve the state of agriculture, by increasing subsidies for farmers, and invited them to apply for the funds of the IPARD project of the European Union (EU).
At the fair, Nedimovic signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Arab Emirates on food safety, which will, according to him, enable Serbian food to be exported to that market.
Around 20 companies from Chinese premium agricultural brands as well as companies from Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Netherlands, Italy, Israel, Hungary, and Spain organized their exhibitions.
There is also an exhibition of cattle at this year's agricultural fair, which includes 1,600 heads of cattle, such as cows, sheep, pigs, horses, rabbits, poultry and other animals.
