Int'l Agriculture Fair kicks off in Serbia

NOVI SAD, Serbia (Xinhua) - The 80th International Agriculture Fair (IAF) kicked off Saturday in Novi Sad, Serbia, with over 1,500 exhibitors from more than 60 countries.

Named as one of the top five agricultural fairs in Europe by Eichberg Ag Trade Show Report, IAF in Novi Sad covers the whole food production chain, from crop seeds to food packaging.

"Agriculture coupled with food processing industry is now contributing more than 20 percent of Serbia's GDP (gross domestic product), but it is still underdeveloped as it still faces difficulties, depend on climate circumstances," said Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic while opening the expo.

"Serbia is the garden of Europe but it is still far from being a giant in agriculture industry as we import much more food than we have to. We have to turn this trend around," he added.

Drawing from eight decades of tradition, the International Agricultural Fair, also known as May Fair, has established itself as most prestigious expo in southeast Europe, and became a prominent international platform for cooperation in agribusiness and food processing industry.

Companies from Hungary, Latvia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Italy, Turkey, Germany, Austria, Romania, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovenia, Macedonia, China, Poland, India, Cyprus, Ireland, Greece, France and Norway are present at the fair in Novi Sad. The fair will last till May 24.