- Belgrade Fair is a social company, but a company that takes a great care of the economic sustainability of projects. Thus, we are capable of supporting also some events, for which we estimate they will prove their justification in the following years, said Mr. Andjelko Trpkovic, Belgrade Fair General Manager, at the announcing Press Conference. - - At the moment, this is not a profitable project, but it is the one that ‘opens the door’, this is an event that provides the opportunity. We believe it will contribute to the region development, new employment opening and give many people the idea to start their own business. The point here is in supporting the production of the traditional food products, which will find their place on the increasingly demanding market.

The Ethnic Food and Drinks is a fair event, which will promote specific products from various regions, where products prepared by the old, specific recipes will be promoted and Mr. Milos Milovanovic, Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Forestry Engineering and Water Management, says we should look for our chance just in the tradition and quality.

- The objective of the USAID Agribusiness Project is improvement of the agricultural production. Thus, it is our honor and privilege to assist financially the event, which improves the production and position of the traditional local products. We have got experience in management in small food manufacturing companies and commercializing is not the intention here, anyway, said Mr. Goran Radojevic.

Mr. Vidosav Glavinic, President of the Council of the Ethnic Food and Drink Fair, said, one cannot run away from the globalization, but he also pointed out we could resist it by remaining ourselves, protecting the products’ geographic origin, even branding some of them. He explained that mostly small manufacturers participated in this event, who could hardly put apart both money and time, so that the support by the USAID and the Ministry of Agriculture was precious.

An important contribution to this event was provided also by the Belgrade Chamber of Commerce, who have been supporting this project already traditionally and increasingly being Belgrade Fair’s partner in the accomplishment of various economic events. The BCC representative, Mr. Gavrilo Veselinovic, said this fair event should develop further, brands should be created, since that was the way to the objective accomplishing – the greatest possible export of high quality products.

Ms. Mirjana Lukic, Project Manager, spoke about the importance of featuring various traditional products, pointing out the motto of also this, the third event, was looking for a brand name from Serbia. The Fair has been divided into the exhibiting and promotional parts and within the professional side event program, many lectures would take place, orienting and profiling the products to brand names. In the Ethnic Yard, region promotions would take place, some celebrities would show their cooking skills and the winner lunch would be served by the local competition winners in the preparation of some food types.

The event opening hours for business visitors (under filling in the registration form) is from 10.00 a. m. to 7.00 p. m., whereas the Ethnic Food and Drinks  may be visited by the audience from 3.00 p. m., with the ticket at the price of RSD.250.00.

The event festive opening will take place on Wednesday, November 26, at noon, in the Ethnic Yard of the Hall 3. The event will be opened by Mr. Milos Milovanovic, Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Forestry Engineering and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia.