31 businesses are representing Hungary at the 79th International Agriculture Fair in Vojvodina, held from May 12-18 with the support of the Hungarian Collective Agricultural Marketing Centre (AMC). For seven companies, this is the first time they are presenting themselves before the Serbian public. On May 12, Minister for Rural Development Sándor Fazekas will be holding talks with Serbian Minister for Commerce, Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, Dušan Petrović.

The parties will discuss the facilitation of Serbia's joining of the European Union, and the development of the country's agriculture and food security.

Parallel to the Fair, several campaigns are running to help promote Hungarian products. The "Tasty Foods from Hungary" series of programmes has been organised in Serbian supermarket chains to promote Hungarian foods since 2006. This year, 70 Hungarian products will debut in front of Serbian consumers in Tempo stores until May 31.

In the Kovács (Kovač) Restaurant in Belgrade, one of the capital's five most popular restaurants, special Hungarian flavours and delicacies will be drawing public attention to both traditional and modern Hungarian gastronomy from May 16-20. Around 1000-1500 guests are expected to sample the Hungarian specialities over the five-day period.

The Vojvodina International Agriculture Fair is the South-East Europe's most significant agriculture and food industry trade fairs. The goal of Hungarian exhibitors is to achieve an increase in the trade of products already available in Serbia, and to enable new products to be introduced onto the Serbian market. Other important objectives include the expansion of relations with businesses in Vojdovina, the improvement of economic cooperation along the border, an increase in trade volume and the creation of favourable conditions for Hungarian investment.

In addition to agricultural products, businesses dealing with renewable energy, chemicals, agricultural machinery and tools are also present at the Fair. Last year, 1500 exhibitors from 24 countries took part in the Exhibition, to which 300 thousand visitors arrived from all over the world.

(Press Office of the Ministry of Rural Development)