AGREEMENT ON COOPERATION BETWEEN NOVI SAD FAIR AND BRNO FAIR SIGNED

The Agreement on Cooperation between Novi Sad and Brno Trade Fairs and Exhivbition - BVV in Brno was signed today at the Novi Sad Fair. The idea, which was accepted with both hands, was given by the Minister of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, Martin Šebestjan, at this year's Agricultural Fair. The agreement was signed by Jan Kubata, General Manager of the BVV Fair in Brno and Slobodan Cvetković, General Manager of the Novi Sad Fair.

I am very glad that today we had the opportunity to sign this Agreement by which we will start cooperation in the field of agricultural fairs and I take this opportunity to thank for the support of the state authorities, said Jan Kubata. - Our fair organizes more than 90 events during the year, but the Agricultural Fair is one of the three most important. Last year, the Serbian Minister of Agriculture was with our minister and visited this fair in Brno. At that time, we talked about the fact that it is a pity that we do not have such an agreement signed. It then required a short trip. We exchanged several e-mails with the director and today we are right here. I believe that we will very soon move on to concrete cooperation and that this will be this Agricultural Fair. I would also like to confirm the words of the director that this will by no means be the only activity we will be engaged in, said Jan Kubata, General Manager of the BVV Fair in Brno.

- With today's signing of the Agreement, we are entering into everything that the exhibition industry implies. We will talk about the "event" industry, energy, but also about the mechanical segment, as well as about the challenges of the exhibition industry that exists in the territory of the European Union, about the penetration of brands from the East, challenges and all the transformations that they bring and that are happening in concluding deals. I would like to remind you that the Novi Sad Fair has already signed protocols on cooperation with fairs in Thessaloniki, Radgona, Bucharest, Sarajevo, Banja Luka, as well as that we are a member of UFI, CEFE and that we have been members of the EURASCO Association since a few years ago, and my little one has been chosen to be the chairman of the board, said the General Manager of the Novi Sad Fair, Slobodan Cvetković. "We follow national politics, trends, in terms of cooperation with certain segments of the economy and society. We are trying to be the maximum support to everything that is the policy of the economy of the Republic of Serbia, the Provincial Government and, of course, local politics. I would like to thank the representatives of the Czech Republic for visiting our Agricultural Fair at the highest level and for crowning everything today by signing this Cooperation Agreement, Cvetković emphasized.

Previously, Slobodan Cvetković recalled the long-term good and intensive cooperation at the highest level, as well as the one from the previous period when the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, hosted the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Mr. Andrej Babiš, this year's visit of the Minister of Agriculture, Prof. Dr. Dragan Glamočić, to the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Martin Šebestjan, and his return visit... He emphasized that the Czech Republic, as a partner country, has supported the Agricultural Fair on several occasions. Among other things, this year, as well as at the first Agricultural Fair held after the corona, in 2021, although, at that moment, according to him, it was not very attractive.

The conference was also attended by Jan Bondi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic to the Republic of Serbia. "The role of the Embassy is actually simple. The task of the Embassy is, and it does, to bring together people who are skilful and businesslike from both countries. I am glad that this first impulse has succeeded. I believe that the protocol signed today will lead to concrete results that will bring our two countries closer together, and that is what we all want," said Jan Bondi.

At the Agricultural Fair, an idea was created, which was implemented today with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia.

"The Ministry strongly supports further integration between Serbia and the Czech Republic, as well as initiatives such as today's signing of the Agreement on Cooperation between the Novi Sad Fair and the Brno Fair," said State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture Željko Radošević. "I must emphasize that the signing of the Agreement is much more than a protocol act. It is another confirmation of mutual trust and common intention to transform the traditionally good and friendly relations between Serbia and the Czech Republic into new investments and business opportunities, concrete projects and an even stronger connection between our institutions and economies. I am especially pleased that we are taking this new step after a very successful cooperation achieved during the 93rd International Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad, where the Czech Republic was a partner country. The Novi Sad Fair and the Brno Fair share an important mission to connect knowledge, production, modern technologies and the market in one place. I would especially like to point out that the value of an agreement is not measured by the number of signed pages, but by partnerships, deals and concrete projects that arise from it. That is why today's signing is the beginning of a new stage of cooperation between the two countries that have a long tradition of friendly relations, Radošević pointed out. "For Serbia, the experience of the Czech Republic in the modernization of agricultural production, digitalization and application of modern technologies, sustainable resource management is valuable. At the same time, Serbia has a lot to offer to Czech partners with its quality agricultural and food products, production potentials and knowledge. Fairs are places where such opportunities are recognized, where people meet, ideas are exchanged, and business contacts grow into long-term partnerships. Our common goal should be to provide producers and companies from both countries with an easier path to new partners and markets, to support small and medium-sized enterprises, to encourage the exchange of knowledge and good practices, and to jointly promote innovations that lead to competitive, climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture.

- This protocol represents a significant step in the cooperation between our two countries in the field of exhibition industry. And as already mentioned - both fairs have a long tradition. One has already turned one hundred years old, the other will soon be and both are very important in the field of agricultural production and related industries. I believe that this cooperation will contribute to the exchange of experiences - to the development and opening of new opportunities and better cooperation between the Czech Republic and Serbia. This signing of the protocol builds on the previous cooperation in the field of agriculture and opens up the possibility or continuation of further cooperation in this strategic area, said Jaroslava Špalkova, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Czech Republic. - The importance of this cooperation is confirmed by the increase in trade in this area. This is something that should be continued and for which I thank my Serbian colleagues. I thank everyone who took part in the preparation of this Agreement and I wish you all good luck, said Špalkova.

The delegation of the Czech Republic also included Vladimir Vanja, Attaché for Agriculture at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Belgrade, and Eliška Hartvihova from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic.

Today, the eighth Auto Moto Exchange was opened at the Novi Sad Fair, which will last until Sunday, September 6. This will be followed by EV Days on September 10 and 11. The most beautiful events of the Novi Sad Fair - Hunting and Fishing Fair and Ecology Fair will be held from September 30 to October 4.