At the International Import Fair in Shanghai, 12 companies from our country also had the opportunity to present themselves.
The fair called “China International Import Expo” will be held until November 10, and Serbian exhibitors have unequal expectations regarding the impact of the event on the improvement of business in this distant market, since due to the current epidemic they were not able to offer live performances.
However, Nikola Bozic, director of BMN Maline, one of the companies that took part in the fair, points out that he is grateful to the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia and the Development Agency of Serbia, as organizers.
“We are sorry that we could not travel there, but we sent packages, brochures, business cards…,” Bozic told B92.
He adds that one of the visions of this company from Pozega, which deals with the purchase, freezing and processing of berries, is to expand to the eastern market.
“Our products are already available in Western Europe, in Germany, and we want to use this fair as an opportunity to make contacts with potential associates from China so that BMN Maline offer can be found in this distant country as well,” our interlocutor concludes.
Rubin products also found their place at the fair, where they said that they adjusted the offer of products for the mentioned event to the demand, which in this case is focused on red wines with a high percentage of alcohol and intense red color.
“Also, at the fair, we exhibited products that are at prestigious international competitions held in China – Concours Mondial de Bruxellex 2019 and China Wine & Spirits Awards 2020, gold medal winners: Vinjak VSOP 5 0.7l, Amante Carmen 0.75l and Vinjak VS 1l,” states for our portal the manager of Rubin, Gordana Purkovic.
She adds that several wineries from Serbia, including Rubin, are already exporting to the Chinese market, but the quantities are negligible in relation to the possibilities. She emphasizes that it would be important for winemakers from Serbia to abolish customs duties on wine imports, which is currently a great burden. In her opinion, having in mind strong business and political ties with China, together with the promotion of Serbia as a wine country, that is something that would lead to much higher exports.
“Given that for justified reasons there are no representatives at the stand (quarantine due to the corona virus lasts 14 days in China), we do not expect much from this fair when it comes to short-term effects. For greater success in the Chinese market it takes time and joint appearances with winemakers from Serbia at the national stand, with the promotion of Serbia as a country with a long tradition of winemaking, a large number of wineries and large areas under vineyards, which were built on the same latitude as vineyards in Bordeaux and Tuscany. From that side, we have fulfilled the task,” says Purkovic.
Mlekara Sabac also thanked the organizers for the opportunity to present themselves as potential, the only dairy from Serbia, to potential Chinese partners.
“With 60 percent sales of dairy products in 13 markets from Russia, through Europe to America, we are the leading exporter of dairy products, and our goal is for our quality products to reach consumers in China,” said Maja Badjin Georgijevic, director of corporate communications, it is stated in the announcement of the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia.
Visitors to the fair in Shanghai will be able to get to know dairy brands such as Sirko, A la Kajmak, Mediteraneo sir and others that are made from, as Badjin Georgijevic points out, the highest quality domestic milk with the application of world standards in food production.
“Participation in international fairs with the support of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, through contacts, has contributed to our company exporting more than 10,000 tons of deep-frozen fruit a year,” said Mirjana Nikolic, sales director of ITN GROUP, another participant in the fair. According to her, fairs are places for making and developing business contacts, as well as creating new ideas and following world trends.
Let us remind you that in the hall for food products, at the stand of Serbia with an area of 200 square meters, products and companies were presented: Van Drunen Farms Europa, Damar Confit, Frushkogorski vinogradi, Frikom, Nova Sloga, Simex Original, Vinarija Choka plus and Aronija Vita, B92 reports.
