Minister for the National Investment Plan (NIP) Verica Kalanovic stated today that Serbia and Belarus have great potential for improving trade and economic relations in agriculture and food industry.

Kalanovic said in a statement to the agency Tanjug, following a visit to Minsk where she participated in the meeting of intergovernmental Serbian-Belarus committee on trade and economic cooperation, that the two countries have very good and friendly relations, but that trade and economic cooperation is still not sufficient.

She recalled that last year Serbia had signed a free trade agreement with Belarus, noting that the agreement is a good framework to encourage and finance economic relations.

The value of the Serbian-Belarussian trade only in the past 12 months doubled, from about $50 million to nearly $100 million, she said.

Kalanovic noted that next year the two countries could increase trade exchange to $200 million.

Kalanovic stated that a Memorandum of understanding between the ministries of agriculture of Serbia and Belarus was signed in Minsk. It stipulates extensive cooperation, including exports of fruits and vegetables,

They also discussed export of milk, dairy and meat products, cooperation in the production of seed corn, barley, canola, soybeans and other crops, fruit trees and roses.