Minister of Agriculture, Trade, Forestry and Water Management Dusan Petrovic said that honey production in Serbia has achieved considerable progress over the past several years, but more must be done to further improve it and increase the number of beekeepers.

Opening a symposium of the World Beekeepers’ Association and the 4th state beekeeping fair at the Sava Centre, Petrovic said that Serbia is suitable for beekeeping and honey production, but is currently using only less than 1% of its capacity in this remit.

Today we have 12,000 beekeepers in Serbia and there are no reasons why there should not be more, Petrovic added.

He noted that 2010 was an excellent year for beekeeping as over 2,000 tonnes of honey were exported mostly to the EU market. The same year between 5,000 and 6,000 tonnes of honey were produced in Serbia, he added.

Petrovic voiced his belief that by mid-2012 the remaining amounts of honey from 2011 will also be exported.

He announced the continuation of financial support to honey production through subsidised loans with an interest rate below 8%, adding that the procedure for obtaining the funds will soon be announced.

Non-repayable funds for beekeeping will also be granted from a portion of the agrarian budget, he added.

President of the Alliance of Beekeeping Organizations of Serbia (SPOS) Rodoljub Zivadinovic stressed that the symposium is an important event for the Serbian beekeeping as it is a way to present our products to the world and stimulate further development of beekeeping.

The World Beekeeping Symposium Apiecotech, where 45 scientific works from 14 states will be presented, is being held today and tomorrow at the Sava Centre, organised by the World Beekeepers' Association Apimondia and the SPOS.

Stefanovic to meet with Danish Minister for European Affairs
Head of the Serbian government’s team for dialogue with Pristina Borislav Stefanovic will meet with Minister for European Affairs of Denmark Nicolai Wammen on 20 February, at 11.00 at the government premises, Nemanjina 11.

Cameramen and photographers will be allowed to record of the beginning of the meeting, after which the media will be forwarded a press release.