A Fresh Approach to Diversifying Agrifood Exports in the Western Balkans

PROJECT SUMMARY

Working closely with public and private sector partners in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, FAO and the EBRD are helping agrifood SMEs in the region to diversify their export markets and improve their sales prospects.

CONTEXT

The EBRD and FAO have supported export development activities in the Western Balkans over the last five years. This project is set to help Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia diversify agrifood exports including high-value horticultural products. As well as opening new markets and boosting income, the diversification of crop production and related export markets also builds resilience into food systems in the face of global challenges including climatic and economic uncertainties, global pandemics and conflicts.

Rural economies in the project countries strongly rely on agriculture, particularly cereal production, for food security and livelihoods. Yet production remains fragmented with limited opportunities for generating income. Nevertheless, they are already showing potential when it comes to the production and export of high-value horticulture, thanks to relatively low labour costs, a favourable climate, increasing yields and the proximity and preferential access to the EU market. Positive trends in the production and trade of fruit – apples, cherries, plums and raspberries – have been observed across all countries in the region with particularly strong growth in Serbia.

Activities​

To build the capacity of public and private stakeholders to stimulate the diversification of agrifood exports, the EBRD and FAO are working in each of the five project countries to: 

Promote and diversify exports of horticulture products (fresh, frozen and processed), honey and wine – sectors that have active and dynamic participation of SMEs and good prospects for developing agribusinesses and increasing export earnings;

Strengthen capacities to improve competitiveness and achieve greater access to markets where demand for high-value products is high;

Provide technical support and follow-up to companies that have promising export potential; and

Identify the areas of biggest impact for potential investment opportunities.

Achievements

Export Guide Webinars and E-Guides

A series of export guide webinars and E-Guides for fruit and vegetable producers and exporters in the Western Balkans have been developed to support the diversification of fruit and vegetable exports to new, high-potential markets including:

  • Nordic Region (Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark), US and UK – Fresh, Frozen and Processed Fruits and Vegetables (Serbian)
  • Western Balkans to the Middle East (UAE and Saudi Arabia) – Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (Serbian)

More information can be found in the project archive.

Mentoring Sessions

A series of mentoring sessions in English designed for fruit and vegetable export marketing in  the UK market including:

  • An introduction to the UK food market
  • An introduction to the UK fresh/dried produce market
  • Routes to market and branding, labelling and certification issues for premium fruit- and vegetable-derived products
  • An introduction to the UK frozen fruit and vegetable market

More information can be found in the project archive.

Wine and Media Tour, Skopje – May 2023

The Wines of Macedonia Association gathered more than 120 participants from public and private wine sectors in the Western Balkans to discuss future wine sector development. European and regional journalists and wine professionals also participated in a study tour.

Regional Agribusiness Conference, Kopaonik, 31 May – 1 June 2023

Discussions with over 500 participants including ministers, high-level government officials, international organizations, donors, sector associations, companies and academia resulted in a new Western Balkans Agriculture and Processing Industry Roadmap with recommendations to improve regional agrifood sector responsiveness and resilience to future market needs and challenges. 

RECENT PROJECTS

Scroll to Top

PROJECTS

Greening Kyrgyzstan’s Economy: Know More, Act Better, Enhance Results

Facilitating agrifood investment in the energy-water-land nexus in Central Asia

Reforming Tunisia’s Grain Sector to Enhance Supply Chain Resilience

Adding A Splash of Value to Tunisian Olive Oil

Containing the Risks of African Swine Fever in South-eastern Europe

Defining the path towards climate-efficient agrifood system infrastructure

Filling Food Security Gaps in SEMED Supply Pipelines

A More Resilient Food Secure Future in the SEMED Region

Reducing Risks in SEMED Food Security Supply Chains

Improving Traditional Livelihoods with Modern Technology in Kazakhstan

Morocco Olive Oil Production Steps Up to the Plate

Carbon Neutrality: Utopia or The New Green Wave?

A Digital Transition to Safer Food Systems through e-phyto certificates

Putting Georgia’s Traditional Foods on the Culinary Roadmap

A Fresh Approach to Diversifying Agrifood Exports in the Western Balkans

Raising the Stakes for Quality Standards in Montenegro and Serbia

Diversifying Markets for Eastern European and Central Asian Horticulture

Building Back Shorter in Value Chains

Green Horticulture in a Digital Climate

A Taste for Quality Tea in Azerbaijan and Georgia

Linking youth innovation to value chain aggregators in the agrifood sector

The Resilience Pathway: Evolution of Food Distribution Systems during COVID-19

Putting Agricultural Resilience into Serbia’s Irrigation Pipelines

Reimagining the Future of Food for the Cities

Developing a Taste for West Bank and Gaza Olive Oil

Supporting Jordan’s Olive Oil Sector to be Resilient, Competitive and Profitable

Investing in Food Loss and Waste: What’s in it for Development Banks?

A Green Deal for Morocco’s Fruit and Vegetable Export Markets

Jordan’s Traditional Foods Added to the Development Menu

Creating a Buzz for Turkish Pine Honey

Serving up Egypt’s Fruits and Vegetables to the International Markets

A Public-private Recipe for More Efficient Wheat Imports in Egypt