The Fair of Ethnic Food and Drinks at the Belgrade Fair is one of the most prominent events dedicated to promoting traditional Serbian and regional cuisine. This fair brings together producers, distributors, and enthusiasts of authentic food and beverages, aiming to preserve, promote, and enhance ethnic and indigenous products. The 18th International Fair of Ethnic Food and Drinks is officially open and will run until Sunday, December 8.
This premier showcase of traditional food producers was opened by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management, Dr. Aleksandar Martinović, who highlighted the growing importance of food as a strategic resource, particularly given global challenges and the highly volatile geopolitical climate in Europe and worldwide.
– Serbia is a country with exceptional agroeconomic potential, and we have the opportunity to make food one of our most significant export assets, not just as raw materials but as processed products with added value. Therefore, attracting investments in the domestic processing industry, as well as investing in livestock farming, is a strategic commitment for our country. This approach will further strengthen the Serbian economy. By focusing on innovation, digitalization, and standardization, we can establish “food as a brand,” making it competitive in the most demanding markets and an integral part of our economic and national strategy for the future – the minister stated.
The fair is open from December 5 to December 8, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The price of individual ticket is 500 dinars, group tickets are 300 dinars, and a family ticket is 800 dinars. Parking costs 200 dinars per hour.
He emphasized that the Budget Law of the Republic of Serbia for 2025 allocates a record-breaking 149.5 billion dinars for agriculture, accounting for as much as 7.5% of the total state budget. He added that small producers are the bearers of Serbia’s rich gastronomic tradition and that the goal of the Ministry of Agriculture is to help them realize their potential, as every success of a domestic producer is also a success for the entire country.
The Secretary of the Secretariat for Agriculture of the City of Belgrade, Savo Pavičić, and the Minister without Portfolio in the Serbian Government responsible for improving the development of underdeveloped municipalities, Novica Tončev, also addressed the attendees. They wished all exhibitors a successful event and assured them that they could always count on the support of the Ministry and the Secretariat.
“I am very familiar with the challenges faced by producers from underdeveloped municipalities, and it is up to us to help them as much as we can,” said Tončev.
Pavičić stated that the city is committed to improving and facilitating the work of producers and emphasized the importance of events like this.
The 18th Fair of Ethnic Food and Drinks features more than 300 producers of traditional food products. Over the next four days, visitors will have the opportunity to see, taste, and purchase a variety of traditional products from all regions of the country.
