From November 10-14, 2009, seven agricultural companies and food and beverage producers from South Serbia will participate at the 59th International Trade Fair of Food, Beverages and Consumer Goods in Skoplje, one of the leading trade fairs in FYRMacedonia, giving them an opportunity to expand into the Macedonian market.

These businesses have received more than $16,000 of financial and technical support from USAID’s Economic Security program to prepare for and attend the Fair.

The funds will cover the display space at the fair and the production of promotional materials that are key for a successful presentation of the companies’ products. USAID also trained the key management staff of these companies in marketing, sales, and presentation techniques, as well as in financial management, giving them the skills needed to professionally promote their quality products and customer service at the upcoming fair.

“Finding new customers beyond the local markets is vital to the success and growth of SMEs. USAID provides businesses the opportunities to expand into new markets by connecting them with new buyers and distribution partners,” said Michael Pillsbury, Director of USAIDs Economic Security program, and added “the fair provides companies the opportunity to advertise their companies and showcase their products in order to create the right strategic partnerships.”

The selected companies are small businesses from southern Serbia with a sound growth strategy: “Nutriko”, an animal food production from Vranje, “Velickovic”, a dairy from Surdulica, “Marinkovic” and “Srbija”, meat processing companies from Leskovac, “Moravka”, spice producer, “Bivoda”, a bottling and distribution water company from Bujanovac and “Kondiva”, a sweets producer from Bujanovac. The Regional Chamber of Commerce from Leksovac will also be present at the join stand.

Over the past two years, USAID has helped Serbian businesses achieve $6 million in new sales. More than 150 businesses had the opportunity to attend about a dozen business trade fairs both in Serbia and throughout the region.

For more information about this event please contact Rexhep Ilazi, rexhep_ilazi@dai.com, at 063/ 365-558. For more information about USAID’s activities in Serbia, please visit http://serbia.usaid.gov