Annual Conference of the South Annual Conference of the South East European Associations of East European Associations of

Fruits and Vegetables Fruits and Vegetables Processors, Spring 2010Processors, Spring 2010

Macedonian Association of ProcessorsMacedonian Association of Processors

MAPMAPMr. Saso RisteskiMr. Saso RisteskiExecutive SecretaryExecutive SecretarySkopje, November 10, 2009Skopje, November 10, 2009

Opportunity for regional cooperationOpportunity for regional cooperation

Barriers to TradeBarriers to TradeInstitutionalInstitutional

• Agriculture and food legislation still not Agriculture and food legislation still not harmonized with the EU legislationharmonized with the EU legislation• Food sector still not integratedFood sector still not integrated• Lack of CAPLack of CAP• Food Safety Agency?Food Safety Agency?• Integrated phytosanitary system?Integrated phytosanitary system?• Lack of Agriculture Marketing Information Lack of Agriculture Marketing Information SystemSystem• Poor government – association/businesses Poor government – association/businesses dialoguedialogue

Barriers to TradeBarriers to TradeTechnicalTechnical

• Food safety standards (Traceability, HACCP, Food safety standards (Traceability, HACCP, EUREP GAP, ISO 22 000, BRC, IFS)EUREP GAP, ISO 22 000, BRC, IFS)

• EU accredited laboratoryEU accredited laboratory

• EU accredited certification body(ies)EU accredited certification body(ies)

Barriers to TradeBarriers to TradeCommercialCommercial

• Agency for promotion of Agriculture and Food Agency for promotion of Agriculture and Food productsproducts• Quantities to meet the requirements of large Quantities to meet the requirements of large buyersbuyers• Lack of marketing knowledgeLack of marketing knowledge

–Market research–Branding –Positioning–Distribution–Promotion

• Raw materials supply – contract farmingRaw materials supply – contract farming• Financing the processing businessFinancing the processing business

OpportunitiesOpportunities to Trade to Trade

• Harmonization with the EU legislation – unlimited Harmonization with the EU legislation – unlimited access to the EU marketsaccess to the EU markets• Joint exportsJoint exports•Utilization of green box measuresUtilization of green box measures•Favorable credit lines and FDIsFavorable credit lines and FDIs

ConferencesConferences

The 1st Conference of Central and Southeast The 1st Conference of Central and Southeast European Associations of Processors of Fruits and European Associations of Processors of Fruits and Vegetables, entitled as „Fit for the EU“ took place on Vegetables, entitled as „Fit for the EU“ took place on December 4-5, 2003, in Ohrid, Macedonia. December 4-5, 2003, in Ohrid, Macedonia.

120 participants on the conference, including guest 120 participants on the conference, including guest speakers, representing associations, private sector, speakers, representing associations, private sector, governmental institutions and donor project from the governmental institutions and donor project from the following countries: Macedonia, Serbia and following countries: Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, Hungary, Germany, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, Hungary, Germany, Slovenia, Switzerland, UK and EU.Slovenia, Switzerland, UK and EU.

MAP Activities after Ohrid MAP Activities after Ohrid

conference in 2003conference in 2003 • Two official visits to the Bulgarian Association Two official visits to the Bulgarian Association (2003 and 2004)(2003 and 2004)• Contacts with EKE and visit to Greece, May 2004 Contacts with EKE and visit to Greece, May 2004 •Meetings with Serbian Association and Albanian Meetings with Serbian Association and Albanian representatives at Novi Sad fair 2004representatives at Novi Sad fair 2004• The secretariat info sent to BiH and BG Ass. - The secretariat info sent to BiH and BG Ass. - June 2004June 2004• No concrete outcome regarding the SecretariatNo concrete outcome regarding the Secretariat• Two visits of Albanian delegations to MAP Two visits of Albanian delegations to MAP members (2004)members (2004)• Support and lobbying of EKE on MAP’s behalf in Support and lobbying of EKE on MAP’s behalf in front of OEITFLfront of OEITFL

The 2nd conference - December 09-10, 2004 in The 2nd conference - December 09-10, 2004 in Vrnjacka Banja, Serbia. Around 120 participants on the Vrnjacka Banja, Serbia. Around 120 participants on the conference from 14 countries. Main topic - conference from 14 countries. Main topic - Free Trade Free Trade Barriers and opportunities for the national f & V Barriers and opportunities for the national f & V industry EU markets.industry EU markets.

The 3rd regional conference took place in November The 3rd regional conference took place in November 2005 in Dures, Albania. More than 100 participants 2005 in Dures, Albania. More than 100 participants from 10 countries participated on the conference. from 10 countries participated on the conference. Main Main topic - topic - New aspects of food safety and regional free New aspects of food safety and regional free trade agreements.trade agreements.

The 4th conference - November 23-24, 2006 in, Sarajevo, The 4th conference - November 23-24, 2006 in, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was organised by the B&H fruit Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was organised by the B&H fruit and vegetable producers and processors Association, and vegetable producers and processors Association, Supported by the entity Ministries of Agriculture in BiH and Supported by the entity Ministries of Agriculture in BiH and USAID‘s LAMP project. USAID‘s LAMP project. The conference program covered The conference program covered topics such as quality standards, EU approximation processes topics such as quality standards, EU approximation processes and experiences, FTAs and impediments etc. There were and experiences, FTAs and impediments etc. There were around 100 participants from all SEE countries.around 100 participants from all SEE countries. The 5th conference The 5th conference took place on 29-30.11.07 in Plovdiv, took place on 29-30.11.07 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria under the motto: "The Processing of Fruits and Bulgaria under the motto: "The Processing of Fruits and Vegetables – Tradition and Innovations”. The Union of Fruits Vegetables – Tradition and Innovations”. The Union of Fruits and Vegetable Processors (UFVP) in Bulgaria hosted the and Vegetable Processors (UFVP) in Bulgaria hosted the conference. conference. The conference program icluded sessions on The conference program icluded sessions on quality standards, tradition and innovations in F&V quality standards, tradition and innovations in F&V processing, EU food contacts legislation etc. There were processing, EU food contacts legislation etc. There were around 100 participants present on the event. around 100 participants present on the event.

There was no conference in 2008 – Greek Canners There was no conference in 2008 – Greek Canners Association (EKE) failed to organized the event. Association (EKE) failed to organized the event. MAP was contacted by Associations from the region MAP was contacted by Associations from the region regarding continuation of the conferences. regarding continuation of the conferences. Contact and meetings took place during Anuga 2009.Contact and meetings took place during Anuga 2009. MAP agree to organize the event in Spring 2010.MAP agree to organize the event in Spring 2010. Support for professional organization of the conference.Support for professional organization of the conference.

Contacts:Contacts:Saso RisteskiSaso Risteski

Executive secretaryExecutive secretaryMacedonian Association of Processors – MAPMacedonian Association of Processors – MAP

Aco Karamanov 13Aco Karamanov 131000 Skopje1000 Skopje

Tel.: + 389 2 31 77 125Tel.: + 389 2 31 77 125Fax: + 389 2 31 77 125Fax: + 389 2 31 77 125

E-mail: map@t-home.mkE-mail: map@t-home.mkwww.map.com.mkwww.map.com.mk