February 8th, 2012

Minister of Agriculture, Trade, Forestry and Water Management Dusan Petrovic and Turkish Minister of Food, Agriculture and Livestock Mehmet Mehdi Eker talked today about the possibilities for improving cooperation in the field of agriculture, food industry and trade.

Minister Petrovic stressed that Serbia and Turkey have a great scope for cooperation in agriculture, adding that trade relations between the two countries are just starting to develop.

The Minister recalled that last year Serbia and Turkey signed a memorandum of understandingin the field of agriculture.

Minister Eker said that Turkey and Serbia are key countries for the preservation of stability in the Balkans.

He stressed that the two countries have good political relations, but added that they should promote and enhance cooperation in agriculture, because this area affects daily life and is the basis for the development of trade and economic relations.

More than 20% of the population in Serbia and Turkey are engaged in agriculture and both countries need to cooperate more in this respect and exchange information, he concluded.