Agricultural solutions from Iberian Peninsula suitable for Serbian crops as well – Serbia imports machines and equipment worth EUR 10.25 million from Spain in 2016

Spain is one of the European, but also global, leaders in the field of technology and equipment for agricultural production. Thanks to the modernization, this country has managed to compensate for its dry climate and insufficient amounts of precipitation, lack of water resources, especially in the south, as well as insufficiently fertile soil, and create great agricultural potential.

– Switching from traditional to technologically advanced irrigation systems has not only helped us compensate for geographical and climate limitations, but has also led to the optimization of water consumption as a precious resource. It's therefore perhaps interesting to emphasize the importance of the irrigation system and equipment, the field in which our country has become one of the global leaders – Sonsoles Huidobro Martin-Laborda, deputy director of Industrial Technology and Professional Services of the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade (ICEX), says in her interview for eKapija.

This institute, which promotes cooperation of Spanish companies with international partners, has organized the country's participation in the Novi Sad Agricultural Fair together with the Department of Commerce and Economy of the Embassy of Spain in Belgrade, for two years in a row. The national pavilion will feature eight companies-leaders in the field, five of which took part in last year's exhibit as well. According to our interviewee, this confirms their efforts in the Serbian market and their desire to increase their presence.

Looking for partners in Serbia

Regarding the cooperation of the two countries in the field of agriculture, Martin-Laborda says that Spain can offer quality technology to Serbia, but also expert consulting when it comes to difficulties in which Spanish solutions have proven to be very effective. She primarily refers to soil irrigation and crop protection, production in plastic green houses, frost protection and similar solutions.

– We try to act as a link between companies in Spain and Serbia, so that they could get to know each other and exchange experiences, that is, in order to connect them as partners which will help each other and share knowledge and examples of good practices – our interviewee emphasizes and adds that a visit of a delegation of Serbian journalists to Spain was organized last year to that end, during which they were able to familiarize themselves with Spanish agricultural technology. They were also able to visit the plantations of certain agricultural producers and hear what their experiences were.

Martin-Laborda points out that the demand for Spanish technology is growing in East Europe, both in Serbia and the other countries of the region, creating further interest of Spanish companies in this market. As she emphasizes, the technology is very adaptable to the conditions of Serbian agriculture and features an excellent price-quality ratio.

– We plan to have as many companies from Spain as possible come to Serbia and to recognize quality Serbian companies which might act as our partners in this endeavor – Martin-Laborda says.

High share of agricultural products and technology in total trade

Our interviewee also reminds that the total trade between Spain and Serbia has been growing year by year and that it amounted to EUR 383.3 million in 2016, a large portion of which came from agricultural products and technology.

According to ICEX data, the export of agricultural machines and equipment from Spain to Serbia in 2016 amounted to EUR 10.25 million, whereas total exports reached EUR 200 million.

– The most imported product to Serbia was pork meat (EUR 20 million), followed by car parts and equipment and Spanish truck tractors and semitrailers, the import of which increased nearly four times (372.3%) compared to the previous year, amounting to EUR 6.65 million. Furthermore, Spain placed among the top five suppliers in Serbia when it comes to fertilizers and was second in the import of agricultural and horticultural sprayers and dispense guns to Serbia in 2016 – eKapija's interviewee points out.

The export of Serbian products to the Spanish market is growing as well. According to Sonsoles Huidobro Martin-Laborda, the export of Serbia to Spain in 2016 reached EUR 183.2 million, headed by furniture (EUR 38 million) and furniture components – the export product with the biggest growth in the past years, followed by corn and rubber products (EUR 48.6 million), with the export of pneumatic products, specifically those of Tigar Pirot, being dominant.

Complying with EU norms for new investments

Sonsoles Huidobro Martin-Laborda says that Spanish companies see Serbia as a strategic partner, which is why ICEX will continue carrying out activities such as taking part in the Novi Sad Agricultural Fair in order to enhance the business cooperation.

– We believe that good models can be taken from countries with years of experience and be adjusted to the needs of the Serbian market. When it comes to Serbia's European integration, complying with the EU norms is certain to attract more investments, and structural reforms have already been conducted and have produced positive results. Many Spanish and Serbian companies cooperate on projects financed by the EU funds and we are glad that the satisfaction is mutual – eKapija's interviewee expresses her optimism.

Martin-Laborda highlights, among some of the most important Spanish investments in Serbia, the Inditex Group, which encompasses brands such as Zara, Bershka, Pull & Bear, Massimo Dutti, Stradivarius, Oysho and Zara Home. Their retail store chain, as she points out, secures a considerable number of jobs, as does the entire chain of other companies revolving around those companies. Aside from Inditex, the groups Cortefiel and Koteks-Viscofan operate in Serbia, and a certain number of Spanish companies is working on realizing infrastructural projects in Serbia, such as the Corridor 10 sections (AZVI, Rubau), the Zezelj Bridge (AZVI) and potable water facilities (Aqualia). As Sonsoles Huidobro Martin-Laborda adds, in addition to successful cooperation, it's important for end clients to be satisfied as well.

Marko Andrejic

Ambasada Kraljevine Španije Beograd

Tigar a.d. Pirot

Edificio Inditex Arteixo

Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade

ICEX

Sonsoles Huidobro Martin Laborda

agricultural technology

agricultural production equipment

Novi Sad Agricultural Fair

Embassy of Spain in Belgrade

import of agricultural machines to Serbia

import of agricultural equipment

truck tractors

semitrailers

sprayers

dispense guns

corn

Tigar Pirot

Inditex Group

Zara

Bershka

Pull & Bear

Massimo Dutti

Stradivarius

Oysho

Zara Home

Cortefiel

Koteks Viscofan

AZVI

Rubau

Aqualia

trade between Spain and Serbia

soil irrigation

crop protection

production in plastic green houses

frost protection