MINIĆ: WITH GOOD HOSTS, REPUBLIKA SRPSKA IS BECOMING STRONGER AND BETTER

BIJELJINA, NOVEMBER 14 /SRNA/ - The Prime Minister of Republika Srpska, Savo Minić, officially opened the Semberija Meat Fair in Bijeljina, emphasizing that Republika Srpska has all the prerequisites to provide food from its own sources, which enables it to become stronger and better in every respect.

"Today, independent and self-sufficient is the one who has energy and food," added Minić.

According to him, Semberija is not only the largest granary of Republika Srpska, but its people, agricultural producers and processors, are also ambassadors of Srpska in the world.

"Domestic processed products are exported beyond the borders of Republika Srpska, and with their quality, we can compete with anyone in the region," Minić stated.

He added that the Government of Republika Srpska strongly supports food producers, noting that in just the past three years, more than BAM 173 million has been invested in livestock farming, of which BAM 42 million went to Semberija.

Addressing the participants and visitors of the fair, which brought together over 120 exhibitors from Serbia, Croatia, North Macedonia, the Federation of BiH, and Republika Srpska, the Prime Minister of Republika Srpska recalled the difficult period during the outbreak of African swine fever, especially in Semberija, and emphasized that the government’s measures at the time were effective and successful.

"We did a good job. Today, Republika Srpska already has 9,000 more pigs in fattening and 1,000 more bulls," Minić said.

The opening of the three-day fair in Bijeljina was also attended by the Minister of Economy and Entrepreneurship Vojin Mitrović and the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management Anđelka Kuzmić.

Participants and visitors were welcomed by Vladimir Gak, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Vojvodina, a partner of the fair, as well as Branimir Andrić, President of the Regional Chamber of Commerce in Bijeljina, who emphasized that Republika Srpska has the potential to produce healthy food both for domestic consumption and for export.

He said that currently, 50 percent of beef and pork in Republika Srpska is produced in Semberija.

On behalf of the organizers, companies Globus and ZP Vršani, Milenko Zupur, owner of Globus, thanked the Republika Srpska institutions for supporting the fair, as well as the business community in Bijeljina, noting that such support is lacking at the city level.

The fair is being held in a sales and exhibition tent, offering visitors a rich program of tastings, entertainment, and competitions.