Next week in May 2025 hundreds of farmers, agriculturalists, business and trade people from dozens of countries will come to Serbia to participate in a traditional Novi Sad International Agri Fair – 92nd Sajam. I’m trying to figure out exact reasons why they come to Serbia, in particular.
Some traders and exhibitors can’t find enough support in their countries. They say, – Here in Serbia people are friendlier in general, and which is why, they would help them with export efforts. Others are looking for prospective partners in this new for them market. Some looking for distributors to take care of their product delivery and distribution centers.
Majority of newcomers are dreamers hoping for better, faster and easier ways to do business here. Because people are trustworthy here, there are many wonderful village networks involved in self-help, some have no better ideas than to come here to check out competition and opportunities. They want to listen and to learn.
Many exhibitors here are in search of new ideas and growth opportunities. They figure that since Slovakia works good for their products then why not try to expand into Serbia. They think that logistics in Vojvodina is in a good shape and therefore they could use Serbia as their base for Southeast Europe.
And all of them expect to make a few extra euros which is also a great idea.
Little guy hopes to find an affordable entry point to the EU neighborhood, and start trucking their products without EU prices. He hopes to meet a decision-maker right here on the floor of Sajam without bureaucracy and red tape of Big Fairs such as Frankfurt-am-Main for example. He thinks and expects that the laws here in Serbia are easier and more human.
They think of expansion and finding a lot of available, able-bodied and well-educated labor and workforce here in Serbia. Overall, the european farmers just became disillusioned and disappointed with the rule of EU clerks and big bosses.
From the other hand, the median net monthly pay in Serbia in 2024 was about 76 000 dinara (648 euro, 725 usd in current prices) which is closer to poverty level in the EU, considering the prices in Serbia are closer to the European ones. In Novi Sad there are plenty of Second Hand Clothes stores, cheap bread in bakeries on every corner, plenty of dealers buying / selling gold to those with or without cash on hand. Land is not directly for sale yet, but a thoughtful and resourceful foreigner can buy a Serbian company with land, or set up their own Serbian company and get land with avalable well-educated workforce. So, yes, many exhibitors will double as agents, scouts, business brokers or spies looking for opportunities to look and ask around and get something for cheap. In this sense, Serbia IS the Land of Opportunity.