Press Clippings: AgBiz Program (Apr – Jun 2012)

In April 2012, the program's component on Strengthening Public Private Dialogue organized a workshop on Strategic Management for Subsector Standing Groups for fresh and processed fruits and vegetables. The workshop was held in Strumica and brought together farmers, processors, and traders to establish a system for ongoing communication among value chain participants and government institutions. The Subsector Standing Groups were established in accordance with the Law for Agriculture and Rural Development, which requires members to prepare an Annual Work Plan for 2012. The groups' primary goal is to improve the production, processing, marketing, and competitiveness of the fresh and processed fruits and vegetables sector. The USAID AgBiz Program's efforts in this area are part of a broader initiative to introduce sustainable export promotion activities and increase the operational efficiency of the Agency for Foreign Direct Investment and Export Promotion of Republic of Macedonia. A study tour was organized by USAID in April 2012, where representatives from the Agency for Foreign Direct Investment and Export Promotion of Republic of Macedonia and the Ministry of Economy visited Slovakia and the Czech Republic to learn about international best practices in export promotion. The tour aimed to provide practical knowledge in the area of export promotion and was seen as a key step in increasing the operational efficiency and human and institutional development of the Agency for Foreign Direct Investment and Export Promotion of Republic of Macedonia. The Macedonian delegation also visited the Slovak Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SARIO), the Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia, and the Czech Trade. The representatives from Macedonia also visited economic chambers and private sector associations in both countries. The study tour was seen as a key step in introducing sustainable export promotion activities and increasing the operational efficiency of the Agency for Foreign Direct Investment and Export Promotion of Republic of Macedonia. In addition to the AgBiz Program's efforts, the Federation of Farmers of Republic of Macedonia (FFRM) organized Vegetables Production Technology Trainings for primary producers of vegetables. The trainings aimed to improve the production techniques of vegetables and were followed up by articles in the FFRM's monthly magazine "Moja zemja". The articles discussed key factors such as soil, temperature, and irrigation that affect vegetable production. The trainings and articles were seen as important steps in improving the production and competitiveness of the fresh and processed fruits and vegetables sector in Macedonia.