SAP Success Story - ABD Prom Certification

The program aimed to address a key constraint to growing or maintaining Serbia's agricultural exports, as buyers in western markets such as the EU and the USA increasingly require suppliers to meet these standards. The grant program covered 50% of the cost of preparation and 70% of the cost of certification, up to a limit of $5,000 per company. In 2009, the Project awarded 28 grants for the adoption of international standards. ABD Prom, a private fruit processing and exporting company from western Serbia, was the first company to receive GlobalGAP certification as a result of Project assistance. This certification was a critical achievement for ABD Prom's business, as their French customer had informed them that they would no longer purchase sour cherries without the GlobalGAP certification. The award of this certification played a key role in ABD Prom's exports of sour cherries in 2009, with exports worth $1.4M as of the end of September 2009. ABD Prom's GlobalGAP certification allowed them to export frozen fruit to international markets. The company's owner, Mr. Aleksandar Jakovljevic, advised other companies to use the USAID Agribusiness Project grant program and obtain certification, citing the benefits of a guarantee that products can be exported to international markets. The certification process initially appeared complicated, but ABD Prom was able to meet the requirements and establish a successful export business. The Project's grant program supported the adoption of international quality standards, including GlobalGAP and ISO. Companies in Serbia that export to western markets are under pressure from their foreign customers to obtain these standards, or they will no longer be able to export to these markets. ABD Prom's experience demonstrates the importance of meeting these standards for businesses in the agricultural sector. The company's goal is to have not only their own orchards, but also the orchards of their small farmer suppliers, GlobalGAP certified, serving as a role model for farmers in the region and promoting awareness of the need for higher quality standards.