Belgrade, 23 December 2021 (MIA) – Serbian Agriculture Minister Branislav Nedimovic has said that the main benefit for agriculture, stemming from the agreements signed as part of the Open Balkan initiative, is the alignment of lab procedures between Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia and cutting waiting times at borders due to phytosanitary and veterinary control. Commenting on the agreements signed by the three countries this week in Tirana, Minister Nedimovic said that trade has been visibly improved, MIA’s Belgrade correspondent reports. This year, export of goods from Serbia into North Macedonia is increased by 15% and by 19% into Albania, he told Politika daily in an interview. “In the case with Albania, Serbia in the first ten months exceeded last year’s result,” said the Minister. Under the agreements, veterinary and phytosanitary border inspections are open seven days a week. Before they were signed, they used to work 24 hours only on one side of the border. It is important for entrepreneurs that lab analyzes have been aligned and they are valid in Skopje, Belgrade or Elbasan, Nedimovic said. “This was a stepping stone in the past, but it is already gone. It is the main achievement of the Open Balkan in agriculture,” he added. Trade in agricultural produces between Serbia and North Macedonia is EUR 260 million and EUR 70 million with Albania. According to statistical data of the Serbian statistical office, Serbia mostly exports in North Macedonia cereals and cereals-based products, vegetables and fruit, and dairy, whereas North Macedonia mainly exports in Serbia fruit and vegetables. Serbia and Albania mainly trade beverages, dairy, dairy products fruit and vegetables.