March 14, 2012
Serbia's Koteks to export meat to EU
In Belgrade's municipality Surcin a new slaughterhouse was opened on Sunday (Mar 11) by Serbian Minister of Agriculture and Trade Dusan Petrovic as part of the meat processing company Koteks, which obtained a certificate for exporting to the EU.
Petrovic underlined that the event represents a concrete step towards taking advantage of opportunities that are opening up for citizens, after Serbia was granted the candidate status for EU membership.
Petrovic said that around EUR10 million (US$13 million) was invested in this slaughter-house, and that during 2011, 100,000 pigs and 14,000 cows were processed into meat and meat products.
The minister underlined the necessity for increasing Serbia's live stock, and boosting the cattle industry, as well as improving the breed of the cattle.
Petrovic noted that the government had recently abolished taxes for import of cattle for further feed in the country, and that companies would be able to take out subsidised loans worth up to EUR500,000 (US$653,000) with an annual interest rate of 6%.
The meat industry Koteks is part of the business system Interkomerc.
The company was founded in 1992, and registered as a company that produces, sells and processes meat.
The company has several certificates, including HACCP, HALAL, and at the start of 2012 it secured the export number for markets of Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
The company supplies the national market through major trade chains such as Delhaize, Idea, Mercator, Veropoulos…
Besides the corporate brand, Koteks also produces private labels for leading trade chains in Serbia and wider. Koteks hires 200 workers.
A large number of public figures and economic professionals attended the opening of the new Koteks abattoir, including presidents of the Serbian and Belgrade Chambers of Commerce, Milos Bugarin and Milan Jankovic respectively, representatives of the veterinary department, cattle breeders, trade chains, banks, and insurance companies.
