Agribusiness is recognized as one of Macedonia's key economic sectors. It is already competitive in several areas and offers strong potential for both domestic and export growth. The Macedonia Seal of Quality and Agribusiness Assistance Program commenced in October 2003 and is designed to foster increased competitiveness at the industry and firm levels, building on its strategy that was implemented and the results that have been achieved over the past five years through the Macedonia Agribusiness Marketing Activity (MAMA).
MAMA aided the Macedonian meat and dairy industries to achieve dramatic growth via a comprehensive market-driven strategy, which created demand for high-quality Macedonian meat and dairy products and continues to help Macedonian producers and processors to obtain increased sales and higher unit prices. The centerpiece of MAMA was the Macedonian Seal of Quality (SOQ), a program that increased consumer demand for, and the supply of, high-quality Macedonian meat and dairy products. This success was achieved through an aggressive, industry-led transformation that resulted in the increased production of high-quality, branded food products that have become widely recognized and preferred by customers.
For more information on the SOQ program please visit the "seal of quality" web site at www.sealofquality.org.mk.
The Macedonia Seal of Quality and Agribusiness Assistance Program both strengthens and builds upon these activities. The project incorporates the following three main components:
Seal of Quality Assistance: Land O'Lakes is continuing to assist domestic food industries through the SOQ program, which will further support the development of branded products that can be sold for premium prices and compete with imports in Macedonia's increasingly competitive marketplace (in part due to WTO and EU initiatives). Specific activities will contribute to building the program's capacity for sustainability and ensuring its further growth and expansion. Anticipated tasks include:
1.Conducting a strategic assessment of the SOQ Program and planning for the future development of the program and handover to the Macedonian food industry
2. Raising participating firms and their products to higher levels of quality, thereby increasing sales and enhancing their brands
3. Expanding the scope of the SOQ Program to include the fruit and vegetable industries, and possibly other sectors as well.
Sheep Sector Assistance: Increased support will be provided to the sheep sector so that it can deliver products meeting the demands of the foreign and domestic markets identified by the Macedonia Competitiveness Activity (MCA). Technical assistance activities will be designed to improve each of the sheep industry categories: farm-level production, lamb slaughtering and cheese production, and the capabilities of industry associations.
Fruit and Vegetable Assistance: Assistance to fruit and vegetable producers and processors in areas such as raw material production and procurement, new product development, processing and packaging technology transfer, industry association development, quality control and food safety system implementation, and investor identification and development.
The Seal of Quality and Agribusiness Assistance Program in Macedonia is implemented by Land O'Lakes, an American farmer-owned, agribusiness cooperative that also is engaged in agricultural development projects in over thirty countries around the world.
For more information:
U.S.Agency for International Development
U.S Embassy, Samoilova 21,1000 Skopje, Macedonia
Telephone: +(389) 2 310 2000 Fax +(389) 2 310 2463
USAID Mission contact:
Meri Cuculoska
E-mail: mcuculoska@usaid.gov
USAID Development Outreach and Communication office
Biljana Velickovska, DOC Specialist