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Matkovski, B., Zekić, S., Đokić, D., Jurjević, Ž., & Đurić, I. (2022). Export competitiveness of agri-food sector during the EU integration process: Evidence from the Western Balkans. Foods, 11(1), 10.

Trade agreements with the European Union (EU) and Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) significantly influenced the liberalisation of agri-food products in Western Balkan (WB) countries. In all Western Balkan countries, there has been an intensification of the trade of agri-food products and a partial change in the regional and commodity structures of trade. This paper aims to identify comparative advantages of agri-food sectors and consider its tendencies during the EU integration process. Additionally, this paper will discuss some opportunities for improvement of the export positions of agri-food products. In that context and based on the literature review, the indexes of revealed comparative advantages and its modified version will be used as a main method for analysis in this research. Results showed that all Western Balkan countries, except Albania, have comparative advantages in exporting agri-food products. It is evident that Serbia has the highest level of comparative advantages in this sector. Moreover, this paper suggests that all countries should aim to provide the best possible positions for their agri-food products during pre-accession negotiations for EU membership and take the necessary steps towards increasing the level of competitiveness in the common EU market.

https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11010010

Matkovski B., Zekić S., Jurjević Ž., Đokić D. (2022). The agribusiness sector as a regional export opportunity: evidence of the Vojvodina region. International Journal of Emerging Markets, 17(10), 2468-2489 DOI: 10.1108/IJOEM-05-2020-0560 

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to determine if the agribusiness sector can be an initiator of export on the emerging markets. For this aim, we analyzed export opportunities for the region of Vojvodina, the region in Serbia with the most potential for agribusiness. Design/methodology/approach: This paper uses the Comparative Advantage Index and the Index of Intra-industrial Integration to determine the region’s level of comparative advantage and the market’s level of integration on the main emerging markets. Findings: The results show that this region has the most competitive advantages in crop production – primarily in cereals and industrial plants – but the situation is not favorable for livestock production. Because of this, comparative advantage should be used as a factor for the growth of competitiveness in the sectors for which crop products are the raw material base. At the same time, agricultural policy measures should encourage more intensive agricultural production, which could create a better foundation for progress in the food industry. Research limitations/implications: Data collected on foreign trade at the level of statistical regions is not always reliable. Also, regional and local characteristics are specific to each country, so the ability to generalize conclusions is limited. Practical implications: This paper provides a useful review of the agri-food sector’s competitiveness and determines which agri-food segments have competitive advantages. It is essential for policymakers to identify what determinants improve or degrade the competitiveness of the region’s agri-food sector. Originality/value: Since there are a limited number of studies analyzing trends of competitiveness for the region’s agri-food sector, the paper will contribute to filling this gap. Furthermore, the framework is conceptually innovative in identifying the determinants that create export opportunities for the region on the international market.

https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJOEM-05-2020-0560/full/html

Matkovski B., Radovanov B., Zekić S. (2018). The Effects of Foreign Agri-food trade Liberalization in South East Europe. Economckycasopis. 66(9), 945-966.

Market liberalization in the countries of South East Europe (SEE), which wasa consequence of free trade agreements with the European Union (EU) and thecountries of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA), led tochanges in foreign trade flows of these countries’ agri-food products. As agri-foodproducts are a significant part of total foreign trade in these countries, the objectiveof this paper is to analyze the liberalization effects established by CEFTAand EU integration. A gravity model for panel data was estimated for the agri–food sector of all SEE countries for the period 2005 – 2015, and databases fromUN Comtrade and the World Bank were used to create an empirical base for thisstudy. The results confirmed the importance of CEFTA integration, which madea significant contribution to imports and exports within this sector in most SEEcountries. Additionally, the results showed that the Stabilization and AssociationAgreement (SAA) with the EU had limited effects on the import and export ofagri-food products in SEE countries.

http://ekonom.sav.sk/en/casopis/rocnik/9-2018a