On invitation by German Federal Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Cem Özdemir, the Slovenian Minister, Ms. Irena Šinko, participated on 19 January in the official opening ceremony of the IGW trade fair, opening again its gates after a gap of two years due to Covid-19 pandemic. Now, the fair is open for visitors.

This year as well, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food (MAFF) is presenting itself in this greatest agricultural fair that during ten days is visited by approximately half a million visitors. This year, Slovenia is presented as a green and ecological country and visitors may familiarize themselves with our country through the exquisite culinary art, exquisite wines (presented are all the three vine-growing regions), apiculture and apicultural products. Slovenia is presented as a tourist destination by the support of the Slovenian Tourist Organisation. Slovenian wines and apiculture are promoted in the Berlin fair specifically by the Wine and Honey Queens of Slovenia / Vinska in Medena kraljica Slovenije.

On 19 January in the exhibition room, Minister Šinko held several meetings and bilateral meetings with foreign delegations. In the forenoon, the Slovenian exhibition booth was visited by the German delegation of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, headed by the Minister Mr. Cem Özdemir; the EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Janusz Wojciechowski; Berlin’s Governing Mayor, Ms. Franziska Giffey, and other high guests and representatives of agricultural institutions in Germany.

Within the scope of the trade fair, a central event took place on 20 January, the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) – the 15th Berlin Agriculture Ministers’ Conference, titled: “Food Systems Transformation: A Worldwide Response to Multiple Crises”. The Berlin Agriculture Ministers’ Conference was attended by over 70 Ministers and Delegations from around the Globe, and representatives of major international organisations.

During the visit to Berlin, Minister Šinko will take the opportunity to participate in other events within the scope of the trade fair, and to meet with the representatives of the Slovenian national community in Berlin.