Video promoting traditional and authentic products premieres in autumn
A video about agricultural and food products and traditional handicrafts with geographic indication of origin will be premiered in November this year, to acknowledge their importance for a country's and its cities' and regions' recognizability, as they are strengthening the image of a territory and the population's local identity, while also being a source of economic power for their areas of origin.
The video is being made by NALED and Ethno Network with the support of Swiss Development Cooperation, and along with 57 products with protected geographical indication in Serbia, such as the Leskovac ajvar, Futog cabbage, Arilje raspberries, Sjenica white cheese, Pirot rugs, Bezdan silk damask, the film will also present authentic handicrafts such as the Stapar rug, Knjaževac double-knit socks, Tekeriš towel, typical Banat pattern.
The first takes were recorded today at the IV international weavers' colony organized in Dojkinci by Ethno Network in partnership with the cities of Pirot and Sombor, NALED and local crafts cooperative "Damsko srce" and with the support of the embassies of Canada and USA. The colony represents a unique manifestation for preservation and promotion of rug making and the weaving techniques as one of the most prominent traditional crafts, while also being a magnet for foreigners and tourists to visit Stara planina mountain and get authentic products such as rugs, hard cheese and ironed sausage, that have no point of sale in Belgrade.
- Handicrafts are an integral part of a cultural and tourism offer, they generate revenues for women in rural areas and help their social and economic affirmation. As a patron of this yearćs colony in Dojkinci, I have encouraged my diplomat colleagues to support the work of Ethno Network by taking part in the colony and buying rugs or other handicrafts from women living in the countryside – said the Ambassador of Canada Kati Csaba.
She visited the colony together with her colleagues from the embassies of USA, Australia, India, Belgium, Brasil, Switzerland, Sweden, Bulgaria, Norway and the EU, and they jointly awarded recognitions to children from Pirot area for the best artistic works with traditional Pirot rug motifs, and enjoyed the sights and beauty of Stara planina.
- Columbian coffee, champagne, Feta cheese, Leskovac ajvar and Pirot rug are products carrying geographic indication as proof of quality and authenticity. The efforts for introduction and consistent application of GI marks on traditional and autochtonous products in Serbia is supported by Switzerland and in our experience, the GI products have proven to be the seal of Swiss gastronomy and a serious source of revenues in tourism - said the Ambassador of Switzerland Philippe Guex.
The President of Ethno Network and Executive Director of NALED Violeta Jovanović added that the handicrafts, craft products and food with geographic indication of origin may serve as a strong generator of local development if the craftsmen and producers are provided incentives for design, packaging and placement of products.
- Developed program of self-employment subsidies generates family manufacturing, sustaining work engagement based on knowledge and skills that have been extended over generations, authentic for the region they live in – said Jovanović.
