Agricultural sector seeks closer cooperation with China

Ukraine's agricultural sector is interested in accelerated implementation of Ukrainian-Chinese agreements in various fields, including those in agriculture, the Information-Analytical Bulletin of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine informs.

This was stated by Mykola Prisyazhnyuk, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, at the meeting of Ukrainian part of Commission for Cooperation between Government of Ukraine and Government of China.

Experts say more work is needed in all areas of bilateral cooperation. And special attention will be paid to steps that help attract Chinese investment in local agricultural sector, as well as increased exports of Ukrainian agricultural products to China, emphasize the experts.

At the moment, agricultural sector is best prepared for such investments. The world population keeps growing. Also, the well-being is growing too, especially, in such densely populated countries as China and India. So, international need for agricultural products and finished foods will be growing.

And Ukraine is one of those countries with favorable climatic conditions, prime location, and ready for significant increase of output of finished foods, experts note.

Thus, in the 11 months of 2013, Ukrainian farmers exported to foreign markets agricultural products and finished food for 15.1 billion USD. In 2012, the exports amounted to 17.9 billion USD, and in 2011 – 12.8 billion USD.

Experts say that according to estimates of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, in the 2013/2014 marketing year, Ukraine will supply to China up to 5 million tons of grain and 350,000 tons of vegetable oil.

Also, the government expects that, in 2014, Ukrainian soybeans and barley will enter the Chinese market. At the end of 2013, proper phyto-sanitary protocols were signed by Prisyazhnyuk and representatives of Chinese General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine.