This was said by the Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine for European Integration Olga Trofimtseva during the second Ukrainian-Lithuanian economic forum.
Today, Ukrainian agricultural sector is developing dynamically not only in terms of production and export capacity, but also in the areas of technology, infrastructure, and improving the efficiency of agricultural companies. Therefore today the agricultural sector is interesting for investments and development of bilateral economic cooperation with Lithuanian partners.
This was said by the Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine for European Integration Olga Trofimtseva during the second Ukrainian-Lithuanian economic forum.
"Today the Ukrainian exporters occupy leading positions in the Lithuanian market by commodities such as maize meal, soy beans and pulses. During 10 months of 2016 total agricultural exports to Lithuania amounted to $ 62.5 million. But cooperation in the agricultural sector - is not only a trade. We have many areas for deepening bilateral cooperation, joint investment projects, cooperation in the field of quality management and food safety, both at the business, and at the state level", - Olga Trofimtseva said.
According to Deputy Minister, there are already projects of technical support through which Ukraine is actively moving towards adaptation of legislation to EU standards in the area of veterinary, phytosanitary and livestock (project Twinning - assistance in the implementation of SPS obligations - Ed.). "By the end of 2017 we have to implement 44 European directives in this area. Today it has been already done about 35% of them. Lithuanian partners help us technically and by expertise of their specialists. Thanks to this we move much faster toward the implementation of Ukrainian legislation ", - Olga Trofimtseva said.
The Deputy Minister added that today the Ukrainian agricultural sector is investment attractive for Lithuanian partners in organic, niche production and processing for example meat, vegetables and fruits. This could be interesting for the development of joint ventures. And the agreements on free trade areas which Ukraine signed with many countries provide synergistic opportunities for Ukrainian and Lithuanian businesses. Olga Trofimtseva stressed that the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine is open for cooperation not only with foreign governments as well as representatives of foreign business to attract foreign direct investment.
For information:
For 10 months of 2016 the trade turnover of agricultural products between Ukraine and Lithuania amounted to $ 78.2 million. Exports amounted to - $ 62.5 million. Imports - $ 15.7 million. There were exported mainly: Vegetable oil - $ 18.1 million; residues and waste from the food industry - $ 12.5 million; grain cereals - $ 4.1 million; fruits, nuts and peel - $ 4.0 million; various other food products - $ 3.0 million; confectionery - $ 3.0 million. There were imported mainly: prepared or canned fish and shellfish - $ 4.0 million; residues and waste from the food industry - $ 2.4 million; Meat and offal - $ 1.9 million; products from grains and cereals - $ 1.7 million.