The main topics of the meeting were the expansion of trade and economic relations between the two countries, including by processed foods such as juice concentrates, meat products, tomato paste and so on. In addition, a lot of potential in the Japanese market, which is characterized by high purchasing capacity and consumers’ paying capacity, have Ukrainian fresh and processed organic and niche products, such as fruit or honey. Mr.

Within the framework of the working visit of Ukrainian governmental delegation headed by the First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine - Minister of Economic Development and Trade Stepan Kubiv to Japan, there was held a meeting of the Deputy Minister Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Ms. Olga Trofimtseva and Deputy Minister of Economical Development and Trade of Ukraine Ms. Nataliya Mykolska with the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan Mr. Katsuo Yakuro.

The main topics of the meeting were the expansion of trade and economic relations between the two countries, including by processed foods such as juice concentrates, meat products, tomato paste and so on. In addition, a lot of potential in the Japanese market, which is characterized by high purchasing capacity and consumers’ paying capacity, have Ukrainian fresh and processed organic and niche products, such as fruit or honey. Mr. Yakuro invited Ukrainian food producers interested in entering the Japanese market, to visit the largest specialized exhibitions FOODEX in March 2017 and to present their products to potential Japanese customers.

Trofimtseva stressed during the negotiations with Japanese counterpart on the need for closer cooperation between ministries in the development of investment projects, including those with the involvement of Japan International Cooperation Agency JICA and offered to organize a business mission for the representatives of Japanese companies interested not only in trade but also in investment cooperation with Ukrainian companies next year in order to establish direct business contacts. Investments in logistics, infrastructure facilities, irrigation, processing sector and quality control laboratories, the development of smart farming, equipment and machinery for small farmers are among the priority areas for investments in the agricultural sector of Ukraine.

For information: the turnover of agricultural products between Ukraine and Japan in 2015 amounted to 156.6 mln USD, including export - 154.8 million USD. The main product groups that were exported to Japan from Ukraine are cereals, tobacco and its products.