This was stated by Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Taras Kutovyi during a meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Macedonia to Ukraine Mr. Stole Zmejkoski.
Ukraine is interested in development of bilateral cooperation with Macedonia in agriculture.
This was stated by Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Taras Kutovyi during a meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Macedonia to Ukraine Mr. Stole Zmejkoski.
"Since 2009, the trade of industrial products between Ukraine and Macedonia is fully liberalized. Unfortunately, the Agreement does not apply to agricultural products, except for some positions. I think it is time to care this gap, "- Taras Kutovyi said during the meeting.
In their turn, the Macedonian side has agreed to deepen bilateral relations between the two countries and stressed that Ukraine has established itself as a reliable partner.
"Now we need to carry out an in-depth analysis of the financial and economic impact of further trade liberalization within the Free Trade Agreement between Ukraine and the Republic of Macedonia", - the Minister said and added that the abolition of duties on the import of goods under the agreement will affect the revenues to the State Budget and will have an impact on certain sectors of the agricultural sector of Ukraine.
At the end of the meeting Taras Kutovyi assured Stole Zmejkoski that Ukraine is interested in development of bilateral cooperation in agriculture, including on the development of trade and economic cooperation, sectoral cooperation, mutual participation in specialized exhibitions and fairs to enhance Ukrainian-Macedonian cooperation.
For information:
Bilateral trade relations between countries are on the basis of the Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of Macedonia and Ukraine, signed January 18, 2001 in Skopje and ratified by the Law of Ukraine on July 5, 2001 № 2599-III. The agreement entered into force on 10.09.2001.
During January - October 2016 Ukraine exported agricultural products with amount of 2.3 mln. USD:
- Poultry - to 987 thousands USD
- Sugar - 803 thousands USD
- Seeds and spores for sowing - to 457 thousands USD
- Flax seeds and other oilseeds - 76 thousands USD.
During January - October 2016 Ukraine imported agricultural products from Macedonia with amount of 4.6 mln. USD, incl.:
- Raw tobacco - 3.6 million USD
- Cabbage - to 913 thousands USD
- Grapes and other fruit - 32 thousands USD