Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates are interested in deepening trade and economic relations in the agro-industrial complex and in development of new joint projects.
This was discussed during the meeting between Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine on European Integration - Olga Trofimtseva and Deputy Chairperson of the UAE Intergovernmental Commission, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation - Mohammed Sharaf.
"According to the results of 2017, the trade in agrarian and food products between Ukraine and the UAE amounted to $ 180 million, of which $ 170 million belongs to the export of Ukrainian products. We are pleased to note the positive dynamics in the development of our trade relations and continue our active cooperation with our UAE colleagues in order to increase the volume of bilateral trade in future. At the same time, we see significant potential in implementing bilateral projects in the agro industrial complex from green energy and irrigation to logistics and infrastructure ", - Olga Trofimtseva stated.
She added that an important task in the trading area is to diversify the commodity structure of both Ukrainian exports to the UAE and our import from this country. As Olga Trofimtseva noted, honey, confectionery and chocolate products, meat and by-products, vegetables and fruits, legumes and products made from them, the whole range of organic products and many others are among the commodity groups that can be exported to the UAE market in larger volumes.
For his part, Mohammed Sharaf added that the UAE really sees Ukraine as a very strong player in the global agrarian and food markets and values our country as a reliable partner that can effectively and on the basis of long-term mutually beneficial relations be an important component of ensuring the OAU food security.
In autumn of this year, according to Olga Trofimtseva, the visit of the Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Protection of the United Arab Emirates - Thani Ahmed Al-Zeyoudi is expected. As part of his arrival, it is planned to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine and the Ministry for Climate Change and Environmental Protection of the United Arab Emirates in the field of agriculture and food. The purpose of the project is to promote the bilateral trade-economic and investment cooperation in the agro-business.
For reference: Export of Ukrainian agricultural products to the UAE amounted to $ 170.2 million in 2017. Key goods: sunflower oil - $ 57.8 million, poultry eggs - $ 30.1 million, oilseed crops - $ 28.9 million, meat and by-products - $ 19.1 million, cereals - $ 9.7 million, vegetables - $ 3.6 million, sugar - $ 2.2 million. Import amounted to almost $ 10 million: tea and coffee - $ 9.1 million, tobacco - $ 0.5 million, essential oils - $ 0.3 million.
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