Ukraine exports agricultural products worth 10 billion USD
2013-10-15 10:38:58
Over the first eight months of this year, Ukraine has exported agricultural products worth some 10 billion USD, some 25% of total exports.
The activities of domestic agricultural producers in foreign markets must become more effective, according to Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Mykola Prysiazhniuk, who said government has endeavored to strengthen the promotion of domestic agricultural products abroad.
«It is important to increase the supply of value-added products. Domestic producers need to be more proactive in foreign markets. The state, in turn, will strengthen its efforts to promote exporting domestic agricultural products,» Prysiazhniuk said, the Information-analytical Bulletin of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine informs.
Ukrainian farmers have long been overtaken traditional export industries, such as mechanical engineering and chemical production. The domestic agricultural complex has steadily increased exports for the past several years. In 2012, for example, the export of agricultural products increased by 5 billion USD, year-on-year.
Since the start of 2013, exports of finished agricultural products and foodstuffs have increased by 35%. Shipments abroad of flour and meat have doubled, while poultry and egg products exports increased by a third.
Experts say the export growth is the result of deliberate government policy to promote Ukrainian villages and to strengthen the position of Ukrainian farmers in both traditional and new markets, especially in Europe.
Additional opportunities for expanding exports of domestic products in the EU will emerge following the signing of the Association Agreement and creating the Free Trade Area, experts at the Ministry say.