REUTERS
Grain crops, vegetable oils, meat, and offal are the major staples of Ukrainian agri-exports to the KSA's markets.
Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Olha Trofimtseva says Ukraine in January-September 2018 boosted exports of agricultural products to the market of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) by 17% year-over-year (y-o-y) to US$362.9 million.
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"I'm very pleased to note the positive development of bilateral trade in agricultural and food products between our countries. In January-September 2018, Ukrainian exports to the KSA market amounted to $362.9 million, having increased by 17% compared to the same period last year," the ministry's press service quoted Trofimtseva as saying on November 22 following a meeting with delegates of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
At the same time, Trofimtseva noted Ukraine's readiness to become a key partner of Saudi Arabia in ensuring the KSA's food security, since according to Ukraine's sectoral export strategy, Saudi Arabia is among the priority countries to develop trade and economic relations in the agro-industrial complex until 2026.
The official added that the major staples of Ukrainian agri-exports to the KSA's markets were grain crops, vegetable oils, meat, and offal. The main task now is to expand the range of Ukrainian products shipped to Saudi Arabia.
"This refers to honey, certified organic products, confectionery, berries and fruits, and products of their processing. For our part, we are interested in importing Saudi fruits, for example, date fruit," the Ukrainian deputy minister said.
Ukrainian grain market operators are interested in increasing exports to Saudi Arabia and are ready to get to know the procedures and standards necessary for bidding in tenders for wheat and barley supplies, which is proposed by the Saudi Grains Organization, she said. In addition, the parties discussed the provision by the Saudi side of information on biosecurity requirements for importing apples and berries to Saudi Arabia, as well as other issues of cooperation in the field of phytosanitary and veterinary medicine.
The Ukrainian official also noted the importance of investment cooperation in the agro-industrial complex for the development of bilateral trade.