Olexii Pavlenko: Ukraine eager to cooperate with Kazakhstan in agrarian sector

"Kazakhstan is one of the largest partners of Ukraine among the CIS countries. Our two states have longstanding trade relations and close economic ties, so the partnership with Kazakhstan in agriculture remains an important direction of activity for the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine. We are interested in expanding trade cooperation and exchange of experience in the agricultural sector aimed at improving the efficiency of trade and economic cooperation", stressed Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Olexii Pavlenko.

According to the Minister, for 11 months of 2015 the trade turnover between Ukraine and Kazakhstan made up US $ 233 million. The share of exports amounted US $ 224 million, import - US $9 million.

Among foods mostly exported by Ukrainian producers to Kazakhstan are grain products and cereals (US $82 million), cocoa beans, its products and chocolate (US $27 million), confectionary (US $18 million), meat and meat by-products (US $20.6 million), cheeses and yoghurts (US $14 million). There is exported in large amount alcohol (US $8 million), sugar (US $ 7 million.), margarine (US $7 million) etc.

"The enterprises of the sugar industry have good prospects for cooperation with Kazakhstan. In particular, throughout the first 11 months of 2015 exports of sugar increased almost 4 times as compared with the same period of 2014. The growing dynamics also demonstrate exports of grain, grain products, confectionery, cocoa beans, oils. At the same time, Ukrainian producers are eager to expand cooperation with Kazakhstan in the dairy industry. Let me remind you that at the end of June 2015 we had managed to agree on the lift of temporary restrictions on the import into the territory of Kazakhstan of dairy and meat products produced by 8 Ukrainian companies. Since late September, restrictions on the export to Kazakhstan were removed for another 6 enterprises", added Olexii Pavlenko.