Israeli businesses express considerable interest in the Ukrainian agricultural sector. This applies to irrigation systems, small and medium farming, dairy and meat production. We observe a truly great interest, as agribusiness is a profitable branch, and Ukraine is one of the countries that managed to increase production in a short time. Taking this into account, today, Ukraine is actively preparing to launch a free trade zone with Israel. This step will further strengthen the implementation of Ukraine’s trade policy. For instance, the two countries are going to hold a session of the bilateral Intergovernmental Commission this summer, Oleksii Pavlenko, the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, informed in an interview.

Speaking of the existing bilateral projects, the Minister mentioned the cooperation with MASHAV (the Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation), saying: “We now have an active cooperation with the MASHAV Agency. In the framework of the 7-years long project, 35 thousands of Ukrainian small and medium farms will receive education and access to Israeli technologies, for example, in irrigation. This is really a valid and successful project, and it is attractive, among others, for Israeli businessmen, who are actively engaged in the sphere of irrigation systems. We discussed this issue and received a generally positive consent on the part of both MASHAV and businesses”.

The Minister noted that the Ukrainian agricultural sector had a lot of serious areas for development, therefore, many Israeli companies, possessing most advanced technologies in the world in practically all fields, were welcomed to cooperate.

Moreover, according to the Minister, Ukraine is going to launch joint educational programs in the sphere of agriculture. These programs will be discussed during the session of the Intergovernmental Commission.

“We visited the Agriculture Research Organization “Volcani” in Israel, and at the session of the Commission, we are going to discuss joint projects for research and development of products at the level of the two powerful institutions – the Israeli “Volcani”, and on the part of Ukraine – the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine”, Oleksii Pavlenko reported.