Ukraine intends to have deeper ties with Latvian agricultural sector
Ukraine pledges interest in developing cooperation with Latvia in the
context of the draft Ukraine-Latvia bilateral cooperation program in the field
of agro-industrial complex for 2017-2018. In particular, the point at issue is
about adapting Ukrainian legislation to the European Union norms, supporting
reforms, cooperation in the fish industry, veterinary and phytosanitary,
land sector, research cooperation and development of rural areas.
The issues of bilateral cooperation were tackled in the course of the
meeting between Maxim Martynyuk First Deputy Minister
of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine and Jānis
Dūklavs Minister of Agriculture of Latvia. The
meeting was also attended by representatives of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy
and Food of Ukraine, the State Agency for Fisheries and the State Inspection
for Consumer Protection of Ukraine as well as and representatives from the
Latvian side.
«Ukraine is a key player in the global food security system,
hence we comprehensively study international experience in agricultural
development and implementation of the relevant reforms. The best practices of
Latvia are important for us, in particular the issues of development of farming
and cooperation, land relations, prevention of African swine fever virus (ASFV)», emphasized Maxim Martynyuk.
The First Deputy Minister briefed interlocutors on the implementation of
reforms in Ukraine and the main priorities and indicators of Ukrainian
agro-industrial complex development. The conversation also involved the
transformation of the system of state support to agriculture, the acceleration
of the land reform, the development of the organic market, introduction of sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
In turn, Jānis Dūklavs
emphasized that Latvia is committed to deepen cooperation in the main areas of
the agro industrial complex. He placed a special emphasis on the experience of
Latvia regarding the creation of cooperatives, in the fight against ASFV, in
forest and fisheries management.
The parties also discussed the possibility of involving a special
advisor to the Government of Latvia for consultative assistance in implementing
of the bilateral cooperation program.