Baltic States – CIS, Latvia, Legislation, Markets and Companies, Port, Transport, Ukraine

Photo: zm.gov.lv

Ukrainian Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Oleksiy Pavlenko during his meeting with Latvian Agricultural Minister Janis Duklavs (Greens/Farmers) today admitted that Ukraine is interested in learning from Latvia's successful experience in forestry management, especially sustainable management of state-owned forests.

The ministers discussed the priority cooperation directions. In this respect, Alexander Kovalchuk, the Chairman of the Ukrainian State Forest Resources Agency, is scheduled to meet with Roberts Stripnieks, the president of Latvijas Valsts Mezi (LVM), the manager of Latvia's state-owned forests.

Speaking about fishery sector, Ukraine voiced a wish to start cooperation with experts of Latvian Bior environmental science institute. Yarema Kovaliv, the Chief of the Ukrainian State Agency of Fisheries, will meet with Bior director Aivars Berzins and visit Mottra aquaculture company.

A delegation led by Pavlenko has arrived in Latvia on Monday to promote experience exchange in forestry, aquaculture and cooperation. The Ukrainian minister is expected to visit the Riga Freeport to discuss transit of agricultural products through Latvian ports.

Duklavs and Pavlenko on October 27 signed a Memorandum of Understanding, providing that Latvia and Ukraine will be exchanging experience about accession to the EU, in particular as regards agricultural matters and administration of the EU funds. They will also exchange experience as regards development of farming cooperatives, organization of agricultural training and consultations and will seek to increase bilateral trade in agricultural produce and food.

Ukraine is among Latvia's ten most important trade partners in agricultural, food and fishery products.

The most important export products are non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages with the total export value of EUR 43.7 million, followed by meat and fish products with the export value of EUR 7.4 million, and instant coffee, ready-made dressings, ice-cream with the export value of EUR 5.9 million.

At the same time, the most important import products from Ukraine are flour products and confectionery worth EUR 7.1 million, rye, corn worth EUR 6.4 million, as well as non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages worth EUR 5.9 million.