Agriculture, Baltic Export, China, Latvia, Markets and Companies

Laimdota Straujuma and Yang Guoqiang. Riga, 30.04.2013. Photo: zm.gov.lv

One of the most efficient ways to improve and develop trade flows between the two countries is exchanging information between the European Union and Chinese authorities about their requirements and regulations on trade, including harmonization of veterinary certificates, said Straujuma.

The minister informed the ambassador about the current situation in Latvian agriculture, and the officials also discussed further cooperation opportunities between Latvia and China, including trade.

Straujuma also informed the ambassador that she intends to visit China, accompanied by a business delegation, in order to foster export of Latvian food products to China. The ambassador said that Latvian products were known for high quality, therefore China was interested in the development of closer cooperation with Latvian producers.

According to the Agriculture Ministry's data, export of Latvian agricultural, food and fisheries products to China totaled LVL 3.34 million in 2012. The main commodity that Latvia exports to China on a regular basis is blueberries, which accounted for 90.5% of the total value of Latvian exports to China in 2012.