Hungarian farm minister conducts talks with Russian colleague in Moscow – UPDATE

Budapest, February 6 (MTI) – Hungarian farm minister Sándor Fazekas had talks with his Russian counterpart Aleksandr Tkachev in Moscow on Monday after the opening of the Prodexpo-2017 international exhibition for food, beverages, and food raw materials.

Establishing joint ventures and food processing companies, and technology export could be key areas of Hungarian-Russian agricultural cooperation in future, Fazekas told MTI by phone. He said cattle breeding, dairy and meat processing, seed production, fruit and vegetable processing and feed production could hold important opportunities for Hungarian companies.

Twelve Hungarian companies are showing about 100 products at the Prodexpo-2017 exhibition, including wines, spices, sweets and sparkling wines — products not affected by the Russian embargo on EU food products, the minister said.

UPDATE

“Founding joint ventures could be an important future area of Russian-Hungarian agricultural cooperation”, the two countries’ agriculture ministers determined during their negotiations in Moscow on Monday.

In a telephone statement to Hungarian news agency MTI following the meeting, Mr Fazekas said: “In addition to founding joint ventures, the establishment of processing companies and technological exports are also to be given an important role in bilateral agricultural cooperation. Accordingly, areas that could be of importance to Hungarian enterprises include cattle farming, milk processing and meat industry activities, as well as seed cultivation, fruit and vegetable processing and feed production”.

“This is something on which regional relations may also be founded, because there are areas in which there is major interest in cooperation with Hungarian partners”, he stressed. Mr Fazekas also mentioned that a group of Hungarian businesspeople had accompanied the Hungarian delegation to Moscow, and will be attending a business forum and receiving information on investment opportunities.

“Some 60 countries are participating in this year’s Prodexpo-2017 trade fair, including 12 Hungarian enterprises with some 100 different products on a 200 square metre stand. The Hungarian products on show include wines, spices, desserts and champagnes, meaning goods that are not affected by the embargo”, he highlighted.

The recent problems caused by avian flu were also discussed at the meeting, with regard to which Mr. Fazekas pointed out that the majority of Hungarian poultry products are included in the embargo, so a new import ban would only effect certain product categories, with regard to which further negotiations are required with the Russian authorities.

In his opening speech at the Expo, Mr. Fazekas also stressed that last week’s meeting in Budapest between the Hungarian Prime Minister and the Russian President could give further impetus to agricultural relations between the two countries.

Photo: Csaba Pelsőczy/Ministry of Agriculture

Source: MTI/Ministry of Agriculture Press Office