Tajikistan prepared to boost fruit and vegetable exports to Russia by 400%
DUSHANBE. Aug 13 (Interfax) - Tajikistan has the opportunity to increase fruit and vegetable exports to Russia by 400% and is preparing the corresponding proposal for the Russian authorities.
"A package of proposals will be developed over the month and after clearance with key agencies, it will be submitted for the government's review before being presented to the Russian authorities," the press secretary for the republic's Agriculture Ministry, Narzullo Dadabayev, told journalists on Wednesday.
"In line with the initial variant that is built on our country's real potential, Tajikistan is prepared to increase fruit and vegetable exports to Russia fivefold," he said.
A representative from Tajikistan's Economic Development and Trade Ministry has said that the republic has the potential to increase fruit and vegetable exports to Russia. The representative did not name specific figures, however.
According to data from Tajikistan's Agriculture Ministry, the country harvested 350,000 tonnes of vegetables in H1 2014, along with 55,000 tonnes of fruit and 130,000 tonnes of melons and gourds.
In monetary terms, exports of Tajikistan's products to Russia totaled $50 million in January-June, which was 13.4% more than in the same period of last year. Trade turnover between the two countries advanced 73.4% to $756.6 million. In addition, Russia accounted for 26.2% of Tajikistan's foreign trade in the first half of the year.
