Russia interested in boosting presence in Saudi Arabian food product market

MOSCOW. June 1 (Interfax) - Russia is interested in expanding its presence in the food products market of Saudi Arabia, the Agriculture Ministry said in a statement following negotiations between Russian Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev and the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture of Saudi Arabia Abdulrahman Al-Fadli.

Owing to the joint work of the agriculture ministries of Russia and Saudi Arabia, cooperation between the two nations over the past few years has strengthened significantly, Patrushev was quoted as saying in the statement. Despite the pandemic, the turnover of agricultural goods and food products between the countries remained level in 2021.

The turnover of agricultural products between Russia and Saudi Arabia in 2021 amounted to $694.1 million, of which Russian exports accounted for $686 million, the Agriculture Ministry's Agroexport center said. In particular, barley deliveries totaled $257.7 million, wheat - $141.3 million, poultry - $57.2 million, sunflower oil - $39.6 million and chocolate products $1.1 million.

Meat, dairy and confectionary products are among the promising export items, the ministry said. Furthermore, the ministry said that the development of trade cooperation could be driven by an increase in supplies of domestic halal products, the high quality of which has already been recognized in Persian Gulf countries.

The parties pointed to the high level of cooperation between the oversight agencies of Russia and Saudi Arabia during the talks. As a result of this work, certificates for the primary types of livestock products have been agreed upon, which has made it possible to boost supplies from Russia.

Russia is planning to take part in the 39th agricultural exhibition in Riyadh this fall.