Kiev expects grain deal to be extended - Ukrainian infrastructure minister
MOSCOW. Oct 17 (Interfax) - Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Alexander Kubrakov has said he expects the Black Sea Grain Initiative will remain in effect after November 22.
"At the present time, there is no doubt that the grain corridor's operations will continue past November 22," Ukrainian media have quoted Kubrakov as saying in a statement circulated by the ministry.
Meeting with Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar at the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul on Sunday, Kubrakov said Turkey shares this position.
Since the launch of the initiative on July 22, over 7.7 million tonnes of agricultural produce has been exported from Ukrainian ports, which has stabilized food prices and should prevent a global starvation threat.
Kubrakov thanked UN representatives, particularly UN Coordinator for the Black Sea Grain Initiative Amir Mahmoud Abdulla, as well as Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar for productive cooperation.
The Ukrainian side also mentioned the need for the Joint Coordination Center to speed up the vessel inspection procedures, which should significantly increase the volume of grain exports to African, Asian, and European countries and prevent queueing during the inspections.
As reported earlier, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine signed a document under the UN auspices in Istanbul on July 22 to set up a sea corridor for exporting grain from the Ukrainian seaports of Odessa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny. The deal is formally to remain in effect until November 22, 2022.
The Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry said seven ships departed the Odessa and Yuzhny ports on Saturday, October 15, to deliver 101,000 tonnes of food to Asian and European countries.
"Taking these ships into account, 7.5 million tonnes of agricultural produce has been exported since the departure of the first ship carrying Ukrainian food," the ministry said on social media.
A total of 341 ships carrying food products intended for countries of Asia, Europe, and Africa have departed the Ukrainian ports.
In particular, four vessels carrying a total of 140,000 tonnes of agricultural produce for African, Asian, and European countries departed the Odessa and Yuzhny ports on Sunday, October 16, the ministry said. These include the Eaubonne bulker to deliver 53,300 tonnes of wheat to Kenya. The first Kenyan bulker, the Super Henry, with 51,400 tonnes of wheat is being currently unloaded at the Kenyan port of Mombasa.
According to the Infrastructure Ministry, a total of 1.1 million tonnes of foodstuffs has been shipped from Ukraine to African countries since the initiative has been launched. This includes five vessels hired by the UN World Food Program that have departed Greater Odessa ports to deliver 120,000 tonnes of grain to Ethiopia, Yemen, and Somalia.