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World Jewish News
Russia Offers its Grain to Israel
09.06.2009
Israel intends to shift from procurement of U.S. grain to Russian supplies. This was agreed yesterday by the Ministers of Agriculture of Russia and Israel at the World Grain forum in St. Petersburg.
As reported by the RBK information agency, today Israel imports about 4 million tons of grain, and 40-50% of this amount come from the United States. Israeli Agriculture Minister Shalom Simchon ("Avoda" political party) said that at present the share of Russia in the supply of grain to the Holy Land is extremely small. As previously reported by the IzRus portal, the President of Russia appealed before the forum to foreign investors to actively invest in the grain industry, and a number of Israeli companies have shown interest to invest in the agriculture of Russia.
"We invite you to increase imports of Russian grain," said the head of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia Elena Skrynnik. However, she noted that in addition to the growth of Russian grain supplies, Russia is also interested in developing cooperation with Israel in the field of commercial fish farming, livestock breeding, agricultural science and education, exhibition activities. Besides, she said that Russia is currently implementing a number of joint projects using the latest Israeli technology, including the reconstruction of greenhouses and the organization of the mini-factories for the production of food, juices, as well as the processing of poultry and turkey meat.
The ministers of two countries agreed to establish a joint working group to address issues relating to phytosanitary and veterinary control of the supply of agricultural products, as well as to the increase in Russian grain exports to Israel. Summing up the results of the World Grain Forum, agricultural ministers of Russia and Israel noted that "at present, all nations of the world must act together to solve the food problem."
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