World meat industry news

Russian agribusiness companies are implementing 320 export-oriented projects with a total investment volume of more than 1.1 trillion rubles. As a result of their implementation, 42 thousand jobs will be created or supported, and annual export revenue after the projects reach full capacity will amount to $8.6 billion.

Such data was voiced by experts at the strategic (foresight) session “Approaches to assessing investment projects in the field of export of agricultural products”, held on October 4 at the 25th Russian agro-industrial exhibition “Golden Autumn - 2023”.

As noted by Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Russia Sergei Levin, due to the development of agriculture and processing industries, Russia is steadily increasing food exports to the world market. This process especially accelerated after the launch of the federal project “Export of Agro-Industrial Products”. As a result of its implementation, back in 2020, supplies of agricultural products to foreign markets exceeded the volume of imports.

The federal project, in particular, made it possible to create an infrastructure that helps exporting companies formulate export strategies, determine growth points and directions for their development.

The implementation of investment projects will help develop export potential, including through diversifying the product line and increasing their degree of processing.

According to the head of the Federal Center “Agroexport” Dmitry Krasnov, today Russian companies are implementing 320 export-oriented investment projects, 73 of them launched in 2022. “What share of these projects do companies pledge for export? It is clear that in the grain and fat-and-oil industries this percentage is high. But in the fishing industry, 70% of the products produced within the framework of these projects are planned to be exported, in the meat industry - 27%, in the dairy industry - 23%. Thus, without intensive development of the export direction, companies do not feel sustainable development in the long term,” emphasized Krasnov.

New investments in the agricultural sector will also strengthen Russia’s position in global agricultural markets.

Among the key areas of export activity, according to the acting director of the Department of Strategic Development of Rosselkhozbank Guzel Gimranova, it is worth highlighting the Arab countries of the Middle East, African countries and China. “Rosselkhozbank is constantly increasing its export lending. Thus, in the first half of the year, 10% more loans were issued to Russian export-oriented companies than in the same period last year. The total amount of support amounted to almost 630 billion rubles,” Gimranova cited the data. In addition, the bank implements its own educational programs, such as the “Farmer School”, where students, among other things, learn the basics of export activities.

MGIMO Vice-Rector for Development Artem Malgin also spoke about the training of specialists in foreign economic activity. Together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rosselkhozbank, the department of “International agricultural markets and foreign economic activity in the agro-industrial complex” was created at the university. Also, as part of the implementation of the Priority 2030 program, the Institute of World Agricultural Markets project is being developed. Gradually, the university is forming a library for participants in foreign trade activities, including foreign language dictionaries with agricultural terminology.

After the foresight session, Agroexport, together with Rosselkhozbank and industry experts, conducted training on the formation of export strategies for specialists from companies producing meat, dairy and other finished products.

Also on October 4, Agroexport signed bilateral agreements on cooperation and interaction with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Rostov Region and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Resources of the Nizhny Novgorod Region. The agreements are aimed at developing the export of agricultural products and involving enterprises of the two regions in export activities.

During the signing of the agreement, Deputy Governor - Minister of Agriculture of the Rostov Region Konstantin Rachalovsky expressed confidence that cooperation with Agroexport will significantly expand the export potential. “It is very important for us to receive in-depth advice on the export of processed products. There are still few enterprises in this sector, and they need consulting assistance,” he added.