Israel is interested in Ukrainian beef imports and is mulling over the possibility of buying over 2,500 tonnes of such meat per month, according to the Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry`s press service.
”Ukrainian beef exports will be in great demand in Israel. The point at issue is at least 2,500 tonnes of meat per month. Moreover, Israeli companies are ready to help both with obtaining a kosher certificate and with addressing other veterinary issues,” the press service quoted Deputy Agrarian Minister Olha Trofimtseva as saying.
At the same time, the press service noted that Israel is also interested in long-term cooperation with Ukraine.
In the near future, the Israeli side intends to come to Ukraine, in particular, to visit Ukrainian eggs production facilities, as it considers the resumption of eggs imports.
”Ukrainian businesses, like the Israeli importers, are interested in solving this issue [resumption of Ukrainian eggs exports]. So I`m sure we will be able to do it quickly enough,” Trofimtseva said.
Israel is also interested in boosting cooperation with Ukraine in the fields of aquaculture, phytosanitary, genetics, etc.
Earlier, Ukraine and Israel plan to sign a free trade area agreement by the end of 2017, according to Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman.
Exports of Ukrainian agrarian products rose by 4.5% in 2016 from 2015, to US$15.5 billion, according to the Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry. Grain crops, vegetable oil, oilseeds, soybeans, sugar and meat were traditionally export-oriented staples.
Among key markets were the Asian countries (45.9% of exports, worth $7 billion), the European Union (27.5% of exports, $4.2 billion), Africa (15.7% of exports, $2.4 billion), CIS countries (7.7% of exports, $1.2 billion), and the United States (0.9% of exports, $45 million).
