Georgia, Russia discuss agro products and trade opportunities

A Georgian delegation is in Berlin attending Green Week 2015, where the Georgian and Russian sides are discussing agro products and trade opportunities.

Within the framework of Green Week 2015 (Gruene Woche 2015), head of Georgia’s National Food Agency Zaza Dolidze signed an agreement with Sergey Dankvert, head of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) which determined the export rules of Georgian green products, said Georgia’s Ministry of Agriculture.

The agreement stated that until the state system of laboratory expertise was established in Georgia, Georgian and Russian sides should jointly implement preliminary procedures of the green products’ phytosanitary certification.

Before exporting to the Russian market, Georgian products should undergo strict analysis at the Rosselkhoznadzor’s plant quarantine centre.

The existing turnover of agricultural products between Georgia and Russia, which amounted to $200 million USD, was positively assessed in Berlin.

The opportunity to export Georgian fish, honey, sunflowers, corn and green products to Russia was also discussed at the meeting.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s Minister of Agriculture Otar Danelia held official meetings with representatives of the agricultural ministries of Germany, Latvia, Holland, Turkey, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Uruguay, Belarus and Argentina.

The following issues were discussed at the meetings:

• Georgia’s agricultural products’ export growth opportunities;
• Food safety;
• Veterinary and land management issues;
• Milk and meat production in Georgia;
• Live cattle import from Georgia;
• Processed meat export from Georgia throughout the Caucasus; and
• Greenhouse promotion at the Georgia’s border regions.

General director of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation José Graziano said Georgia was becoming an important player in the international market place.

This year Georgia featured at the trade fair and showcased Georgian wine, Chacha (a grape vodka), beer, lemonade, juice, tea, Churchkhela ( traditional Georgian snack made from nuts and grape juice ), Gozinaki (a traditional Georgian confection made of caramelized nuts, usually walnuts fried in honey), plum, jam and nuts.

Berlin Green Week is a large, annual international trade fair for processors and marketers in agriculture, horticulture and various food industries across the globe.

A Georgian delegation, led by the Ministry of Agriculture, and representatives of about 100 countries participate in Green Week from January 16-25.