The main purpose of the meeting was the signing by the Russian side of the inter-Ministerial Memorandum of understanding designed to expand and strengthen cooperation between Russia and Israel in the field of dairy farming. The document was also signed by the Minister of agriculture and agrarian development of the state of Israel, URI Ariel.

The signing of the document will create conditions and prerequisites for successful work on a joint Russian-Israeli projects in the dairy industry, which today is one of the priority directions in development of Russian agriculture.

During the meeting the sides also discussed issues of mutual trade and access of agricultural products to the markets of the two countries.

"In recent years Russia has managed to achieve significant growth in agricultural production, preserving the necessary level of investment in the sector, achieve food security and generate good export prospects. Despite the growth of trade turnover between Russia and Israel the potential of bilateral trade between our countries is not fully disclosed. We are interested in increasing supplies to the Israeli market of agricultural products, primarily grain, sugar and oil," - said Alexander Tkachev.

The Minister also stressed the interest of Russian exporters in the supply of animal products (beef, mutton, poultry meat, finished meat products, edible eggs).

For 10 months of 2017, the trade turnover between Russia and Israel increased by 10% compared to the same period in 2016. Exports to Israel increased in value terms by 13% due to growth in physical volumes of supplies of wheat, tea, sunflower and rapeseed oil, chocolate, concentrates of coffee and tea. Imports from Israel increased in value terms compared to the same period of 2016 to 8%.

Photo: mcx.ru