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Russia, New Zealand to ink agreement on free trade in agrarian sector

Both countries are interested in the development of interaction

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

KAZAN, May 31 (Itar-Tass) — Russia and New Zealand intend to conclude an agreement on free trade in the agrarian sector, Russian Minister of Agriculture Nikolai Fyodorov said at a meeting with New Zealand's Minister for Primary Industries David Carter.

They are taking part in a session of ministries of agriculture in Kazan within the framework of preparations for the APEC-2012 summit, the forum’s press service told Itar-Tass on Thursday.

According to Fyodorov, the main attention will be paid to finalizing an agreement on free trade between the Customs Union countries and New Zealand. “It is especially important, because agricultural products constitute the basis of bilateral turnover,” the minister said.

Fyodorov is sure that “both countries are interested in the development of interaction in the agrarian sector.” Primarily he mentioned livestock breeding. Russia is interested in “the procurement of cattle, scientific cooperation, exchanges of specialists and training personnel,” he said.

Fyodorov believes that Russian farmers are interested in “New Zealand's experience in dairy farming and milk processing.”

He said the Russian dairy sector was being upgraded and New Zealand’s companies “have interesting solutions, which may be in great demand in Russia.”

Carter mentioned Russia’s participation in the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases.

In the course of two-day (May 30-31) consultations agriculture ministers of 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member-countries in Kazan were discussing regional food security.

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