DUSHANBE, August 12. /ITAR-TASS/. Tajikistan’s Agriculture and Economic Development and Trade Ministries are preparing measures to raise exports of fruits and vegetables to Russia by up to five times, several local government officials told ITAR-TASS on Tuesday.

“We will consider a set of measures within one month and we will submit it for the government’s consideration after relevant authorities approve the steps,” spokesman for the Agriculture Ministry Narzullo Dadabayev said.

In January-June, Tajikistan exported over 60,000 tonnes of vegetables, 3,000 tonnes of fruits, and 50,000 tonnes of dried fruits to Russia. In monetary terms, the exports rose 13.6% on the year to $50 million.

On August 7, Russia banned imports of beef, pork, poultry, fish, cheese, dairy products, fruit and vegetables from Australia, Canada, Norway, the US and the EU for one year as an answer to the Western sanctions.

Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich will discuss raising supplies of Belarusian food products with his counterpart Mikhail Rusy on Wednesday, spokeswoman for Dvorkovich Aliya Samigulina said.

Rusy said earlier that Belarus was ready to boost its exports of agricultural products to Russia.