Azernews.Az

By Kamila Aliyeva

Belarus and Tajikistan intend to expand cooperation in the field of agriculture.

This was discussed at a meeting of the intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation, which was held in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food in Belarus, Belta reported.

Agriculture and Food Minister of Belarus Leonid Zayats noted that in the first quarter of this year the organizations belonging to the system of the Ministry managed to increase the export of goods to Tajikistan by almost 2.4 times compared to the same period of last year.

The positive dynamics of supplies of milk products, dried milk, meat, starch, flour, malt extract, etc. has been preserved.

Currently, the partners interested in organizing a joint venture to produce MTZ tractors in Tajikistan. In addition, the Tajik side shows an interest in cooperation in the field of seed production, including the cultivation of seeds of potatoes, cereals, corn.

Another area in which there is an interest in deepening cooperation is livestock breeding. In 2010, 2011 and 2013, deliveries of pedigree animals for the development of dairy cattle breeding have already been carried out from Belarus to Tajikistan, and this experience has positively proved itself.

Tajik Agriculture Minister Izzatullo Sattori, in turn, praised the development of relations between the two countries in the agricultural sector.

He reaffirmed the interest in setting up a joint company to assemble MTZ tractors in Tajikistan and noted that the need in Belarusian agricultural equipment is high for the agro-industrial complex of Tajikistan.

The minister is confident that the parties need to expand mutually beneficial cooperation not only in agriculture but also in industry, transport, science-technical and cultural areas, including at the interregional level.

The participants of the meeting approved the action plan on the implementation of the interstate program of economic cooperation in agriculture between the two countries for 2017-2018.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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