Cheese exports to Russia could increase "in two weeks"

Cheese exports to Russia could increase "in two weeks"

Next week, Russia will be ready to grant the delivery of dairy products from Serbia with guarantees issued by the national veterinary service, Fjodorov said, according to Itar-Tass.

He said that dairy producers from Serbia could then begin deliveries to Russia within two to three weeks' time.

In this way, Serbia's major dairy producers could penetrate the Russian market and export primarily cheese, the Russian minister said and underscored that 41 companies from Serbia are currently exporting food to Russia and the Russian Ministry of Agriculture has suggested to their Serbian colleagues to up the number of exporters.

Bogosavljević-Bošković noted that Serbia is interested in joint investment projects in agriculture and increase of exports to Russia, Tanjug reported.

The Russian agriculture minister also said that Russia was ready to grant accelerated access to the Russian market for 10-30 new Serbian suppliers.

“But Serbia needs to submit an application and be ready to be responsible for the activities of these enterprises,” Fyodorov stressed.

Fyodorov assumes that Russia and Serbia could double trade in agricultural produce from USD 270 to USD 500 million a year in a short period of time. He said that Russia-imposed food sanctions against the European Union were opening a unique chance for Serbian producers to enter the Russian market.

Russia, according to Fyodorov, is also interested in expanding imports of Serbian meat, fruit and vegetables.

The Serbian minister was quoted as saying by Itar-Tass that her country wanted to participate in joint agricultural investment projects with Russian businesspeople. She said that the Danube could also be considered as a route for delivering Serbian products to Russia.

Bogosavljević-Bošković "provided strong guarantees that Serbia would not allow the re-export of Russia-banned European food products through its territory."

“Our side is assuming great responsibility. We promise to do everything possible to control the export procedures,” the Serbian minister stressed, adding that Serbian agrarians were looking forward to building up agricultural exports to Russia.

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