Russian senator urges stronger agricultural cooperation with Italy

The markets of Russia and Italy are attractive for mutual sales of agricultural products, while the Russian production of plant protection agents has big investment potentials, senior Russian legislator Alexei Mayorov said at a meeting with Luca Belotti from the Board of Directors of the Italian agrochemical company Sipcam-Oxon.

 

“We know well products of the Italian agrarian sector. At the same time, we are actively developing our own agro-industrial sector. Russia and Italy are good markets for selling products made in our countries," said Mayorov, the head of the Russian upper house’s committee for agrarian and food policy and management of natural resources.

 

Global trade is facing tough competition at the moment, he stressed. "By pulling together our efforts, we can win in trade wars, getting the niches we need and leading positions," Mayorov said." Russia and Italy have always been famed for their agrarian sectors," he said.

 

He also drew attention of the guests to the Russian market of plant protection agents that "has colossal potentials and is attractive for foreign investors".

 

According to the Russian senator, last year trade between Russia and Italy grew 21%, and about 500 Italian companies are currently operating in Russia.

 

Belotti, for is part, said his company was seeking to sizably expand its presence on the Russian market. "We would like to consider the possibility of setting up a joint enterprise, as well as establish cooperation not only with producers, but also with scientific institutes, in particular with universities and Russian research institutes, as we know that the Russian scientists have made good progress in the use of microorganisms in agricultural production," he said.

 

Sipcam-Oxon also plans to open an office in Moscow. Most Italians, as well as Italian producers, come out in favor of developing cooperation with the Russian market, Belotti said.