Advanced Training Program Called The Role of Exports of Agricultural Products in the Development of Russian Regions Is Now On

On September 28, MGIMO together with the Agroexport Federal Center launched an advanced training program for employees of executive authorities, departments and institutions of Russian subjects, responsible for the development and support of agri exports. The course is organized as part of the strategic project “Institute of World Agricultural Markets” under the governmental program supporting Russian universities “Priority 2030”.

Dmitry Krasnov, Head of the Agroexport, has opened the event underlying the need to develop the export potential of the agro-industrial complex as one of the key areas that encourage agricultural enterprises to develop, produce quality products and transfer technology. “Over the past twenty years our country has gone from one of the largest importers of products to a leading supplier of agricultural products such as wheat, barley, sunflower and rapeseed oil and fish. Today, Russia is one of the twenty largest agricultural exporters, rising from 47th to 18th place in the world ranking. Russia has shown the highest growth rate of the twenty largest agricultural exporters ­— 11%”.

In his lecture, Maxim Markovich, Director of the International Cooperation Department at the Russian Ministry of Agriculture, paid special attention to the strategic planning system in Russia. In particular, he dwelled on the key features of the federal project “Export of Agricultural Products” and decomposition of target indicators at the regional level. “The success of the project depends on the results of each region. In 2017-2021, all indicators were exceeded. The export growth was the biggest for oil, fat, meat and dairy produce. The export revenues growth in 2021 exceeded 78% in some areas relative to 2019”.

At the end of the first lecture day, Anastasia Mikhailova, Communications Director of PJSC “Cherkizovo Group”, spoke about priority export markets for the company and products that are in demand today. “Export is one of the promising areas in our company. Currently, the share of export sales is almost 10% of total revenues, although five years ago the indicator was about 3%. The largest market for us is China, where we mainly supply chicken feet, which are in great demand. The second and third markets are Saudi Arabia and Vietnam. Moreover, we are boosting exports to the CIS countries and Africa.

The speakers of the 1st day were also Georgy Semenov, Project Manager of the Agroexport, who spoke about the life cycle stages of an export product, and Vitaly Nagalin, Head of the Branch Development Department at the Agroexport, who focused on strategic projects in the agri export.

The course is scheduled to finish on September 30. For the rest of the days, participants will learn about the opportunities to support agri export at the federal and regional levels, analyze the export profile of Russian regions, and get acquainted with the most successful cases and real examples of agro-export development in Russia.