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Agrarian Saturdays: an Advanced Training Program for FEA Managers Is over at MGIMO

On October 29, an Advanced Training Program for FEA Managers finished at MGIMO. The course was organized jointly by the Agroexport Federal Center and MGIMO with support from the Russian Ministry of Agriculture as part of the strategic project “Institute of World Agricultural Markets” under the governmental program supporting Russian universities “Priority 2030”.

The course lasted for a month and encompassed 25 lectures on the Russian agri export. Top experts from the Agroexport Federal Center, VOIR, JSC “KEPT” and LLC “Rincon Management” touched upon the legal and financial aspects of export, target markets and potential customers, as well as the particularities of an export strategy and possible risks, affecting its implementation. The representatives of the largest national export companies, such as Lipetsk Meat OOO, MAY OOO, GC Damate, GC Yug Rusi, GC Blago, in turn, shared their expertise with participants attended the program.

On the last day, Agroexport specialists dwelled on the legal regulation of foreign trade contracts and the financial risks that companies may face during export and described in detail export support services operating in Russia and abroad. Lectures were also made by expert practitioners in the agricultural industry. Lakhtyukhov, General Director of the National Union of Poultry Breeders, focused on perspectives and analyzed promising markets for Russian poultry meat. Kirill Melnikov, Marketing Director of Blago Group, in his part, made a brief overview of the vegetable oil market, enumerated the factors influencing the pricing of this product, as well as elaborated developing export brands and their adaptation to a particular region.

“The program for foreign trade managers, designed by MGIMO together with the Agroexport Federal Center, has no analogues in the national educational market. Perhaps, it’s the first attempt to cover all aspects of the agricultural export on the Russian business education. The course lasted just for a month comprises three essential components for a successful export organization — theoretical aspect, practical knowledge that Agroexport specialists have gained, as well as the practical experience of experts such as directors and specialists in foreign economic activity, working in top national agri export companies. So, while we considered this course as a pilot one and did not distribute it widely, more then 500 people enrolled in the program. Feedback indicates that the course was useful both for current foreign trade managers and for those who are just taking their first steps in the agricultural sector. It motivates us to further develop the educational projects of the Institute of World Agricultural Markets at MGIMO,” says Georgy Semyonov, Head of project management at the Agroexport.

“I have only positive emotions after the course. The organisers succeeded in covering the most topical issues that foreign trade managers face in practice, although it takes much more time to discuss all topics. I wish to point out that the course participants were so different in terms of their professional activities: logisticians, managers, and financiers. The audience with such a variety of experiences made it possible to learn diverse points of view on various issues. It’s especially helpful for business representatives, which can expand networks,” a speaker, Sergey Oganov, General Director of Lipetsk Meat LLC, shares his opinion about the course.

“The program seems to me useful, especially for novice spealists in the field of export. I have been in business for more than 18 years, so I knew a significant part of the topics raised. Nevertheless, it was useful to learn nuances of customs clearance and export strategy,” adds a course participant, manager of MK Astra LLC Philip Smirnov. “To a greater extent, I was interested in getting acquainted with the experience of expert practitioners: Alexander Stoklitsky, Sergey Oganov, Eldar Sattarov and others.”

“In my view, the course turned out to be both interesting and truly educational,” says Oleg Pugaev, a participant in the program, representative of the Russian Ministry of Agriculture in Israel. — “Its success was determined by a well-balanced combination of fundamental knowledge with real examples projected on the current difficult situation on the market. I would like to highlight a good set of speakers, the high quality of materials and their presentation, as well as the comprehensive coverage of topics. I believe that the collaboration between the Russian Ministry of Agriculture, the Agroexport and MGIMO creates a new successful brand in the business education industry”.