Belarus and Tajikistan will be expanding cooperation in the agricultural sector. The matter was discussed at a meeting of the intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation at the Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry on 18 May, according to the Belarus News “Belta”.

Opening the session, Belarus’ Agriculture and Food Minister Leonid Zayats noted that in Q1 2017 the organizations making part of the Agriculture and Food Ministry increased the exports to Tajikistan 2.4 times in comparison with the same period last year. The country preserved momentum in the supplies of whole milk products, milk powder, meat, starch, flour, and other products. In his words, the current interest of partners in setting up a joint plant to assemble MTZ tractors in Tajikistan. Besides, Tajikistan shows interest in cooperation in seed farming, including the cultivation of potato, crop and maize seeds. Leonid Zayats said that Belarus suggested launching the production of seed material with the use of its technologies and specialists in Tajikistan. Another promising area for cooperation is livestock breeding. In 2010, 2011 and 2013 Belarus supplied its pedigree stock to boost dairy breeding in Tajikistan and this practice proved its worth.

Tajikistan Agriculture Minister Izzatullo Sattori 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, sci-tech and cultural areas, including at the interregional level.

Attending the intergovernmental commission were the Ambassadors of the two countries, representatives of government bodies and companies. The parties discussed the ways of implementing the outlined plans. The meeting also highlighted issues related to the expansion of cooperation in training agrarian specialists. 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. The ministries signed a new ministerial agreement on cooperation.