DUSHANBE, 16.05.2019. (NIAT Khovar) – The Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon received the Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation Dmitry Patrushev.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the high-level conference titled International and Regional Cooperation on Countering Terrorism and Its Financing Through Illicit Drug Trafficking and Organized Crime.

Matters relating to the Tajik — Russian cooperation were discussed during the meeting.

President Emomali Rahmon stressed the importance of maintaining cooperation between the two countries.

“We are committed to maintaining and further strengthening strategic cooperation with Russia in all sectors, in particular in the agricultural sector, and hope that it will continue to be beneficial for both sides,» said President Emomali Rahmon.

The sides exchanged their views on cooperation in the fields of horticulture, viticulture, vegetable farming as well as increasing the supply of environmentally healthy fruits and vegetables in the Russian market.

Currently, environmentally healthy fruit, vegetable and honey  exports from Tajikistan equal over two million tons per year. The opportunities to increase this indicator are present and the importance of utilizing them was noted by both sides.

The implementation of joint measures, including in logistics, in order to improve performance and create a wholesale distribution center in Tajikistan was deemed necessary.

The creation of joint ventures for the production of packaging materials, building refrigerated premises for the storage of agricultural products, cooperation in the fields of seed production, poultry farming and fish farming were likewise mentioned.