On May 31, the Ukrainian Agro-Industrial and Food Forum, hosted by the Strategy Council, was held in Amsterdam with the support of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Netherlands, the VNO-NCW and the Dutch-Ukrainian Joint Business Council.
Ukraine and the Netherlands are closely cooperating in the agricultural sector, as evidenced by the level of their bilateral trade. The Netherlands is the second-largest exporter of agricultural products and technologies in the world, and the government has declared the agro-food sector one of the priorities with a special emphasis on innovative sustainable development technologies.
In turn, Ukraine is one of the world leaders in the field of agricultural products and the world's leading exporter of grain, vegetable oils and oilseeds, in particular. In 2017, Ukrainian exports of agricultural products to the EU grew by 18.4%, and the Netherlands was an importer # 1.
The Forum brought together the highest Ukrainian and Dutch government officials responsible for developing of international trade and cooperation in the agricultural sector, leadership of the leading agro-industrial groups of Ukraine (including domestic and international investors), leading Dutch agricultural experts, analysts and financiers.
The Forum addressed issues related to the development of international trade and cooperation in the agricultural sector between Ukraine and the EU, in particular, with the Netherlands. Participants discussed the possibility of producing and exporting not only raw materials but also value-added products.
One of the most discussed topics was the possibility of promoting Ukrainian products to large retail chains of the EU.
The following issues were also considered: Ukraine's position as one of the key players and partners in the global agro-food markets; examples from the practice of introducing the latest innovations, technologies and methods in the Ukrainian agro-industrial sector; availability of financing and investments for the Ukrainian agro-industrial sector and the place where they can bring the greatest return; key challenges and opportunities for the Ukrainian agro-food sector as it develops.
Among the participants of this year's forum were representatives of the Governments of Ukraine and the Netherlands, the Embassy of Ukraine in the Netherlands, the EBRD and leading members of the agribusiness sector: FMO, ING, Difco International, Food Ventures, PJSC Agrarian Fund, Mriya Agroholding, MHP, Astarta-Kyiv, Nibulon, Kischenzi, International Finance Corporation, Kyivstar Company and others.
Among the representatives of the Dutch companies were: Hendrix Genetics, Royal Agrifirm Group, GD Animal Health, SGS Nederland, Ingredients Brokers International, Larive International, RVO, E. van Wijk Group, Rijk Zwaan, Aon Commodity Trade, Glencore Agriculture, Kubo, Tradinorganic Agriculture, Theeuwes Holding.
Oleksiy Pavlenko, Co-Chairman of the Ukrainian-Netherlands Business Council / Ex-Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, during his participation in the Forum, said: "As always, interesting presentations, lively discussions, grounded proposals. Positively, the forum was attended by many representatives of profile associations, business leaders of the leading Ukrainian agro-industrial groups of Ukraine, Ukrainian and Dutch government officials, experts, analysts and financiers. This means that the event is really useful and successful for establishing cooperation between business circles, governments and, in general, between the two countries."
Sponsors of the Forum were: FMO, ING, Evris Law Firm, Immer Group, Credendo.
