Jordan continues discussions with Russia to expand agricultural exports

AMMAN — Jordan and Russia are discussing plans to export local fruits and vegetables by sea to facilitate the movement of produce to Russia, a government official said on Sunday.

A Russian private sector company is expected to handle the export of fruits and vegetables to Russia in cooperation with local traders and farmers, Agriculture Ministry Spokesperson Nimer Haddadin said.

"Jordan and Russia are still looking into the mechanism of transporting exports to Russia, most probably via the Mediterranean Sea," Haddadin told The Jordan Times.

A delegation including Agriculture Minister Akef Zu’bi, Jordan Customs Department Director Munther Assaf and several private sector representatives returned from Russia last Thursday following a five-day visit to discuss facilitating produce exports to the Russian market.

"Both sides agreed on having Starova in Russia as the point from which Jordanian fruits and vegetables will be distributed to the Russian market," Haddadin added.

He said the minister also proposed establishing a Jordanian-Russian centre in the country that handles the transportation of produce exports to Russia.

The government has been negotiating to open the Russian market to agricultural produce for over a year now.

Several official visits have taken place to address challenges, mainly the customs duties imposed by Russia.

Jordan eyes entry into the Russian market as an important step, since exports to it will be equal to all exports to Europe, Zu’bi previously said.

The planned agreement with Moscow is also important because agricultural exports dropped due to the unrest in Syria and Iraq, according to the ministry, which said that tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers and strawberries will be the main items exported to Russia.

Agricultural exports to the Russian market are limited at the moment, according to the ministry.