Congress in Cairo Discussed Prospects for Grain Markets

Researchers of the HSE-Skolkovo Institute for Law and Development discussed with forum participants opportunities for increasing exports from Russia to countries of the Islamic world

On 11-12 March 2019, the international Middle East Grains & Oils Congress was held in Cairo, where regulators, grain and vegetable oil producers from the Middle East, Western Europe, Russia, Ukraine and Moldova discussed prospects of the world grain markets and the potential for increasing exports to countries of the Islamic world.

During the event, research fellows of the HSE-Skolkovo Institute for Law and Development Kirill Molodyko and Madina Kalimullina conducted a series of negotiations on the Agrofinmost project, which aims to attract Islamic investments in Russia’s agricultural sector. They also discussed prospects for expanding the supplies of grain and halal products to Egypt.

 

Currently, Russia is the largest supplier of sunflower oil (59% share in imports) and wheat (53% share in imports) to the Egyptian market.

As of 2018, Egypt ranks first globally in terms of wheat imports and is actively increasing imports of other types of food. The high level of dependence on food imports and the constant growth of the population make Egypt one of the priority food export markets for Russia.

 

Earlier this year, Egypt was included in the list of priority countries for Russia in the halal food exports concept developed by the HSE-Skolkovo Institute for Law and Development HSE jointly with the HSE Institute for Public Administration and Governance at the request of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia.