The Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, Vitaliy Koval, participated in the Agrarian Forum held as part of the large-scale Investment Congress. During the panel discussion, together with MPs, representatives of business associations, and agrarians, they discussed the prospects for the development of the sector.
In his speech, the head of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy emphasized that Ukrainian agrarians are the foundation of the country’s development, as last year, they provided 59% of the country's foreign exchange earnings.
The minister also shared that 80% of the products we grow are exported in raw form.
"This is why it is crucial to invest in deep processing. This adds value, ensures food security, and defines the country's direction. The Ministry of Agrarian Policy’s goal is to transform Ukraine from an agrarian country into an agro-industrial one," Vitaliy Koval stressed.
The Minister also raised the issue of financial instruments to support agrarians.
"There are many state programs and loans today. But it is important for banks to actively offer their financial projects as well. The cheaper the financial resources are and the more of them there are in the agricultural sector, the stronger the agrarians will be," he added.
Other panel discussions were held during the Agrarian Forum, in which Deputy Ministers of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, Oksana Osyachko and Lyudmila Shemelynets, participated. They discussed the role of international organizations in the development of the agrarian sector and challenges in the legal regulation of buying, selling, and leasing agricultural land.
The participants of the panel also discussed the issue of opening new markets and integrating into the European family.
The Minister noted that it is essential to communicate with European partners at all levels using figures and to prove that the Ukrainian agricultural sector does not pose a threat to them. At the same time, when joining the EU, it is important to defend the interests of Ukrainian agrarians.
"Our philosophy is: nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, nothing about agro without agrarians," emphasized Vitaliy Koval.
