Africa and Latin America are promising markets for Siberian grain supplies, the plenipotentiary representative of the Russian president in the Siberian Federal District, Anatoly Seryshev, told the Russian media.
"Last year, we launched this mechanism and are exploring new markets in Latin America. Our Siberian grain is now being sent there on a regular basis. Moreover, we have already started setting up flour production there. And we are not stopping. Africa is next in line. This is alongside our traditional markets, [which are also promising for the supply of Siberian grain]," he noted.
Seryshev reminded that Russian President Vladimir Putin has set the task of increasing agricultural production by a quarter within six years.
"We have an understanding of where we will be supplying this production," he emphasized.
Russia actively trades grain with Africa. Last week, the Russian Agriculture Ministry's export promotion agency, Agroexport, estimated that North Africa was the destination for 22.6% of Russian grain exports in the 2023-2024 season.
Furthermore, deliveries from Russia constitute 40% of Mali's total wheat imports, according to Minister of Industry and Trade Moussa Alassane Diallo, speaking to Sputnik. Additionally, Bamako plans to export its agricultural products to Russia, with the ministry actively working towards this goal.
Moreover, Russia provides free grain as part of its humanitarian efforts. Recently, the country delivered 200,000 tonnes of grain to Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic, and Eritrea, fulfilling a promise made by Putin at the 2023 Russia-Africa Summit.