A delegation from Ethiopia and Tanzania, which included representatives of African governments, businesses, and education, visited a fruit and berry ripening enterprise, part of the Greenfields Group of Companies (Artfruit brand), the press service of the Moscow Department of Investment and Industrial Policy reported.
During the talks, the parties discussed the prospects for agricultural cooperation.
“Moscow and African countries have enormous potential for trade cooperation. According to the results of 10 months of 2024, the trade turnover between the capital and the countries of the region increased by 33% compared to the same period in 2023. The city contributes to the increase in the volume of supplies to the countries of the African continent, providing industrial enterprises with over 10 export support measures,” said Anatoly Garbuzov, Minister of the Moscow Government and Head of the Moscow Department of Investment and Industrial Policy.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, the Moscow Center for Support of Export, Industry, and Investment Activity "Mosprom," and "Artfruit."
The delegation of African countries included the Governor of the Ethiopian Kafa Zone, Endashow Kebede Gijo; Advisor to the President of Tanzania on Agricultural Issues Siki Ramadhani Magoha; Rector of Bonga University Petros Woldegiorgis Woldesenbet, who specializes in growing coffee and tropical fruits; and Director of Regulatory Services at the Tanzania Fertilizer Trade Authority Claudia Freddy Kimako.
During the meeting, the parties discussed the prospects for importing agricultural products to Moscow, developing production facilities for storing and processing agricultural products, and outlined specific steps to expand supplies from Ethiopia and Tanzania.
The speech by Ilya Orsik, Deputy Head of the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Road Construction Machinery of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia, was devoted to the prospects for developing the export of agricultural machinery and food equipment to the African market. Thus, Russian and, in particular, Moscow companies are ready to offer equipment for harvesting, drying, and roasting coffee and tea, as well as packaging complexes for such products. Particular attention was paid to the possibilities of using existing support measures to organize the supply of machinery and equipment.
The participants also noted the importance of further sharing experience and forming sustainable cooperation mechanisms.
The event program included the official opening, presentation of projects, a tour of Moscow production facilities, and a discussion of key issues on the agenda.
The Artfruit brand belongs to the Greenfields Group, which has been distributing exotic fruits, berries, and vegetables to retail chains, restaurants, and manufacturing companies throughout Russia for over 20 years. Another Moscow production facility, which is also part of the Greenfields Group, attracted three billion rubles thanks to the preferential investment lending program from the Moscow Fund for the Support of Industry and Entrepreneurship to purchase high-tech sorting and packaging lines, as well as special chambers that simulate the climatic conditions of the countries of origin.