Russia can successfully compete on world grain market
Agriculture Minister Alexey Gordeyev thinks that Russia can successfullycompete on the international grain market. The minister expressed thisopinion at a press conference today after a meeting with his Canadiancounterpart Lyle Vanclief.The Russian Agriculture Minister noted that the prime cost of grain is1.5-fold less in Russia than other countries. For instance, Egypt imports6m tons of wheat a year, so Russia could occupy its niche on this NorthAfrican grain market, Gordeyev was quoted as saying. He also hopes thatRussia will manage to enter the Mideast grain market, includingcollaboration within the Oil for Food program in Iraq.Commenting on Russia's prospects in Western Europe, the minister statedthat the grain harvest reduced 10-15 percent in this region this year dueto natural disasters. Russia, as well as Ukraine, receive quotas forexporting grain to Western European countries, Gordeyev concluded..
