MOSCOW – Russia is seeking to increase food imports from African countries, with African suppliers currently accounting for about 8% of its US$43 billion food import market, according to Maxim Oreshkin, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation.
Speaking during a media meeting at the National Centre Russia in Moscow yesterday, Oreshkin said Russia was prepared to increase purchases from African producers through joint investments in agriculture, fisheries and food production.
He said African countries could increase their presence in the Russian market by working with Russian companies to expand production and improve agricultural technology.
“The Russian food market, from the point of view of import, is US$43 billion in 2025,” Oreshkin said.
“This is a really great opportunity for African producers,” he added.
Oreshkin said African suppliers currently accounted for approximately 8% of the Russian food import market and that Russia wanted to increase purchases from the continent.
He said Russian companies were prepared to invest in African countries to support food production for local consumption and exports to Russia.
The proposed cooperation would cover agricultural technology, farming, fisheries, and the production of animal and plant products.
“We understand how farmers can produce more, earn more and provide their countries with more food,” Oreshkin said.
He said Russia wanted to develop long-term agricultural programmes with African countries to improve food security and increase production.
Oreshkin said the partnerships would involve local companies and the transfer of technology and skills to participating countries. He added that Russia was prepared to work with African governments to develop solutions suited to their agricultural needs and available resources.
Water and energy
Oreshkin identified water availability as one of the main challenges facing agricultural development in Africa.
He said Russia was prepared to share technologies for water-resource management, identifying water sources and monitoring water quality.
He said agricultural cooperation would need to be supported by reliable water supplies and energy infrastructure.
“Joint work on the development of agriculture in Africa is connected with the availability of water resources,” he said.
Oreshkin also said Russia was ready to cooperate with African countries on long-term energy strategies, including conventional energy, renewable energy and nuclear power.
He cited Russia’s nuclear power project in Egypt, which he valued at US$25 billion, as an example of cooperation involving infrastructure development, training and scientific research.
According to Oreshkin, the project includes the development of local skills and the participation of Egyptian specialists in the nuclear energy sector.
He said Russia wanted its partnerships with African countries to extend beyond individual projects to include skills development and local industrial capacity.
Growing
Oreshkin said Africa’s growing population would increase the continent’s importance in the global economy.
He said approximately 20% of the world’s population lives in Africa and that the continent would account for a growing share of global economic activity in the coming decades.
He identified agriculture, energy, logistics and technology as areas in which Russia and African countries could expand cooperation.
Oreshkin said Russia was also prepared to work with African partners on digital services, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
He said Russian companies were willing to cooperate with local businesses to develop services and technologies within partner countries.
The media meeting formed part of activities surrounding the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, where Russian officials outlined their country’s proposed areas of economic cooperation with African nations.
-ljason@nepc.com.na
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