It is crucial for Ukraine that trade with Poland remains uninterrupted and that both countries derive mutual benefits, stated the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, Vitaliy Koval, during a meeting with the Polish Minister of Agriculture, Czesław Siekierski, involving Ukrainian and Polish agricultural associations.
The Ukrainian minister emphasized that a horizontal dialogue, where associations communicate with associations, ministries with ministries, and farmers with farmers, is vital for establishing strong mutually beneficial partnerships.
"Poland is not just a close neighbor but one of Ukraine's largest trading partners. A significant portion of our agricultural products contains Polish components. These include mineral fertilizers, plant protection products, and seeds. It is important for us that trade between our countries remains continuous and that we achieve mutual benefits. This is a synergy point where we can jointly export our products to third markets and develop cooperation. We want 1+1 to equal more than two. We must recognize that we have historically strong ties that enable us to strengthen our economies," - quoted his words the press service of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food.
According to Koval, in the first 10 months of 2024, Polish exports to Ukraine amounted to $5.6 billion, while Ukraine's exports to Poland reached $4.15 billion. Of this, Ukraine exported agricultural products worth $1.2 billion to Poland, and Poland exported goods worth $688 million to Ukraine.
The Minister of Agrarian Policy urged Polish agrarians to remember that Ukraine is at war, and Ukrainian farmers operate under unequal conditions, making the export of Ukrainian agricultural products a matter of survival and budget support for a war-torn country. At the same time, Ukraine respects trade rules and adheres to them.
This was the third meeting between the ministers of agriculture of Poland and Ukraine with the participation of industry associations. The purpose of the meeting was to continue the Polish-Ukrainian dialogue on agricultural issues and agri-food trade, - clarified the Ministry of Agriculture on Twitter.
The Ukrainian side called for further exploration of points of intersection that are mutually beneficial for both countries.