Russia to increase its grain exports to India

Moscow, Dec 13 (UNI) Russia will increase its grain exports to India, both for animal feed and the human food chain, according to the country's agriculture minister, Alexei Gordeyev.

"In my view, we've got an object of strategic partnership with a lot of potential," Mr Gordeyev's press office quoted him as saying to the Indian ambassador to Russia, Prabhat Shukla.

"We should now bring together our production capabilities and your needs for produce," the minister said adding that both the countries can complement each other quite well.

He also pointed out that Russian-Indian cooperation in wheat production should be developed on a long-term basis.

"We are interested in professional interaction, and are ready to start consultations on related issues at the level of ministries, experts and the business community," said Mr Gordeyev.

Russia needs to create special conditions for its private enterprise and set reference points in order to get an idea of how much grain they should produce to meet India's needs.

Cereals for export into India can be grown in farmlands in Siberia, according to the minister.

"Today we should give a signal to the Indian government and those in charge of providing food, grain and flour and embark on a strategic line of interaction," Mr Gordeyev said.

He announced that in February 2008, members of the Russian agricultural business community would go to New Delhi to attend a bilateral business forum.

UNI