Russia and Jordan may team up in a grain-growing venture in Russia’s southern regions, according to information posted by Russia’s Agriculture Ministry on its website on Wednesday.
The joint venture proposal was announced at a meeting between Russian Agriculture Minister Nikolai Fyodorov and Jordan’s Ambassador to Russia Ahmad Sataan Al Hassan on Wednesday.
In the agricultural year 2011-12, Jordan accounted for 2 percent of Russia’s wheat exports and almost 4 percent of barley exports. In total, Russia exported 27.15 million tons of grain, including 21.26 million tons of wheat and 3.56 million tons of barley that year.
During the meeting, the Jordanian side expressed its willingness to increase deliveries of fruits, olive oil and vegetables, its main exports to Russia.
“As to the quality of agricultural products from Jordan, the Russian phytosanitary services have no problems,” Fyodorov said.
Jordanian exports to Russia almost doubled last year to $18.7 million, while Russia’s exports to Jordan topped $70 million.