Panel discussion "Drivers of development of Russian exports of agro-industrial complex"

Organizer: Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, FGBU "Agroexport

Location: Kazan, Kazan Expo Exhibition Centre, Hall 14.

Time: 19.05.2023, 10:00-11:40

Moderator: Sergey Lakhtyukhov, Director General of the National Union of Poultry FarmersСпикеры:

Sergey Levin, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation;

Datuk Seri Haji Mohamad bin Sabu, Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry of Malaysia;

Artem Zdunov, Head of the Republic of Mordovia;

Yusif Salem Alharbi, Director, Halal Center, Food and Drug Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (SFDA);

Hussain Samh Al Masruri, Director General of the Center for Food Safety and Quality under the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources of the Sultanate of Oman;

Dato' Sirajuddin bin Suhime, Deputy Director General, Halal Certification Unit, Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM);

Artem Adgamovich Daushev, Assistant to the Head of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance;

Protasov Maxim Aleksandrovich, Head of ANO "Russian Quality System";

Vitaliy Yurievich Nagalin, Head of Sector Development Department of the Federal Center "Agroexport";

Alexey Solodov, Vice-President of Russian Export Center;

Aydar Gabdullovich Gazizov, General Director, ICC Halal;

Renat Faritovich Shigapov, Vice-President, Head of Department on administration of foreign economic activity, GR and inspection work of SSP "Resurs";

Natalya Bartnovskaya, Director of Foreign Economic Activity Development of TD Cherkizovo LLC;

Andrey Grigoraschenko, Vice-President for Regional Development and Government Relations at Damate Group;

Faisal Ahmed Khan, Chief Operating Officer, A'Saffa Food Processing, Oman;

Artem Belov, General Director, National Union of Milk Producers;

Farah Ali Al-Zarouni, Deputy Minister of Industry and Advanced Technologies of the UAE.

Currently, about a quarter of the world's population are Muslims, of whom 60% are young people under the age of 30, the main consumers of halal products. It is expected that by 2050 the share of Muslims may increase to 35%. The high rate of welfare growth provides an increase in consumer spending of Muslims by 7-10% annually.

There are 20 million Muslims in Russia, which creates a domestic demand for halal products. Russian agricultural products are widely represented in the OIC market. The main share of exports of Russian halal products is meat products and confectionery products. Meat and dairy products have a special potential for export development.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation Sergey Levin emphasized that in the current geopolitical situation, cooperation with Islamic countries has additional importance. The consumption of halal products in the world is estimated at $ 2 trillion, with food products accounting for $ 1 trillion. In 2022, Russia's agro-industrial exports increased by 13% and exceeded $40 billion, with an annual increase in halal exports of almost 25%. Russian exports have great potential for further growth. "To this end, much attention is paid to the development of the halal certification system, interaction with certification bodies under the halal system in other countries, so that products produced in Russia enjoy trust, respect and popularity among domestic and foreign consumers in Muslim countries," - said Sergey Levin.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry of Malaysia Datuk Seri Haji Mohamad bin Sabu expressed hope for the development of trade relations between the countries and further increase in trade turnover. To this end, it is planned to sign a memorandum of understanding between Russia and Malaysia, which will be a reliable basis for exports, including the export of halal products.

Director of the Halal Center SFDA Yousif Salem Alharbi shared the experience of Saudi Arabia in the use of new technologies to monitor compliance with halal standards. Authentication of products is provided by using blockchain technology, which allows to track the entire production chain.

Alexei Solodov, vice president of the Russian Export Center, addressed the problem of certification of Russian products according to Halal standards. Today, producers have to certify their products according to the requirements of each country, where they are exported to. Standardizing the requirements of the OIC countries to certify products according to halal standards would increase growth of Russian exports.

Deputy Director General of Halal Certification Division of the Department of Islamic Development of Malaysia after the meeting with Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan understood what is required to optimize the export of Russian products to Islamic countries. He proposed to create a halal logistics center, which would supply halal products around the world.  

In his closing remarks, Farah Ali Al-Zarouni, Deputy Minister of Industry and Advanced Technologies of the UAE, urged the session participants to be open to change, apply new technologies and not to perceive halal as something closed and intended only for Muslims.