Romania has signed an agreement for the delivery of agri-food products to Arab countries that provides for the setup of a collection centre in Constanta and another one in Doha or Abu Dhabi, State Secretary with Romania’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) Daniel Botanoiu told a national vegetable farming conference.
‘At the level of the ministry, we are currently trying to open external markets. We have already signed an agreement for the delivery of agri-food products to Arab countries that have demanded vegetables, cereals and animals. They import very many products from Australia and New Zealand although in terms of prices it would be more advantageous to them if they imported the goods from the Constanta Port. The agreement provides for the establishment of a collection centre in Constanta and another one in Doha or Abu Dhabi, but we must get supply continuity. At the same time, we have to secure homogenous quantity and quality of deliveries. Let us not forget about labelling, which is very important and which we have to start applying this June,’ said Botanoiu.
In his opinion, the fruit and vegetable sector needs sustained funding because it was not properly supported upon Romania’s accession to the European Union.
‘The fruit and vegetable sector has not been properly supported since Romania’s accession to the European Union. Consequently, the sector needs sustained funding. We have to turn our face to producers instead of those who take from one place and trade in another. The producers in their turn have to teach consumers to seek them instead of seeking intermediaries,’ said Botanoiu.
In another line of thought, he announced having discussed with the Finance Ministry for members of farming cooperatives to no longer be taxed individually and for the rates and taxes to be paid by the organisations.
‘As far as cooperatives are concerned, I discussed with officials of the Finance Ministry to no longer tax cooperative members individually and the dues to be paid exclusively by cooperatives,’ said the MADR official.
Romania to send first agricultural attaché to Doha
Romania will send an agricultural attaché to Doha (Qatar) to develop an entry point for Romanian agricultural goods, Agriculture Minister Daniel Constantin declared on Sunday, during his visit to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Constantin met Qatari Environment Minister Ahmad Al-Hemaidi on Sunday. According to a release of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, they discussed the creation of a framework to draft a memorandum of bilateral cooperation in agriculture; it would cover the research, livestock and vegetable farming, and horticulture.
The Romanian minister accepted the invitation to join Romanian companies at Qatar’s agricultural trade AGRITEQ 2015 in November, in Doha.
He also met the management of the Hassan Food Company, interested in investments and trade.
The minister of agriculture is a member of a delegation led by Economy, Trade and Tourism Minister Mihai Tudose in a visit to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, from Saturday to Monday.
Constantin had announced the idea of agricultural attachés in October last year; he mentioned that young staff of his ministry was already trained linguistically and commercially for every major exports area, and voiced his hope they could begin working in 2015
