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Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz concluded a successful agricultural trade mission to Russia and Kazakhstan where he strengthened the trade relationship with these growing markets and promoted Canada’s world-class livestock.
Russia and Kazakhstan’s interest in Canadian agricultural products and expertise is increasing. Canada exported over $21 million of agri-food products to Kazakhstan in 2012, including $7.6 million worth of purebred cattle, making Kazakhstan Canada’s top market for purebred cattle. Canadian agri-food exports to Russia were worth more than $563 million in 2012. During the mission, the livestock industry signed commercial contracts valued at up to $11 million.
During the mission Minister Ritz witnessed commercial contract signings and helped to create more sales opportunities for the livestock industry delegation accompanying him. In Russia, Genesus secured an $8million contract for 6500 breeding swine. In Kazakhstan, Xports International sold Canadian purebred cattle valued at almost $3 million.
Minister Ritz defended the interests of Canadian pork and beef producers by reiterating Canada’s opposition to Russia’s ban on ractopamine, a feed additive recognized by international regulatory agencies as being safe. The Russian government committed to sending veterinarians to Canadian meat facilities to see first-hand Canada’s robust inspection and regulatory system.
Thursday May 23, 2013/ Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada/ Canada.
http://www.agr.gc.ca
