E-grocery, vertical farming, halal food, re-exports and food transportation are identified as high-potential areas where UAE and Russian companies can establish business tie-ups.

Al Maya Group is keen to boost FMCG products imports from Russia, said Kamal Vachani, group director, Al Maya Group on sidelines of second day of Gulfood 2021.

Russia has been growing its food exports in recent years and exported more than $25 billion worth of food products in 2019. The main categories that drive the exports are dairy, poultry, meat and confectionary items as high potential product categories for the UAE market.

Dubai’s food imports from Russia reached $305 million in 2019, accounting for a large share of total bilateral trade, while Dubai’s food exports to Russia amounted to $114 million. E-grocery, vertical farming, halal food, re-exports and food transportation are identified as high-potential areas where UAE and Russian companies can establish business tie-ups.

On Monday, Sergey Levin, deputy minister, Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation and Vachani discussed the ways of increasing imports from Russia in FMCG products. Roman Chekushov, director of the Department of development of agricultural exports, Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation and Sergey Muslimov, chief of representative office VEB.RF in UAE Abu Dhabi also accompanied the minister during the meeting.

The Al Maya group’s list of senior delegates visiting its pavilion included Raja Rabia, Consul-General of France, Dubai and Ahmed Al Khouri of Jafza and Nouf Al Abd of Dubai Exports, Giuseppe Finocchiaro, Consul-General of Italy, Dubai, Amedeo Scarpa, Trade Commissioner and Alessandro Lamura, Deputy Commissioner of Italian Trade Agency.

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