Ukraine, South Africa to work on lifting export restrictions
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Ukraine and South Africa have decided to establish mutual recognition protocols to remove barriers to Ukrainian exports.
According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, this agreement was reached during Minister Vitalii Koval’s official visit to South Africa, which was part of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s broader diplomatic efforts.
During the visit, Minister Koval and First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko engaged in constructive discussions with John Steenhuisen, South Africa’s Minister of Agriculture, and Mpho Franklyn Parks Tau, Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition.
Koval emphasized that lifting export restrictions on Ukrainian products is a top priority.
“We agreed with our counterparts to develop a detailed roadmap with clear steps to swiftly finalize mutual recognition protocols between the relevant authorities in both countries,” the statement read.
Koval noted that there is already mutual interest in various products. Initially, efforts will focus on enabling the export of Ukrainian agricultural goods to South Africa, particularly poultry meat and processed products. Additionally, Ukraine seeks to benefit from South Africa’s expertise in cattle farming, given its global leadership in beef production.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is eager to import premium-quality South African fruits and nuts, such as avocados, mangoes, and macadamia nuts, the latter of which South Africa is the world’s leading producer.
The discussions also covered potential collaboration in mineral fertilizer production.
“South Africa is a strategic partner for Ukraine. Our objective is not just to expand trade but also to gain access to Sub-Saharan markets, where South Africa holds a significant presence,” Koval stated.
Previous reports indicated that Ukraine and South Africa are actively working to strengthen their trade and economic ties, particularly in the agri-industrial sector.
In the past year, bilateral trade between the two nations amounted to $113.9 million, a figure that Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy considers insufficient.
