Ukraine and Egypt may sign a free trade agreement that will expand the range of products traded between the two countries, according to Vitaliy Koval, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food.
The Minister noted that the trade turnover of agricultural products between Ukraine and Egypt increased in 2024. In particular, the export of Ukrainian agricultural products increased by 32% compared to 2023 and amounted to $1.4 billion. It is based on corn, wheat, soybeans, and oil. Egypt supplies Ukraine with citrus fruits, potatoes, nuts, and more.
According to the minister, Egypt is interested in expanding cooperation, particularly in the field of livestock and exports of Ukrainian meat. At the same time, there are factors that hinder the development of trade, including veterinary and phytosanitary restrictions.
The parties discussed issues of processing and storage of agricultural products, the use of modern technologies to reduce food losses and increase production efficiency. The Ukrainian side is represented by Taras Kachka, Deputy Minister of Economy and Trade Representative of Ukraine, and Serhiy Tkachuk, Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection.
The Ukrainian delegation has already held talks with the Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa El-Din Farouk and the Minister of Supply and Internal Trade of Egypt Sharif Farouk. The parties discussed prospects for bilateral partnership in agriculture and food security.
Ukraine and North Macedonia have agreed to expand the free trade zone, Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said.
“Today, as part of our visit to the Czech Republic to participate in the first session of the European Political Community, we met with Prime Minister of North Macedonia Dimitar Kovachevsky. An updated annex to the Free Trade Agreement was signed, which integrates the markets of Ukraine and North Macedonia with the markets of the EU, Turkey, Moldova , Georgia, Norway, Switzerland and Israel through a common system of rules of origin for PanEuroMed,” Shmyhal wrote on the Telegram channel.
According to him, the agreement will help reduce prices for Macedonian goods, which are raw materials for processing enterprises.
“This is the main advantage for the industry of Ukraine. After all, now Ukrainian manufacturers can use components produced in North Macedonia for products that will be sold in the EU,” he wrote.
In addition, the agreement liberalizes agricultural tariffs.
“Ukraine will gain access to the market for products of animal origin and finished products, which will help increase the export of Ukrainian agricultural products,” the prime minister said.
