Organic farming and organic production can become a promising avenue of cooperation between regions of Belarus and Germany. This matter was on the agenda of the meeting between Grodno Oblast senior executive officials and a delegation of the German federal state of Saxony-Anhalt.
The parties discussed ways to scale up cooperation between the regions. Grodno Oblast First Deputy Governor Ivan Zhuk noted that cooperation in the agricultural sector holds a lot of promise, as agriculture is one of the pillars of the regional economy. Processing of agricultural products is also well developed in Grodno Oblast. The region’s food export is substantial and it is interested in new sales markets.
“Organic farming is getting increasingly popular. The demand for organic products is on the rise. I am convinced that taking into consideration the region’s specialization, we have quite many areas of common interest,” Klaus Rehda, State Secretary at the Saxony-Anhalt State Ministry for the Environment, Agriculture and Energy, said. He emphasized that Belarusian fertilizers can also be in great demand. Cooperation in green energy was also under discussion. Saxony-Anhalt has well-established production of wind turbines and extensive expertise and knowledge in using renewable energy sources.
“It is important to establish personal contacts, share views on various matters. We certainly have many areas of common interest that can serve as a foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation,” Klaus Rehda said. The parties also discussed cooperation in tourism, culture and education. The Saxony-Anhalt delegation included representatives of the Magdeburg municipal government and a local university.
