Marat Akhmetov: Our task is to create a high level of confidence in Russian Halal products
Today, April 25, Nikolay Titov, First Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food of Tatarstan, spoke at the session “Export of the AIC: who is expected on the shelves of the Islamic mass market” at the international summit “Russia - Islamic World: KazanSummit 2019”.
“The republic fully provides the population with the main types of agricultural and food products through its own production. The potential for its further growth is also enormous, so we will address export issues. May decrees of the President of Russia Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, the task is set to double exports of agricultural products by 2024. Of course, we are focused on its implementation, ”he began his presentation.
Today, supplies of Tatarstan products to the regions of Russia and more than 40 countries of the world have been established. Last year shipments totaled over $ 160 million.
Marat Akhmetov said that the main generator of growth in national exports is fat-and-oil products (in 2024, exports will amount to $ 260 million, or 70% of the national volume). Another important segment is the export of ready-made food products (by 2024, exports will amount to $ 75 million or 20% of the export volume). Here, the key areas are the modernization of high-tech enterprises and the deep processing of agricultural raw materials - milk, meat, and grain.
“Of course, being the largest milk producer, we set ourselves the task of increasing the volume of export of dairy products,” the Head of the Ministry emphasized.
In Tatarstan, projects are being implemented at the same time to increase milk production (24 projects, 23 billion rubles, 35 thousand heads) and comprehensive modernization of dairies (5 projects, 4 billion rubles). Entering in the near future new productions for 1,300 tons of milk per day will allow to fully process the raw materials produced in the republic.
The issue of processing poultry meat has been fully resolved.
In the confectionery industry - at the Bakery and Confectionery Combine, the automated production of the Chak-Chak honey delicacy has been opened. It has already shown its relevance in the markets of China, Israel and Kazakhstan.
Turning to the second part of the speech, Marat Akhmetov noted that one of the priority export directions is Halal production. For many people in Tatarstan, this is a way of life. Halal Products Market is quite young in the republic and so far accounts for about 7 billion rubles per year (3.2% of gross agricultural output). At the same time, it is in demand and it grows annually by 10-15%. 72 enterprises of the republic are certified for the production of Halal products. But the international certificate has only the Bakery and Confectionery Plant.
In conclusion, Marat Akhmetov noted that Russia and Tatarstan today are new players in the global Halal market and our task is to generate a high level of trust in Russian Halal products.