EBRD Supports Ukraine’s Membership in Grain Twenty Initiative

KYIV, Ukraine, March 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ –

The world’s largest grain producers should join Grain Twenty initiative, proposed by
the French Minister of Agriculture Stephane Le Foll, and Ukraine prepares to be a part of
it. This was discussed during the meeting between the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development Director for Agribusiness Gilles Mettetal and the Minister of Agrarian Policy
and Food of Ukraine Mykola Prysyazhnyuk. Gilles Mettetal expressed support for the
initiative to create a Grain Twenty of the world grain producers and Ukraine taking
important place in this organization.

In addition to the Grain Twenty initiative the parties also discussed the development
of agricultural projects financed by the EBRD in Ukraine. “I am pleased that all the
projects that you support in the agricultural sector of Ukraine are successful,” said
Mykola Prysyazhnyuk. The Ukrainian agriculture minister also commended the expansion of
the line of products produced by the businesses, which received loans from the EBRD.

Reportedly, the total volume of EBRD investments in the agricultural business in
Ukraine today exceeds USD 1.5 billion. As to further cooperation, the parties agreed to
collaborate in the production of grain, poultry and machine-building. The participants
also discussed the implementation of joint projects in sugar refining, agricultural
leasing, as well as animal husbandry with an emphasis on dairy cattle breeding.

Presently, Ukraine is one of the world’s top grain exporters as it takes some of the
leading positions on global markets of wheat, barley, and corn. Currently, Ukraine has a
12.9 percent share of the global corn market, 18.5 percent share – on the world barley
market, and a 4.5 percent share on the wheat market. Additionally, the Eastern European
country is the fourth largest potato producer and fifth largest walnut producer in the
world.

Notably, back in August of 2011, Ukraine offered to create the world’s grain reserve
under the auspices of the United Nations. It was planned that Ukraine would take on the
responsibility to form the reserve of 10 to 12 million tons of grain, preserve it and make
grain interventions on the market following the respective decisions by the UN.

SOURCE Worldwide News Ukraine