Mishustin says EEU can solve existing problems amid difficulties in global market

09 June 2023

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin is sure that actions of the West have unbalanced the global market, but the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) countries can jointly solve the problems.


"Unilateral measures of external pressure have only exacerbated negative trends, provoked high volatility in the global market and ultimately led to its imbalance," stated the chairman of the government, speaking at a plenary session of the Eurasian Congress. According to him, "the increase of energy prices, caused by the desire of the West to implement an accelerated energy transition to renewable sources, has led to increased transport fares, the cost of fertilizers since 2020 has already tripled - up to 80% of the cost of their production is the natural gas." The head of the cabinet of ministers stressed that "availability of such valuable commodity for agricultural producers has now fallen to the level of the 2008 food crisis."


"In the current situation, the states of the Eurasian region have a special role. We have a unique agro-industrial potential, which shows positive dynamics even in the current difficult conditions," Mishustin pointed out. He drew attention to the fact that "almost one tenth of the world's arable land, as well as permanent pastures and hayfields are concentrated in Eurasia. "There are opportunities to further expand them and increase the efficiency of their use. Thanks to the integrated cooperation, we can maintain a balance through the mutual supply of goods, stabilize prices in the off-season, fight with food inflation," said the prime minister of Russia.


He notes that "the Eurasian Economic Union has reached the self-sufficiency level of 80-95% for most food products." "We cover the citizens' demand for basic goods - grain, vegetable oils, pork, lamb, sugar, eggs - by our own production, while we only import certain products which we can't grow ourselves, first of all due to natural conditions," said the chairman of the Russian government. "So we can already talk about independence in this area," Mishustin believes.

 

 

GSV "Russia - Islamic World"

Photo: Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation

Based on materials from TASS