PM: Agriculture, high-tech projs may stimulate trade with Israel

MOSCOW, Nov 7 (PRIME) -- Projects in the pharmaceutical sector, the sphere of agriculture technologies and high-technology industry may accelerate cooperation between Russia and Israel and stimulate growth of mutual trade, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview with the Israeli Channel 2 News on November 5 ahead of his visit to Israel.

At present, trade between the countries amounts to U.S. $2 billion, he said, adding that the figure had fallen by around 30% due to the crisis in the global economy and the ruble depreciation.

“As prime minister of Russia, it is my goal to expand trade, which will benefit both the Israeli and Russian business communities. How could this be accomplished? We could spur cooperation by implementing a number of key projects, including pharmaceutical projects and agrarian technologies,” he said.

“Israel has excellent agrarian technologies, and we have a lot to learn here. We maintain special relations between our agrarian centers and agrarian universities. As I see it, this aspect is also very important and interesting,” Medvedev said.

“Another aspect is linked with cutting-edge technology, the development of startups and a new economy. Israel has achieved a lot in this area, and we also have some very good projects and inventions in this economic segment. If we incentivize this segment of our cooperation, I am confident that we will be able to achieve very impressive results in trade cooperation,” he said.

Russia and Israel are also discussing ambitious projects in the energy and gas sector, Medvedev said.

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