Published on: 2026-06-05
Source: The Government of the Russian Federation –
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The Deputy Prime Minister participated in the session “The role of EAEU countries in the formation of international agri-food markets” within the framework of the XXIX St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Alexey Overchuk spoke at the session “The Role of EAEU Countries in the Formation of International Agro-Industrial Markets” within the framework of the XXIX St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, outlining the key results of the development of the union’s agricultural sector and the priorities of further integration.
Alexey Overchuk participated in the session “The role of the EAEU countries in the formation of international agri-food markets” within the framework of the XXIX St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
Alexey Overchuk thanked the Minister of Industry and Agro-Industrial Complex of the Eurasian Economic Commission Goar Barseghyan for the systematic work in the field of the agro-industrial complex. “The initiatives that are being implemented under your leadership will have a colossal integration effect and a significant impact on strengthening our overall food security,” he noted.
Speaking about the results of a decade of development of the EAEU, Alexey Overchuk emphasized the significant growth of agricultural production and trade. “Agricultural production in the Union countries increased in real terms by almost a third, mutual trade grew by 2.7 times, and exports by 2.5 times,” he said. According to him, the EAEU has transitioned from being a net importer to a sustainable net exporter of food.
Special attention was paid to the level of food self-sufficiency. “Today it is about 94%. We fully meet the basic needs for key types of products – grain, meat, milk, sugar, vegetable oils, and eggs,” noted the Deputy Prime Minister. He added that the union countries occupy leading positions in the global market, particularly in wheat and frozen fish.
In today’s conditions of the EAEU, according to Aleksey Overchuk, it acts as a “safe haven” in the field of food security. “Food production remains vulnerable to geopolitical and climatic factors, however, integration within the union allows effectively countering external shocks,” he emphasized.
The Deputy Prime Minister designated two key priorities of the long-term strategy. The first is ensuring internal stability and food security of the participating states. The second is creating conditions for active export of products from the agro-industrial complex to external markets. “These tasks are interconnected and complement each other,” he noted.
Among the practical steps, Alexey Overchuk called the formation of a supranational mechanism for financing cooperative projects in the agro-industrial sector. “We plan to fully form the entire necessary regulatory and legal framework and launch such projects by the end of 2026. This will cover the entire chain from the production of agricultural products to their processing, supply, including exports to foreign markets. And this will thereby strengthen integration ties,” the Deputy Prime Minister reported.
The role of infrastructure and the development of exchange trading was separately noted. “By 2030, we expect that the exchange market can also function as a mechanism for forming fairer prices in the general market of agricultural products,” said Alexey Overchuk. Work is also underway to develop logistics solutions and digital tools, including an agro-industry map of the union.
At the conclusion of the speech, the Deputy Chairman of the Government emphasized the importance of scientific cooperation in the agricultural sector, noting that without joint research and development of new varieties, the country will not be able to move forward. And today, an understanding is being formed about the necessity of uniting efforts in this area.
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