This week, from February 25th to 27th, Minister for Agriculture Armands Krauze, together with a delegation of Latvian entrepreneurs, paid a working visit to Israel. During the visit, meetings were held with Israeli officials, representatives of scientific institutions, as well as entrepreneurs, in order to expand export opportunities for Latvian producers and to develop closer cooperation in agriculture, food production, education and science.
Minister for Agriculture Armands Krauze: “We arrived in Israel together with Latvian entrepreneurs to assess on site what export opportunities this market offers to our producers, to explore the latest technological solutions in agriculture and to discuss concrete steps for cooperation. Such joint visits are an effective instrument for identifying new export markets and establishing practical contacts. Our goal is to ensure that food produced in Latvia is increasingly recognised worldwide as reliable, safe and of high quality.”
During the visit, particular attention was paid to the importance of the latest agricultural technologies in developing a competitive and crisis-resilient sector, as well as to issues of food security in complex geopolitical conditions. The export opportunities for Latvian food producers in Israel were also discussed. Latvian food producers have the potential in this market to offer added-value niche products – organic food, frozen and processed berries, fish and dairy products. Israel offers not only a market with high purchasing power, but also strategic opportunities to further expand cooperation in other regions.
Co-owner of SIA “Blue Circle”, Lauris Apsis: “The trip was highly valuable. At the Netter Innovation Centre, we learned how ideas are developed and commercialised in Israel. At the Volcani Institute, we discussed Israel’s vision for the development of aquaculture until 2050, as well as the spread of bee parasites and human impact on this process. Such experience visits are important for building contacts both among participants and with international partners.”
During the visit, Latvia was represented by entrepreneurs and organisations from the agriculture and food sector – the cooperative society “Latvijas Piensaimnieku Centrālā Savienība”, the cooperative society “Vidzemes BIO āboli un ogas”, AS “Jaunpils pienotava”, LTD “Blue Circle”, farm “Zilūži”, as well as representatives of educational and scientific institutions from Bulduri Technical School and the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies.