ACCESS TO RUSSIAN MARKET GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR SRPSKA'S DAIRIES

TESLIĆ, JUNE 25 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska currently exports more than 65 million liters of raw milk, and gaining access to the Russian market represents a major step and opens up various opportunities, stated Savo Minić, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management of Republika Srpska.

Minić explained that exports to third countries, especially Russia, require finished and processed products delivered in consistent quantities.

"This is also thanks to President Milorad Dodik, who continuously maintains that level of consistency," Minić told the press in Teslić.

He emphasized the ongoing efforts of the Government of Republika Srpska to ensure access and the ability to market domestic products such as wheat, barley, and others.

"When it comes to processing capacities, something we’ve been discussing all along, even the domestic market sometimes has additional demand for dairy products, so our processing capacities need to be further strengthened," Minić said.

He stressed that domestic agricultural producers must have the ability at the moment they finish production, to know where, how, and to whom they can deliver their goods under contract, so that these agricultural products are prepared for consumption.

Minić noted that exporting 60–70 million liters of raw milk means little in circumstances where the domestic market at times lacks sufficient quantities of cottage cheese to meet the needs of the milling and baking sectors.

He added that export to Russia is a major development, completing the overall framework of having access to large markets, which opens up many new possibilities.

"It's up to us to have the processing capacity that will result in products ready for consumption and export to other countries," concluded Minić.