Tehran, Iran, July 4
By A. Shirazi - Trend:
The chairman of Iran Feed Association said Iran and Europe have signed a memorandum of understating to enhance their cooperation in the production of livestock feed.
Majid Movafeq Qadiri added the agreement will be a turning point in the expansion of ties between Iran and the EU in the sector of livestock feed as the EU, after the US, is the world’s pioneer in the sector of livestock feed, IRIB news agency reported on July 4.
Joint investment, marketing, increasing market share in joint and regional markets, transfer of knowledge and technology, dispatch of trade and research delegations, and education are among the major terms of the deal, he further said following the sign ceremony of the MoU also attended by Nick Major, the president of European Feed Manufacturers' Federation.
Movafeq Qadiri this the second deal the EU has signed after a similar one with Brazil.
Major, for his part, called for enhanced ties between Iran and the EU, promising to travel to Iran in the coming fall at the head of a high-ranking delegation to discuss relations.
The animal feed industry in Iran got off the ground about 64 years ago concurrent with the industrialization of animal husbandry and poultry farming in the country. Today, local production meets 99% of domestic demand.
Iran exported livestock feed worth $173 million in the last Iranian year (ended March 20), registering a 33% increase compared with the year before, according to Iranian agricultural officials.
The export destinations mainly included the UAE, Iraq, Turkmenistan, Oman, Turkey and Qatar.
Iran annually imports raw materials worth $2-3 billion (depending on the amount and type of products) for the production of animal feed, mainly from Brazil, Argentina, Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.