Official: Crimea plans to exchange business missions with Burkina Faso and other African countries

CrimeaPRESS reports:

Previously, the special representative of the Russian President for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov at the opening ceremony of the III International Youth Forum “Russia — Africa: What Next?” statedthat Russia is building a long-term and mutually beneficial partnership with Africa, the continent is confidently strengthening its international authority.

African countries are a very promising direction for the development of mutually beneficial cooperation. Burkina Faso could be one of these countries; I recently had a meeting with a representative delegation from this country. We agreed to create organizational structures at the level of chambers of commerce and industry, business councils, and conduct business missions of Crimean and African businessmen— said Muradov.

The Crimean side, according to him, is forming proposals for interested Crimean entrepreneurs in various areas of cooperation with Burkina Faso. These areas can include both trade and technical assistance. He did not rule out that the first business missions are possible before the end of this year.

Countries in North Africa and the Sahel, such as Niger, Mali, Chad, Central African Republic, as well as Ethiopia and a number of other East African countries, are showing great interest in the possibilities of Crimea.

«Southern Sea Gate of Russia»

The Permanent Representative also believes that Crimea, having an advantageous geographical location, can become a “gateway” for the development of close trade relations with African countries.

Why is Crimea interesting? First of all, it is close to the African continent. From the same Egypt it takes four to five days to reach us on a merchant ship. African countries can offer fruits, coffee, cocoa, peanuts, and juice concentrates. All this is available in Russia, but it is all expensive because it goes through intermediaries. We want to bring our business to direct deliveries between these countries and Russian Crimea. There is a willingness to conduct such trade relations at fair, lower prices,” Muradov noted.

African countries, he said, are interested in Crimean agricultural products: wheat, flour, meat and dairy products, sunflower oil, as well as fertilizers. Crimea is ready to supply, in addition to the above, household electrical appliances, electric welding units, and build passenger ships and pleasure boats.

I can say that in the African direction we see a colossal desire for the development of economic cooperation with Russia, including with Crimea, and for traditional technical assistance to African countries — their industries, transport, and agriculture. Moreover, these countries are ready to pay in rubles for the construction of new facilities and new technologies. This is mutual interest and mutual cooperation, — he said.

source: TASS