The Minister of Agriculture held a press conference on January 8 to speak about agriculture’s performance during 2014 and to present new projects and investments that will be applied in the agriculture sector during 2015. Agriculture was the sector with the biggest amount of exports during 2014 but we aim that during 2015 the exports map to extend in many other European countries, said Panariti. “We are seeking for new markets in order to increase exports,” declared Minister Panariti.
The report of the Ministry about the sector’s performance in 2014 showed that Albania exported agricultural products to more than 20 countries, by underlining the increased amount of medicinal plants to USA. 70% of the sage consumed in USA is imported from Albania, said the Minister.
The official figures show the past year was a positive one for agriculture, since production and exports increased proportionally. The Ministry announced that agricultural exports reached the amount of 11 billion ALL during January-October period in 2014, increasing by 900 million ALL more than at the same period of 2013.
Agro-industrial products’ exports reached the amount of 6.1 billion ALL in 2014 from 5.6 billion ALL during 2013. Even agricultural products’ exports increased slightly, but a negative performance was noticed at livestock products during 2014, compared to 2013. Along with exports, even imports increased vaguely during 2014, at an amount of 67 billion ALL. Since trade exchanges in agriculture increased more than exchanges in other sectors, agriculture brought more revenues to the state budget and is the leading sector contributing in country’s economic growth.
News source/photo credits: ATA
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