On May 7, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha held a meeting in Kyiv with the heads of leading agricultural associations and unions of Ukraine, dedicated to expanding the export of Ukrainian agricultural products and opening new markets. The meeting was also attended by Taras Vysotskyi, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture, and Serhiy Tkachuk, Head of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection.
Economic diplomacy and supporting Ukrainian exports remain among the top priorities for the MFA under the conditions of the full-scale war. In his opening remarks, the Minister emphasized that despite the war, Ukraine's agricultural sector continues to grow and remains one of the key drivers of the national economy. Andrii Sybiha also highlighted the crucial role of the agricultural sector for the economic resilience of the state: “Agricultural exports account for over 22.5 billion USD, which represents 56% of Ukraine's total exports and 17% of GDP. Wheat, corn, sunflower oil, and soybeans form the foundation of Ukrainian agricultural exports and serve as an important component of global food security. Ukraine is not merely a participant in the global market, but one of the guarantors of global food stability.”
The Minister also reported on the tangible results of diplomatic support in opening new sales markets. In 2025, in cooperation with the State Service on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, 19 new markets were opened for Ukrainian agricultural products. In 2026, Algeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Georgia, and Vietnam have already been added to this list. In total, over 300 export destinations are currently in progress. Among the specific results achieved are the restoration of access for the Mironivsky Meat Processing Plant (MHP) to the market of Saudi Arabia, the first-ever remote audit by the European Commission for thermally treated pork, and securing an annual poultry meat quota of 120,000 tons on the EU market.
Inviting business representatives to join official business missions to other countries, Andrii Sybiha noted: “Tell us which market interests you, and we will help organize the respective business mission. A live dialogue between the producer and the buyer remains indispensable.”
During his address, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture Taras Vysotskyi remarked: “Today, exporting agricultural products requires not only competitive quality but also systemic diplomatic support. Our task is to ensure the opening of high-value-added markets, synchronize veterinary and sanitary procedures, and establish predictable conditions for Ukrainian exporters.”
The event was attended by the heads of leading agricultural associations and unions of Ukraine, as well as representatives of relevant ministries and agencies.
The participants discussed the operations of Ukrainian companies in the markets of various regions — from the EU and the Middle East to Asia and Africa. Representatives of the MFA provided clarifications and answers regarding current operational issues in different markets. The matters that were not covered during the meeting will receive written responses.
In their turn, representatives of the agricultural business noted the importance of this dialogue format and expressed their readiness to actively participate in business missions and further joint efforts to promote Ukrainian products on global markets.