The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, called for the extension of the Grain Initiative in March during a meeting with Ukrainian officials in Kiev. The initiative aims to facilitate the trade of grain and other agricultural products by streamlining customs procedures and reducing trade barriers.
Guterres praised Ukraine’s efforts to promote sustainable agriculture and food security, and noted that the Grain Initiative has been successful in improving trade and boosting economic growth in the region. He urged Ukrainian authorities to continue their support for the initiative and to work towards further improving trade relations with other countries.
The Grain Initiative was launched in 2018 by Ukraine, together with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other international partners. Since its launch, the initiative has helped to increase the volume of grain exports from Ukraine and has attracted new investments to the country’s agricultural sector.
The Ukrainian government has expressed its commitment to continuing the Grain Initiative and to promoting sustainable agriculture and food security. The initiative is expected to play a key role in Ukraine’s economic development in the years to come.