September 1, 2009
Russia eyes Japanese investment in farms, ports
Russia is in talks with Japanese companies to secure investments in Siberian farmland and Pacific ports that would allow the federation to have a bigger share of Asian markets, according to a senior grain official.
Russia aims to greatly increase grain exports to East Asia from the 2010-11 marketing year, provided it could build the infrastructure required to transport Siberian grain further east, said Arkady Zlochevsky, president of the Russian Grain Union.
The Far East does not have any export port, but work is underway to build such a terminal and test shipments have started, said Zlochevsky.
Negotiations are taking place with Japanese companies and shipments could begin next season, he said.
Zlochevsky said Japanese companies were interested in buying land in the fertile Siberian regions of Novosibirsk, Omsk and Altai to grow crops that could be delivered east by rail and ship.
Wheat and barley are the main crops grown in the region.
