(VEE) ITALIAN AGRO-FOOD SECTOR EXPANDING IN RUSSIA

(VELINO) Roma, 19 Sep - Italy's agro-food businesses are a growing presence in Russia, a fact highlighted by Italy's participation at the traditional "WorldFood" fair that was just held in Moscow. The Italian Pavilion this year hosted 40 businesses, 13 more than last year, from the regions of Campania, Calabria, Apulia, and Sicily. It was also visited by Italy's Ambassador in Moscow, Cesare Ragaglini, who attended the opening of the fair. The Italian Trade Agency (ICE) supported the businesses' presence in various ways, including the distribution of a brochure in Russian with a brief description and general information on each Italian exhibitor, as well as tastings of the different regions' typical products, including demos by Italian chefs and cooking shows. The growing success of Italian businesses in Russia is owed to the fact that Italy's agro-food sector has bounced back from a period of decline: in the first half of 2016 it increased by 13 percent compared to the previous year. As a result, Italy has become Russia's seventh-largest supplier (one notch up from 2015), with excellent results for wines and pasta (first place), oil (second), and coffee (third). vel
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