Press Release

AgroRus - 2009

On August 21-30, at the exhibition complex "Lenexpo", the 18th international agroindustrial exhibition-fair "AgroRus - 2009" was successfully held.

Organizers of the exhibition-fair:

• Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation
• Government of Saint Petersburg
• Government of Leningrad Region
• AKKOR (Association of Peasant's Holdings (Farms) and Agricultural Cooperatives)
• Committee on Agrarian Issues of the State Duma of the Russian Federation
• "Lenexpo" OJSC

This year over 160,000 of Petersburgers and guests of the city visited the exhibition. 26 official delegations from different regions of Russia visited it and over 1,500 enterprises and organizations of agroindustrial complex from 45 regions of Russia and 13 countries (Germany, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Belorussia, Estonia, Finnland, the Kyrgyz Republic, Japan, Latvia, Czech Republic, China, Slovakia, Lithuania) took part in it. The roofed exposition floor space was about 12,000 sqm., and open air floor space was 43,000 sqm. During ten days of exhibition's working over 100 tons of vegetables, 45 tons of sausage and meat products, 210 tons of honey were sold at the exhibition-fairе.

There were at the opening ceremony:

• The First Vice-Premier of the RF V.A. Zubkov
• The Governor of Saint Petersburg V.I. Matvienko
• The Governor of Leningrad Region V.P. Serdukov
• The Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the RF A.I. Belyaev

About 2000 people took part in the business programme from 93 cities of Russia, as well as from Australia, Austria, Belarus, Germany, Israel, the Kyrgyz Republic, China, Moldova, Tadjikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Finnland, France, Sveden, Estonia. There were more than 30 conferences, seminars, round tables, presentations, about 400 experts delivered speeches at them. Over 40 unions, associations, scientific centers and experts took part in organizing these events.

For over 18 years the international exhibition-fair "AgroRus" had been the main platform for promoting development of farms, gardening, and small peasant's holdings in agroindustrial complex. One of the key events of this year was the meeting of the First Deputy Chairman of the Government of the RF V.A. Zubkov with the farmers of Russia.

There was organized, for the first time, the presentation platform, at which an information and consultations could be received regarding the project of the Ministry of Agrivulture "Development of the pilote family dairy farms based on the peasant's holdings (farms) in the years 2009-2011". At the presentation zones "Rosagroleasing" OJSC, "De Laval" CJSC, "Rosselkhozbank" OJSC, "Agrotechkomplekt" OJSC, SET, Malachnichev's Farm, AKKOR exhibited their products.

A consulting center was organized in the hall № 7 for farmers, agroindustrial complex experts and visitors, it was attended by 138 people during the time of August 21-25.

A career fair for Agroindustrial Complex was open during all time of the exhibition. There were nearly 1,5 thousand vacant jobs in the career "bank" from 116 enterprises of Agroindustrial Complex for 146 walks of life. 145 people applied and 530 vacant jobs were supplied, 22 employers got consultations on personnel selection. "Information stall" was used by 74 people.

New at "AgroRus - 2009":

1. Exposition "Country tourism", organized by the Russian Center of Agricultural Consulting of the Ministry of Agriculture, in which the representatives of Vologda and Belgorod regions took part
2. Fish market enjoyed the great popularity. Over 60 tons of live and cooled fish was sold by small enterprises during the time of its working.
3. Contest for journalists at "AgroRus - 2009" on the best coverage in mass media the problems and successes in development of the agroindustrial complex of Russia in five nominations. Over 500 works from Russian regions were presented, 15 of them were chosen to be the best, as decided the competent jury. Among the winners were the journalists from Altai Region, Bashkartostan, Chuvashia and other regions.
4. The day of folk art trades "Restoring Traditions". The special interest of the grownups and children had master-classes, at which the art of wickerwork, knitting, and manufacturing decorative and applied art products from different materials were taught.

Six sectorial contests were held. 113 organizations were nominated in the following sectors:

• "For achieving high results in improvement of food quality"
• "For achieving high figures in growing vegetables and plants"
• "For achievements in agricultural science"
• "The best peasant's holding (farm)"
• "For achieving high figures in the development of livestock breeding"
• "For production of highly efficient agricultural machines and introduction of advanced resource saving technologies"

They were awarded with 96 gold and 34 silver medals, 17 diplomas and 6 Grand Prixes.

Traditionally topical days were held:

• Farmer's Day
• Day of Lenigrad Region
• Day of Saint Petersburg
• Honey Day
• Gardener's Day

Within the framework of the Honey Day there was a public taste test, at which the beekeepers presented over 250 samples of their products from 43 regions of Russia. On the judgement of the public jury, 12 of them were awarded with diplomas, and 10 of them were presented with valuable gifts.

During these years "AgroRus" had won popularity not only with the city citisens, but also with experts. In the year 2009, "Lenexpo" was the only representative of the exhibition business in Russia, which was admitted into EURASCO (The European Federation of Agricultural Exhibitions and Show Organizers).