BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Federal Minister of Agriculture Alois Rainer wants to boost exports of German food and other agricultural goods around the world. "We see ourselves as a team with the business community, working together to promote 'Made in Germany'," said the CSU politician at the presentation of his department's export strategy in Berlin. The ministry wants to be a "door opener" for new markets and also support small and medium-sized suppliers, for example with trade fair appearances.
Rainer announced a trip to China next spring. The strategy includes an analysis of promising target markets. Cuts made by the previous government to a program for trade fairs abroad are to be reversed. Contacts and networks are to be intensified in German embassies. A new coordinating contact point for exporting companies is to be set up in the ministry.
Exports important for agriculture
Rainer emphasized the quality and reliable standards of products from Germany. Among other things, the focus is on wine, which is currently experiencing sales problems. According to the ministry, German agricultural exports have an annual volume of around 100 billion euros. This means that agriculture generates almost every fourth euro abroad, and the food industry every third euro. In agricultural technology, three out of every four euros are generated on international markets./sam/DP/nas
