The event took place on 21 October in the conference hall of the main educational building. The moderator was Rector of Kuban State Agrarian University, Professor Alexander Trubilin. The central theme of the meeting was Russian-Burundian joint prospects in agribusiness, education and science. Representatives of agricultural science and business of Kuban, as well as a delegation of foreign colleagues attended the discussion.
Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the African Republic Gaspar Banyankimbona greeted everyone. In his opening speech, he thanked the Rector of Kuban State Agrarian University for the warm welcome and noted that the African country is interested in cooperating with Russian scientists and agricultural enterprises. The Republic of Burundi is a country where agriculture accounts for over 35% of gross domestic product. New industry developments will allow the country to increase its economic efficiency and expand the range of foreign economic cooperation.
“We listened to the history of the university and learnt that it has many areas of international cooperation. We would like to become a part of it,” Mr. Banyankimbona said, “Our goal is to provide food to every resident of the republic. In order to achieve this, we want to develop cooperation with scientists and industry experts. Burundi offers different areas of partnership.”
Marina Goryainova, Head of the Department of Livestock Production at the Ministry of Agriculture of the Kuban Region, told about the development of the agro-industrial complex in the Krasnodar Territory and its export opportunities.
“Kuban is rightly called ‘the granary of Russia.’ We gain the lead in gross production of grain and leguminous crops, as well as vegetables, fruits, viticulture and wine products in the country. In addition, the region provides 10% of the all-Russian export of agricultural products,” Marina Ilinichna said.
Agroholding Kuban and Tehada, as well as the All-Russian Rice Research Institute also shared their scientific achievements and production scale. The result of the event was the signing of the cooperation agreement between Kuban State Agrarian University and the University of Burundi, as well as the exchange of souvenirs.