AGRIENTS OF THE HERSON REGION ENTER THE MENA MARKET: B-AGRO COMPANY PRESENTS THE REGION AT FOOD AFRICA 2025 IN CAIRO

B-Agro, one of the largest agricultural enterprises in the Kherson region, presented the region at the international exhibition Food Africa 2025 in Cairo for the first time. Participation in Africa's largest industry forum was made possible with the support of the Russian Export Center (REC, VEB.RF Group). B-Agro LLC has been operating in the Russian legal field since 2022 and is part of the region's largest agricultural holding, a key employer and taxpayer in Kherson Oblast. The company specializes in growing high-quality soft wheat and barley. B-Agro's main competitive advantage is its control over the entire value chain. The company has its own infrastructure, including storage silos, a grain processing facility, and an accredited laboratory. The region's unique soil fertility, combined with modern agricultural technologies, allows for the production of products with special quality characteristics that are in demand on the global market. Until 2025, the company was focused on the domestic market, but the strategic decision was to enter the export market. Participation in the Cairo exhibition at the collective Made in Russia booth allowed B-Agro to make a statement in several strategic regions at once — the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). During the exhibition, the company's representatives established dozens of direct contacts with buyers from Egypt, Turkey, Iran, and Tunisia. Currently, the company is in the process of actively negotiating the first export contracts. "Participating in Food Africa 2025 as part of the Russian delegation is an opportunity to feel like a part of the country's unified economic space. We see how processes are organized in other regions of Russia, adopt best practices, and understand that we now have access to all government support tools. This is a powerful incentive for developing production within the region," said Mikhail Motrinets, CEO of B-Agro LLC. B-Agro's international expansion was facilitated by the regional support infrastructure, including the My Business Center and the Ministry of Economic Development of the Kherson Region. The company applied for participation in a foreign exhibition through the digital platform My Export. The Russian Export Center provided comprehensive organizational support, from preparing the exhibition and providing equipment to providing consulting services in logistics and customs clearance. B-Agro's plans include not only establishing a presence in the African and Middle Eastern markets but also expanding its exports to Belarus, China, and other Asian countries. The next important step will be the voluntary certification of "Made in Russia", which is designed to strengthen the confidence of foreign partners in products from the Kherson region. According to the Kherson Region Export Support Center, B-Agro's debut at Food Africa 2025 marks the systematic reintegration of the region into global trade. The success of the all-Russian brand paves the way for other local producers to export, contributing to the region's investment attractiveness and economic revival as one of the country's main breadbaskets. The Russian Export Center (REC, VEB Group) is a state-owned institution that supports non-commodity non-energy exports. It provides both financial and non-financial assistance to companies from various industries at all stages of entering international markets, including as part of the International Cooperation and Export National Project. Most of the services offered by the REC Group are available online on the state-owned digital platform "My Export." The REC Group's Export School provides training on all aspects of export activities. The REC is also responsible for ensuring and implementing the Made in Russia program.