Directions for the development of foreign trade in agri-food products of Zakarpattia

Abstract

The purpose. To assess the state of foreign trade of agricultural and food industry enterprises of Zakarpattia and to determine the direction of its development. Methods. Analytical and comparative research methods. Results. It has been established that the limiting factors in enhancing the competitiveness of regional agri-food products in foreign markets are the limited number of types of export-oriented agri-food products (grains, oilseeds, vegetable oils, the share of which in the total export exceeds 60%) and the discrepancy of certain types of products with international safety and quality standards food products. The expansion of sales markets by Ukrainian producers and the strengthening of competitive positions in the world market require substantial organizational and technological renewal of production, bringing technological processes in line with international veterinary and phytosanitary requirements. Conclusions. To increase the volume of foreign trade in food, agricultural products and processing industry in Zakarpattia, it is necessary to expand the border infrastructure from the Ukrainian and from the EU countries. It has been established that the foreign trade activities of agricultural enterprises require special attention to the quality of agricultural products and the efficiency of their processing. Due to quality indicators, European food is more attractive for consumers on economic grounds, which provides competitive advantages.