Heilongjiang raises vegetable export to Russia
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-10-09 14:03

Construction of a vegetable wholesale market has begun in Tongjiang, in the northeastern part of the province. Vegetables sold on the market will include those favored by Russians such as onions, potatoes and tomatoes.

The 20-million-yuan (US$2.48 million) project, which covers 80,000 square meters, is expected to be completed in August 2005. The market expects to sell 150,000 tons of produce each year, according to an official with the Tongjiang city government.

Statistics available show that Khabarovsk, the biggest city in eastern Russia, consumes about 300,000 tons of fruits and vegetables annually. Tongjiang has exported more than 5,000 tons of fruits and vegetables to the Russian city each year in recent years. But the export only accounts for one-sixtieth of total amount needed by local people.

To increase its export to Russia, Heilongjiang Province has established a task force to oversee growing fruits and vegetables liked by Russians. This year, Tongjiang's acreage of export-oriented fruits and vegetables is more than 666.7 hectares.

Tongjiang, facing Russia's Khabarovsk and Jewish Autonomous Prefecture across the Heilong River (Amur River), is a city with a 100-year trading history and is the third largest river port city of Heilongjiang Province.

The accumulated trade volume between the city and Russia since 1987 has reached US$1.5 billion. Imports and exports via the Tongjiang port total 1.7 million tons.

By building the wholesale market, Tongjiang aims to make fruit and vegetable export a new growth area, according to a plan of Tongjiang city government.

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