French Transport Minister Clement Bon said on Sunday that he will sign an agreement with Romania to help increase Ukrainian grain exports to developing countries, including the Mediterranean.
“Ukraine’s grain exports have fallen since the start of the war because its Black Sea ports, a key supply route, have long been closed, raising global food prices and raising fears of shortages in Africa and the Middle East.
Romania, the second largest exporter of wheat in the EU to countries outside the EU, including Egypt, after France and the largest exporter of corn, was one of the alternative routes for the export of Ukrainian grain,” Reuters reported.
“Tomorrow I will sign an agreement with Romania that will allow Ukraine to supply even more grain… to Europe and developing countries, in particular the Mediterranean countries that need it for food,” Reuters quoted Bon as saying on France Inter radio.
According to the minister, the agreement covers exports by land, sea and river transport.
According to a draft agreement seen by Reuters, Paris will invest in the development of a project aimed at improving the efficiency of the port of Galaţi, equipping border crossings in northern Romania, maximizing the use of grain containers located at the port of Constanţa, and increasing throughput capacity at the port of Constanţa and through Sulyn Sea Channel.