"Now, four Ukrainian enterprises have the right to export poultry and products made of it to the market of Saudi Arabia. We are interested both in increasing their number and in expanding the range of products for export," the press service quoted Mr Lapa as saying.

Ukraine also plans to start beef exports to the market in Saudi Arabia. Today, Ukraine's application for beef shipments is under consideration by that country. Then its experts will inspect Ukrainian enterprises interested in the export.

"Saudi Arabia is a reliable and important trading partner of Ukraine. The State Food Safety and Consumer Protection Service guarantees observance of requirements of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and supports a strategic partnership between the countries," Lapa said.

UNIAN reports that earlier, the Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry noted that Ukraine plans to step up cooperation with Saudi Arabia in the agrarian sector, invite investors from that country and facilitate their investment in domestic livestock and fishery.

Ukrainian farm produce exports rose by 4.5 per cent in 2016 from 2015, to $15.5 billion, which was 42.5 per cent of Ukraine's total exports, the ministry said.

Grain crops, vegetable oil, oilseeds, soybeans, sugar, and meat traditionally were export-oriented staples in 2016. Among key markets were the Asian countries (45.9 per cent of exports, worth $7 billion), the European Union (27.5 per cent of exports, $4.2 billion), Africa (15.7 per cent of exports, $2.4 billion), CIS member states (7.7 per cent of exports, $1.2 billion), and the United States (0.9 per cent of exports, $45 million).