SEA team visits Russia to study sunflower complex
SEA delegation visits Russia to study the sunflower complex
A 16-member delegation from the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) is on a tour of Russia to study the sunflower complex, and to gain first-hand insights into production, processing, and exports.
Organised in association with the Russian Export Center Group, the delegation aims to dive deep into Russia’s sunflower story – from fields to factories.
Sanjeev Asthana, SEA President, said: “The tour is designed to study the sunflower complex, gain first-hand insights into production, processing, and exports, besides helping us build direct bonds with Russian farmers, producers, and exporters, paving the way for stronger trade ties and future opportunities between India and Russia.”
The delegation, which includes SEA’s Executive Director BV Mehta, and former SEA President Sandeep Bajoria, held discussions with over 30 Russian exporters of sunflower oil, soybean oil, and other commodities.
Interest to expand
Indian embassy representatives in Moscow, Anurag Nayan (Second Secretary) and Anugrah, also assured assistance in streamlining financial arrangements, particularly through the rupee-ruble payment mechanism.
Mehta said: “We really appreciate the commitment by Indian embassy and its strong support for strengthening trade between both the countries.”
The delegation, which visited Voronezh (an agricultural hub renowned for its fertile black soil), interacted with top executives of Russia’s largest edible oil company and leading supplier of sunflower oil, EFKO Group.
EFKO alone exported sunflower oil of nearly 8 lakh tonnes last year. During its presentation, the company expressed its keen interest in expanding collaboration with Indian importers.
“It’s a very productive visit to Russia where we not only visited beautiful sunflower fields but also got to visit EFKO’s headquarters and its research and development facility,” Bajoria said.
The Indian team also met heads of Rusagro Group, an important force in Russia’s food and agriculture sector, holding top positions across multiple categories.
India imports 3.5 million tonnes of sunflower oil each year. Of this, Russia alone supplies 2 million tonnes, making it a key player. The tour of the delegation is still underway.
Published on September 3, 2025
