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UniCredit Bank supports Czech farmers; the Bank arranged a meeting with their peers from abroad for them

Last year, Czech agriculture representatives exported more than 250 thousand tonnes of fruits and vegetables, however, they have to face reduction in purchase prices due to the Russian sanctions. UniCredit Bank, which wants to further strengthen its position in agriculture sector financing in the Czech Republic, will assist farmers in searching new opportunities. In cooperation with the Italian-Czech Chamber of Commerce, UniCredit Bank arranged a workshop as an invitation to MACFRUT 2015, an Italian fruit and vegetable fair. The professional workshop, which was attended mostly by leading Czech importers and exporters of fruits and vegetables, was opened by Paolo Iannone, Vice-Chairman of UniCredit Bank Board of Directors, and Renzo Piraccini, President of MACFRUT Fair.

The situation on the agricultural products market is complicated mainly because of the Russian sanctions, restricting access to the market, which, in the long term, is the major extra-European market with around 2% share in total exports. The estimated losses of the last year caused by the sanctions are expected to exceed 250 million Czech koruna. Czech producers export a negligible volume of fruits and vegetables to Russia (only 880 tonnes in the last year), however, the drop in demand exerts pressure on the purchase prices. Thus, under the new framework of the EU Common Agricultural Policy, fruits and vegetables are considered to represent the so-called sensitive commodities. 

Therefore, UniCredit Bank and UniCredit Leasing provide agricultural clients (not just the fruit and vegetable sector) with maximum support in search of new export opportunities. On 28 April 2015, in cooperation with the Italian – Czech Chamber of Commerce, the Bank arranged a presentation of MACFRUT 2015, an Italian fruit and vegetable fair, where Czech growers, distributors, traders of fruits and vegetables and related services met their Italian peers. 

“This is a unique opportunity to gain new business contacts with Italian companies. I hope to meet many of the Czech attendees also in September at the fair in Rimini, where they will have the opportunity to start their cooperation with global industry leaders,” said Renzo Piraccini, President of the MACFRUT Fair. 

UniCredit Bank is a partner for farmers not only in the Czech Republic, but mainly in Slovakia, where the Bank holds a strong market share. “Last year, provided agricultural sector financing totalled almost CZK 3 billion, which means a year-on-year increase by 800 million over 2013. In Slovakia, UniCredit Bank holds a 30% share in the agricultural loans market with the total volume of loans exceeding EUR 282 million, i.e. approximately CZK 7.7 billion. Our financial group also provides through UniCredit Leasing financing of branded agricultural machinery, with strong year-on-year growth rates in this segment,” said Mr Paolo Iannone, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors and COO of UniCredit Bank. 

The expert seminar with the participation of domestic growers, representatives of a leading financial institution, UniCredit Bank and Italian - Czech Chamber of Commerce is an exceptional opportunity linking all participants together who are contributing to the trade development. 

UniCredit Group is the chief sponsor and the business partner of Macfrut 2015, a fruit and vegetable fair to be held on 23 – 25 September in Rimini.