West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin is hoping to build crucial agricultural trade links during a trip to Russia later this month. The MP has been invited to Bryansk, in western Russia, to discuss potential cattle sales and visit agricultural facilities. An invitation from Bryansk Governor Nikolai Denin was offered via the Russian Embassy following Harriett’s successful trade fair held at Worcester Bosch in March. The region is experimenting with ranch-style cattle farming and is looking to source 250,000 to add to its stocks. Farmers currently import cattle from America and Australia. Harriett will be joined on the trip by DEFRA back bench committee chair Neil Parish MP, UK Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens, NFU vice president Adam Greenier and cattle expert Dan Morris. The Prime Minister and President Putin discussed agricultural trade when the Prime Minister visited Moscow. Harriett commented: “British beef is highly valued across the world and it is a huge boost to be invited by the Governor of Bryansk to start discussing such a huge cattle deal. “There is a great opportunity for the Russian and UK agricultural sectors to learn from and trade with each other. “There have been hurdles in the past, but we need to focus on the future.” British farmers have been prevented from exporting livestock to Russia since the BSE outbreak in the 1990s. However recent discussions between the two Governments have led to a commitment to re-assess the ban. As part of the trip, the Chief Vet will meet with his counterpart in Moscow and the two MPs will have meetings with Duma representatives. Harriett added: “The Russian Embassy kindly sent a delegation to Worcestershire in March for the trade fair we held. They could see that Worcestershire has an excellent agricultural sector and I hope that this is the first of a variety of trade trips. I also studied for a degree in French and Russian, so although rusty, my spoken Russian was once quite good.”