Adventures of the Spanish in Russia

The partnership agreement between JSC New Forwarding Company, investor of “Agromir – Kazan”, and Mercados De Abastecimientos de Barcelona S.A. (MERCABARNA), one of the acknowledged leaders in food clusters implementation, was signed on January 21.

It is no coincidence that the largest Spanish wholesaler of fruits and vegetables has concluded the first deal in Russia on Tatarstan project. The construction of the largest logistics center in Russia with covered area of 148 hectares started here last September. It is noteworthy that surface area of Mercabarna in Spain is 90 hectares.

“We can learn from Mercabarna specialists. According to the treaty, they will analyze an existing project “Agromir – Kazan” and present conceptual recommendations to investors, will work out specific proposals on location of objects in the framework of master plan, analytical report on logistical scheme of  cluster work organization, including external and internal logistics, dimensions compliance, functionality and internal layout of the building. By the way, branded trucks with the logo of Mercabarna do not move empty worldwide. If oranges are transported from Barcelona to Kazakhstan, apples for sale or for freezing are transported from Kazakhstan to Barcelona.  Such scheme helps to reduce the costs of logistics operator significantly.  Who knows, maybe in 5-6 years “Agromir” trucks will conquer world markets with gifts of Russian land. Adventures of the Spanish in Tatarstan are just starting” – said the Head of TIDA Taliya Minullina.

For reference, the wholesale market Mercabarna is a ‘city within a city’.  Number of companies is over 700 with 6700 workers in the companies onsite. Hotel, bar, restaurant, pharmacy, kindergarten, bank, optics shop, dispensary are available in this huge complex. Mercabarna’s basic commodities are fruits and vegetables, fish and seafood, meat, plants and collateral articles. Sònia Recasens, the President of Mercabarna calls her households “Mediterranean node point and open door for goods to Europe”. All these, together with excellent strategic location (near the sea port, airport and main roads networks) are factors which turn Mercabarna into important economic center not only in Barcelona but also in Catalonia, as a whole.