# Ukraine grain export coordination centre opens in Istanbul Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-07-27 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Turkey unveils export centre for Ukrainian grains amid U.N. Meta Description: Explore how Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar has opened a centre in Istanbul to oversee the export of Ukrainian grains, aiming to alleviate an international food crisis. URL: https://financedigest.com/ukraine-grain-export-coordination-centre-opens-in-istanbulhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-07-27t122803z1lynxmpei6q0kcrtroptp4ukraine-crisis-grain-1736815531134-compressed.jpg) By Can Sezer and Orhan Coskun ISTANBUL (Reuters) -Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar on Wednesday unveiled a centre in Istanbul to oversee the export of Ukrainian grains after a landmark U.N. deal last week, with the first shipment expected to depart from [Black Sea ports within days](https://www.financedigest.com/no-more-five-working-days-how-getting-paid-immediately-can-transform-black-friday-for-merchants.html "No more ‘five working days’ – how getting paid immediately can transform Black Friday for merchants"). Russia and Ukraine [signed the deal](https://www.financedigest.com/italys-nexi-signs-digital-payments-deal-with-tims-olivetti.html "Italy’s Nexi signs digital payments deal with TIM’s Olivetti"), brokered by Ankara and the United Nations, on Friday to reopen grain and fertiliser exports that have been blocked by war to ease an international food crisis. The joint coordination centre (JCC) in Istanbul will oversee departures from three Ukrainian ports in which ships must circumvent mines, and will conduct inspections of incoming ships for weapons. All [vessels pass through Turkish waters](https://www.financedigest.com/japan-insurers-to-maintain-cover-for-lng-vessels-in-russian-waters.html "Japan insurers to maintain cover for LNG vessels in Russian waters") and all parties appointed representatives to the JCC to monitor implementation of the plan. A total of 20 personnel from Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations will work side-by-side there. Speaking at the National Defence University in central Istanbul’s Levent district, where the JCC is located, Akar said more than 25 [million tonnes](https://www.financedigest.com/revealed-1-45-million-tonnes-of-e-waste-is-produced-by-households-businesses-per-annum.html "Revealed: 1.45 million tonnes of e-waste is produced by households & businesses per annum") of grain was waiting to be exported. Currently, the preparation and planning is continuing for the first [ships laden with grain that will leave Ukrainian ports,”](https://www.financedigest.com/turkey-says-five-more-grain-ships-leave-ukrainian-ports.html "Turkey says five more grain ships leave Ukrainian ports") Akar told reporters at the monitoring centre. We believe the work done thanks to the JCC will contribute to overcoming the [food crisis affecting the whole world](https://www.financedigest.com/world-food-prices-hit-record-high-in-2022.html "World food prices hit record high in 2022"), especially by lowering prices,” he said. The personnel [working here is aware that the world’s](https://www.financedigest.com/the-evolving-world-of-work-what-next-for-employers.html "The Evolving World Of Work – What Next For Employers?") eyes are on them. STAYING ON CAMPUS A Turkish official close to the matter said that prior to last week’s agreement the Ukrainian and [Russian sides initially did not talk](https://www.financedigest.com/japan-insurers-in-talks-with-reinsurers-to-resume-coverage-in-russian-waters.html "Japan insurers in talks with reinsurers to resume coverage in Russian waters") to each other during the negotiations and then they softened. The [Ukrainian and Russian](https://www.financedigest.com/russians-ukrainians-fight-on-outskirts-of-sievierodonetsk-eu-haggles-over-oil-ban.html "Russians, Ukrainians fight on outskirts of Sievierodonetsk, EU haggles over oil ban") representatives are staying here at the joint centre. The parties have social conversations with each other in this campus. They are eating together here,” he said. The official said there were some 20 million tonnes of [grain in Ukraine](https://www.financedigest.com/traders-cut-ukraine-2022-combined-grain-and-oilseeds-crop-forecast.html "Traders cut Ukraine 2022 combined grain and oilseeds crop forecast"), with ships carrying some 10,000 to 20,000 tonnes each, or more than 1,000 shiploads. He said it would take ships leaving Ukraine some 30 hours to reach Istanbul. The [official said berthing areas where ships would be searched before travelling to Ukraine](https://www.financedigest.com/u-n-expects-ukraine-russia-grain-deal-to-be-implemented-in-a-few-weeks-officials.html "U.N. expects Ukraine-Russia grain deal to be implemented in a few weeks -officials") had not yet been determined. The deal was [almost immediately thrown into jeopardy last week after Russia](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-action-wanes-at-u-n-to-isolate-russia-almost-six-months-into-ukraine-war.html "Analysis: Action wanes at U.N. to isolate Russia almost six months into Ukraine war") fired cruise missiles on the port of Odesa, Ukraine’s largest, on Saturday morning, just 12 hours after the signing ceremony in Istanbul. Both Moscow and Kyiv have said they will [push forward](https://www.financedigest.com/why-the-covid-19-pandemic-is-pushing-forward-the-esg-agenda.html "Why the COVID-19 pandemic is pushing forward the ESG agenda") with the agreement, the first major diplomatic breakthrough in the conflict, now in its sixth month. The U.N., [Ukraine and Russia have all said they expect exports to begin](https://www.financedigest.com/ukraine-begins-first-war-crimes-trial-of-russian-soldier.html "Ukraine begins first war crimes trial of Russian soldier") in a few days. But [Russian Deputy Foreign Minister](https://www.financedigest.com/permitted-share-of-chinas-yuan-in-russian-wealth-fund-doubled-to-60-finance-minister.html "Permitted share of China’s yuan in Russian wealth fund doubled to 60% -Finance Minister") Andrei Rudenko said on Wednesday the deal could collapse if obstacles to Russia’s agricultural exports are not promptly removed, Interfax reported. Dozens of cargo ships have started preparing to depart from the three [Black Sea](https://www.financedigest.com/kremlin-remains-downbeat-on-state-of-black-sea-grain-deal.html "Kremlin remains downbeat on state of Black Sea grain deal") ports blockaded by Russia after being stranded at sea for five months due to the ongoing clashes. A Turkish [official said all the details regarding the ships’ departure had been worked](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-us-working-on-deal-to-make-ev-minerals-eligible-for-tax-credits-eu-official.html "EU, US working on deal to make EV minerals eligible for tax credits -EU official") out, including a safe route that will not require the clearing of sea mines. “It will not take more than a few days. It looks like the first [grains will be loaded this week and its export from Ukraine](https://www.financedigest.com/gazprom-gas-cut-tempers-economic-hopes-after-ukraine-grain-deal.html "Gazprom gas cut tempers economic hopes after Ukraine grain deal") will take place,” said the official, who requested anonymity. Ukraine and Russia [accounted for around](https://www.financedigest.com/5-common-mistakes-around-accounts-payable-automation.html "5 Common Mistakes Around Accounts Payable Automation") a third of global wheat exports before Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of its neighbour. Ukraine’s shipments via sea have stalled since February, sparking a sharp [rise in global prices](https://www.financedigest.com/oil-prices-rise-on-u-s-drawdown-chinese-fears-weigh.html "Oil prices rise on U.S. drawdown, Chinese fears weigh") for grains, cooking oils, fuel and fertiliser. Moscow has denied responsibility for the food crisis, blaming [Western sanctions for slowing exports and Ukraine](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-russian-gold-removed-from-some-western-funds-after-ukraine.html "Analysis-Russian gold removed from some Western funds after Ukraine") for mining the approaches to its ports. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu, Ece Toksabay, Orhan Coskun, Can Sezer; Writing by Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Jonathan Spicer, Louise Heavens, Daren Butler, Jan Harvey and Jonathan Oatis) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---