The Government of Dagestan has declared the development of its processing industry a key economic priority. This strategic direction was central to the latest meeting of the republican Cabinet of Ministers, where Prime Minister Abdulmuslim Abdulmuslimov emphasized the urgent need for change.

"We must not remain merely a raw materials base" Abdulmuslimov stated, directing focus toward adding value to the region's agricultural output within the food and processing sectors.

To illustrate the potential, the Prime Minister recalled a personal observation fr om Bulgaria, wh ere he saw stores selling compotes produced by Buynaksk plant from Dagestan. The top official cited this as evidence of the republic's historically strong processing capabilities and declared an imperative to "revive these achievements," ensuring that the resulting tax revenue remains within the region.

As a first step, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Shamil Ramazanov, was instructed to strengthen control over the export of live livestock, redirecting this resource to the more than ten prepared slaughterhouses in Makhachkala. Abdulmuslimov also pointed to past successful cooperation with Iran as a model to be actively revived and expanded.

The push for modernization addresses a critical gap: while Dagestan is a leader in fruit and vegetable production and the food industry accounts for over 20% of its manufacturing sector, the volume of crop processing remains unsatisfactory, creating sales problems for local farmers.

In response, the government has formulated state support measures designed to stimulate private investment. The goal is clear: to create new processing capacities and modernize existing facilities, thereby enhancing the level of agricultural product processing, capturing more value within the republic and solidifying its economic future.