Русский
The Comoros has agreed to the establishment of a Russian diplomatic mission in its capital, Moroni, according to its Foreign Ministry.
The Comorian government has welcomed the move as an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations with Moscow, according to a letter addressed to the Russian mission in neighboring Madagascar. The letter stated “The government of the Union of the Comoros accepts the request of the authorities of the Russian Federation to establish an embassy in the Union of the Comoros. The establishment of this embassy in Moroni will bring Comoros and Russia, which have maintained bilateral relations for several years, closer together and open up new prospects for cooperation between the two countries.”
The move comes at a time when Moscow has declared that developing ties with African states is among its top foreign policy priorities. Plans to open an embassy in Comoros and six other African countries, including the Gambia, Liberia, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Togo were first announced last month by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Currently, the diplomatic representation for Comoros is managed through Russia’s embassy in Madagascar.
Comoros is an Islamic island nation previously part of the French colonial territories. It has a population of 890,000 and a GDP (PPP) of US$3.5 billion, mostly derived through agriculture, and the export of spices, including vanilla, cinnamon, and cloves. The Comoros is the world’s largest producer of ylang-ylang, a plant whose extracted essential oil is used in the perfume industry; some 80% of the world’s supply comes from the Comoros. Agriculture contributes 40% to GDP and provides most of its exports. GDP (PPP) per capita is about US$3.350 per annum.
However, the Comoros has an inadequate transportation system, a young and rapidly increasing population, and few natural resources. The low educational level of the labour force contributes to a subsistence level of economic activity, high unemployment, and a current dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance.
Bilateral trade is estimated at about US$250,000, comprising spice exports from Comoros to Russia and some fertilizer exports from Russia. There will be opportunities in developing this trade, as well as in the fishing industry.
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