Latest news with #AlaaFarouk
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
Egypt, Spain explore enhanced agricultural cooperation
Egypt - Alaa Farouk, Egypt's Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, met with his Spanish counterpart, Luis Planas, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, to discuss avenues for strengthening bilateral cooperation in the agricultural sector. The meeting is part of Egypt's broader strategy to reinforce ties with EU nations and enhance the international presence of its agricultural exports. The discussions took place on the sidelines of the 6th Conference of African and European Union Ministers of Agriculture and Food Security, held at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations headquarters in Rome. The ministers focused on key issues essential for bolstering food security and promoting sustainable agricultural development. Central to the talks were water management strategies, particularly efficient usage practices, and the implementation of advanced field irrigation systems. Farouk underscored the importance of partnering with Spain to introduce cutting-edge technologies in smart agriculture and modern irrigation methods. He also highlighted opportunities for knowledge exchange across agricultural value chains and encouraged increased Spanish investment in Egypt's agri-business sector. Planas, in turn, commended the exceptional quality of Egyptian agricultural products and their rising profile in international markets. He expressed keen interest in enhancing trade in agricultural and food commodities between the two countries and extended a formal invitation to Farouk to visit Spain later this year, notably to attend a major agricultural exhibition set to take place in Madrid. Also present at the meeting were Saad Moussa, Head of External Agricultural Relations, and Mina Rizk, Egypt's Deputy Representative to UN Agencies in Rome.
Daily News Egypt
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt, Spain explore enhanced agricultural cooperation
Alaa Farouk, Egypt's Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, met with his Spanish counterpart, Luis Planas, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, to discuss avenues for strengthening bilateral cooperation in the agricultural sector. The meeting is part of Egypt's broader strategy to reinforce ties with EU nations and enhance the international presence of its agricultural exports. The discussions took place on the sidelines of the 6th Conference of African and European Union Ministers of Agriculture and Food Security, held at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations headquarters in Rome. The ministers focused on key issues essential for bolstering food security and promoting sustainable agricultural development. Central to the talks were water management strategies, particularly efficient usage practices, and the implementation of advanced field irrigation systems. Farouk underscored the importance of partnering with Spain to introduce cutting-edge technologies in smart agriculture and modern irrigation methods. He also highlighted opportunities for knowledge exchange across agricultural value chains and encouraged increased Spanish investment in Egypt's agri-business sector. Planas, in turn, commended the exceptional quality of Egyptian agricultural products and their rising profile in international markets. He expressed keen interest in enhancing trade in agricultural and food commodities between the two countries and extended a formal invitation to Farouk to visit Spain later this year, notably to attend a major agricultural exhibition set to take place in Madrid. Also present at the meeting were Saad Moussa, Head of External Agricultural Relations, and Mina Rizk, Egypt's Deputy Representative to UN Agencies in Rome.
Zawya
6 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Agriculture Minister urges Philippines to open markets to key Egyptian exports
Egypt - Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, has called on the Philippines to open its markets to prominent Egyptian agricultural exports, including onions, garlic, potatoes, and grapes. He also stressed the strategic importance of the Philippines serving as a regional distribution hub for Egyptian produce to ASEAN countries. His remarks came during a speech delivered on behalf of the Egyptian government at the celebration of the Philippines' National Day, held in the presence of Azedin Tago, Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to Egypt, along with ambassadors, government representatives, and officials from international organisations and federations. Farouk highlighted the strength and depth of Egyptian–Philippine relations, describing them as distinguished and comprehensive. He noted that these ties span multiple areas, including diplomatic, economic, cultural, and educational cooperation, in addition to trade, investment, and knowledge exchange, as well as coordination in regional and international forums through mutual support. He recalled the historical roots of this relationship, dating back to the opening of the Philippine Embassy in Cairo on 3 March 1946—at the time, the only Philippine diplomatic mission in both the Arab and African regions. This, he said, reflects the long-standing and special nature of the relationship. The Minister noted the continued development of bilateral ties over the decades, citing the Treaty of Friendship signed on 18 January 1955 as a foundational agreement that paved the way for enhanced cooperation. He also pointed to Egypt's accession in 2017 to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (ASEAN), which affirms Egypt's commitment to fostering peace, stability, and economic integration in the region. Farouk stated that numerous memoranda of understanding and cooperation protocols have been signed between the two countries, particularly in the field of agriculture. He noted the recent approval by Egyptian authorities to allow the import of durian fruit into Egypt as an example of such progress. In return, he expressed hope that the Philippines would reciprocate by facilitating access for Egyptian produce to its domestic markets. Despite the strong relations, Farouk acknowledged that bilateral trade remains below expectations. In 2023, Egypt's exports to the Philippines totalled approximately $12m, with agricultural products accounting for just $2m—or 16%—of that div. Meanwhile, Egypt's imports from the Philippines reached $12.5m, of which agriculture represented 14%. He underscored Egypt's potential role as a strategic entry point for Philippine and broader Southeast Asian goods into the African continent through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and COMESA. Conversely, he encouraged the Philippines to position itself as a launchpad for Egyptian agricultural exports into ASEAN markets. The Minister also called for greater private sector engagement and investment from both sides, especially in agriculture, to help achieve food security and strengthen mutual interests. In closing, Farouk stressed the need to deepen cooperation in priority sectors such as tourism, investment, telecommunications, education, and agriculture, leveraging the comparative advantages each country has to offer.
Daily News Egypt
7 days ago
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Agriculture Minister urges Philippines to open markets to key Egyptian exports
Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, has called on the Philippines to open its markets to prominent Egyptian agricultural exports, including onions, garlic, potatoes, and grapes. He also stressed the strategic importance of the Philippines serving as a regional distribution hub for Egyptian produce to ASEAN countries. His remarks came during a speech delivered on behalf of the Egyptian government at the celebration of the Philippines' National Day, held in the presence of Azedin Tago, Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to Egypt, along with ambassadors, government representatives, and officials from international organisations and federations. Farouk highlighted the strength and depth of Egyptian–Philippine relations, describing them as distinguished and comprehensive. He noted that these ties span multiple areas, including diplomatic, economic, cultural, and educational cooperation, in addition to trade, investment, and knowledge exchange, as well as coordination in regional and international forums through mutual support. He recalled the historical roots of this relationship, dating back to the opening of the Philippine Embassy in Cairo on 3 March 1946—at the time, the only Philippine diplomatic mission in both the Arab and African regions. This, he said, reflects the long-standing and special nature of the relationship. The Minister noted the continued development of bilateral ties over the decades, citing the Treaty of Friendship signed on 18 January 1955 as a foundational agreement that paved the way for enhanced cooperation. He also pointed to Egypt's accession in 2017 to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (ASEAN), which affirms Egypt's commitment to fostering peace, stability, and economic integration in the region. Farouk stated that numerous memoranda of understanding and cooperation protocols have been signed between the two countries, particularly in the field of agriculture. He noted the recent approval by Egyptian authorities to allow the import of durian fruit into Egypt as an example of such progress. In return, he expressed hope that the Philippines would reciprocate by facilitating access for Egyptian produce to its domestic markets. Despite the strong relations, Farouk acknowledged that bilateral trade remains below expectations. In 2023, Egypt's exports to the Philippines totalled approximately $12m, with agricultural products accounting for just $2m—or 16%—of that figure. Meanwhile, Egypt's imports from the Philippines reached $12.5m, of which agriculture represented 14%. He underscored Egypt's potential role as a strategic entry point for Philippine and broader Southeast Asian goods into the African continent through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and COMESA. Conversely, he encouraged the Philippines to position itself as a launchpad for Egyptian agricultural exports into ASEAN markets. The Minister also called for greater private sector engagement and investment from both sides, especially in agriculture, to help achieve food security and strengthen mutual interests. In closing, Farouk stressed the need to deepen cooperation in priority sectors such as tourism, investment, telecommunications, education, and agriculture, leveraging the comparative advantages each country has to offer.
Daily News Egypt
23-06-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Agriculture Ministry steps up food security efforts amid escalating regional tensions
Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, affirmed that all bodies affiliated with the ministry are intensifying efforts to bolster Egypt's food security and shield the agricultural sector from the repercussions of ongoing regional developments, including the escalating Iran-Israel conflict. Farouk noted that although these geopolitical tensions have placed mounting pressure on global supply chains and driven up food prices, the ministry has maintained a steady course. A comprehensive set of proactive measures has been implemented to stabilise the national food situation and ensure sustained availability of essential commodities. The minister emphasised that Egyptian agricultural exports and imports have remained unaffected and, in fact, have reached unprecedented levels this year. He attributed this resilience to the sustained work of specialised ministry departments—such as the Agricultural Quarantine Authority and the External Agricultural Relations department—which continue to open new international markets for Egyptian crops. These initiatives contribute to foreign currency inflows and strengthen national income. He also underscored the critical role of the Central Administration of Agricultural Quarantine in evaluating and approving new import sources for strategic agricultural commodities and key production inputs. These efforts aim to diversify sourcing and reduce vulnerability to supply shocks from any single country, while also reinforcing collaboration with other ministries to support Egypt's strategic reserves. Farouk reiterated the government's unwavering support for Egyptian farmers, describing them as the cornerstone of agricultural productivity. This support includes the provision of production inputs, certified and improved seeds, and sustained guidance on adopting modern agricultural practices to maximise land and water resource efficiency. The minister stressed that under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, the Egyptian state is well-equipped to handle crises. He pointed to the significant agricultural expansion driven by national megaprojects launched during Al-Sisi's presidency. Farouk credited the President's continuous follow-up and commitment to food security for the remarkable progress seen in the sector. Efforts are ongoing, he added, to improve resource efficiency, enhance yields, and minimise losses. 'Food security is national security,' Farouk stated. 'We will spare no effort in safeguarding it.' For his part, Mohamed El-Mansy, Head of the Central Administration of Agricultural Quarantine, said the ministry is closely monitoring the implications of the Iran-Israel conflict on Egypt's agricultural exports and imports of strategic goods. El-Mansy confirmed that agricultural exports remain on track, with volumes reaching 5.2 million tonnes by mid-year. He explained that key export seasons—including those for strawberries, citrus fruits, and potatoes—have either concluded or are in their final stages, while others such as sweet potatoes and onions are ongoing with notable increases in volumes. Export seasons for grapes, mangoes, and pomegranates are also anticipated to perform strongly. On the import front, El-Mansy reported continued smooth inflows of essential commodities. Since the beginning of January, Egypt has imported approximately 4.9 million tonnes of wheat, 4.2 million tonnes of yellow maize, and 2.2 million tonnes of soybeans. He also noted that the quarantine authority is actively exploring new import sources for strategic commodities and production inputs, prioritising countries expected to yield high output amid shifting climatic conditions. Updated risk management protocols have been implemented to mitigate pest-related threats and ensure the safety and integrity of domestic agricultural ecosystems.
