Latest news with #Farouk
Daily News Egypt
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt, EU, and Italy launch €24m integrated rural development project
Egypt's Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Alaa Farouk, inaugurated the first technical committee meeting of the Integrated Rural Development Project, joined by European Union Ambassador to Cairo Angelina Eichhorst, Italian Ambassador Michele Quaroni, and Head of Italian Development Cooperation Tibario Chiari. Funded through a €24m grant from the European Union, the project is implemented by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and focuses on improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the governorates of Sohag, Assiut, and Beni Suef. Its scope includes strengthening agricultural extension services, livestock production, plant health, and field irrigation systems. Minister Farouk highlighted the project as a significant step towards sustainable development in Upper Egypt, reflecting the government's commitment to social justice and better living standards in rural areas. He noted that by widening access to economic opportunities and essential services, the project aims to empower local communities and enhance resilience. Farouk described the initiative as a comprehensive development model that combines targeted interventions to bolster agricultural cooperatives and improve the efficiency of agricultural value chains. These measures, he explained, will help increase productivity and incomes, reduce losses, and raise the competitiveness of Egyptian agricultural products both locally and internationally. The minister also emphasised the project's role in creating new opportunities for rural women and youth through dedicated programmes that provide training, technical support, and access to finance—enabling them to become active contributors to economic and social development within their communities. Farouk further praised the initiative as an example of strategic partnership between Egypt and the European Union, aligning with Egypt's Vision 2030, which calls for integrated rural development balancing economic, social, and environmental priorities. He affirmed Egypt's openness to expanding cooperation with the EU in areas such as plant and livestock production, export market access, and attracting European investment to the agricultural sector. EU Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst welcomed the collaboration, describing Egypt as a 'key strategic partner for the EU.' She affirmed the EU's readiness to work with Egypt in rural development, agriculture, and technology transfer, while stressing the importance of maximising the impact of the grant through effective implementation. Italian Ambassador Michele Quaroni commended the partnership and the joint efforts to support agricultural development in the project's target governorates. He also invited Minister Farouk and a technical delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture to visit Italy to explore cooperative models as part of Egypt's broader strategy to modernise its agricultural cooperative system.
Daily News Egypt
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Agriculture Minister discusses boosting agricultural cooperation with Romania, Moldova
Alaa Farouk, Egypt's Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, met with Mohamed Mostafa Orfi, Egypt's newly appointed ambassador to Romania and Moldova, to explore opportunities for strengthening agricultural cooperation with both countries. The discussion focused on advancing bilateral agricultural relations, including exchanging expertise and modern agricultural technologies. The meeting also addressed mechanisms to increase the volume of agricultural trade and explored collaboration in key areas such as food security and joint agricultural investment—sectors that hold growing global significance. Minister Farouk reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to expanding cooperation with Romania and Moldova, highlighting Egypt's significant capabilities in agriculture that could serve shared interests. He also pointed to potential joint initiatives, such as co-producing and manufacturing agricultural machinery and equipment. Farouk noted that Egypt could act as a regional hub for distributing Romanian agricultural equipment to African markets, alongside efforts to open new markets for Egyptian agricultural exports. For his part, Ambassador Mohamed Mostafa Orfi expressed his eagerness to enhance economic and agricultural ties between Egypt, Romania, and Moldova during his tenure. He stressed the agricultural sector's vital role as a cornerstone for deepening relations among nations.
Al-Ahram Weekly
7 days ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
The Rokn Farouk Museum in Helwan is safe and sound: Tourism Ministry - Tourism
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities denied recent rumours circulating on social media claiming that a fire had broken out at the Rokn Farouk Museum in Helwan. In an official statement, the Ministry affirmed that the museum is entirely safe and has not sustained any damage. The fire in question occurred at a plant nursery approximately two kilometres away from the museum and had no connection to the museum premises or its operations. The Rokn was initially opened by King Farouk, Egypt's last monarch, in 1942 as a family rest house on the Nile in Helwan, south of Cairo. It is a boat-shaped edifice with three floors and a basement that houses the kitchen and servants' quarters. The interior is decorated with Pharaonic motifs and furnishings. A replica of the Luxor and Karnak temples is situated on the balcony, while three replica mummification beds are displayed in the main hall. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Daily News Egypt
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt's agriculture minister meets Namibian delegation to talk farm ties
Egypt's Agriculture Minister and a Namibian parliamentary delegation have discussed strengthening agricultural cooperation, with both sides agreeing to form technical committees to draft a memorandum of understanding, the ministry said in a statement. The meeting between Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Alaa Farouk, and the Namibian delegation, led by Paulus Mbangu, Chairperson of the agriculture and irrigation committee in Namibia's National Council, aimed to enhance bilateral ties and exchange expertise. The head of the Egyptian Senate's agriculture committee, Abdelsalam al-Gebaly, and the deputy agriculture minister, Mostafa al-Sayyad, also attended the meeting. According to the ministry's statement, the two sides discussed cooperation in exchanging expertise, producing crop seeds, mitigating the effects of climate change, improving livestock breeds, and agro-processing. Minister Farouk stressed the Egyptian political leadership's interest in expanding cooperation with African nations, including Namibia, particularly in food security and sustainable agricultural development. He highlighted recent developments in Egypt's agricultural sector, including projects in land expansion, modern irrigation, and livestock production. Farouk added that the ministry, through its research centres, was keen to provide all forms of support and offered to train Namibian specialists at the Egyptian International Centre for Agriculture. He also pointed to Egypt's investment opportunities in the agricultural sector. The Namibian delegation expressed interest in gaining Egyptian expertise in land reclamation, producing high-quality and climate-resistant seeds, fertilizer manufacturing, and various agricultural treatments to improve soil efficiency. Mbangu, the head of the Namibian delegation, praised Egypt's progress in agriculture and said Namibia was keen to benefit from its experience. He noted that Namibia has large areas of arable land, natural resources such as river and rainwater, and a large livestock population, which could have a positive impact on cooperation in breed improvement and the export of meat products to Egypt. The head of the Egyptian Senate's agriculture committee, Abdelsalam al-Gebaly, pointed to the cooperation between the Egyptian parliament and the government in supporting farmers and achieving food security. At the end of the meeting, the two sides agreed to form technical committees to formulate joint cooperation proposals and prepare a memorandum of understanding with specific timetables and clear programs. The ministry's foreign agricultural relations department will serve as the point of contact for this cooperation, the statement said.
New Straits Times
30-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
AirAsia positions itself as regional aviation powerhouse in Asean
SEPANG: The future of Asia's best low-cost airline, AirAsia, is being reshaped by a strategic consolidation of its short-haul and long-haul operations under a single umbrella in what is set to become a streamlined and more cost-efficient airline group poised to compete more effectively in Asean. AirAsia Aviation Group Limited (AAGL) deputy group chief executive officer (CEO) (corporate), Farouk Kamal, said the consolidation is part of a long-standing vision that had been in discussion even before the COVID-19 pandemic but was accelerated by the crisis. "This idea of combining the airlines (AirAsia and AirAsia X Bhd) is not new. It's just that COVID accelerated it. By integrating short-haul and long-haul networks, we can better cross-subsidise routes and improve profitability on an end-to-end basis," he told Business Times in an interview recently. Farouk added that the consolidation of AirAsia and AirAsia X, which will see the latter as the listed parent company, will allow routes to be planned more holistically, such as linking a long-haul flight from Kazakhstan to Kuala Lumpur with a short-haul connection to Bali, resulting in an economically viable full route. In future, all short-haul operations under AirAsia will be housed under AirAsia X and rebranded under a group identity to reflect the new structure. In March this year, Capital A Bhd CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said the group would be renamed as AirAsia Group. Capital A, the current parent company of AAGL and AirAsia, has agreed to divest the airline group and AirAsia to AirAsia X for RM6.8 billion. As part of the deal, Capital A will receive RM3 billion worth of AirAsia X shares, while the latter will assume RM3.83 billion in debt belonging to Capital A. Farouk said post-merger, AAGL's current group CEO Bo Lingam will continue leading the consolidated airline business, while the existing CEOs of individual AirAsia affiliates in countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, and the Philippines will retain their roles. Bo added that the consolidation also aligns with AAGL's aggressive fleet strategy, as it will take delivery of 14 new aircraft this year, all Airbus A321s, with five already received. The remaining nine aircraft will be delivered progressively until year-end. He also said AirAsia avoided major delivery disruptions, unlike other airlines, by not cancelling aircraft orders during the Covid-19 downturn. "I read that some (airlines) had one year, two years delay; no, we don't have that. There are delays like a month, a month and a half, two months (but) that's fine," Bo said in the interview, adding that AAGL's single-type fleet approach helps streamline production with Airbus. The group remains optimistic about its fleet expansion plans, supported by an existing order book of 358 A320 family aircraft, including the LR (long-range) and XLR (extra long-range) variants, capable of flying up to 10 hours. Farouk said these aeroplanes diminish the distinction between long-haul and short-haul flights and help the airline group to serve long routes more efficiently than the wide-body A330s, managing the seasonality and capacity better. Looking beyond Airbus, AAGL is actively evaluating aircraft from Brazilian plane maker Embraer and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd (COMAC) to serve niche or underserved regional routes. Farouk said the A220 and Embraer E2, both with smaller capacities of 130 to 160 seats, are under consideration for secondary markets and point-to-point operations. Bo added that smaller narrow-body aircraft with extended range are a good complement to AAGL's fleet mix that could open up new opportunities in Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodia or regional hubs such as Kota Kinabalu. Bo also said discussions are ongoing with several aircraft manufacturers on the purchase of new aircraft. AirAsia is also in the midst of a network rationalisation programme aimed at improving route profitability. Bo said that the airline is focused on ceasing unprofitable routes and prioritising core markets in Asean, India, China, and other key Asian destinations. "We're looking at the routes that aren't profitable anymore. We cannot be doing routes just for the sake of being there," he said, adding that the destinations that AirAsia flies to have to make commercial sense. The rationalisation will also support AirAsia's vision of strengthening Kuala Lumpur's position as a hub by building strong connectivity to neighbouring countries. "We want to develop a network where travellers can stop in KL and connect easily to other destinations like Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodia, and so forth," Bo said, adding that most of the network adjustments should be completed in time for the winter schedule. In March, Business Times reported that AirAsia will discontinue eight international routes and reduce flight frequencies on four others as part of a route network optimisation strategy. According to AeroRoutes, the affected routes are Ipoh-Singapore, Kota Kinabalu-Kaohsiung, Kota Kinabalu-Kunming, Kota Kinabalu-Manado, Kota Kinabalu-Ningbo, Kota Kinabalu-Wuhan, Kuala Lumpur-Port Blair, and Penang-Hong Kong. The final flights for these routes were between March 27 and May 5 this year. Also in March, AirAsia announced that it will relocate its flights to Sabah and Sarawak from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, or Subang Airport, to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 2 starting April 7.
