What is the potential of European Union countries in apple production? What administrative actions is the European Union taking to support production and export in the agri-food sector? The potential of EU-Egyptian and Polish-Egyptian trade cooperation, as well as the prospects for new business projects, were discussed by experts during a conference held on December 2, 2024 in Cairo. The meeting ended with a culinary show by Chef Mohamed Salah, who presented creative cooking based on apples. The event was held as part of the campaign “Time for apples from Europe”.
Egypt is a key partner of the European Union
The top apple producers in the European Union include Poland, Italy and France, and it is worth adding that Poland also has its place on the global podium (it ranks third or fourth on a global scale, depending on the year). According to data from 2023, apple production in Poland amounted to over 3.8 million tons, in Italy over 2.2 million tons, and in France over 1.8 million tons.
Poland is also a leading exporter of apples to Egypt. Countries such as Greece and Italy are also important trading partners for Egypt in this respect.
Exports of European apples remain stable, and regions such as the Middle East are becoming increasingly important for the EU fruit market. In the 2022/2023 season, Egypt has become a leading recipient for EU fruit growers, showing growing demand for European apples, which are valued for their high quality, freshness and exceptional taste.
Prospects for cooperation between the European Union and Egypt
The prospects for trade cooperation between the European Union and Egypt were discussed during a press conference held on December 2, 2024 in Cairo. It was attended by Mirosław Maliszewski - President of the Association of Polish Fruit Growers, Henryk Smolarz - General Director of the National Support Center for Agriculture (KOWR), Łukasz Leśniewski - Second Secretary of the Economic and Political Department of the Polish Embassy in Cairo and Radosław Rybicki - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development at the Marshal’s Office of the MasovianVoivodeship.
In his speech, president Mirosław Maliszewski discussed the key aspects affecting the competitiveness of European apples on international markets and presented the challenges faced by the fruit growing industry in the era of global climate change and the pursuit of sustainable agriculture.
“Climate change and increasingly stringent environmental protection regulations require us to invest in new technologies and adapt practices in apple cultivation. The European fruit-growing sector is already implementing solutions that enable sustainable production while ensuring fruit quality,” he stressed.
The representative of the Association of Polish Fruit Growers also spoke about the activities undertaken as part of the educational and information campaign “Time for apples from Europe” carried out in Egypt and Jordan. In response to a question about the future of such activities, the president announced his willingness to continue promoting products in this region. ““Time for apples from Europe” is a project that has been met with great interest and has been positively received. We will continue our activities to maintain and develop the position of European apples, including Polish apples throughout the Middle East, where consumers appreciate their quality and taste,” he added.
The General Director of the National Support Centre for Agriculture drew attention to the complexity of international trade regulations and their dynamic changes resulting from global political, economic and environmental challenges. He also emphasized the role of state institutions in creating favourable conditions for exporters.
“The priority of institutions such as KOWR is to eliminate trade barriers and support long-term relations with international partners. We introduce mechanisms facilitating access to new markets and support entrepreneurs in meeting regulatory requirements so that their products can compete on global markets,” said H. Smolarz.
Łukasz Leśniewski, representing the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Cairo, emphasized that Poland’s stable economy, developing export infrastructure and effective use of membership in the European Union create solid foundations for the development of trade with Egypt.
“Poland can become a stable supplier of food to Egypt to an even greater extent than before. Our good relations with Egypt, based on mutual respect and trust, open up new opportunities for trade cooperation,” he emphasized.
Radosław Rybicki, speaking on behalf of the Marshal’s Office of the Masovian Voivodeship, emphasized the important role of Masovia as the fruit-growing centre of Europe.
“The Masovian Voivodeship, the heart of European fruit growing, is one of the most important regions in terms of apple production. It is here that fruit growing tradition combines with modern technologies, which allows us to deliver the highest quality products to European and global markets.”
“Time for apples from Europe”
“Time for apples from Europe” is a three-year (2022-2025) information and promotion campaign implemented by the Association of Polish Fruit Growers (ZSRP) aimed at the markets of Egypt and Jordan. It is also a continuation of the previous ZSRP project implemented in Egypt and Algeria in 2018-2019. The campaign “Time for apples from Europe” is co-financed by the European Union. The primary mission of the project is to promote apples produced in the EU.
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