Egypt to promote agricultural trade exchange with US: Minister

CAIRO – 31 March 2017: Egyptian Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Abd El–Moneim El Banna discussed Friday means to enhance cooperation and trade exchange between Egypt and America with the agricultural attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Al Masry Al Youm reported.

El Banna and agricultural attaché Hisham Abu el-Naga looked into promoting the trade of crops and agricultural products between the two countries.

“The meeting emphasized that there are great opportunities for agricultural investment in Egypt, especially as President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi has launched some giant national projects,” El Banna said after the meeting. “These projects will change Egypt's agricultural map, opening up great prospects for investment.”

According to El Banna, projects of bilateral cooperation with the U.S. include exchanging scientific expertise in the agricultural field and providing training in different sectors, including livestock, poultry and fish farming.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the U.S. exported “$807 million worth of agricultural and related products to Egypt in 2016,” including corn, soybeans, and beef.

Sisi will arrive in Washington Saturday, where he will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump and a number of high-level officials in Congress and the Chamber of Commerce. Sisi and Trump are expected to discuss a number of important issues, such as terrorism, illegal immigration and enhancing bilateral relations in the political, economic and military fields.