Portfolio of Egyptian agriculture sector contains 13 projects worth $545M

CAIRO – 9 July 2020: "Agriculture sector’s portfolio of ongoing projects includes 13 projects at a value of $545.42 million," Minister of International Cooperation Rania al-Mashat said Thursday.

Mashat added that many international institutions contribute to this portfolio, including the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, the United States Agency for International Development and the European Union, as well as France, Italy, Germany and the Kuwait Fund for Development.

She emphasized that the coming period will witness the organization of specialized working groups to develop priority issues for the agricultural sector, and identify the challenges that faced previous experiences. This is in addition to setting proposals and mechanisms for addressing the challenges through cooperation with development partners, and stimulating the growth of the agricultural sector in the short, medium and long term.

She pointed out that the ministry places among its priorities in the current stage coordination with international institutions and development partners to support the agricultural sector, given its role in providing food security in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

She explained that many of the current projects in the agricultural sector are being implemented in cooperation with the United States Agency for International Development, a number of European countries, Arab funds and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

This came during a meeting held by the minister of international cooperation, and Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Al-Sayed al-Koseir, the, via video conference, with a number of international financing institutions and development partners.

The meeting discussed financing projects of high priority for the agricultural sector, and the plan of the Ministry of Agriculture to advance its sectors, within the framework of the sustainable development goals and the national development agenda, in cooperation with the international financing institutions.

For his part, the minister of agriculture highlighted the great efforts made by the political leadership and the state to care for the agricultural sector, most importantly the horizontal expansion of agricultural land and the development of irrigation systems based on modern systems and reliance on multiple sources of water such as treatment of agricultural wastewater and groundwater, harvesting rain water, torrents, etc.

Kosair reviewed the importance of setting priorities for the programs of the Egyptian Agricultural Bank, enabling it to fulfill its central role in meeting the needs of workers in this sector.

He added that the ministry will start the productive village experience in cooperation with an association, providing livestock to some families to help them own a project and supporting them.

The minister of agriculture stressed that through cooperation with the Ministry of International Cooperation and our donors, there will be an additional boom for this sector.

For his part, Country Director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for Egypt, Yemen and Libya Walid Labadi affirmed that IFC looks forward to working with the Egyptian government and development partners to support sustainable private sector investment in agriculture.

Head of the Regional Office at the European Investment Bank in Cairo Alfredo Abad also confirmed that the multi-partner platforms organized by the Ministry of International Cooperation  constitute an excellent opportunity for the European Investment Bank to engage in high-level discussions with ministers from various sectors.

He added that these platforms allow all partners to align strategies and procedures to ensure support for the sustainable development goals and improve people's lives.

Minister of International Cooperation Rania al-Mashat clarified that Egypt’s agricultural sector contributes to the gross domestic product (GDP) by 14 percent, representing 28 percent of job opportunities and 55 percent of rural employment in Egypt.

<blockquote class="embedly-card"><h4><a href="https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/3/89427/Agriculture-sector-contributes-by-14-in-Egypt-s-GDP">Agriculture sector contributes by 14% in Egypt's GDP</a></h4><p>CAIRO - 9 July 2020: Egypt's agricultural sector contributes to the gross domestic product (GDP) by 14 percent, representing 28 percent of job opportunities and 55 percent of rural employment in Egypt, Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat said Thursday.</p></blockquote>

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