Egypt’s dates exports up by 32% in 2017 first quarter

CAIRO – 2 July 2017: The Ministry of Industry and Trade is implementing a plan to develop date processing and palm trees cultivation to compete globally and ultimately contribute to improving the living conditions of oasis inhabitants working in those sectors.

The Ministry is organizing in collaboration with the general secretariat of Khalifa International Date Palm Award and Agricultural Innovation a festival for Egyptian dates in Siwa oasis. It will be held for the third year next February.

Minister Tarek Kabil stated to press on Friday that during the festival farmers, producers and academics exchanged experience on how to develop the sectors and highlight the oases patrimonial and touristic aspects.

“Egypt’s exports of dates rose by 32 percent in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the same period last year. The increase value is $14.2 million amounting to 17.3 thousand tons against 14.2 tons in 2016,” Kabil announced.

Abdel Wahab Zayed , secretary general of the Khalifa Award announced that a competition will be held next festival to motivate farmers and producers to deliver the best production nationwide and compete internationally.

Khalifa International Date Palm Award and Agricultural Innovation was founded in 2007 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to encourage individuals or institutions involved in the cultivation of date palm and to honor figures engaged in the date palm industry at the local, regional, and international levels.