Egyptian Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouk held talks with Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Luis Planas Puchades on ways to strengthen agricultural cooperation between Egypt and Spain and open new avenues for investment and trade.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Fruit Attraction exhibition in the Spanish capital, Madrid.Farouk said the Fruit Attraction exhibition represents an important international platform for trade exchange and for showcasing the latest developments in agricultural technology.
He noted that Egyptian-Spanish relations have witnessed significant development, expressing Egypt’s keenness to expand cooperation and agricultural integration and benefit from Spain’s advanced expertise in the sector, in a manner that supports Egypt’s plans to achieve food security and develop agricultural production.
The two ministers discussed agricultural insurance for farmers and the development of agricultural cooperatives, exploring ways to benefit from Spain’s advanced experience in managing and structuring cooperatives and transferring such expertise to the Egyptian side.
The move would contribute to supporting small-scale farmers and improving the services provided to them. They also reviewed issues related to agricultural quarantine and challenges facing the movement of agricultural shipments between the two countries. The ministers affirmed their keenness to overcome all obstacles to ensure the smooth flow of exports and imports, particularly amid growing agricultural trade between Egypt and Spain.
The talks also addressed recent developments in water-efficient irrigation systems and greenhouse agriculture, as well as investment opportunities in Egypt’s national projects, particularly the New Delta Project. Farouk invited Spanish investors and companies to invest in Egypt, highlighting the opportunities available in the country’s agricultural sector.
The meeting further covered aquaculture, genetic improvement of livestock for meat and dairy production, olive value chains and climate-smart agriculture. The two sides agreed to continue technical coordination and form joint working groups to follow up on the agreements reached and translate them into concrete implementation steps.