During the meeting, both sides addressed several issues of mutual interest, most notably: exchanging expertise in water resource management, using modern technology in agriculture to increase productivity, and increasing the productivity of high economic value crops.
The meeting also touched on opportunities for joint
investment in various agricultural projects, promoting trade exchange of
agricultural products between Egypt and the Netherlands, including ornamental
flowers, and financing small farmers.
Farouk referred to his meeting with Jen Remon, the Dutch
Minister of Fisheries, Food Security, Horticulture, and Nature Protection, on
the sidelines of the Sixth Conference of African and European Union Ministers
of Agriculture and Food Security, which was held last week in Rome, the Italian
capital.
The Minister of Agriculture emphasized the importance of
benefiting from the pioneering Dutch experience in achieving food security and
sustainable agricultural development. He noted that Egypt places great
importance on modernizing and developing the agricultural sector in line with
Egypt's 2030 Vision.
He pointed out that joint cooperation could include agricultural
cooperatives and their development, flower production and export to EU
countries, and benefiting from the Dutch experience in financing small farmers.
He also mentioned the possibility of cooperation with the Dutch bank
"Rabobank" and other Dutch financial institutions.
The Minister stressed the importance of opening new horizons
for cooperation in the trade of agricultural and food goods and products, as
well as exchanging expertise in modern and advanced agricultural technologies.
He highlighted that Egypt is a promising country for investment, especially in
agriculture, due to the steps taken by the Egyptian state to improve the
investment climate. He added that investment must include clear sustainable
development, directing investment towards sustainable businesses and developing
small and medium-sized enterprises in cooperation with the private sector.
The Dutch Agricultural Counselor expressed his pleasure with
the meeting, affirming his country's readiness to provide all forms of support
and expertise to Egypt in specialized agricultural fields, contributing to the
sustainable development of the sector. He noted that this support aims to
assist small farmers and agricultural cooperatives by providing resources,
expertise, and production inputs, and promoting Dutch agricultural investment
in Egypt.
He explained that work is currently underway to prepare
proposals for financing four main agricultural projects, including agricultural
extension services to improve water use efficiency, unifying land holdings, developing
value chains and assisting small and medium-sized companies in marketing their
products, and potato seed production. These projects will be funded by a grant
from the Dutch government.
The meeting was attended by Engineer Moustafa El-Sayyad, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, and Dr. Saad Moussa, Supervisor of Foreign Agricultural Relations.