Egypt and the EU have signed a grant agreement of $40 million to support food security challenges.
The grant comes within the framework of the European Union's support for the food security in Egypt program, funded by a grant of €100 million. Projects related to the remaining amount, estimated at €60 million, are being agreed upon.
The signing ceremony was held on Thursday in the presence of International Cooperation Minister Rania Mashat, Supply and Internal Trade Minister Ali Moselhi, Agriculture Minister Sayed el-Quosair, president of the Foreign Ministry's office of the Egyptian-European partnership Amr Abo Eish, Head of the EU delegation to Egypt, Ambassador Christian Berger, Head of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) Martino Melli, and several officials.
The agreement resulted in the signing of several partnership deals, including the emergency project to support food security and flexible response at a value of $500 million with the World Bank, the Takaful and Dignity Expansion Program worth $500 million with the World Bank, and the Food Security and Economic Resilience Support Program at a value of $271 million with the African Development Bank.
Mashat confirmed that the agreement comes in light of Egypt's efforts to face food security challenges resulting from the Russian-Ukrainian war.
It also aims to strengthen national efforts in grain production and storage, stimulating climate resilience and increasing the storage capacities of strategic grains.
On Thursday, Moselhi reiterated the importance of cooperation with Italy and the EU in supporting the plans of the Egyptian state. He also referred to the Ministry's plans to expand wheat storage silos and stimulate food security efforts.
The Minister pointed out that the Egyptian state has taken many steps to achieve food security over the last eight years through land reclamation and cultivating strategic crops.
Furthermore, the Minister of Agriculture referred to the excellent cooperation and coordination between all Egyptian ministries to support the food security system, noting that Egypt has good collaboration with the Italian side to implement several projects in the agricultural sector, especially in the field of rural development, digital transformation, agricultural mechanization, and others.
