Minister of Agriculture Amin Abaza said Ethiopia is considering the allocation of 2.5 million acres of arable land for Egyptian private-sector investors. He said the allocated areas would be located in different climate zones so as to give the investors the opportunity to grow a variety of crops. In a statement to the press on Wednesday, Abaza said that Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif's next visit to Ethiopia is meant to encourage Egyptian investments there. Abaza added that the Egyptian government will sign a protocol with the Ethiopians to ensure that such investments are protected. Also, the Agricultural Development Bank is considering opening a representative office in Ethiopia to handle Egyptian investments in that country. On other fields of cooperation, Abaza said the ministry will form a resident veterinary commission in Ethiopia to make sure the livestock that Egypt imports from there are free of disease. Egypt recently authorized the import of Ethiopian meat. Ten days ago Abaza and Minister of International Cooperation Fayza Abul Naga embarked on a delegation to Ethiopia. The ministers signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ethiopian government and also attended a forum for business leaders. These moves come as Egypt tries to improve relations with Nile Basin countries. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
