Italy is studying setting up three logistics zones in Egypt for the storage of grains, vegetables, and fruits as well as sugar packaging, Egyptian supply minister announced Sunday. The three logistics zones are set to be in three Egyptian cities; in Beni Suef, Qenna, and Red Sea cities, with investment cost worth US$28 million, minister Khaled Hanafy said. The first logistics zone will locate on a space of 20,000 m2 in Qenna, about, 475 kilometres (295.15 miles) south of Cairo, dedicated to sugar packaging, the minister said. Another logistics zone is set to be built in Safaga on the Red Sea, 500 kilometres southeast of Cairo, designated for the storage of vegetables and fruits for both local consumption and export. It shall be run in cooperation with Qaha Co. for Canned Food and Edfina Co. for Preserved Foods. The third understudy logistics zone will be for the storage of grains and wheat, proposed to be established in Kom Abu Rady, Beni Suef, located about 120 kilometres (74.56 miles) south of Cairo. The Egyptian minister also revealed that Italy is currently building 10 horizontal silos for storage of wheat in Egypt, at capacity of 500.000 tonnes annually and cost of US$17 million. The silos are in Al Sharqia governorate's Hasneyya, San El-Hagar, Beni Suef governorate's Kom Abu Rady, Al Qalyubia governorate's Al Khankah, and Damietta governorate. Hanafy further said the silos are part of a debt swap programme worth US$45 million signed between Egypt and Italy.
