Alexandria is set to host Monday the regional conference promoting investments in Egypt's dairy production sector. The conference was announced by the head of the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce (FEDCOC) and Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, Ahmed Al-Wakil in a statement. The conference is a part of "Egyptian dairy industries week", targeting the organisation of many events over the week, promoting small- and medium-sized enterprises in Egypt's dairy industry. The conference seeks to connect them with concessional financing sources, marketing their products locally and internationally, said Al-Wakil. This event, organised by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, the German-Arab Chamber for Industry and Commerce (GACIC), GAFI and AAST is one of 100 events in the Mediterranean covered by the LACTIMED project. Financed by the EU, LACTIMED is promoting different sectors of industry in many European and Mediterranean countries, said FEDCOC Secretary General and GACIC Board Member Alaa Ezz. LACTIMED aims to foster the production and distribution of typical and innovative dairy products in the Mediterranean by organising local value chains, supporting producers in their development projects and creating new markets for their products. The project is financed by €4.5m in coordination with the Cooperation Platform for Economic Development in the Mediterranean (ANIMA). The conference will be attended by Minister of Agriculture Salah El-Din Helal, Alexandria Governor Hany El-Messiry, Beheira Governor Mohamed Sultan, European Union Ambassador in Egypt James Moran, Head of the Arabian Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AAST) Ismail Abdel Ghafar, and Head of the General Authority of Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) Hassan Fahmy. The dairy industry is considered one of the biggest industries in Egypt, with an outcome exceeding EGP 18bn during fiscal year (FY) 2008-2009. Egypt holds 16.3% of the value of the dairy market in Africa and the Middle East, with the highest dairy production rates recorded in 2008 reaching 6,000 tonnes before decreasing to 5,600 tonnes in 2009, according to the latest estimations of CAPMAS.
