Organic Green establishes factory for drying medicinal herbs with investments worth EGP 12m

US, European markets have most demand for organic products, with China, India as main competitors

Organic Green will open a medicinal herbs drying factory in Sixth of October city with an investment of EGP 12m next year.
The Organic Green's Export Manager Mohamed Taha said that the new factory was built on an area of 2,800 sqm, with a production capacity of 30 tonnes per day.
He pointed out that the company has opened another factory to dry medical plants for export last March in the industrial zone in Kom Oshim, Fayoum, with investments worth EGP 11m, on an area of 3,000 sqm and it employs 150 workers.
The company aims to increase its exports to 2,000 tonnes of herbs and grains by the end of this year. This amount will witness a further increase after the new factory starts production in 2019.
Taha added that the company aims to expand its exports to European and US markets in the coming period, as they are the largest global markets in consuming organic products.
On the other hand, Organic Green participated this year for the first time in the SIAL Paris, the world's largest food innovation exhibition, Taha revealed.
He noted out that the German market is the primary recipient of the company's products, which are used in cosmetics and medicines.
Organic Green obtains the required raw materials for medicinal herbs from its own farms and contacts with other farms after ensuring their production's quality, and compliance with international specifications, and that they are free of pesticides.
The company plans to increase its agricultural investment in the coming period, as well as the planted area in Minya and Assiut governorates.
Organic Green produces dried lemon, marjoram, and basil, as well as different spices such as cumin, hibiscus, and poppy. In addition, it produces bulk cooking herbs, tea, blended herbs, and dried vegetables.
Taha said that his company has been exporting its products to 26 countries in Europe and Latin America for 18 years.
He noted that India and China are Egypt's biggest competitors in the spices and herbs industry, due to their wide experience in this field. However, Organic Green aims to expand its customer base in the global market, and gain a larger market share over the coming period.
The demand for these products is limited in the local market, due to the lack of organic food culture among Egyptians, and the high prices of such products amid the decline of purchasing power of local consumers, Taha concluded.