Green Egypt for Agricultural Investment Company (AGREEN) aims to export 200,000 citrus fruits by the end of 2019, as well as to increase its production to 500,000 tonnes of citrus fruits within five years. Hazem Abdel Sadek, the export manager at AGREEN, said that the company is planning to increase its exports by 25% by the end of this year, as its products are exported to about 66 countries across the world. Abdel Sadek also added that the exports of the company reached 150,000 tonnes of citrus fruits last year, noting that the company specialises in exporting citrus fruits only which are exported to the majority of the global markets around the world. He explained that there is a decline in global demand for oranges, noting that the company has its global clients who regularly request the amounts which are contracted on, based on negotiations with its clients in traditional markets. Moreover, he added that the European market accounts for 35% of the company's exports, and East Asia accounts for 20% of the exports. On the other hand, Africa and Arab countries account for 45%, as the company works with Kenya, Mauritius, and Tanzania. Furthermore, Abdel Sadek explained that the company has increased the areas of agricultural lands in its farms in order to boost its production to 500,000 tonnes of citrus fruits which are suitable for export throughout five years. It also plans to establish two packaging stations over the next two years, in addition to two stations which have already been established. Citrus fruits have a high export demand, and it increases every year, as stated by Abdel Sadek. The company also relies on its farms' production in order to meet the needs of the international market, while the remaining quantities remain in the local market. Abdel Sadek noted that the company aims to increase its exports in the markets of East Asia such as China and Vietnam, in addition to Australia, through increasing the number of clients in these markets over the upcoming period. He further explained that allowing exports from all companies has caused major losses for bigger companies which have packaging stations, as small companies resort to reducing their prices and relying on products of a lower quality. Over and above, Abdel Sadek clarified that lack of strict controls over exports affects the reputation of Egyptian products, resulting in Egyptian products becoming inadequate compared with those of other countries, therefore becoming unable to compete with them, in addition to finding difficulty in entering new markets. In addition, he stressed the importance of controls over export stations, and the essence of activating the role of the agricultural quarantine in order to combat agricultural pests which cause major losses to crops. Notably, AGREEN started its business in 1995 by reclaiming 1,000 feddan of fertile soil to cultivate all kinds of citrus fruits in three main areas: the Valley of the Kings, Wadi Al Natroun, and Al Sadat City. By the end of 2017, the company's lands reached 18,500 feddan, producing 200,000 tonnes. The company also aims to allocate about 30% of the cultivated trees, which are not included in the production line, in order to increase the company's exports over the upcoming period.
