Egypt's Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat has met with the regional UN World Food Programme (WFP) representative to discuss development cooperation in agriculture and rural development. The meeting was attended by Corinne Fleischer, the WFP's newly appointed Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, and was held in the presence of Menghestab Haile, the WFP's Country Director and Representative in Egypt. It took place to discuss development cooperation relations with the WFP in the fields of agricultural and rural development in Egypt in order to empower small-scale farmers. Minister Al-Mashat congratulated Fleischer on her recent appointment, in December 2020, and referred to the WFP's vital role in implementing projects worldwide. These aim to achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs), and look to put an end to hunger and poverty across the world. During the meeting, the minister reviewed the Egyptian authorities' measures to overcome the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic across the health, social, and economic sectors. This saw the development of a home-grown response plan that includes precautionary measures to curb the spread of the virus. It also saw the authorities working to secure adequate strategic goods for the country's needs, and support the informal work force in Egypt. Minister Al-Mashat also emphasised the importance of the Ministry of International Cooperation's partnership with the WFP office in Egypt. The minister noted the WFP's role in partnering with government institutions, in order to implement several projects that aim to develop rural communities. These also aim to empower small farmers in a way that advances the achievement of Egypt's Vision 2030. She added that she looks forward to expanding the partnership with the WFP in the upcoming period, to further support Egypt's plan of achieving an integrated rural development. For her part, Fleischer expressed the WFP's interest in establishing a strategic partnership with Egypt. She added that she aspires for more work in the future, in order to push towards achieving the UN's SGDs. She also applauded Egypt's effort in facing the pandemic, mitigating its socioeconomic and health impacts, and pulling through with a positive GDP.
