Egypt's Minister of Environment, Yasmine Fouad, met with Mohamed El-Zamlout, Governor of the New Valley Governorate, on Saturday to explore investment opportunities in managing agricultural waste, particularly palm fronds. The discussions focused on utilizing palm fronds as a new economic resource for the governorate. Minister Fouad highlighted the potential for converting palm fronds into MDF wood and using them as an alternative fuel source (RDF) in cement factories. This approach could contribute to reducing carbon emissions by capturing and issuing carbon certificates from the 40 million palm trees in the New Valley. "Investment opportunities in agricultural waste, especially palm fronds, hold great promise," stated Minister Fouad. "This initiative exemplifies economic development that aligns with sustainable development principles by protecting the environment, mitigating climate change, and generating economic and social benefits for the governorate's citizens." Governor El-Zamlout emphasized the importance of continued collaboration to achieve Egypt's goals for managing agricultural waste effectively. Both parties agreed on the need to transform palm fronds into a valuable resource, bolstering the governorate's economic potential and creating green jobs for young people. The meeting concluded with an agreement to activate cooperation on this project. Upcoming discussions will delve into the implementation details with the aim of launching the initiative in the near future. This project is expected to improve environmental conditions, enhance living standards for residents, and establish a national industry for managing and utilizing agricultural waste while generating employment opportunities.
