Egyptian Ministers of Agriculture and Supply, Alaa Farouk and Sherif Farouk, met with Ukrainian Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Mykola Solskyi on Sunday at the Ministry of Agriculture in the New Administrative Capital to discuss cooperation on food security. The Egyptian Agriculture Minister welcomed Solskyi, highlighting the strong relationship between Egypt and Ukraine, particularly regarding wheat imports, with Ukraine being a key supplier. He expressed Egypt's interest in expanding trade and cooperation on food security, noting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi's focus on the agricultural sector as a primary food source. He suggested potential areas of cooperation, including livestock and improved breeds, as well as expertise exchange. He emphasized Egypt's commitment to maximizing water usage for food security and climate change mitigation, highlighting government directives to develop the agricultural sector, add value through agro-processing, and increase agricultural exports. The Agriculture Minister welcomed the accompanying delegation of Ukrainian business leaders and expressed his hope for direct engagement between Egyptian and Ukrainian investors to expand cooperation. He also underscored Egypt's support for private sector development and both domestic and foreign investment. Minister of Supply Sherif Farouk also welcomed the Ukrainian delegation, praising the deep historical ties between the two countries and their positive impact on trade, particularly in wheat. He emphasized Egypt's focus on food security and its view of Ukraine as a strategic partner in this area, highlighting the importance of wheat imports for supply chain sustainability. Sherif Farouk noted Egypt's interest in diversifying import sources and developing investment partnerships with Ukraine in storage and food processing, leveraging modern agricultural technologies and supply chain advancements. He also emphasized the importance of strengthening strategic cooperation, highlighting promising opportunities for joint investment in domestic trade to enhance economic stability and food security regionally. Solskyi expressed his pleasure at visiting Egypt and the New Administrative Capital for the first time. He conveyed Ukraine's desire to expand development prospects with Egypt, considering it a key regional partner and a gateway to Africa. He expressed Ukraine's willingness to enhance cooperation on food security, addressing the topics raised by the Egyptian ministers. Solskyi noted that the accompanying Ukrainian investors were ready to collaborate with Egyptian companies in the grain, meat, and poultry sectors to meet Egypt's import needs. He also expressed Ukraine's desire to expand bilateral trade. Officials from both countries' ministries attended the meeting.
