Egypt and the United Kingdom Strengthen their Strategic Partnership in Food Security

Egypt and the United Kingdom Strengthen their Strategic Partnership in Food Security

 

Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation: The Food Security is of Utmost Importance to the Government

Leveraging International Partnerships to Mobilize Financing and Technical Support for Various Sectors Supporting Food Security

Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation: Enhancing Cooperation with the UK to Promote Sustainable Agricultural Practices and Increase Productivity

UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the MENA region: Our Partnership with Egypt Reflects Our Shared Commitment to Supporting Food Security Efforts

 

The Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt, represented by H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, and Mr. Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of food security with the Government of the United Kingdom, represented by Mr. Hamish Falconer, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State  for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, at the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office.This enhances the strategic partnership between the two countries in the field of food security.

 

This agreement was signed during the British Minister’s visit to Cairo, within the framework of the close bilateral relations between the two countries and the ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation to enhance strategic partnerships with international partners to support development efforts in various sectors.

 

The MoU aims to establish a strategic partnership between Egypt and the United Kingdom for sustainable food security, including the exchange of technical expertise and bilateral cooperation. This will begin with the implementation of a new pilot program for technical expertise aimed at enhancing local wheat production and sustainable agriculture in Egypt, and identifying areas of cooperation in light of shared priorities.

 

In H.E.’s comments, the Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation explained that the MoU comes within the framework of the historical bilateral relations between Egypt and the United Kingdom at all levels, including cooperation within the country platform for the "NWFE" program. H.E. emphasized that food security is a shared priority and a critical concern for all countries, particularly in light of climate change, development challenges, and geopolitical tensions.

 

H.E. Minister Al-Mashat also addressed the mutual commitment of both countries to promote economic growth, sustainable development, and food security across Africa, as well as improving nutrition. H.E. added that the Egyptian government prioritizes this vital sector. Therefore, the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation is working to mobilize international partnerships, technical support, and financing to enhance these efforts, particularly in developing sustainable agricultural practices, supporting agricultural business incubators for small and medium-sized enterprises, and improving crop management and irrigation systems, along with climate adaptation efforts to boost economic development.

 

Following the signing, Mr. Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Egypt’s looking forward to a strategic partnership with the UK in the field of sustainable food security, including the exchange of technical expertise and agricultural research. He indicated that areas of cooperation with the British side also include enhancing soil fertility, increasing agricultural productivity, and promoting the efficient use of fertilizers, especially nitrogen fertilizers, for small farmers and owners with small holdings, as well as cooperation in sustainable food security, particularly in the wheat crop.

 

For his part, Mr. Hamish Falconer, UK Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan at the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, said: "I am pleased to announce this new and important partnership between the United Kingdom and Egypt’s Ministries of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, and Agriculture. We express our appreciation for Egypt’s leadership in sustainable food security efforts across Africa and the Middle East during challenging times. The United Kingdom shares Egypt’s commitment, and this agreement paves the way to enhance technical cooperation between our two nations."

 

It is worth noting that last year, the United Kingdom hosted the Global Food Security Summit, which represented a significant boost for food security efforts and innovation in this field worldwide. The Egyptian-British relations are diverse and encompass numerous sectors, with many British companies investing in Egypt. In 2020, the Ministry of International Cooperation and the UK Department for International Development issued a joint statement to enhance economic cooperation between the two countries, as part of the UK-African Investment Summit activities.

 Egypt and the United Kingdom Strengthen their Strategic Partnership in Food Security