Egypt’s Minister of Trade and Industry Nevine Gamea has revealed that Egypt is among the top 10 major markets in the world in exporting fertiliser.
Gamea has announced that domestic fertiliser producing companies have adopted industrial strategies aimed at developing production processes and improving quality of products.
The minister confirmed the importance of enhancing joint regional and international cooperation between Egyptian companies and institutions operating in the fertiliser industry sector. This is a fundamental pillar for achieving sustainable development goals at the Arab and African levels.
The minister said that the fertiliser industry is one of the most important strategic industrial sectors that contribute mainly to achieving food security and sustainable agricultural development. It also contributes to saving about 50% of global food production.
She further noted that the Egyptian Government attaches great importance to the development of the country’s fertiliser industry sector and the development of production operations.
Gamea’s remarks came during her speech at the opening of the 27th edition of the AFA International Annual Fertiliser Forum, which is being held in Sharm El-Sheikh from 6-8 April, under the patronage of Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.
The minister said that the Arab region is currently one of the main sources for meeting the world’s needs of fertilisers thanks to its distinguished economic elements in this regard. This includes raw materials of phosphate rock and potash, as well as the availability of energy sources necessary for production.
Besides this, there have been efforts on the technological development in production processes that keep pace with the latest global production methods and environmental requirements.
Gamea added that, accordingly, it is important to support regional economic cooperation between Egypt, Arab and African countries by intensifying coordination efforts to support cooperation between companies and Arab business groups that produce fertilisers, the minister noted.
The negative effects of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the global economy and the economies of Arab countries have shown the great importance of implementing food security and agricultural development policies. This should aim to overcome the economic and social impacts of that crisis, the minister concluded.
The annual AFA International Annual Fertiliser Forum is organised by the Arab Fertiliser Association periodically with the aim of discussing ways to enhance joint Arab and international cooperation. It also aims to provide recommendations and lessons learned from the most important international experiences for the development of the fertiliser industry.
This year’s edition of the forum aims to focus on topics of the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on food security, opportunities and challenges that the post-pandemic period poses on fertiliser industry, and opportunities to enhance regional and technical cooperation between member states.
