From Cairo to Abidjan: Agricultural cooperation shapes a new African partnership

Written by: Mohammed Omran

Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, received Sidi Temko Toure, Minister of Livestock and Fisheries of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, and his accompanying delegation, to discuss ways to advance and develop prospects for joint cooperation in the fields of food security, livestock and fisheries, and agricultural manufacturing, in the presence of Engineer Mustafa El-Sayyad, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, and Ambassador Albert Dollé, Ambassador of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire in Cairo.

At the beginning of the meeting, Farouk emphasized the directives of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, President of the Republic, to provide all forms of support to African brothers and enhance integration with the countries of the African continent, noting Egypt’s full readiness to harness all its capabilities and research and technological expertise to support the agricultural sector in sisterly Côte d’Ivoire.

Memorandum of Understanding for the Transfer of Egyptian Expertise in Fish Farming

Farouk directed that training program opportunities be increased for delegates and engineers from Côte d'Ivoire within the Egyptian International Center for Agriculture, to raise the efficiency of workers in the Ivorian agricultural sector and transfer modern technology.

The two sides discussed ways to support the joint agricultural manufacturing system, and to work on boosting exports and adjusting the trade balance between the two countries, especially in the fisheries, poultry, and table egg sectors.

The meeting reviewed the recent surge in production achieved by the country, which enabled it to achieve self-sufficiency in these vital sectors and the ability to meet the needs of African markets.

The two ministers stressed the importance of activating the role of investment and the private sector, through coordination to organize joint meetings between businessmen and investors in the two countries through the Ivorian Embassy in Cairo, in order to draw a clear roadmap for promising investment projects on the ground, in addition to agreeing to organize reciprocal field visits for delegations and experts to learn about successful experiences in production stations and research centers.

The two sides agreed to form a joint working group to discuss mechanisms for implementing what was agreed upon, as well as to explore opportunities for organizing an agricultural investment forum that brings together investors and businessmen from both countries to enhance the economic partnership.

For his part, the Ivorian minister expressed his deep appreciation for the pioneering Egyptian experience in the fields of agricultural and animal production, stressing his country’s aspiration to translate these understandings into executive action plans that serve the interests of the two brotherly peoples.

The Ivorian minister also extended an official invitation to the Egyptian Minister of Agriculture to visit the capital, Abidjan, next November, at the head of a delegation of Egyptian businessmen to participate in the Livestock and Fisheries Production Exhibition.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Saad Moussa, Vice President of the Agricultural Research Center and Supervisor of Foreign Agricultural Relations, Ambassador Sherif Nada of the African Sector at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptians Abroad, Engineer Mahmoud El-Anani, President of the General Federation of Poultry Producers, and Engineer Ahmed Nabil, Head of the Table Eggs Division of the Federation.

On the sidelines of the meeting, the Minister of Agriculture witnessed the signing of a joint memorandum of understanding between the Lakes and Fisheries Protection and Development Authority, represented by Major General Al-Hussein Farhat, the Authority’s Executive Director, and the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, represented by Minister Sidi Témoko Touré, to strengthen the partnership between the two countries in the fisheries, aquaculture and marine environment protection sector.

The cooperation includes transferring Egyptian experience and expertise in the field of fish farming in floating cages and in fresh and salt water, combating illegal and unregulated fishing, as well as exchanging information, statistical data and research results between governmental scientific bodies, in addition to organizing seminars and workshops to raise the capabilities of Ivorian executive personnel in the fields of aquaculture, fishing, processing and marketing.