Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Egypt, Khairat Lama Sharif, was received by Egyptian Agriculture Minister al-Sayed al-Qusair on Saturday in Cairo, where they discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries in agricultural commodity exchange, livestock and scientific research, Egypt Independent reports.

The matter of agriculture

In a statement released by the Kazakhstan Embassy in Egypt, Lama Sharif informed the member of the Government of ARE about the key points of President Tokayev's address to the people of Kazakhstan and about the concept of development of the agro-industrial complex in our country. He emphasized that the head of State in his message indicated the importance of comprehensive state support of agriculture, including the provision of farmers with all necessary resources at affordable prices, such as fuel, seeds, and fertilizers for the quality sowing campaign.

In the course of the meeting, the sides also reviewed the various aspects of practical cooperation with Egypt in the agricultural sector. The potential of Kazakhstan can provide a competitive and stable production of agricultural, environmentally friendly products.

In the years 2006-2010, Kazakhstan used to export up to 1 million tons of grain annually to Egypt. However, the continuing rise in prices for food around the world proves the need for coordination between line ministries of our countries to agree on volumes and acceptable prices of grain products. In addition, grain supplies can be effective if the problems of logistics are overcome.

Strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries has become especially important in light of the ongoing events in Ukraine, which have already led to a spike in food prices in many countries around the world. According to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics of the AER, Egypt is the largest wheat importer in the world, importing 12.9 million tons worth $3.2 billion in 2021. USD 3.2 BILLION. The volume of domestic production, which the Egyptian government plans to increase (up to 5.3 million tons by increasing local production) in 2022 will only solve the problem by half.

It was agreed during the meeting to hold the fifth session of the General Assembly of the Islamic Organization for Food Security in Cairo in September 2022. To date, 36 states from 56 member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation have joined the IOFS. During the General Assembly the procedures related to institutionalization of the Organization will be continued. As it is known, the headquarters of the Islamic Organization for Food Security is located in the capital of Kazakhstan.

Free Trade Zone

Lama Sharif also noted that Kazakhstan has plans to establish a free trade zone in the Sokhna Port so that Egypt can become a logistical hub to export Kazakh grains and foodstuffs to the African countries.

The free trade zone could also serve as a gate to export potatoes and other agricultural products from Egypt to Kazakhstan, and the zone can be used to export potatoes and Egyptian agricultural products to Kazakhstan.

At the end of the meeting, an agreement was reached to hold periodic meetings between technical working groups formed by the two sides to follow up on cooperation projects between the two countries.