An Ethiopian delegation from ENTAG (Ethiopia Netherland Trade for Agricultural Growth (ENTAG) arrived in Cairo today as part of the ongoing cooperation between Egypt and Ethiopia for the exchange of expertise in the field of fisheries where Egypt ranks 10th worldwide, based on the USDA Foreign Agriculture Report.
The team, which includes, researchers and aqua culture investors, was invited by the World Fish Center - a research center 
that aims to reduce poverty through developing fishing and aquaculture - and is planned to visit several fish farms and hatcheries, the World Fish Center research facility in Abassa, Sharkia, a fish processing plant in Alexandria as well as various related sites.
Prof. Abebe Mengistu, ENTAG Aquaculture Sector Coordinator who heads the Ethiopian delegation, said the visit is important in terms of knowledge and value chain sharing, as the participants - mainly private sector entities, with a number of government affiliates and researchers - utilize and implement the gained knowledge back in their country.
It is not the first time that such training as held, as a previous one saw a training by the World Fish Center for 10 Ethiopian companies on aquaculture management in March 2017.
This visit will last for four days to be concluded with the Egypt Ethiopia Aquaculture Platform to be held on Saturday 1 Dec. that would bring private sector representatives from Ethiopia and Egypt together and where Prof. Abebe, and Prof. Diaa Kenawy, a representative of World Fish Egypt, would speak.
According to FAO, aquaculture accounts for 65% of fish production in Egypt while WorldFish reports that the sector provides employment for 816,000 people (150,000 in the aquaculture value chain and 666,000 in fisheries).
Tilapia is the species most farmed in the country, and the majority of the country’s fish production is consumed in the country, providing the equivalent of one fish per person per week.
Since launching its research program in Egypt in 1998, WorldFish has delivered high quality, practical research related to the country’s aquaculture and fishery sector. A key research focus has been on improving fish genetics to transform Egypt into a role model for African aquaculture development. WorldFish works closely with aquaculture stakeholders, the private sector and government organizations to deliver research on increasing aquaculture productivity, increasing the flow-on benefits of fish farming to women and youth, and enhancing fish value chains.
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