Egypt’s Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouk on Monday inaugurated the first meeting of the technical committee for the Integrated Rural Development Project, attended by European Union Ambassador to Egypt Angelina Eichhorst, Italian Ambassador to Egypt Michele Quaroni, and Tiberio Chiari, Head of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in Cairo.
The project is funded by a €24 million grant from the European Union to support Egypt’s agricultural sector and is being implemented by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in the governorates of Sohag, Assiut, and Beni Suef. It aims to improve living conditions for smallholder farmers through enhanced agricultural extension services, livestock production, plant health, and improved on-farm irrigation systems in selected areas.
Farouk described the project as a key step toward achieving sustainable development in Upper Egypt, reflecting the Egyptian state’s commitment to social justice, improving quality of life in rural areas, and empowering local communities by expanding economic opportunities and access to essential services.
He said the initiative represents a comprehensive development model designed to advance rural Egypt through well-planned and integrated interventions. These include strengthening agricultural cooperatives and improving the efficiency of agricultural value chains to boost productivity, increase incomes, reduce losses, and enhance the competitiveness of Egyptian agricultural products in local and international markets.
The minister also emphasized the importance of opening new opportunities for rural women and youth through targeted programs aimed at economic and social empowerment. These programs include training, technical support, and improved access to financing to enable them to play an active role in development and become agents of change within their communities.
Farouk highlighted that the project reflects the strategic partnership between Egypt and the European Union and aligns with Egypt Vision 2030, which seeks comprehensive rural development that integrates economic, social, and environmental dimensions. He also called for expanding cooperation with the EU in technical support for crop and livestock production, opening new markets for Egyptian exports, and encouraging greater European investment in Egypt.
In turn, EU Ambassador Eichhorst welcomed the cooperation with Egypt, describing it as a key strategic partner for the European Union. She said the EU is keen to work with Egypt on rural development, agricultural sector modernization, and the transfer of modern technology, stressing the importance of maximizing the benefits of the grant allocated to the Integrated Rural Development Program.
Italian Ambassador Quaroni expressed his satisfaction with participating in the first technical meeting of the project, praising the joint efforts to support various agricultural sectors, including livestock production, extension services, cooperatives, and capacity building for workers in the targeted governorates. He also invited the Egyptian agriculture minister and a technical delegation to visit Italy to review the Italian cooperative model as part of efforts to modernize Egypt’s cooperative system.
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