Egypt Seeks Increased Global Cooperation at UNCCD COP16

Egypt's Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Alaa Farouk, held discussions with Ibrahim Thiaw, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), to explore avenues for joint cooperation on climate change, desertification, and related global developments.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the UNCCD, currently being hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

During the discussion, the Minister highlighted Egypt's extensive efforts in combating desertification, outlining key projects and programs implemented by the Desert Research Center. 

He also detailed Egypt’s collaborative initiatives with international and regional partners, including joint projects and the exchange of expertise on best practices and the latest technologies for addressing desertification.

Farouk reaffirmed Egypt's dedication to fostering international collaboration in this field and emphasized the importance of its partnership with the United Nations in combating desertification.

Both sides agreed on the necessity of strengthening cooperation between Egypt and the UNCCD, particularly in providing technical and financial support for land protection projects. They also stressed the importance of unified global efforts to tackle the challenges of desertification, given its significant impact on food security and the agricultural sector.

Ibrahim Thiaw commended Egypt's proactive measures in combating desertification and highlighted the critical role of knowledge-sharing and collaboration among member states to effectively address this global issue.