EGYPT – Fruit and vegetable exports surged 16% in the first seven months of 2023, earning Egypt about US$2.3 billion in foreign exchange revenues.
According to Ministry of Agriculture Spokesperson Mohamed El-Qersh, Egypt fruit and vegetable exports surged to 5.1 million tons from January until July of this, up from 4.4 million tons in the same period in 2022.
The number is close to the record 6.5 million tons of agricultural exports – with a total value of $3.3 billion- that Egypt made in 2022.
Among Egypt’s top export destinations is France which in 2023 imported goods worth €560m in the seven month period ending August, a 30% increas compared to €400m in the same period last year.
This increase contributed to a decrease in trade deficit between Egypt and France by 42% to reach about €620m in the first eight months of the current year compared to the same period last year.
Improved trade has been attributed to efforts by the Egypt Commercial Service (ECS) office in Paris, according to Egypt’s Ministry of Trade and Industry.
The ECS in Paris, organized a virtual symposium on “Agricultural sector and agricultural products in Egypt”, in coordination with the Arab-French Chamber of Commerce in France.
The symposium – with backing from French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Egypt and The Global Diwan- aimed to benefit from the great French expertise in these sectors.
It also highlighted the large growth rates the Egyptian economy has achieved in the process of enhancing commercial cooperation between the two countries in commercial and agricultural fields.
The symposium was inaugurated by French Ambassador in Cairo, Marc Baretti, with the participation of Sayed Fouad, head of the ECS in Paris.
It was attended by representatives of more than 70 French and Egyptian companies specialized in the agricultural and food industries sectors, and a number of relevant French authorities.
Fouad highlighted developments that the Egyptian economy has witnessed in recent years, especially the positive indicators during COVID-19 crisis, the improved investment climate, and free trade agreements signed by Egypt to deepen access to Arab and African markets.
Additionally, French companies presented their activities in fields of agricultural and food products and welcomed exploring possibilities of enhancing cooperation with their Egyptian counterparts in various areas including increasing Egyptian exports of agricultural products and crops to the French market.
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