Egypt’s food industry exports reached more than $5.8bn during the first ten months of 2024, marking an 11% increase compared to the same period last year, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development Kamel al-Wazir said on Thursday.
Deputy Prime Minister Kamel al-Wazir opened the fourth annual “Food Egypt” conference on Thursday, stating that agricultural exports also grew by 11% to surpass $4.7bn during the 2024/2025 export season. He attributed this growth to the resilience of national industries amid global crises and the state’s emphasis on high-value competitive sectors.
“The Ministry of Industry aims to achieve integration between local supply chains and global markets to close import gaps and increase exports,” Wazir said.
The minister highlighted the ministry’s strategy to localize modern technology and position Egypt as a regional industrial hub, bolstered by a transition to a green economy. He stressed leveraging Egypt’s free trade agreements with the European Union, the Arab world, Africa, and the Americas—including the Qualifying Industrial Zones (QIZ) agreement—for duty-free access to international markets.
Wazir noted that the government is reopening stalled factories and regularizing existing facilities to boost production capacity. He underscored the food processing sector’s crucial role in national food security by transforming perishable seasonal crops into diverse, value-added products.
Held under the theme “Competitive Industry… Sustainable Future,” the conference saw Wazir oversee the signing of two key agreements: a cooperation pact between the Chamber of Food Industries and the Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality to host the Codex Committee meeting on food contaminants; and a protocol with the American University in Cairo’s School of Continuing Education for a specialized certificate in food safety and regulations.
The event was attended by Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk, Supply Minister Sherif Farouk, and Ashraf El-Gezairy, Chairman of the Chamber of Food Industries, along with representatives from leading food manufacturing firms.