Agriculture
From The Report: Egypt 2018
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Agriculture remains an important part of the Egyptian economy, and a long-standing priority for the government has been to shift the agricultural balance of trade, with the country possessing the second-highest agricultural import expenditure as a share of export revenues in the region, at over 35%. To this end, improvements to irrigation systems and water management protocols have been planned and are coming to fruition. Meanwhile, the renowned Egyptian cotton industry, considered the international luxury standard for centuries, is experiencing a renaissance after several challenging years. With prices and global demand both on the rise, Egypt is hoping to ride the wave of this renewed popularity to a lucrative export market. This chapter contains an interview with Ashraf Mahmoud, Chairman and Managing Director, Al Nouran Group.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Waste not, want not: A reform-minded government is working with the private sector to revitalise a key domestic industry
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Despite Egypt’s largely arid landscape, a number of factors have allowed the country to develop as an agricultural centre, including the fertile belt surrounding the Nile, a widespread and advanced irrigation system, and year-round sunshine. However, in recent decades, Egypt’s fast-growing population has largely outstripped the development of its production capacity, leaving the country dependent on food imports even for basic staples, including wheat, since 1974. This is set to change…

Interview

Sweet success: Ashraf Mahmoud, Chairman and Managing Director, Al Nouran Group, on the future of agri-business
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Interview:Ashraf Mahmoud How did the recent sugar shortage impact domestic fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) production? ASHRAF MAHMOUD: The previous sugar crisis resulted in issues that the market and government were forced to grapple with. Almost 50% of Egyptians’ monthly expenditures are spent on FMCGs, so when the crisis hit, FMCG companies were affected directly. The government successfully addressed the issue through economic reforms, taking control of sugar stocks until it was able…

Analysis

Supplying demand: Boosting exports depends on developing local infrastructure
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A central component of Egypt’s plan to strengthen its agribusiness sector is the development of its supply chain infrastructure. The World Bank’s “Enabling the Business of Agriculture 2017” (EBA) report listed Egypt as one of the countries with the greatest room for improvement when it comes to commercial agriculture – particularly with regard to developing systems for effective storage and transportation of commodities. International Interest In February 2017 Tarek Kabil, minister…

Analysis

Cropping up: The return of Egyptian cotton to world markets has been welcomed by manufacturers and farmers
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The renowned Egyptian cotton industry, considered the international luxury standard for centuries, is experiencing a renaissance after several challenging years. With prices and global demand both on the rise, Egypt is hoping to ride the wave of this renewed popularity to a lucrative export market. Quality Control As reported in the international press, in 2016 Egypt’s production of cotton hit a more than 100-year low, a decline that started with the political upheaval of 2011, and which…