Latest news with #2030SustainableDevelopmentStrategy
Daily News Egypt
14-06-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Prime Minister inspects Maghrabi Agriculture in Beheira
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly toured the facilities of Maghrabi Agriculture Company (MAFA) in Beheira, accompanied by Minister of Local Development Manal Awad, Minister of Agriculture Alaa Farouk, and Beheira Governor Jacqueline Azar. The Saturday visit reaffirmed the government's commitment to supporting agricultural projects within the framework of Egypt's 2030 Sustainable Development Strategy. During the tour, the Prime Minister inspected key facilities at MAFA, including IQF (Individually Quick Frozen) plants, cold storage units, quality control laboratories, pest management labs, and several farming stations. MAFA is a leading exporter of agricultural products, supplying 70 international markets across the European Union, East Asia, and the Americas. The company exports approximately 153,000 tonnes annually of citrus, grapes, strawberries, lettuce, and dates, making it a vital contributor to Egypt's foreign currency reserves. Sherif El Maghrabi, Chairperson of MAFA, explained that the company's IQF1 facility produces 65 tonnes per day and employs over 150 workers. A second facility under construction is expected to increase daily production capacity by 80 tonnes and create more than 200 new jobs. The company's cold storage complex, currently in its first operational phase, includes rapid cooling rooms and a storage capacity for 4,000 pallets. One of the highlights of the visit was the biological pest control laboratory. Ashraf El-Arnaouti of Cairo University presented the lab's efforts to breed beneficial insects that target harmful pests. A key innovation includes a mobile application that detects red palm weevil infestations in real time, enabling targeted interventions that preserve crop quality. El Maghrabi noted that such biological control technologies, which previously cost Egypt €17m in annual imports, are now being developed locally, significantly reducing costs while relying on Egyptian expertise. The Prime Minister also visited the grape packaging station to observe the full value chain in action. El Maghrabi detailed the company's use of advanced desalination technology for irrigation and its expansion across 9,126 feddans in Nubariya, El Bustan, Tamboul, and Minya. Crops include citrus fruits, grapes, lettuce, dates, vegetables, herbs, and nursery plants. MAFA employs 1,600 permanent staff—including engineers, accountants, and export specialists—and 6,000 seasonal workers, 7% of whom are people with disabilities. The company is heavily invested in research and development, utilising soil moisture sensors, precision spraying technology to reduce pesticide use, and introducing new citrus varieties through international partnerships. Its production strategies cater to both local consumption and export markets. Prime Minister Madbouly praised MAFA's efforts, stressing that agriculture remains a cornerstone of Egypt's structural reform programme and a critical driver of export growth. He reaffirmed the state's support for expanding cultivated land and adopting advanced technologies to enhance agricultural productivity and economic returns. Following the visit, the Prime Minister also inspected a mobile service convoy in Zawyet Saqr village in Abu El Matamir Centre, part of the 'Decent Life' presidential initiative. Governor Jacqueline Azar presented an overview of Beheira Governorate, which comprises 15 centres, 17 cities, and is home to 7 million people. Beheira leads Egypt in fruit and vegetable production and citrus exports. She noted that agriculture is the main source of income for Abu El Matamir's 830,000 residents. The 'Decent Life' initiative in Beheira covers six centres, with 3,916 development projects across 42 villages and 236 hamlets. Of these, 2,759 projects have been completed, 90% of which are now operational. In Abu El Matamir alone, 516 projects have been finalised, with 321 already in service. In Zawyet Saqr, 38 of the 39 planned projects have been completed and are fully operational. These include family development services, canal lining, a fire station, internal roadworks, an agricultural complex, a youth centre, and a comprehensive service hub. The Prime Minister also visited a one-day food market offering affordable goods, organised by the Beheira Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade. He concluded his tour by inspecting mobile medical units providing services to local residents. The post Prime Minister inspects Maghrabi Agriculture in Beheira appeared first on Dailynewsegypt.
Zawya
28-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Tunisia launches $24mln project to restore forests, revitalize rural economies
TUNIS: The Government of Tunisia, in partnership with the African Development Bank Group, has launched a flagship $24 million initiative to restore degraded forest landscapes and boost climate resilience in rural ecosystems. The Agroforestry and Degraded Forest Landscape Restoration Project (PARFD) was officially launched in Tunis. The project, estimated at $23.72 million (over 73 million Tunisian dinars), is being funded by the African Development Bank through the Climate Investment Funds' Strategic Climate Fund, which is contributing $17 million. The Tunisian Government is providing $6.06 million, while project beneficiaries contribute $660,000. The initiative aligns with Tunisia's national development priorities, including the 2030 Sustainable Development Strategy and the country's commitment to reducing carbon intensity by 45% by 2030. It is expected to generate nearly 4,500 green jobs across the governorates of Béja, Siliana, and Bizerte. 'This project marks a major milestone in Tunisia's efforts to tackle the complex challenges of climate change and promote sustainable development in rural areas,' said Mohamed Naoufel Ben Haha, Director General of Forests at the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries. This project addresses the urgent need to protect natural resources through an integrated, value chain-based approach,' said Malinne Blomberg, African Development Bank Deputy Director General for North Africa and Country Manager for Tunisia. 'It targets both ecological restoration and the creation of sustainable economic and social opportunities for rural communities.' Key targets of the project include the restoration or stabilization of 33,200 hectares of land, including 2,450 hectares of private land under sub-projects focused on agroforestry, forestry, and the cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants. Additionally, 42,000 people will receive training in sustainable land management practices. Over a 25-year horizon, the project is expected to enable sequestration of 32 million tonnes of carbon, significantly contributing to Tunisia's climate goals.
African Manager
26-04-2025
- Business
- African Manager
Tunisia launches $24 million project to restore forests and revitalize rural economies
The Government of Tunisia, in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, has launched a flagship $24 million initiative to restore degraded forest landscapes and boost climate resilience in rural ecosystems. The Agroforestry and Degraded Forest Landscape Restoration Project (PARFD) was officially launched on April 23 in Tunis, the AfDB said in a statement on Friday. The project, estimated at $23.72 million (over 73 million Tunisian dinars), is being funded by the AfDB through the Climate Investment Funds' Strategic Climate Fund, which is contributing $17 million. The Tunisian Government is providing $6.06 million, while project beneficiaries contribute $660,000. The initiative aligns with Tunisia's national development priorities, including the 2030 Sustainable Development Strategy and the country's commitment to reducing carbon intensity by 45% by 2030. It is expected to generate nearly 4,500 green jobs across the governorates of Béja, Siliana, and Bizerte. 'This project marks a major milestone in Tunisia's efforts to tackle the complex challenges of climate change and promote sustainable development in rural areas,' said Mohamed Naoufel Ben Haha, Director General of Forests at the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries. Measurable Environmental and Socio-Economic Impact 'This project addresses the urgent need to protect natural resources through an integrated, value chain-based approach,' said Malinne Blomberg, African Development Bank Deputy Director General for North Africa and Country Manager for Tunisia. 'It targets both ecological restoration and the creation of sustainable economic and social opportunities for rural communities.' Key targets of the project include the restoration or stabilization of 33,200 hectares of land, including 2,450 hectares of private land under sub-projects focused on agroforestry, forestry, and the cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants. Additionally, 42,000 people will receive training in sustainable land management practices. Over a 25-year horizon, the project is expected to enable sequestration of 32 million tonnes of carbon, significantly contributing to Tunisia's climate goals. An Innovative Approach to Climate Resilience, Food and Water Security The project adopts an innovative public-private partnership model, engaging Tunisian farmers in the rehabilitation of private lands close to state-owned forests. This integrated approach combines ecological restoration with economic empowerment by developing sustainable value chains for high-value crops. By integrating sustainable agroforestry and forestry practices into agricultural systems, the project will support greenhouse gas emission reductions, bolster food and water security, and improve household livelihoods in some of Tunisia's most vulnerable communities. It is also expected to strengthen Tunisia's carbon footprint and improve the adaptive capacity of communities to the impacts of climate change, according to the statement.
