Monday, 25 May 2026
Netherlands, Egypt deepen agricultural cooperation at Cairo summit
The Netherlands and Egypt pledged closer cooperation in sustainable agriculture on Tuesday as Cairo hosted the Netherlands‑Egypt Agricultural Partnership Summit, coinciding with a visit by Dutch Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma.
Sjoerdsma arrived with a trade delegation representing 22 Dutch companies, underscoring what both sides described as renewed momentum in bilateral trade, investment and knowledge exchange in the sector. The program will continue on May 6 with field visits and technical meetings.
During the opening ceremony, Sjoerdsma and Egyptian Agriculture Minister Alaa Farouk reaffirmed what they called longstanding ties between the two countries and a shared commitment to advancing sustainable agricultural development.
Held under the theme “Harvesting Success,” the summit drew more than 800 Egyptian companies, research institutes, policymakers and other stakeholders, including several members of parliament.
A highlight of the event was the signing of a series of memorandums of understanding and agreements. Both ministers witnessed the signing of a Shared Agenda aimed at advancing climate‑ and water‑smart agriculture in Egypt, boosting trade and investment, and strengthening cooperation on knowledge and innovation.
“It is encouraging to see strong mutual interest at governmental, business and knowledge levels,” said Tycho Vermeulen, agricultural counsellor at the Netherlands Embassy in Egypt. “The high level of participation from both countries underscores the importance of further strengthening our partnership.”
The summit featured 12 parallel sessions, two high‑level meetings, a roundtable and an evening seminar, showcasing the scope of Dutch‑Egyptian cooperation. Dutch representatives highlighted what they described as an integrated approach to improving the business environment, promoting innovation, supporting public‑private partnerships and advancing policy dialogue.
The Dutch delegation will continue its visit with field trips focused on citrus cultivation, greenhouse horticulture, post‑harvest technology and supply‑chain management.