Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Source: Egypt’s Cabinet Facebook page
Egypt, EU, and Italy launch major rural development project in Upper Egypt
In a significant milestone for rural development in Egypt, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Dr. Alaa Farouk, inaugurated the first meeting of the technical committee for the Integrated Rural Development Project. This ambitious initiative is being implemented in strategic partnership with the European Union and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.
The meeting took place in Cairo, with distinguished participation from the European Union Ambassador to Egypt, Angelina Eichhorst, and Italian Ambassador Michele Quaroni, as well as Tiberio Chiari, Director of Italian Cooperation in Cairo.
The Integrated Rural Development Project has received a €24 million grant from the European Union, which is being channeled through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. The program targets the governorates of Sohag, Assiut, and Beni Suef in Upper Egypt, aiming to improve the livelihoods of small farmers. Key areas of focus include agricultural extension services, livestock production, plant health, and field irrigation upgrades.
Dr. Farouk highlighted the project as a crucial step toward achieving sustainable development in Upper Egypt. He emphasized Egypt’s commitment to social justice, improving the quality of life in rural areas, and empowering local communities by boosting economic opportunities and access to essential services.
The Minister underscored that the project exemplifies a comprehensive development model, strengthening rural Egypt through well-designed interventions. “By enhancing the role of agricultural cooperatives and modernizing value chains, we can raise productivity, boost incomes, and make Egypt’s agricultural products more competitive worldwide,” he stated.
Dr. Farouk also noted the importance of supporting rural women and youth. Tailored programs will offer training, technical support, and access to finance, enabling these groups to participate actively in the development process and become leaders within their communities.
This initiative stands as a testament to the strategic partnership between Egypt and the European Union and aligns with Egypt’s Vision 2030, which seeks comprehensive, integrated, and sustainable development for rural areas. Dr. Farouk expressed hope for further cooperation with European partners, including technical support, new markets for Egyptian exports, and increased European investment in Egypt’s agriculture sector.
EU Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst welcomed the close cooperation with Egypt, underscoring the nation’s status as a key strategic partner. She expressed the EU’s enthusiasm for advancing rural development and agricultural modernization, and called for full use of the EU’s grant to maximize the impact of the program.
Italian Ambassador Michele Quaroni praised the fruitful collaboration and invited Dr. Farouk and his technical team to Italy, to explore Italy’s long-standing experience in agricultural cooperatives, hoping these insights can inform Egypt’s ongoing efforts to modernize its own cooperative sector.