Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, met with Ukraine’s Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, Vitali Kovalev, to explore avenues for deepening bilateral relations. The meeting, which also included Ukrainian Ambassador to Egypt, Mykola Nahornyi, and other senior officials, underscored the growing potential for collaboration between the two nations, particularly in agriculture, trade, and investment.
In her remarks, Dr. Al-Mashat emphasized Egypt’s strategic position and its ambition to become a key logistics hub for grain storage, particularly for Ukrainian exports. She highlighted the expansion of Egypt’s grain storage infrastructure, notably the construction of a new silo at the Port of West Port Said, a project financed by international development partners. This initiative, she explained, aims to secure Egypt’s wheat and grain needs while positioning the country as a regional leader in grain storage and redistribution, especially to neighboring African markets.
“Egypt has the infrastructure and capacity to become a central point for storing and re-exporting Ukrainian grains, providing crucial access to the African market,” Dr. Al-Mashat stated. She also emphasized Egypt’s commitment to enhancing industrial capabilities, particularly in sectors such as food processing, and noted the potential for joint ventures in agriculture and agro-industrial manufacturing.
Ukraine, a major player in global agricultural exports, sees significant potential in partnering with Egypt. Minister Kovalev discussed the growing demand for Ukrainian agricultural products in the Middle East and Africa, noting that agricultural exports to Egypt alone had increased by 32% over the past year, reaching $1.4 billion. He further expressed Ukraine’s desire to leverage Egypt’s geographic location and growing logistical capabilities to increase the reach of Ukrainian goods to African markets.
Ukraine’s agricultural sector, which accounts for 59% of the country’s foreign exchange earnings, has long been a pillar of its economy. With exports totaling $24.6 billion, the sector is a cornerstone of Ukraine’s trade strategy. The country sees Egypt not only as an important trading partner but also as a gateway to Africa—a market with immense growth potential.
The discussions also touched on expanding tourism, where Ukraine is a key source of visitors to Egypt. The number of Ukrainian tourists to Egypt has historically been significant, with peaks reaching as high as 1.5 million annually. This ongoing trend positions tourism as another promising area for strengthened cooperation between the two nations.
The meeting culminated in a shared commitment to furthering the objectives of the Egyptian-Ukrainian Joint Committee for Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation, an essential platform for fostering bilateral trade, investment, and technological collaboration. Dr. Al-Mashat also highlighted the importance of enhancing private sector engagement and creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive on both sides.
Both countries are now poised to capitalize on each other’s strengths in agriculture, logistics, and trade, setting the stage for a new era of cooperation that extends beyond traditional trade relations and into sustainable, mutually beneficial partnerships. As Egypt continues its economic modernization efforts, Ukraine stands as a crucial partner in this transformative journey.
