Egypt, Italy sign joint statement, memo of understanding
Egypt-Italy, Economics, 2/11/2002

Egypt and Italy late Sunday signed a joint statement and a memo of understanding in the field of agriculture.

The statement was inked by Deputy Premier and Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Youssef Wali and visiting Italian Agriculture Minister Giovanni Alemanno.

The joint statement made it clear that furthering agricultural cooperation would serve the best interests of the Egyptian and Italian peoples.

Italy expressed readiness to be the channel through which Egyptian agricultural products would access European markets.

Both parties underlined the importance of transferring high-tech to modernize the agricultural sector in Egypt.

They also highlighted the necessity to exchange expertise. A memo of understanding was also signed to help exchange agricultural products. a protocol, in this connection, will be inked on march 16, according to the joint statement.

In press statements, Wali said the Italian Minister has met with senior Egyptian officials, including Prime Minister Atef Ebeid, as part of efforts to bolster agricultural cooperation between both countries.

In exclusive statements to MENA, the Italian Minister asserted his talks centered on means to facilitate trade exchange between both countries, organize training courses and agro economic meetings to follow up the implementation of joint ventures.

Prime Minister Atef Ebeid Sunday received the Italian agriculture minister and his accompanying delegation, currently visiting Egypt.

Following the meeting, the minister told reporters talks with the premier were fruitful covering means of increasing agricultural cooperation between Egypt and Italy in the near future and ways of Italian investments in the field of land reclamation in Egypt.

The two sides reached an agreement on establishing a private sector maritime transport company in both countries to operate in the Italian and Egyptian harbours and encourage agricultural exports between the two countries, he added.

Meantime Minister of Transport Ibrahim Al-dimeri discussed Sunday with alemanno the establishment of an Egyptian -Italian company to build and operate a containers station in Alexandria or Dekhila.

"The station will be used to transport Egyptian agricultural products to the Italian ports to meet the needs of the Italian market," said a minister of transport official.

He praised the Italian ports as the gate way for Egyptian agricultural products into Europe.

The proposed station comes within the framework of a regular exporting and marketing strategy to promote Egyptian products in Europe as well as Arab and African nations.

The source reported a significant increase in the European demand of Egyptian crops which, he asserted, meet European marketing standards and rules.

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