Toshka agricultural work a success

Agricultural work in the Toshka mega project has proved a success, and produce uncontaminated by pesticides are due for export to European markets, Minister of, Irrigation and Water Resources, Mahmoud Abu Zeid announced yesterday.

Twenty-five types of grape have thrived and matured two weeks early due to high temperatures inToshka, Mr. Abu Zeid said.

At the opening session of a seminar on upgrading skills of Egyptian labour, Abu Zeid said that up to LE 3 billion has been spent on the Toshka project since work began five years ago.

Job opportunities and advanced training courses, supervised by UNESCO, have been given to new graduates, he said. Minister of Labour, Ahmed El-Amawi added the three day event, referring to the importance of opening new horizons for Egyptian labour in neighbouring countries, since investment projects in Egypt cannot absorb increasing numbers of manpower.

"Upgrading education is one of the main factors in the improvement of manpower skills," El-Amawi said, adding that the government had allocated LE 21 billion for education from this year's state budget.