Tunis:Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouk met with Mohamed el Sewedy, Chairman of the Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI), to discuss enhancing cooperation in agro-processing. The discussions focused on increasing the added value of agricultural products and expanding the "Productive Village" model in rural areas.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the meeting explored mechanisms for expanding the initiative, aiming to optimize underutilized assets in villages and governorates. The goal is to transform these areas into industrial and economic entities that would benefit the national economy and foster economic growth in rural communities.

Farouk emphasized the significance of investing in food and agro-industries to create job opportunities for young graduates, support rural women, and promote their economic empowerment. This approach is intended to improve living standards and increase the incomes of farmers and their families.

Sewedy expressed the readiness of the FEI to provide technical expertise and resources to help operate small and medium-sized industrial complexes in productive villages. He also mentioned that the federation would offer specialized training programs to equip rural residents with the latest manufacturing, filling, and packaging techniques, aligning with export standards.