Cairo:Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouk emphasized the significance of the "Egypt 2026 Forum" in presenting the Egyptian state's vision for the upcoming three years, which includes extensive participation from various segments of society, political parties, and decision-makers.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Farouk stated that the forum reflects the Egyptian state's commitment to societal engagement and dialogue between the government, citizens, experts, and specialists concerning public policies, national projects, and development initiatives that have been implemented in recent years to enhance citizens' lives.

Farouk highlighted that food security and rural development are at the forefront of the state's priorities, transforming challenges into promising opportunities. He detailed the state's integrated reform strategy that balances horizontal land reclamation with vertical expansion supported by scientific research and digital transformation to maximize added value, achieve self-sufficiency, reduce import dependency, and provide safe, affordable food for citizens.

He further explained that the agricultural sector is undergoing a radical transformation aligned with the state's vision for land reclamation and water resource management. This includes the implementation of some of the largest land reclamation projects in Egypt's history, such as the New Delta project, the Toshka project, and the North and Central Sinai Development project, among others, which collectively cover millions of feddans.

Farouk also noted the state's proactive measures to support urban development, particularly in the agricultural sector, ensuring the food and agricultural product needs of Egyptians are met, even as many countries, including developed ones, face challenges in this regard. Despite global issues like desertification and climate change, Egypt has successfully reclaimed over 3.5 million feddans of desert, expanding its agricultural land.