Cairo: Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouk met with Jean-Pierre Demarjorie, the Resident Representative and Country Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Egypt, to discuss strengthening joint cooperation and following up on projects being implemented in cooperation between the two sides.

According to State Information Service Egypt, during the meeting the two sides discussed renewing the Luxor Coordination Center agreement to promote resilience, innovation, and knowledge dissemination in Upper Egypt. The center was established in partnership between the two sides within the framework of achieving sustainable development, disseminating knowledge, and training small farmers in Upper Egypt, along with African cadres working in the agricultural sector. This initiative confirms Egypt's role in the development of African countries under the umbrella of South-South cooperation.

The Minister of Agriculture emphasized the importance of cooperation in enhancing the technical and logistical support provided by the program to small farmers in rural areas. Such support contributes to increasing their productivity and improving their incomes. The meeting also focused on expanding joint projects that aim to build the capacities of agricultural communities to adapt to the negative effects of climate change, protect natural resources, and encourage the application of smart and sustainable agricultural practices. These efforts align with Egypt's development vision and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.