El alamein: Minister of Planning and Economic Development Ahmed Rostom and Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouq convened on Friday, August 7, 2026, to discuss the economic and social development plan for the 2026/2027 fiscal year, focusing on advancing food security and rural development in Egypt.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the meeting took place at the ministry's headquarters in El Alamein as part of an expanded coordination session aimed at enhancing cooperation between the two ministries. Attendees included Nehad Morsi, Assistant Minister of Planning for Infrastructure Affairs, Amgad Saada, Assistant Minister of Agriculture for Financial Affairs and Investment, and other senior officials and advisors from both ministries, some of whom participated via videoconference.

Rostom emphasized that the agricultural sector is a significant employer in Egypt and a central component of the nation's development strategy. He outlined the government's plan to modernize supply chain systems, expand cultivation areas, and promote agricultural industrialization through the 'Productive Village' concept, which integrates agricultural and industrial activities to secure a strategic reserve of crops.

Farouq highlighted the ministry's shift towards a competitive development model aimed at resource maximization and loss minimization. He detailed strategies to boost private sector involvement, attract investment, drive digital transformation, and promote sustainable growth practices. Farouq also stressed the importance of setting a clear timeline and performance indicators to track the progress of these initiatives, which are expected to open new export markets, create jobs, empower women economically, and elevate living standards in rural areas.