Egypt and Belarus forge partnership to establish grain logistics, manufacturing hub

EGYPT – Egypt and Belarus are exploring the establishment of a logistics zone dedicated to the import, manufacturing, and marketing of grain products, as announced by the Egyptian Cabinet.

This initiative aims to develop a center for grain trading and manufacturing to satisfy Egypt’s domestic market demands and facilitate exports to regional markets.

Kamel El-Wazir, Egypt’s Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport, discussed the proposal with Alexander Ogorodnikov, First Deputy Minister of Industry of Belarus, alongside delegations from five Belarusian companies.

Both ministers emphasized the importance of increasing meetings between officials from both nations in the near future to create a roadmap for significant industrial cooperation.

This collaboration aligns with Egypt’s broader strategy to enhance its agricultural sector and ensure food security.

 In recent years, Egypt has been the world’s largest importer of wheat, with annual imports averaging around 12 million tons. The country has been diversifying its grain import sources to mitigate risks associated with global market fluctuations.

Belarus, known for its substantial agricultural production, particularly in grains and cereals, has been seeking to expand its export markets. The proposed logistics zone could serve as a strategic hub, leveraging Egypt’s geographic position to access markets in Africa and the Middle East.

This comes as the Egyptian military’s Mostakbal Misr Agency for Sustainable Development has been designated as the sole entity responsible for importing strategic food commodities, including wheat.

The transition, outlined in a letter from Egypt’s Ministry of Supply to Russia’s Minister of Agriculture, marks the end of the decades-long role played by the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC).

Established in 2022 by presidential decree, Mostakbal Misr initially focused on land reclamation projects. However, its scope has since expanded to include critical sectors of Egypt’s economy, reflecting the growing influence of military-affiliated businesses under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

The agency has begun taking over projects from both civilian institutions and other military organizations.

In May 2022, it said it intended to lower Egypt’s wheat imports bill, by supplying about 1 million metric tons of local wheat to the government in 2024.

According to Kamel El-Wazir, the potential partnership also reflects a strengthening of economic ties between Egypt and Belarus. In recent years, both countries have expressed interest in enhancing bilateral trade and investment, with a focus on sectors such as industry, agriculture, and technology.

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