Alaa El Wakil, Member of the Board of Directors of the Food Export Council and Chairman of the Exhibitions and Delegations Committee, expressed during his speech at the opening of Iraq Food Exhibition that “Iraq is a country dear to every Egyptian,” emphasizing the deep historical and national ties between the two nations.
El Wakil added, “We are in this esteemed country to strengthen the bonds of cooperation and partnership between Egypt and Iraq in the fields of trade and economy, contributing to the continuation of a long-standing collaborative journey that has enriched the bilateral relations over the years.”
Participation of 35 Leading Egyptian Companies
El Wakil pointed out that this visit includes the participation of 35 leading Egyptian companies in the food industry sector as part of the trade mission organized by the Food Export Council to Iraq from September 29 to October 4.
He stated, “This mission coincides with the Iraq Food & Beverage exhibition at the Baghdad Exhibition Center from October 1 to 3, 2024, marking the largest Egyptian participation in the food industry in Baghdad in more than 20 years.”
El Wakil emphasized that this participation provides unprecedented opportunities to enhance trade cooperation between Egypt and Iraq, particularly in the food industry sector.
Egyptian Support to Enhance Exports and Food Safety
El Wakil explained that the Egyptian delegation is accompanied by Dr. Tarek El Hoby, Chairman of the National Food Safety Authority, who will hold important meetings with Iraqi authorities involved in measurement and quality control, aiming to facilitate the export procedures of Egyptian food products to Iraq and ensure unified efforts in food safety.
He added, “We are here to simplify export procedures and work with our Iraqi partners to elevate the quality of food products in accordance with international standards.”
Additionally, the Egyptian delegation is joined by Ambassador Amr Hazzah, Director of the Arab and Islamic Countries Department at the Commercial Representation Authority, with the objective of strengthening bilateral economic cooperation and exploring future investment opportunities.
Diverse Range of Egyptian Food Products
El Wakil confirmed that Egypt’s participation in the exhibition covers a wide range of leading food sectors, stating: “Our participation includes diverse products such as frozen vegetables and fruits, half-fried potatoes, confectionery, juices and concentrates, oils and ghee, pasta, canned foods, and bread improvers.”
He highlighted that this diversity reflects the significant development and quality of the Egyptian food industry, forming a solid foundation for expanding cooperation with Iraq.
Prospects for Economic Cooperation
In his speech, Alaa El Wakil emphasized that this visit represents a “golden opportunity to deepen cooperation between Egypt and Iraq and increase trade exchange.”
He clarified that the Egyptian delegation is seeking to explore investment opportunities in the processed food sector in collaboration with their Iraqi partners, whether in Baghdad or other provinces.
He continued, “The economic ties between the two countries are heading toward further enhancement, and we believe that these joint efforts will contribute to improving the economic conditions in both countries, benefiting our two brotherly peoples.”
Saluting the Egyptian Companies
El Wakil concluded his speech by extending a salute to all the Egyptian companies participating in the exhibition, stating: “I would like to thank all the companies that contributed to this event, and we look forward to further fruitful cooperation with Iraq in the upcoming period.”
He expressed his hope that the coming period would witness more constructive partnerships between the two countries across various economic fields, particularly in the food industry sector.
Thus, the participation of Egyptian companies in the Iraq Food Exhibition marks a pivotal step towards enhancing trade and economic cooperation between Egypt and Iraq, opening new horizons for fruitful and sustainable collaboration.
