Expo: food theme of Italian Cooperation in Egypt

The theme of Expo Milan 2015 - Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life - ''is an element coinciding with the objectives of many programs funded by the Italian Cooperation in Egypt'', stressed Maurizio Massari, Italy's ambassador to Cairo, at a conference held to outline to local media the participation of Egypt at the Universal Exposition.

''We have several programs being carried out, or already implemented, in the sectors of food security, sustainable agriculture, the efficient use of natural resources'' like water, Massari said in Cairo, recalling that agriculture represents ''one of the main sectors'' of Italian Cooperation in Egypt with ''programs for over 50 million euros''.

In addition, cooperation intervenes also in the field of ''logistics of agricultural products'' with funding ''within the program of debt conversion'', recalled Marco Platzer, director of the Office of cooperation for development at the embassy. As part of this program, which is worth 100 million dollars, 45 million dollars have been ''allocated for food security'', recalled Platzer: the first realization agreed with the Egyptian government through the provision ministry is ''about to be started'' and concerns the construction of 10 horizontal barns to stock wheat