Ministers join forces to revitalise Egyptian cotton industry

Egypt’s government is aiming to revitalise its cotton industry by increasing value-added production and reducing reliance on raw material exports, officials said Tuesday.

In a meeting at the Ministry of Public Enterprises, Ministers Mohamed Shimi and Alaa Farouk discussed strategies to enhance Egyptian cotton production and processing. The Tuesday meeting brought together key officials from both ministries, including representatives of the Holding Company for Cotton, Spinning, and Weaving.

The focus of the discussions was on accelerating the implementation of a national project to modernise the spinning and weaving industry. This initiative involves adopting advanced technologies, upgrading equipment, and training workers to boost productivity and quality.

“The goal is to maximise the value of Egyptian cotton, renowned globally, by expanding manufacturing and increasing exports of finished products,” Shimi said.

To support this effort, the ministers addressed several key issues, including ensuring a stable cotton supply for domestic factories, improving cotton handling practices, and guaranteeing fair prices for farmers. The meeting also explored expanding the cultivation of short-staple cotton to reduce imports and save foreign currency.

The Ministry of Public Enterprises is leading the short-staple cotton project in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture.

Magdy Abdallah, supervisor of the Sector of Authorities at the Ministry of Agriculture, and Adel Abdel Azim, head of the Agricultural Research Center, attended the meeting along with Public Enterprises Ministry officials Ahmed Shaker, Rasha Omar, and Rateeba Mahmoud.