The Minister of Agriculture, Alaa Farouk, held a meeting with Abdulhakim Elwaer, the Regional Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for the Middle East and North Africa. The discussion focused on strengthening cooperation, with particular attention given to supporting the FAO's state initiative, the 'Revitalization of Productive Village.'
During the negotiations, ways to coordinate actions with the UN agency to implement this program were reviewed. The initiative aims to stimulate sustainable development in rural areas by transforming Egyptian villages from consumer communities into economic centers capable of producing goods. Furthermore, the program is designed to enhance the skills of youth and rural women, create jobs, and increase household incomes.
Farouk stated that this initiative includes creating a unified brand for village products, forming small economic structures at the settlement level, diversifying income sources in rural areas, and improving environmental sustainability. This is achieved through waste processing and efficient resource utilization.
He also added that the plan involves expanding contract farming and mechanization, as well as supporting livestock through the introduction of improved breeds for small farmers. Additionally, silk farming and beekeeping are planned to be promoted, and agricultural cooperatives will be strengthened to improve the economic position, especially of women.
Elwaer highly praised Egypt's concept in rural development and confirmed FAO's readiness to provide technical expertise and support to ensure the long-term sustainability and success of this initiative.
The President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, met with the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, in El Alamein on Sunday as part of an official visit to Egypt.
Both leaders reviewed recent international and regional events and discussed current efforts aimed at resolving regional problems. Sheikh Mohamed and el-Sisi affirmed their commitment to continuous consultation and coordination to ensure regional stability and security.
Furthermore, the heads of state spoke about the close ties between the UAE and Egypt and explored opportunities to enhance cooperation in various fields, which supports the common interests and prosperity of both countries.
Sheikh Mohamed arrived in El Alamein earlier that day, where he was met by President el-Sisi at the airport. He was accompanied by a delegation including Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Zayed Foundation for Charitable and Humanitarian Work; Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Cases; Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Advisor to the UAE President, as well as several ministers and high-ranking officials.
This meeting followed President el-Sisi's visit to the UAE in May, when the leaders held talks in Abu Dhabi and jointly visited the Yas Mall shopping center, highlighting the close relationship between the Emirati and Egyptian leadership.
Nabil Fahmy, a diplomat with a long family tradition in the field, has assumed the leadership of the Arab League, succeeding Ahmed Abul Gheit, who directed the pan-Arab organization for two terms. This previous period was characterized by intense regional conflicts, political divisions, and external interference in the Arab world.
Aware of the difficulties awaiting him, Fahmy recently committed, during a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who hosted the organization, to developing an 'advanced and effective strategic vision' capable of addressing the challenges facing the 22 member countries.
The start of the new Secretary-General's term occurs amid high geopolitical tension in the Middle East, where there is growing discontent, both among the population and in official circles, regarding the performance of the Arab League itself.
Fahmy's agenda is urgent, as various actors seek to end the conflict in the Persian Gulf involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. In this conflict, Iran-backed militias have been attacking other member states of the organization.
This clash has directly impacted the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. Although these wealthy Arab League countries still depend on the United States for security, this dependence is increasingly perceived as a risk.
Other serious problems include the crisis in Lebanon, which suffers continuous bombings and is partially under Israeli occupation. Furthermore, the Shia group Hezbollah, an ally of Iran, persists in refusing to disarm or renounce its influence, despite efforts by President Joseph Aoun's government to guarantee the state exclusive control over the use of force.
Similar situations are observed in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where the Arab League failed to reach an agreement on joint action to stop the Israeli war in the Gaza Strip. The same deadlocks occurred regarding the civil war in Sudan and the conflicts in Libya and Yemen.
Since his candidacy was unanimously approved in March, Arab analysts have emphasized the need for the new Secretary-General to promote the modernization of the Arab League's institutional mechanisms and develop a modern and efficient strategic perspective to face current challenges.
Fahmy holds a degree in Computer Science and a Master's in Management from the American University in Cairo, completed in 1976. He is a career diplomat with more than thirty years of service in the Egyptian diplomatic corps, specializing in conflict resolution, relations with major powers, and arms control.
His father, Ismail Fahmy, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt (a position held between 1973 and 1977), was part of Egyptian delegations at crucial international diplomacy events, such as the Madrid Peace Conference in 1991 and negotiations on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Fahmy served as the Egyptian Ambassador to Japan (1997-1999) and the United States (1999-2000), in addition to serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs between 2013 and 2014. He is also the author of works such as 'Egyptian Diplomacy in Times of War, Peace, and Transition and From the Center of Events.'
