People visit a booth at the 34th edition of Sahara Expo, or the International Agricultural Exhibition for Africa and the Middle East, in Cairo, Egypt, Sept. 11, 2022. The expo attracted more than 250 brands of various agriculture-related products such as tractors, weed cutting machines, irrigation systems, as well as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and other agrochemicals. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
by Mahmoud Fouly
CAIRO, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Over 150 companies from more than 20 countries are displaying their agricultural products and machinery at an international agricultural expo held in Egypt's capital Cairo from Sept. 11-14.
The 34th edition of Sahara Expo, or the International Agricultural Exhibition for Africa and the Middle East, attracts more than 250 brands of various agriculture-related products such as tractors, weed cutting machines, irrigation systems, as well as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and other agrochemicals.
Agriculture has been a key field in Egypt since ancient times, said Hany Khafagy, general manager of Informa Markets, the organizing company of the expo, noting that the sector contributes 15 percent of Egypt's gross domestic product and employs 25 percent of the country's workforce.
Egypt exports more than 350 kinds of agricultural products to over 150 countries across the world, and is among the world's top exporters of citrus, dates and other crops.
"The expo provides a big opportunity for local and foreign companies to meet and do business together. It's a good chance to learn about new products, whether from Europe or China, without having to travel abroad," said Ahmed Fouad, a marketing official with Tractors and Engineering Co., a company at the expo that features tractors and cutting tools.
Among the overseas exhibitors are companies from China, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Italy, France, India and Jordan.
One of the Chinese exhibitors is agrochemical company Rainbow, whose products include herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, bio-pesticides and plant growth regulators, with a presence in more than 80 countries worldwide.
Zhang Kailin, Rainbow's general manager for North Africa and the Middle East region, saw the expo as a good opportunity to promote the company and its products in the region.
He said that the distinguished relations between China and Egypt provide "big support" for the company that just opened its office in Egypt last year.
"The Egyptian people are very friendly. We visited agencies and farms and had friendly talks with all the people we met. Good relations between China and Egypt will give us big support to do business here," Zhang told Xinhua.
Jacek Grad, head of the foreign trade office of Polish Investment and Trade Agency, said that the expo offers "the best platform to meet potential partners in Egypt and to grow our network in the agricultural sector," adding that there's a growing interest among Egyptians in Polish agricultural technologies.
Visitors coming to the expo include agricultural producers, businessmen, consultants, engineers, researchers, students and farmers. Khafagy, the organizer, said they expected about 25,000 visitors this year. ■
People visit a booth at the 34th edition of Sahara Expo, or the International Agricultural Exhibition for Africa and the Middle East, in Cairo, Egypt, Sept. 11, 2022. The expo attracted more than 250 brands of various agriculture-related products such as tractors, weed cutting machines, irrigation systems, as well as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and other agrochemicals. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
