Minister of Finance Ahmed Kouchouk has presented Egypt’s and Africa’s priorities for achieving food security during a G20 meeting held in Cairo.
Kouchouk stressed that Egypt has worked to expand agricultural land, boost productivity, and ensure the availability of food supplies in sufficient quantities. He explained that the government funds a variety of programmes to support farmers, encouraging them to expand their operations and enhance the competitiveness of the agricultural sector.
He added that food subsidies form a key pillar of Egypt’s social protection strategy, noting that the state allocates approximately EGP 165bn to subsidise essential food commodities, benefiting over 60 million citizens. This is in addition to the expansion of the “Takaful and Karama” programme, which covers 5 million families and links support to education and health outcomes.
Kouchouk emphasised that national efforts must be complemented by regional and international partnerships to achieve universal food security goals. He highlighted Egypt’s hope for a greater role from international institutions in mobilising resources to finance more sustainable agricultural investment and address climate challenges.
He also underscored Egypt’s commitment to providing greater support and opportunities for private-sector partners to contribute significantly to sustainable development. He pointed to backing the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty within the G20 framework and revitalising international development partnerships.
The Finance Minister reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to strong partnerships in building fair, cohesive, and resilient food systems capable of withstanding climate change. “We are working together towards a fairer, more sustainable food future that responds to the needs of developing and African countries,” he said, warning that the global rise in food prices burdens public finances and hinders growth and development in developing and African nations.
He added that serious action is needed to address global financial system imbalances, the development financing gap, and climate challenges. He stressed the importance of harnessing technology and artificial intelligence applications to tackle contemporary crises and achieve food security.
