Maya Morsy, Minister of Social Solidarity, met on Saturday with Michele Quaroni, Italy’s Ambassador to Cairo, and his accompanying delegation to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation across areas of mutual interest.
The talks focused on collaboration in the field of economic empowerment, particularly the “Productive Families” project, a key priority in the ministry’s strategy for its role in promoting self-reliance and preserving Egypt’s artisanal and cultural heritage.
Minister Morsy highlighted the ministry’s “Diarna” exhibitions, which promote handicrafts and heritage products across Egypt. More than 36 exhibitions have already been held this year. She noted that work is underway, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, to establish a permanent “Diarna” exhibition centre on a 6,000-square-metre site. Scheduled to open by year’s end, the centre will showcase Egypt’s finest artisanal crafts, with similar projects planned in other governorates.
Morsy expressed interest in Italian expertise and potential collaboration to expand the reach of Egyptian handicrafts into European markets. She also recalled Egypt’s successful participation in the “Artigiano in Fiera” exhibition in 2019, voicing her aspiration for renewed participation in such global events.
Discussions also addressed the “Farmer’s Market” one-day initiative, designed to empower small-scale farmers by providing a direct platform to sell their produce to consumers. The model aims to guarantee food quality while enhancing farmers’ income, with training offered on marketing and sales practices.
Ambassador Quaroni welcomed the initiative, describing it as a professional mechanism to connect farmers directly with consumers. He noted that a pilot version of the market had already been launched in Alexandria Governorate.
The Ambassador praised Egyptian-Italian relations, stressing Italy’s appreciation of constructive cooperation with Egypt and its keenness to deepen the partnership. He pointed to opportunities for expanding collaboration in economic empowerment, heritage crafts, and the use of locally available natural resources to drive sustainable development.
