A leading UK importer has described Egypt’s current agricultural position as the “golden years” and called for the government to look at the development of a fruit export board.
Prag Mistry, managing director of importer Fruitmann, which specialises in produce from Morocco, Egypt - through SONAC - and Belize, told freshinfo that production had increased exponentially and strong measures taken by the government to aid the products’ international standing could ensure it becomes a “mature” market.
He said: “I’m sure there will be a strategy from the Egyptian government in the coming years. Six years ago, the government set a rule about making sure all produce needed to be refrigerated in transportation and it sent a ripple of consternation through the industry. People complained widely, but exports continued to grow quickly and it is now widely accepted - this shows the government is capable of introducing step changes and achieving them well.
“Egypt would do well to implement a fruit marketing board like the one they had in Morocco some years ago. It would be a real signal of support, as this trade show is. The move saw Morocco move into a more stable position and a more mature market.
“UK consumer knowledge of produce is growing and some strategic work to promote Egyptian products could work well.”
