The government of Egypt recently agreed to set up a 14 million Egyptian pound (three million dollar) refrigeration station for fruits and vegetables at the Cairo International Airport, reported Al-Ahram. The zone is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2002.
The new station is expected to increase Egyptian fruit and vegetable exports to European and African markets, reducing the ratio of products unsuitable for sale from 40 percent to two percent.
In 2001, Egyptian strawberry exports expanded their presence in European markets, overshadowing their Israeli competitors, reported KsaToday. A new Egyptian-European Union (EU) association agreement, signed the same year, opened the door for several Egyptian agricultural products to enter European markets, including strawberries, flowers and cabbage.
The free trade agreement exempts several Egyptian agricultural exports from customs duties altogether and prolongs export season of agro-products such as grapes, strawberries, watermelon, honeydew melon and asparagus. The agreement provides for strawberry quotas to rise to 1,500 tons by 2004. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
