Ukraine and Egypt discuss plans for a Ukrainian food hub and cooperation on irrigation
The ministry emphasised that Egypt remains one of the key markets for Ukrainian agricultural products. From January to October 2026, Ukraine exported $825 million worth of agricultural products to Egypt. Cereals, primarily wheat and corn, accounted for the bulk of these exports.
"For Ukraine, Egypt is a strategic partner in the realm of food security. We are interested not only in maintaining traditional grain supplies but also in developing a long-term partnership. Cooperation in irrigation is a significant area of focus. Egypt's experience in executing large-scale projects could prove valuable for the restoration and development of Ukraine's land reclamation infrastructure. We have agreed to set up a specific framework for interaction to facilitate the exchange of experience and the further development of practical projects," Taras Vysotskyi said.
One promising area of cooperation is developing infrastructure for storing, processing and distributing Ukrainian agricultural products. Establishing a food hub in Egypt could help ensure stable supplies, develop logistics routes and expand the presence of Ukrainian producers in African and Middle Eastern markets.
Special attention was also paid to the need to restore the safety of civilian shipping in the Black Sea region. Another important topic was cooperation on land reclamation and the development of irrigation systems. Egypt has extensive practical experience in implementing large-scale irrigation projects and expanding irrigated areas. This experience is particularly relevant to Ukraine given the need to restore irrigation infrastructure, especially following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam.
Following the meeting, the parties agreed to launch a dedicated area of cooperation on irrigation, involving the exchange of experience and technical knowledge and exploring opportunities to implement joint projects in practice.
As a reminder, the possibility of establishing a Ukrainian food hub in Egypt has been discussed at previous bilateral meetings. In particular, in February 2025, the parties considered opportunities to develop the relevant infrastructure and attract international funding.
In addition, in July 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi held a phone call with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
The presidents discussed the development of bilateral relations, particularly trade. Last year, trade between Ukraine and Egypt exceeded $2 billion, nearly matching the level recorded before Russia's full-scale invasion.
Volodymyr Zelenskyi and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi agreed to work towards increasing trade volumes and instructed their teams to begin preparing a preferential trade agreement and organise a meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission.
- Last
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- November, 07
-
News by day
8 of November 2026
