Egypt outlines date sector strategy and 20% global production share at 9th International Egyptian Dates Festival

Egypt currently accounts for 20% of global date production and 25% of Arab production, Minister of Industry Khaled Hashem announced on Monday as the government outlined plans to update its sector strategy to boost exports and value-added manufacturing.

The figures were presented during the 9th International Egyptian Dates Festival, held from 14 to 16 October at the Olympic Village in the Siwa Oasis, Matrouh governorate. Sherif El-Rashidi, Head of the Industry Affairs Sector at the Ministry of Industry, delivered the speech on behalf of Hashem at the event, which is held under the auspices of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

Hashem highlighted national projects aimed at expanding date palm cultivation, including the establishment of the world’s largest date palm farm, comprising 2.3m palms in the Toshka and East Oweinat regions. The Ministry of Industry is collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture, the private sector, and development partners to update the sector’s strategy to align with market developments and enhance Egypt’s competitive advantages.

“The real opportunity is not limited to increasing production, but extends to developing manufacturing, packaging, storage, marketing, and exporting, to maximise value added, improve producers’ incomes, and create new job opportunities,” Hashem stated, noting that Siwa is a key production area for high-value semi-dry dates.

The ministry’s priorities include improving post-harvest treatments, encouraging manufacturing, applying modern technologies and food safety systems, and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises to maximise the economic utilisation of palm waste.

The festival is supported by the UAE-based Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation. Hashem outlined the outcomes of this ongoing collaboration, which include rehabilitating the government Siwa Dates Factory and the New Valley governorate dates complex, establishing cold stores in Bahariya Oasis, and drafting an Egyptian strategy for sector development in coordination with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The ministry also supported the inclusion of Egyptian dates in the FAO’s “One Country One Priority Product” initiative.

Following the opening session, officials inaugurated the newly upgraded government Siwa Dates Factory. The facility features integrated production lines for washing, sorting, and packaging dates, alongside manufacturing stuffed dates, date paste, minced dates, date syrup, alcohol, and vinegar. It also includes a line for grinding date pits for use as a primary component in animal feed.

The event also saw the announcement of winners in the 9th Egyptian Dates Competition across eight categories, including best farm, best production of “Siwi/Saidi” and “Medjool” varieties, best applied scientific research serving the sector’s value chain, and best packaging design.

Attendees included Matrouh Governor Mohamed El-Zamlout, Khalifa Award Secretary-General Abdel Wahab Al-Bukhari, alongside Abdel Wahab Zaid, ambassadors, members of parliament, international organisation representatives, and local Siwa officials.