"On behalf of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, we are exploring the possibility of creating a food hub in Egypt," he reported.
Koval met with Walid Gamal El-Din, head of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) administration, which encompasses six ports.
Together with Ukraine's ambassador to Egypt, Mykola Nahorny, they inspected the port infrastructure and the location where Ukrainian businesses can establish their facilities – elevators, logistics centers, and warehouses.
According to the minister, SCZone offers favorable conditions for investors and industrial development. It allows for the creation of production sites and industrial zones with tax and customs benefits, as well as simplified registration and customs clearance processes. In addition, it provides access to a large market – over 1.3 billion consumers in Africa and the Arab world, as stated in the announcement.
"Our goal is for Ukrainian agrarians not just to export raw materials but to utilize special economic zones for processing. This will enable them to enter the domestic market of Egypt and export finished products – flour, pasta, and other food items – to countries with which Egypt has a free trade zone," Koval emphasizes.