UAE-Egypt alliance expands to desert wheat venture

Abu Dhabi/Cairo | Reuters — Egypt and two companies from its strong backer United Arab Emirates have embarked on an ambitious plan to grow wheat in the desert that could boost the Cairo government’s credibility if successful. Egypt, the world’s biggest wheat importer, has long aspired to become self-sufficient in its staple food through various […] Read more



A stretch of the Nile south of Luxor. Egypt today spends more than US$4 billion a year on food subsidies. (Cia.gov)

Egypt expanding efforts to ease food subsidy costs

Cairo | Reuters — Egypt is expanding its use of modern technology to tackle decades-old problems of corruption and waste in its costly food subsidies system as the government pursues reforms to ease the strain on state finances. Supplies Minister Khaled Hanafi said some 25 million Egyptian families who already have electronic smart cards for […] Read more