Egypt Honours 15 Companies For Olive Oil Award Wins

The Food Industries Chamber of the Federation of Egyptian Industries, chaired by Ashraf El Gazayerly, in cooperation with the organisers of the Olive Festival, held a major ceremony to honour 15 Egyptian companies that won prestigious awards at international olive oil competitions held in Istanbul and Carthage. The event was attended by representatives of ministries and government bodies, business organisations, and a number of olive production and processing companies from across the governorates.

Speaking on behalf of the Chamber's chairman, Rana Gamaly, Deputy Chairperson of the Chamber's board, expressed her pride in this achievement, stressing that the recognition was the fruit of years of sustained collective effort and international acknowledgement of the quality and excellence of the Egyptian product, which combines a deep-rooted agricultural heritage with a promising industry that holds strong competitive potential on the world stage.

Gamaly explained that this international recognition reflects Egyptian companies' commitment to the highest technical and global standards, which boosts consumer confidence and cements Egypt's position on the global olive oil production map. Egypt has become one of the world's top 10 olive-producing countries, with total production estimated at one million tonnes during the 2024-2025 season, alongside output of around 40,000 tonnes of olive oil.

A Leap In Exports:

Egyptian olive oil exports have seen a major surge, reaching $35 million in 2024, compared with just $2.7 million in 2020, representing about 4% of total food industry exports. The number of exporting companies rose to 160, including five companies whose exports exceeded the $10 million threshold.

The number of exporting companies also rose during 2024 alone to 24 companies, with total exports of $35 million, reflecting a qualitative shift towards boosting added value and opening up new markets for the Egyptian product.

Steps Needed To Boost Competitiveness:

The Food Industries Chamber affirmed that boosting Egyptian olive oil's export share requires action on several fronts, including:

• Using modern packaging technologies that align with the requirements of target markets.
• Adhering to precise technical specifications for exporting extra virgin olive oil.
• Intensifying marketing campaigns and active participation in international exhibitions and events.

In this context, the Chamber provides the necessary technical support to Egyptian companies and is working with the Egyptian Organisation for Standardisation and Quality to develop national standards in line with consumer requirements and international benchmarks.

Testimonials From Attendees:

• Dr Mahmoud Hassan, Chairman of MedMart, highlighted the importance of the Olive Festival, which was launched to promote the Egyptian product, starting with the participation of 25 companies and aiming to bring in 1,000 companies in the near future.
• Dr Ibrahim Saber, Deputy Governor of Cairo, announced the governorate's support for olive producers and their participation in events held in the capital.
• Engineer Hassan El Seneny, Secretary General of Matrouh Governorate, noted that "Matrouh Olives" is registered as a geographical indication under the governorate's name owing to its unique quality.
• Turkish Ambassador Salih Mutlu praised the quality of Egyptian olive oil, particularly from North Sinai, calling for greater promotion of its use in the diet, as is the case in Turkey.
• Dr Saad Moussa, supervisor of foreign agricultural relations at the Ministry of Agriculture, revealed a project to plant 100 million olive trees in Egypt, stressing the importance of involving the private sector and spreading olive culture both locally and internationally.
• Dr Yasser El Karany, Director of the Information Department at the Egyptian Commercial Service, emphasised that Egyptian olives hold international quality certifications and that there are significant opportunities for expansion into African markets, noting that the agency has taken part in 25 international exhibitions and provided direct support to 92 companies.

Closing The Ceremony:

The event concluded with the honouring of the governors of Cairo and Matrouh, the Turkish ambassador, officials from the Ministries of Agriculture and Trade, and the 15 winning Egyptian companies, in a scene reflecting national success in strengthening the presence of Egyptian olive oil on the international stage.

Source: Al-Ahram Al-Taawony wal-Zeraie