According to the Ministry of Industry and Transport, the Egyptian Ministries of Agriculture and Industry have signed an agreement with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to launch the second phase of the Egyptian Cotton Project.
The second phase aims to solidify the Egyptian cotton value chain’s environmental, economic, and social sustainability by boosting cotton producers’ economic, social, and environmental performance and promoting institutions. The initiative covers every aspect of the cotton industry, from farm to factory, equipping the sector with the necessary expertise needed to maintain its competitive edge in an evolving global market.
Minister El-Wazir highlighted Egyptian cotton’s crucial role in Egypt’s economic and social development, noting that the textile industry now boasts vertical integration—from raw cotton cultivation to ready-made garment production. He emphasised that the second phase builds on the initial phase, which ran from 2018 to 2021, as part of a governmental strategy to revitalise the textile sector in partnership with the Ministries of Industry and Transport, and Agriculture and Land Reclamation.
The Minister also noted the project’s partnership with the Cotton Research Institute to accelerate production in key governorates, including Kafr El-Sheikh and Damietta. Capacity-building programmes have centred on both traditional and organic cotton farming techniques.
UNIDO has introduced the Better Cotton in Egypt initiative, Egypt’s first sustainability certification for cotton. Launched in 2020, this initiative began with 1,600 farmers and now encompasses 13,700 farmers across six governorates. The Better Cotton certification, covering around 25% of global cotton production, represents a significant step towards sustainable cotton cultivation in Egypt.
According to the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS), Egypt’s total cotton cultivation area reached 237,700 acres in FY2020/2021, with Kafr El-Sheikh leading at 85,500 acres. CAPMAS also reported a notable rise in Egyptian cotton exports, with India as the largest importer as of August 2021. (1)
