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Egypt bets on oranges to boost exports to Japan

Japan allowed the Egyptian government to export citrus fruits after long negotiations between the two sides, in a step officials and experts believe will contribute to increasing Egyptian exports, pumping foreign currency into the country, creating job opportunities and increasing farmers’ income.
CAIRO, EGYPT - JANUARY 26: Men sell oranges from their donkey carts inTahrir Square on January 26, 2012 in Cairo, Egypt. Tens of thousands of Egyptian people gathered yesterday to celebrate the anniversary of the start of the uprising which ended President Hosni Mubaraks rule.  (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

CAIRO — The Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture announced Nov. 2 that Japan has agreed to import citrus fruits, including oranges. The announcement comes after lengthy negotiations between the two sides that extended over several years.

Egyptian Minister of Agriculture Al-Sayed Al-Qusayr said in a press statement on the same day that the Central Administration of Plant Quarantine affiliated with the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture intensified in 2019 its negotiations with the Japanese side, adding that an action plan has been agreed upon for the export process to start once the necessary legislative and executive measures in Japan are completed. The negotiations ended with the Japanese side’s approval to open the Japanese market to a variety of citrus fruits from Egypt.

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