The Egyptian government has initiated the construction of a date industry complex in the New Valley governorate, specifically in the "Wahat Al-Shorbagi" area. The project was launched in the presence of several high-ranking officials, including Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development and Environment, Dr. Hanan Majdi, Governor of New Valley, and Brigadier General Amr Abdel Monem, head of the Sahel Development Authority.
The complex spans an area of 64,000 square meters, with about 30% of the work already completed. It will feature a comprehensive system for receiving, sorting, and mechanically classifying dates, as well as advanced equipment and production lines for processing and manufacturing. The facility will also have a sophisticated packaging and refrigeration system, with a storage capacity of 20,000 tons of dates.
The project is designed to be environmentally friendly, incorporating clean energy solutions and modern irrigation systems powered by solar energy. The site is home to over 650,000 palm trees at various stages of growth, including 300,000 productive trees. The ambitious plan is to increase the number of palm trees to one million, producing high-quality date varieties.
The complex will not only focus on date production but also cultivate strategic crops, fruits, olives, and medicinal and aromatic plants. This integrated approach is expected to generate over 1,500 job opportunities for young people and residents of the governorate. The project aims to enhance the competitiveness of local products and open up new export opportunities to Arab and international markets.
Dr. Manal Awad emphasized that the government is committed to achieving a significant transformation in agricultural manufacturing across all governorates, particularly in New Valley. She highlighted that the complex will establish a direct link between post-harvest stages, processing, and marketing, ensuring complete integration of supply chains and logistics services.
Dr. Hanan Majdi, Governor of New Valley, noted that the complex will include supporting service and industrial facilities to sustain operations. These will include a weighbridge for receiving and shipping, as well as facilities for manufacturing date-related products. This underscores the governorate's ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency of Egyptian products, enabling them to compete and access export markets successfully.
The project is expected to have a positive impact on the local economy and provide new opportunities for the region's residents. With its comprehensive approach to date production and processing, the complex is poised to become a major player in Egypt's agricultural sector.
Key points
- The project aims to create over 1,500 job opportunities for young people and residents of the governorate.
- The complex will have a storage capacity of 20,000 tons of dates.
- The project will incorporate clean energy solutions and modern irrigation systems powered by solar energy.
