Egypt has been looking at the Asian markets to expand its agricultural exports and open up new opportunities for economic investments there, with the aim of improving its own economy.

Deputy Agricultural Minister Mona Mehrez signed Nov. 26 a cooperation protocol with Vice Minister of China Customs Hu Wei to open the Chinese market for seven Egyptian agricultural products — dates, grapes, strawberries, onions, potatoes, pomegranates and mangoes — in January 2019.

Egypt is also set to export some fruits and vegetables to Japan after quarantine officials from both countries agreed in November on the quality and safety standards of Egypt's agricultural produce, Egyptian Minister of Agriculture Ezz Eddin Abu Steit stated Nov. 8.

Sherif Fayyad, a professor of agricultural economy at the Desert Research Center, told Al-Monitor, “Egypt seeks to increase the volume of its foreign trade and boost its economy through creating new markets for its agricultural exports, especially in East Asia, while maintaining the existing markets. Most of Egypt's agricultural exports are directed to European and Gulf countries.”