Cairo (VNA) – As many as 36 Vietnamese enterprises engaged in the production, processing and export of agricultural products are taking part in a programme to promote Vietnamese farm produce at Food Africa 2025, organised by the Investment and Trade Promotion Centre of Ho Chi Minh City (ITPC).
The exhibition, taking place from December 9–12, is one of the most significant trade events for the agriculture and food industries in Africa and the Middle East. It brings together more than 1,100 exhibitors and leading companies from dozens of countries across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Asia and the Americas. Its diverse product range and global representation make it a major platform for businesses seeking partners and strengthening cross-continental supply chains.
Ho Thi Quyen, Deputy Director of the ITPC, said Egypt is not only a large market but also a gateway to the Middle East and Africa, offering major opportunities for Vietnamese agricultural products to expand their exports. She noted that Vietnamese agricultural goods already enjoy a strong reputation for quality, helping enhance their international competitiveness.
Nguyen Duy Hung, Head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Egypt, said Vietnam has become a reliable supplier of many agricultural products for which Egypt has high demand. Coffee, pepper, cashew nuts, desiccated coconut and seafood are among Vietnam’s strongest export items in this market, he added.
With a population of 108 million and 17–18 million international visitors annually, Egypt is a major market for agricultural and food products. It also imports large volumes of raw materials for animal feed and food processing.
Statistics from the Department of Vietnam Customs showed that shipments of agricultural products, including seafood, fruit and vegetables, cashew nuts, coffee and pepper, to Egypt reached around 193 million USD in the first 11 months of 2025. However, Hung noted that some Vietnamese agricultural products, such as tea and rice, have yet to gain a foothold in Egypt due to price competition, though they remain potential items with promising opportunities.
Earlier, the Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt, in coordination with the ITPC and the Egyptian Commercial Service (ECS), held the Vietnam Business Forum in Cairo on December 7 under the theme “Trade and Investment Opportunities under the New Comprehensive Partnership”, with representatives from 36 HCM City enterprises in attendance.
Speaking at the forum, Vietnamese Ambassador to Egypt Nguyen Nam Duong said the elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Partnership demonstrates the resolve of leaders of both countries to advance economic and trade cooperation commensurate with its potential. With a population of over 100 million, Egypt is a promising market for Vietnamese agricultural products and a strategic gateway to the wider region, he said.
The Ambassador pledged continued support for the business communities of both countries through networking, dialogue and market advisory programmes.
Meanwhile, Alaa El-Bially, Head of Investment Promotion at ECS, detailed Egypt’s investment-attraction policies, including tax incentives for foreign investors, and highlighted opportunities in agriculture, food processing, logistics, green energy, tourism, industrial zones, free-trade zones and transshipment hubs. He praised Vietnamese enterprises’ capabilities in agriculture, seafood, consumer goods and industrial products, that are sectors with strong demand in the Egyptian and regional markets./.
