Fifteen CEOs from Egypt's leading wheat flour, edible oil, and pasta processing companies convened on Wednesday in Cairo for a high-level dialogue on the opportunities and challenges of scaling up private sector-led food fortification to combat malnutrition.
The British Embassy in Cairo hosted the event in partnership with international nonprofit TechnoServe. Founded in 1968, TechnoServe is a global leader in harnessing the power of the private sector to help people lift themselves out of poverty.
Operating in approximately 35 countries, the organisation works with farmers, entrepreneurs, and food businesses to build sustainable, inclusive food systems that increase incomes and improve nutrition. Its work in Egypt aims to support the nation's food security goals and aligns with the Egyptian government's Vision 2030 agenda for inclusive and sustainable development.
This convention took place against the backdrop of widespread and rising anemia caused by deficiencies in iron and other micronutrients such as vitamins A, D, B-complex, and zinc. These conditions impact over 50 percent of children and more than 30 percent of women in Egypt, costing the nation an estimated 2 percent of its GDP annually.
An official from the British Embassy in Cairo remarked, "We are very proud of this partnership with TechnoServe, as it strongly aligns with our food security and economic development priorities in support of Egypt's Vision 2030. We look forward to future engagements with the food industry and TechnoServe."
The inaugural CEO Roundtable on food fortification was a platform for influential business leaders to share insights, identify investment opportunities, and collaborate on solutions to drive improved national nutrition security. Participants discussed existing fortification initiatives, current barriers to scaling up efforts, and strategic actions required to unlock the full potential of fortified foods in improving public health outcomes.
Ahmed Elsebaie of the Egyptian Swiss Group stated, "The stakes are high for the health of Egyptians, and we are ready to move forward to scale up food fortification in Egypt."
This high-level dialogue followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in October 2024 between the Egyptian government and the United Kingdom, which underscored a shared commitment to building sustainable food systems and enhancing nutrition security.
Dominic Schofield, Global Director of Local Food Systems Transformation at TechnoServe, concluded, "Millers and food processors are at the centre of the fight against malnutrition. Many of them have already started to fortify their products in Egypt. The depth of discussion today and the commitment to ensure food fortification becomes a scalable, impactful, and lasting solution for Egypt was impressive."
Short link: