Egypt re-elected to chair CARDNE executive committee

Egypt has been re-elected to chair the Executive Committee of the Regional Centre on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development for the Near East (CARDNE), strengthening its role in advancing sustainable agriculture and food security across the region.

Alaa Azouz, head of the Agricultural Extension Sector at the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, was unanimously chosen to continue as chair during the organisation’s assembly meeting in Amman, the ministry said on Monday. His selection reflects Egypt’s recognised experience in agricultural development, extension services and rural capacity-building.

CARDNE, an autonomous intergovernmental organisation hosted in Jordan, brings together ten member states — Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Sudan, Tunisia, Morocco, Yemen, Syria and Mauritania — with the Palestinian National Authority participating as an observer. The centre supports agrarian reform, rural development and knowledge exchange across the Near East through national partner institutions.

Egypt’s renewed leadership is expected to deepen regional cooperation, advance rural development projects and support efforts to modernise production systems, the ministry said. The country has positioned itself as a leading advocate of sustainable agriculture and resilience in food systems amid growing climate-related pressures in the region.

CARDNE’s programmes aim to assist national reform efforts, promote integrated rural development and provide technical support to member states, while encouraging joint initiatives that benefit agricultural and pastoral communities.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English

Subediting: Y.Yasser