Egypt to set up first integrated natural silk centre in New Valley

Egypt’s ministry of local development and the Agricultural Research Centre (ARC) signed an agreement on Saturday to establish the country’s first integrated natural silk production centre on 250 feddans in Al-Kharga, New Valley Governorate.

The facility will act as the hub of a national initiative to localise silk production, aiming for self-sufficiency while creating new jobs, particularly for women and youth, officials said.

Local Development Minister Manal Awad said the centre is expected to produce 25 tons of natural silk within four years, supplying raw materials for textiles, carpets and medical products. Citizens will also be trained and provided with silk eggs and mulberry leaves to support home-based production.

The project, she added, follows presidential directives to expand silk cultivation, backed by an executive plan coordinated with the ministry of agriculture and other agencies.

Agriculture Minister Alaa Farouk said he hopes the New Valley project will serve as a model for other governorates, encouraging wider mulberry cultivation and contributing to national development targets.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English

Subediting: Y.Yasser