Jordan, UAE, Egypt agree to plant staple crops for greater food security 

AMMAN — Jordan, the UAE and Egypt have agreed to plant wheat, barley and corn as part of joint projects centred around food security, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Yousef Shamali said on Thursday.

Shamali told Al Mamlaka TV that planting these crops is part of a joint venture between Jordan and Egypt, with an Emirati investment, to help these countries have greater access to these goods. 

The minister also spoke about another “important” project, in which the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company and Arab Potash Company will import ammonia from Egypt and gas from the UAE to produce fertilisers Jordan will then sell to Egypt and the UAE, where the surplus can be sold to other nations.

He added that the three countries have also agreed on two projects in the pharmaceutical and security fields, as well as another 17 projects on the short- and medium-terms, noting that these projects are “vital” and come in response to the challenges imposed by the regional and international circumstances resulting from the pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian war.

The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the integrated industrial partnership initiative for sustainable economic development, which was signed between Jordan, the UAE and Egypt earlier this week in Abu Dhabi.

Shamali said that the initiative comes in response to the outcomes of a summit between His Majesty King Abdullah, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan during Ramadan.

The minister pointed out that the infrastructure for projects is available and expects implementation to begin within three months.