UK-Egypt partnership spurs private sector push for nutrition under Vision 2030

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 organization 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.