Egypt eyes poultry vaccine hub in Africa with Korean investment talks

EGYPT – The government of Egypt has taken a significant step toward boosting its veterinary vaccine industry, as Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouk met with one of South Korea’s leading vaccine manufacturers to discuss investment opportunities in poultry vaccine production. 

The high-level talks, held in Cairo and attended by Deputy Minister Mostafa El-Sayyad and senior ministry officials, mark a major move in Egypt’s ambition to become a regional centre for veterinary vaccine manufacturing.

The discussions focused on establishing a state-of-the-art facility in Egypt with a production capacity of up to 200 million vaccine doses annually. 

The proposed project, led by a Korean company with more than five decades of experience and 85 veterinary vaccine products in its portfolio, is expected to strengthen Egypt’s position in the regional vaccine market and support broader food security goals.

“This sector is directly linked to food security and protein supply from animal sources,” said Farouk. “The poultry sector and veterinary vaccine production are among the most promising investment opportunities in Egypt today.”

Farouk underscored the Egyptian government’s strong commitment to facilitating foreign investment in agriculture, noting that key reforms have already been made to improve the investment climate. 

These include streamlining procedures, expanding private sector involvement, and offering support to international partners.

“Our political leadership is determined to provide all the necessary support to investors, especially those whose projects meet local market needs and create export potential,” the minister added.

Highlighting Egypt’s robust experience in the veterinary field, Farouk assured that the government would mobilise its technical capabilities through institutions like the Veterinary Serum and Vaccine Research Institute and the General Organisation for Veterinary Services. 

These bodies, he said, would coordinate closely with the Korean company to ensure compliance with international standards and remove any administrative obstacles.

The partnership also aims to foster technology transfer and workforce development. “This is not just about building a factory,” Farouk emphasised. “It’s about transferring modern Korean expertise to Egypt, training young professionals, and creating job opportunities.”

In return, officials from the Korean company expressed strong interest in Egypt’s strategic location, skilled labour force, and existing infrastructure. They pointed to Egypt’s expertise in producing pathogen-free fertilised eggs as a competitive advantage. The company is keen to explore collaboration with Egyptian research institutions to remain aligned with global scientific advancements.

“We are eager to cooperate with Egyptian institutes to keep pace with the latest developments,” a company representative said. “This will help us train staff, exchange know-how, and transfer modern technologies to Egypt.”

The Minister has directed the General Authority for Veterinary Services and the Serum and Vaccine Research Institute to begin coordinating with the Korean company to explore the project’s next steps and lay the groundwork for implementation.

If realised, the venture could position Egypt as a manufacturing hub for veterinary vaccines in Africa and the Middle East, bolstering regional health security and agricultural resilience.

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