Cairo - Mubasher: The Egyptian government aims to increase the agricultural sector's contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) to 12% by 2024, Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala El-Saeed said. 

The country also plans to raise agricultural production by 30% by 2024 and the share of agricultural exports in total exports to 25% in 2024 from 17% in 2020, El-Saeed added in a statement on Tuesday.

The minister referred to the stimulus policies adopted by the government to limit the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the economy, including the EGP 100 billion financial package as well as the initiatives taken by the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE). 

She noted that the ministry’s plans include the implementation of the 1.5 million-feddan reclamation project as well as the rural development project with investments of EGP 700 billion. 

The minister added that the government also issued $750 million worth of five-year green bonds, the first of its kind in the MENA region.