Egypt joins Africa Rice Center as member country

24 June 2008, Cotonou, Benin – The member countries of the Africa Rice Center (WARDA) have approved Egypt’s application to join the Center.

In his request, His Excellency Mr Amin Abaza, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation of Egypt wrote, “I am sure this will lead to excellent work and the achievement of our common objectives. We wish to commend the Africa Rice Center as a continental organization serving all African countries.”

Egypt is the first country from North Africa to join the Africa Rice Center which is an association of African member countries and one of the 15 international institutes supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

Warmly congratulating Egypt, Africa Rice Center Director General Dr Papa Abdoulaye Seck remarked, “Africa Rice Center has now a much wider coverage of the continent and our membership has doubled from 11 countries in 1970 when it was established to 22 at present. It now includes countries from West, East, Central and North Africa.”

The Director General took the opportunity to thank the Council of Ministers, the Board, former Directors General, the personnel as well as donors and partners. “There is no doubt that without their strong support, the Center would not have reached this level,” he stated.