Saudi foreign minister shows support for Egypt on Libya during talks with El Sisi: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan expressed support for Egypt’s position on Libya during talks with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in Cairo yesterday, according to an Ittihadiya statement. Farhan said that Saudi Arabia’s position is “identical to the current Egyptian efforts to settle various disputes in the region” during the meeting that discussed a host of regional issues including the crises in Libya, Yemen, Syria and Iraq, the statement said.

Bin Farhan also met with Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry to discuss regional developments, a Foreign Ministry statement said.

Egypt is aiming to increase its agricultural exports by 5-10% to reach USD 2.7 bn this fiscal year, compared to EGP 2.4 bn exported last year, the local press reports, citing an unnamed official. Egypt is seeking to increase its production and exports of sugar cane, citrus fruit, soybeans, sunflowers and peanuts this year, and expand wheat cultivation by 200k feddans to reach a total area of 3.6 mn feddans, the official said.

Egypt is the world’s top producer of dates, accounting for 21% of the global market, said Agriculture Ministry spokesman Mohamed El Kersh, the local press reports. It’s also the top exporter of frozen strawberries and the third largest exporter of dried onions, he said.