Speech by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the United Nations Food Systems Summit 2021

“In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful,
Mr. Antonio Guterres,
Secretary-General of the United Nations,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
At the outset, I would like to express my sincere thanks to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for his initiative to call for this important summit and his keenness to hold it as scheduled virtually without delay despite all the COVID-19 related difficulties and challenges we grapple with daily.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today’s summit comes at a delicate and pivotal moment for our world; thus, we need to exert more efforts to address the complex challenges we have to face.

You might agree that the creation of sustainable food systems that achieve food security for our societies is a top-priority issue for us all, particularly amid the exacerbation of climate change as well as the resulting rise in temperatures and water scarcity.

This is in addition to climate change-induced soil degradation and desertification of significant areas of agricultural land and the resulting economic, social and food security consequences as well as the complex political situation.

Consequently, many world regions, particularly Africa, are grappling with the threat of famine. Thus, quick and effective solutions are needed to save millions of people — the vast majority of which are women and children — from this existential threat that limits the ability of countries and governments to fully implement Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Egypt has hence realized early that this summit represents a favorable opportunity for coming up with ideas and solutions to these challenges. It can also play a role in promoting international cooperation and mobilizing the necessary funds.

Accordingly, Egypt has stepped up efforts to play its role, both nationally and regionally, in the preparatory process for the summit.

At the national level, Egypt has started a comprehensive national dialogue since December 2020, a dialogue that includes all concerned government institutions, representatives of the private sector, and civil society organizations. As a result, they agreed to adopt a national document to transform into a healthy and sustainable food system.

Egypt also joined the global “School Meals Coalition”, believing in the importance of providing healthy food for female and male students and the centrality of ensuring that international partnerships contribute to achieving this goal. Egypt has hence become one of the top countries that have moved forward in implementing this program in the region.

At the regional level, Egypt has engaged in formulating a unified African position that reflects the priorities of the peoples of the continent and the particularities of their food security challenges during the summit.

We intend to continue working with our African brothers to face these challenges, in an effort to expedite the implementation of the African Union's Agenda 2063.
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am confident that the rich deliberations and discussions that will take place at our summit will contribute to supporting our work toward achieving food security for our citizens as well as ensuring the realization of the right to food as one of the fundamental rights of peoples.

Hence, I see that our success today depends on our ability to come up with results that contribute to formulating a feasible, sustainable and ambitious food system – one that takes into account the peculiarities and priorities of each country without imposing specific visions or models.

Results should also provide the required support through the development of creative financing mechanisms and effective international cooperation that brings countries together with the UN parties and development partners. Furthermore, effective and flexible follow-up mechanisms shall be devised nationally and internationally in furtherance of our desired goals and in fulfillment of our legitimate aspirations to meet the needs of our peoples.

Thank You.”