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CAIRO, Oct. 7-- International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on Monday opened a regional office in the Egyptian capital Cairo, which helps the North African country realize its goals to become a regional center for managing agricultural development. The opening ceremony was attended by IFAD's President Gilbert F. Houngbo, the Egyptian Minister of Investments and International Cooperation Sahar Nasr, IFAD's Regional Director for the Near East, North Africa, Central Asia and Europe Khalida Bouzar, IFAD's Regional Office Director Dina Saleh and other IFAD staff. IFAD's new regional office will cover Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Yemen and Djibouti. The Egyptian investment minister expressed her delight at the opening of IFAD's regional office in Cairo, after years of continuous work between her ministry and the UN Fund to improve the lives of citizens, especially the rural population. The Egyptian minister said that IFAD's office will contribute to increasing cooperation between Egypt and the Fund during the next phase, according to Egypt's official MENA news agency. Nasr added that the office will also will lead to rapid IFAD response to the priorities of integrated agricultural development in her country, especially in the most needy governorates, adding it support small investors and start-up companies in the field of agriculture. Agriculture is a vital sector of Egypt's economy, providing livelihoods for 55 percent of the population and directly employing 29 percent of the labour force. Farming is also a vibrant source of exports and foreign exchange. | 
