Anuga: DEG customers report on a German - Egyptian partnership

Both the maintenance of existing contacts and the initiation of new contacts were the focus of the reception traditionally hosted by DEG on the occasion of the world's leading food fair ANUGA. Around 40 guests accepted DEG's invitation to the reception under the heading "Partnerships" that took place at Cologne's Rheinterassen on 7 October.

The opening speech by Dr Michael Bornmann, member of DEG's Managment Board, was followed by a lively "dinner dialogue" between DEG customer Helmy Abouleish, CEO of the Egyptian Sekem Group, and his long-term business partner Ulrich Walter, founder of the German food company Lebensbaum. In a multi-faceted way they showcased the opportunities and challenges resulting from a partnership between Germany and Egypt.

Helmy Abouleish emphasised that without a special financier such as DEG it would not have been possible to realise their rather "crazy" plan to grow agricultural products and medical plants in the middle of the desert.

For almost 30 years, DEG has been providing consulting services and finance to Sekem, a company engaged in organic agriculture in Egypt. What began on a 70-hectare rocky plot of land in the desert has grown into Egypt’s largest organic company. Helmy Abouleish and his father Ibrahim have built up a firm that supplies the basic materials for teas, food, textiles and medicines. The profits of this medium-sized company are largely ploughed back into the training of its employees, and into improving their living conditions.

One of the reasons for the company's positive development was Ulrich Walter, who, from the very beginning, has believed in the success of organic spices and teas. Together with Helmy he took this idea further, and organised the transport of these sensitive ingredients to Germany and the marketing thereof. With an annual turnover of 30 million euros, Lebensbaum has become Germany's largest trading enterprise for organic spices and teas.