Sistemas en equilibrio 1 Hierro Puro

Food processed products and chemical fertilizers are among the most important outputs of industrial sector in Egypt. The agro-food industries in Egypt accounted for around 20% of GDP. On the other hand, agro-food enterprises employed a workforce of 500,000 people, i.e. 22.8% of the workforce of the Egyptian industry.

The Jordanian food industry is the second most important sector in the country on the basis of FDI and national investment according to the Jordanian Investment Board. The agro-food industrial sub-sector represented 15.4 percent of the national industrial sector in 2008, and the sub-sector enjoyed exports of US$ 497 million or 13% of total industrial exports. This represented a direct contribution of 4% to national GDP. The total number of registered agro-industrial enterprises was 3,366, i.e. 9% of total industrial enterprises and employed more than 27,000 workers, i.e. 10% of total industrial workers. 79 % of agro-industries in Jordan can best be defined as small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and have been established close to Amman – as a source of workers and of markets. Estimated 97% are privately owned. Access to information, training, extension services and R&D for agro-industries is provided by a number of private, quazi-public or public sector agencies, some of which are in the form of agribusiness incubators – providing services linked to funding, technical assistance and supervision.

Although the food processing industry in terms of strength and potential is stronger than the agricultural sector in Jordan, because of the lack of raw materials, dependency on imports (in terms of raw materials) is likely to increase. Raw materials are imported from Syria and Lebanon (fruit and vegetables), USA, Europe and Australia (grain and wheat).

The agro-food industry is the most important sector of the Lebanese industry accounting for 20% of industrial enterprises and contributing with 26% to GDP. The Lebanese Food industry sub-sector includes the traditional products such as alcoholic products (wine and Arak), confectionery, canned fruit and vegetables, bakery products and olive oil. New plants have been recorded in recent years in potato chips and snacks, dairy products, frozen food, vegetables, feed mill and poultry breeding centres. According to the General Directorate of Industry, 824 new factories were established in 2002 (against 599 in 2001), employing 6 721 persons (4 425 in 2001) and necessitating the investment of LBP 179 billion (LBP 105.1 billion in 2001).

This is more importantly to benefit of the EU market opportunities opened to Lebanon through the EU association agreement However, to many industrialist of this sector, the industry face policy related problems and lack of financing, low technologies and high taxes on raw materials, where around 80% of raw materials used by food industry are imported.

The manufacturing sector has a great importance in the Moroccan economic structure. In 2009, industry accounted for nearly 31.5% of GDP while business services and primary sectors accounted for 50% and 18.5 % respectively. Small and medium industries (SMIs) represent 93% of the total

workforce and achieve 36% of the total industrial output. They are involved in nearly 26% of exports and employ 45% of the overall industry.

During the year 2008-09, the agro-food industry (AFI) was ranked at the second range in terms of its contribution to industrial GDP, reinforcing the country's agricultural vocation. Indeed, the share of AFI in total industrial value added varies between 30% and 35% (Table 4). Together, the AFI and the chemistry and special chemicals sector annually account for two-thirds of this value.

The AFI sector focuses mainly on the domestic market with the flow of nearly 80% of total production, the rest is exported. The products that supply the domestic market are import substitution, such as flour, oil seeds, sugar and milk while fish products and canned vegetables and fruits are export oriented.

In Syria, agro-food sector plays a vital role in generating many agro-food industries as it supplies these industries with the raw material. For example, wheat for flour, and bread, sugar beet for sugar industry, cotton for ginnery and textile industry. In fact, Syria enjoys ample and diverse agricultural production, both plant and animal, which enhance its competitiveness position of the Syrian agro-food industry. Therefore, the agro-food sector has received much attention from the government. It offered private agro-food businesses with many advantages and removed obstacles confronting this sector.

During the 90s, the expansion of public sector processing capacity was accompanied by the promotion of private-sector participation, especially through investment Law no. 10/1991, so that the public sector had to face private competition in an increasing number of sub-sectors with positive effect on the overall efficiency of the food processing industry. Over the last three decades, the agro-food industry has achieved remarkable development. It became a strong pillar of the national economy and a major contributor to the GDP. The agro-food industry in Syria plays an essential role in achieving socioeconomic development and poverty reduction as it plays a fundamental role in employment creation and income generation. In addition, it helps stabilize crops prices and prevent sharp prices falls especially in production peaks.

Food industry contributes in many ways to the development of a modern agro-food sector. It enhances incomes by adding value to raw agricultural products. It promotes modernization of the farming systems in terms of technological innovation (crop produced and cropping technologies) as well as in terms of relations with the market (coordination and integration among the farmers and between farmers and other agents). Moreover, it responds to consumers’ demands for variety in type and quality of food and contributes to smooth out seasonal variability of food supply, reducing its negative price effects on consumers and farmers. Furthermore, food-processing activities curb migration from rural areas if they are located close to agricultural production areas. Finally yet importantly, agro-food industry contributes in raising food security.

In Tunisia, the agro-food industry is increasingly perceived by farm operators as a safe way to enhance the sustainability of agricultural activities. Most agricultural produce, being perishable in its raw form, creates the need for, and relevance of, its transformation and marketing in various ways. In addition to generating additional income sources, product transformation constitutes a hedging strategy for farmers against risk and uncertainty.

Production in the food and beverage sector in Turkey reached TRY 8,852 million in 2009, which constitutes 18-20% of the country’s production as a whole. Significant sub-sectors within the Turkish food and beverage industry include meat and meat products, baked products, dairy products, fruits and vegetables, oils, confectionery, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, ready-made food and baby food. The proportion of Turkish household expenditure allocated to food, beverages and tobacco, which was around 26% and rose to about 27-27.5% in 2009-10. The

total consumer spending on food, beverages and tobacco, which is estimated at around USD 130 billion in 2008, was around USD 120 billion in 2007.

According to the data issued by the Industry Database of Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), the number of active companies in the food and beverage industry decreased from 23,276 in 2007 to 22,092 by the end of 2008. The majority of the Turkish food and beverage sector is formed of SMEs, which are mostly privately held. The capacity utilization rate is around 70 percent for the food and beverage sector.