Amin Abaza, Agriculture and Land Reclamation Minister said the poultry industry in Egypt began to recover, as production level is now back to normal.

Investments in the poultry industry reached almost L.E 18 billion and is making available 1.5 million work opportunities.

A new plan is being implemented to bring the bird flue disease under control, through L.E. 117 million loans and grants Egypt receives for the purpose, he added.

Poultry industry in Egypt back to normal

The poultry industry has returned to what it had been before the first avian influenza case was spotted in Egypt in February of 2006, said Agriculture and Land Reclamation Minister Amin Abaza Sunday.

Though bird flu was totally contained, some cases continue to be detected especially among home-raised chickens, Abaza said at the opening session of a workshop on combating the H5N1 virus.

Abaza's word was read out on his behalf by his adviser Saad Nasar. Abaza said the ministry has laid down a strategy to contain bird flu and rehabilitate the poultry industry in Egypt.

He said some international sides contributed to the strategy, including the World Bank and the US that offered $ 7 million and $24 million, respectively. The five-day workshop is organized by the Egyptian ministries of agriculture and health.

Experts from 11 Arab, African and Asian countries are taking part.