25 October 2007… In an official ceremony held on October the 24th, Egypt's Ambassador to Bamako delivered a food relief of 100 tons of rice, as a present from the Egyptian government to the Malian Childhood Institution, which is headed by the Malian First Lady, who attended the meeting, along with representatives of the Malian President, Foreign Minister, Minister of Social Solidarity and the Elderly, as well as leaders of the Malian Childhood Institution. The aid was offered by the Egyptian Fund for Technical Cooperation with Africa, affiliated to the Foreign Ministry, as an Egyptian initiative, which reflects Egypt's awareness of the importance of sustaining the Malian efforts in boosting the institution's capabilities, and elevating the living standard of the Malian citizen, specially the future generations. Egypt attempts to carry on its efforts to supply the Malian people with food. These efforts included dispatching many Egyptian experts in the field of agriculture, the last of them were three experts in the production of corn, cotton and vegetables, in order to find the means to develop the production of these agricultural products. These efforts also include discussing the establishment of an Egyptian/ Malian farm and training the Malian cadres in the field of agriculture in Cairo. In her speech at the ceremony, the Malian First Lady expressed the deep gratitude and appreciation of the Malian government and people to the Egyptian President, government and people for this noble initiative, which will help the Institution fulfill its priorities, on top of which offering food for the children and the needy families, the victims of floods and rains in the various regions of the country. This Egyptian initiative came within the framework of the strong technical cooperation between the two countries, which had lead to depending on the Egyptian cadres in the field of medicine to run the Luxemburg Hospital, which was established in cooperation with the government of Luxemburg. The ceremony was broadcasted by the Malian TV. and covered by many Malian newspapers. The media asserted the closeness and depth of Egyptian-Malian partnership and cooperation in various fields especially that the food aid comes as an Egyptian initiative and after few months of offering a medical aid, which reached up to seven tons. It is evidence on Egypt's willingness to foster and activate cooperation with Mali in all fields.