By Doaa Farid
Exports reached EGP 79.3bn in the first half of the current year, a 17% rise compared to the same period last year, the General Organisation for Export and Import Control stated in a report according to state-run Al-Ahram.
The furniture industry saw the highest increase, registering EGP 1.3bn, a 45% rise from the first half of 2012. Fruits and vegetables exports took second place, registering EGP 750m, followed by construction and building materials at EGP 500m.
Ali Essa, the chairman of Agriculture Exports Council said fruits and vegetables exports increased by 38% in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year, noting that 40% of the agricultural exports are to Europe.
According to a report published earlier by the Central Bank of Egypt, non-petroleum products reached EGP 24m in the second quarter of 2012/2013, an increase of 15% compared to the same period last year.
On 27 July, Minister of Industry and Foreign Trade Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour reported to Al-Ahram that increasing the rate of exports is at the top of the government’s agenda, since they represent a primary generator of both foreign currency and employment.
