Minister of Industry and Trade, Tarek Kabil, presents a new integrated plan for export development after a 14% increase in Egypt’s exports during the first four months of 2017 compared to 2016.
Kabil noted that the plan includes the development of a comprehensive vision to facilitate the system of export procedures through reducing the number of existing documents and activating the idea of the one stop-shop to serve exporters. The plan also focuses on the quality of exported products and on launching an online portal to be an information platform that will contribute to the promotion of Egyptian exports in foreign markets.
The minister pointed out that the ministry aims to enhance the role of the Export Development Authority to be the official entity responsible for all issues related to exports in order to contribute to the development of a comprehensive vision of specific goals and timing, including all aspects of exports. These bodies include export councils and commercial services abroad, as well as business associations and industrial and commercial unions.
Kabil added that the importance of the Export Development Authority’s plan is to establish logistic centres and maritime shipping lines to increase the access of Egyptian exported products to various foreign markets, especially the European market as Egypt’s first trading partner. Furthermore, the plan is imperative in opening new communication channels to increase Egyptian exports to West African markets to make use of the Mercosur Free Trade Agreement, which was recently activated with a number of Latin American countries.
Head of New Export Development Authority Sherine Al-Shorbagi said that the work plan of the authority also includes a complete structural and institutional development through maximising the utilisation of capacities, upgrading the efficiency of existing services, developing 17 branches of the international trade point.
Al-Shorbagi noted that the authority aims that by the end of the current year, 1,000 people will graduate and will raise the skills of 200 exporters in addition to launching the online portal of the authority.
