The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (MSMEDA), and the Foreign Trade Training Center of the Egyptian Ministry of Trade and Industry launched on Sunday the “Training a Step for Export” project, funded by the ITFC with $350,000.
This comes within the second phase of the Aid for Trade initiative for Arab countries (AFTIAS), to support Egyptian exporters and SMEs.
The project launch was attended by Hani Salem Sonbol, CEO of the ITFC and Chairperson of AFTIAS; Basil Rahmi, CEO of MSMEDA; Mary Kamel, Executive Director of the Foreign Trade Training Center; and Amr Hazaa; Advisor to the Minister of Trade and Industry and Head of the Development Projects Unit.
According to a statement by the ITFC, the project aims primarily at developing the capabilities of Egyptian youth and owners of current and new medium, small and micro enterprises wishing to start exporting, and who already have exportable products or who already export and wish to increase their export capabilities.
An integrated training program is being implemented with the aim of preparing a new generation of qualified exporters and increasing their capabilities, knowledge and skills in order to enable them to produce value-added products that match market needs, design and implement new marketing strategies, as well as effectively locate their products in local and regional markets and help them penetrate new markets in various regions sectors, giving priority to the agricultural sector in the areas of production and manufacturing because of its ability to create direct and indirect job opportunities, and work to increase Egyptian exports by supporting current and new export business for Egyptian exporters and work to achieve the competitiveness of Egyptian exports.
The Foreign Trade Training Center of the Ministry of Trade and Industry is working on implementing the training project, A Step for Export, as the center offers an integrated training program that deals with issues related to the entire export cycle, starting with the extent of readiness of the company or establishment for export, passing through how to study international markets, identify available export opportunities, choose the most appropriate one, and prepare a strategic plan for export. It includes all the factors and determinants of penetrating international markets and developing the product to comply with the specifications and quality required in these markets and the end of export logistics, including means of packaging, shipping, transportation, methods of financing and guaranteeing exports, and others.
The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency provides financing in the event that graduates of the program need to establish companies or export offices or expand their commercial businesses, in order to start or expand export activities.
Hany Sonbol said: “The Foundation is proud of the partnership with the government of Egypt and the Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises Development Authority in launching the project, which is an initiative to strengthen the Egyptian economy through the private sector, especially medium, small and micro enterprises, and integrate them into local and global supply chains and increase exports, especially In the agricultural sector because of its ability to create direct and indirect job opportunities and to provide the raw materials necessary for agricultural production and processing.”
He pointed out that the project keeps pace with the objectives of the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation, which aims to develop trade among the OIC member states, contribute to improving their access to trade finance, and provide the necessary trade-related capacity-building tools that can help them compete successfully in the global market.
He explained that the economic empowerment of Egyptian youth, the development of their skills and the enhancement of their technical knowledge in export occupies an advanced position in the programs of the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation in Egypt, in order to help them expand their business outside the local markets and enter new markets.
For his part, Basil Rahmi, CEO of the Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises Development Agency, affirmed the agency’s interest in cooperating with the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation and the Foreign Trade Training Center to implement the “Training is a step for export” project, which aims to strengthen and build export capabilities for owners of medium, small and micro enterprises, rehabilitation and training of young people to reach global markets by developing their products and giving them competitive capabilities that raise their export opportunities abroad.
Mary Kamel, Executive Director of the Foreign Trade Center, confirmed that the training project is a step for export, which aims to create a new generation of qualified exporters and contribute to developing the competitiveness of Egyptian exports in global markets, in order to ensure economic growth and create opportunities for entrepreneurs to start exporting.
She indicated that the project was set up in line with the objectives of the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation. The project aims to train 600 trainees from all governorates of the Republic over a period of two years, with a free grant, with the aim of preparing a new generation of qualified exporters, by providing an integrated training program that provides all the knowledge, concepts and skills necessary for any business. pragmatic source.
For his part, Amr Hazaa, Advisor to the Minister of Trade and Industry, confirmed that this project comes in line with the goals of the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation and within the framework of the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s plan to reach Egyptian exports to $100bn, referring to the training project as a step for export that aims to achieve higher rates of export.
