The European Union supports the launch of the Ministry of Trade and Industry's Strategy forIndustrial Development and Foreign Trade 2020

Within the framework of cooperation between the European Union (EU) and Egypt, H.E. Tarek Kabil, Minister of Trade and Industry hosted today a stakeholder consultative event to celebrate the Year of Achievements 2015/16. As part of the celebrations Kabil launched the Industrial Development and Foreign Trade Strategy and initiated the consultative process for development of sectoral strategies over the coming 6-month period. Kabil was accompanied in the launch event by H.E. Reinhold Brender - Charge d'Affaires a.i. of the EU Delegation to Egypt.

"The EU welcomes the new Strategy of the Ministry of Trade and Industry which focuses on making the Egyptian industry more competitive so as to increase exports and to create jobs. We will continue to provide support to the Ministry and its stakeholders for the implementation of this Strategy through our ongoing TDMEP cooperation programme as well as forthcoming support for development of small and medium enterprises. We are keen to see the Ministry cooperate with the private sector in formulating the sector specific strategies. We want to see stakeholders align behind the important and essential ambition of generating inclusive growth in the Egyptian economy. A comprehensive strategic framework which is implemented without delays will go long way in building the much needed predictability for attracting new investments" said Mr Brender during the launch event. The Trade and Domestic Market Enhancement Programme, funded by the European Union, to the magnitude of EUR 20 million, are implemented by the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The Programme currently runs till the end of 2017.

The Industrial Development and Foreign Trade Strategy launched today provides a framework for the Ministry of Trade and Industry and its stakeholders to realize the high level goals set within the Sustainable Development Strategy – Vision 2030 within the industry and trade sectors. The new MTI Strategy contains six cross cutting issues – industry, trade, SMEs, TVET, Innovation and Energy Efficiency – and over the coming months this comprehensive strategic framework will be further cascaded into sectoral strategies for at least five key sectors of the economy.  The Ministry has been working in cooperation with its international partners in developing the new strategic framework, and the launch event sends a strong signal of the Ministry's eagerness to put the framework into practice in close consultation with partner governmental entities and equally importantly the private sector. Prominent private sector representatives and investors as well as Parliamentarians, members of the civil society and representatives of the international community attended the event.

Background:

The Trade and Domestic Market Enhancement Programme, funded by the European Union, to the magnitude of EUR 20 million, are implemented by the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The Programme currently runs till the end of 2017. The general objective of the programme is to assist the Ministry in the implementation and execution of key policy reforms which help to improve Egypt’s competitiveness and assist in its further integration into the regional and global economies. The Programme is structured around two components; foreign trade and trade agreements and industrial policy and quality infrastructure.

With support of the EU, the Trade and Domestic Market Enhancement Programme will reinforce the business environment in Egypt by strengthening the capacity of different stakeholders in the trade & industry supply chain through:

• Assisting the Ministry of Trade and Industry in developing the Trade and Industry Strategy for Egypt and in providing guidance and support for its implementation.
• Establishing a modern and supportive regulatory framework that facilitates the development of a competitive industrial sector in Egypt.
• Supporting the setup and development of EGYTRADER.
• Developing institutional support mechanisms & procedures for the National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC).
• Introducing risk management on border inspection and supporting electronic integration with other functionalities.
• Providing a supportive environment for MSMEs and informal actors, building on analyses of their business processes for export.
• Supporting the development of a modern, efficient and effective Quality Infrastructure that will enable Egyptian manufacturers to produce products that are safe, of good quality and competitive on international markets.
• Facilitating trade by strengthening of institutional structures and technical capacities of quality infrastructure institutions with the aim of concluding mutual recognition agreements with major trading partners (such as ACAA with the EU)

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