Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh:
- Developing the operational system within the industrial sector is a fundamental pillar for increasing the stability of production processes and enhancing the quality of Egyptian products.
- The importance of expanding specialized training programs to raise the efficiency of the workforce in the Ready-Made Garments Sector to keep pace with the rapid developments in global production patterns.
- The next phase focuses on supporting the expansion of sector companies in foreign markets and maximizing the benefits of international trade agreements.
Eng. Khaled Hashem:
- The Ministry of Industry is keen to promote and localize the Ready-Made Garment industry in all its stages, increase added value, and improve the competitiveness of Egyptian products in local and global markets.
- Industrial plots are periodically offered, the latest allocation totaling 1,272 plots, of which approximately 800 are located in Upper Egypt.
Hassan Raddad:
- We are keen to activate joint efforts to create a decent work environment that enhances production and exports.
Within the framework of strengthening joint dialogue to increase the competitiveness of the industrial and export sectors, Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Eng. Khaled Hashem, Minister of Industry, and Mr. Hassan Raddad, Minister of Labor, held an expanded meeting with members of the Ready-Made Garments Export Council.
This meeting was attended by representatives from the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA), the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), the General Organization for Export and Import Control (GOEIC), Egypt Expo & Convention Authority (EECA), and the Trade Representation Authority, to discuss ways to support industry and exports and explore future implementation mechanisms.
This meeting aims to support the competitiveness of the Ready-Made Garment Industry by developing financing, training, and technology tools within production chains, and by strengthening institutional coordination between government entities and the private sector. This will support industrial and export development plans, enhance the quality of Egyptian products, and increase their contribution to national exports.
Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh, MIFT Minister, emphasized that developing the operational system within the industrial sector is a fundamental pillar for increasing the stability of production processes and enhancing the quality of Egyptian products. He explained that the discussions addressed opportunities to improve the work environment by resolving any challenges related to contracts or labor disputes through flexible mechanisms that achieve a balance between the parties involved and support continuous production.
He also emphasized the importance of expanding specialized training programs to enhance the skills of the workforce in the Ready-Made Garment Sector, keeping pace with the rapid developments in global production methods, with the aim of building a base of trained personnel capable of supporting the growth of national industry.
The Minister noted that improving the industrial investment climate relies on developing and streamlining procedures to accelerate the implementation of industrial projects. He pointed to targeted efforts to expand the application of licensing mechanisms, thereby reducing the time required to launch and operate production activities.
He explained that the next phase focuses on supporting the expansion of sector companies into foreign markets and maximizing the benefits of international trade agreements, opening new horizons for Egyptian products. He also mentioned the continuation of the Export Duty Refund program (or Duty Drawback), linking it to the actual performance indicators of companies, encouraging increased export growth rates, with the goal of achieving ambitious targets for Egyptian exports in line with the state's vision to enhance the competitiveness of national industry.
The minister noted that the meeting concluded with a consensus on several implementation tracks that the participating entities will follow up on in the coming period. This includes enhancing institutional coordination between the Ready-Made Garments Export Council and the relevant government bodies to support industrial and export development plans.
Eng. Khaled Hashem, Minister of Industry, emphasized the ministry’s commitment to strengthening and localizing the ready-made garments industry across all its stages, increasing added value, and improving the competitiveness of Egyptian products in domestic and international markets. He highlighted that this sector benefits from Egypt’s strong competitive advantages, solid reputation, and ongoing cooperation with global brands specializing in garment production and stressed the importance of including the ready-made garments industry among the sectors eligible for investment incentives.
The minister added that the ministry periodically offers fully serviced industrial plots every three months through Egypt Industrial Digital Platform to meet the needs of manufacturers. The latest offering comprises 1,272 fully serviced industrial plots, with a total area of approximately 9,780,000 square meters, distributed across 35 industrial zones in 23 governorates, including around 800 plots in Upper Egypt.
Mr. Hassan Raddad, Labor Minister, listened to representatives of the Ready-Made Garments Export Council regarding the main challenges facing the sector, particularly issues related to working hours, minimum wages, and work permits for foreign employees. He affirmed the ministry’s commitment to removing all obstacles to investment and improving the work environment.
He also indicated the Ministry's readiness to intensify cooperation and continuous communication with investors to address any challenges and to work together to create a decent work environment that enhances production and exports, achieves balance in labor relations, and supports job security for workers, while simultaneously encouraging investment.
For their part, the representatives of the Ready-Made Garments Export Council expressed their appreciation for the efforts made to strengthen partnerships with various government agencies, emphasizing that the coming phase presents promising opportunities to enhance the sector’s competitiveness in international markets.
They noted that the development of technical support tools and specialized training is a key factor in improving product quality and increasing the added value of Egyptian products, while the sector looks forward to continuing joint efforts to support production and export expansion plans in the coming period.
The members of the Ready-Made Garments Export Council also emphasized that developing Upper Egypt governorates will be a priority in the coming phase, calling for additional incentives and facilitation measures to attract industrial and export investments, thereby supporting balanced development and creating sustainable job opportunities.
The discussions addressed the importance of continuing coordination on energy prices and providing industrial land through more flexible methods, as well as improving customs clearance procedures for production inputs to support smooth supply chains and enhance operational stability within factories.
The meeting also reviewed opportunities for introducing smart operating solutions within production lines and upgrading industrial equipment to increase productivity, improve product quality, and reduce industrial waste, while strengthening cooperation with the private sector in transferring and implementing modern technological expertise within industrial sectors.
