Dr. Mohamed Farid:
- Transforming the outcomes of cooperation with UNIDO into actionable policies will strengthen the competitiveness of the Egyptian economy.
- We are working to enhance the ability of Egyptian exports to access EU markets by meeting all requirements.
- Developing quality infrastructure and enabling green industry are key pillars for attracting major investments.
Dr. Gihan Bayoumi, Deputy Head of UNIDO in Egypt:
- Integrating investment and trade policies enhances the competitiveness of Egyptian companies and their access to markets.
- We are working to develop the quality infrastructure system and align it with international standards to facilitate market access and boost trade.
Dr. Mohamed Farid, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade (MIFT Minister), held an extensive meeting with a delegation from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), attended by representatives of the organization, ministry officials, and affiliated entities, as well as Dr. Gihan Bayoumi, Deputy Head of UNIDO in Egypt. The meeting aimed to review the progress of joint cooperation programs and formulate future strategies to enhance the investment climate and develop Egypt’s foreign trade through 2027.
MIFT Minister emphasized MIFT’s strong commitment to translating the outcomes of the organization’s technical reports and studies into practical and tangible action plans, noting that identifying strengths and weaknesses in targeted productive sectors is a key step toward enhancing the competitiveness of Egyptian products in international markets.
He added that Egypt currently hosts UNIDO’s largest project portfolio worldwide, with 23 ongoing projects, reflecting international institutions’ confidence in the Egyptian economy’s capacity for growth and digital transformation.
Dr. Farid highlighted that adopting modern systems such as the Digital Product Passport (DPP)—sometimes referred to as the product technical file—has become essential for Egyptian exports to access global markets, particularly EU markets. He stressed that MIFT is coordinating with the organization to prepare Egyptian entities to meet new environmental and digital requirements and Green Deal standards, thereby strengthening Egypt’s attractiveness as a destination for export-oriented investments and supporting the integration of digital technologies into production processes.
DPP is a structured digital record designed to store and exchange essential information about products and their supply chains. It is a regulatory requirement that the European Union will impose on imports as of 2027 for priority product groups such as textiles and batteries, with gradual expansion toward full implementation by 2030.
He further noted that the partnership with UNIDO focuses on six main pillars: developing investment and trade policies and governance, investment promotion, green industry, smart cities, value chain development, and innovation.
Moreover, MIFT Minister stressed the importance of developing the quality infrastructure system in cooperation with the Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality and the National Quality Institute to ensure Egyptian products meet the highest international standards and facilitate trade.
On their part, UNIDO officials and representatives of the EU-funded Trade, Industry, Growth and Market Access Project (TIGARA) reviewed ongoing efforts to strengthen Egypt’s investment and trade policy framework through evidence-based analysis and institutional support. These efforts also include improving the efficiency and governance of the quality infrastructure system, aligning it with international standards to facilitate trade and market access, and accelerating digital transformation to support compliance with evolving global trade requirements.
They added that the project also aims to enhance private sector competitiveness and provide job opportunities by developing promising industrial clusters across various governorates.
Dr. Gihan Bayoumi stated that UNIDO’s partnership with Egypt is centered on supporting a competitive, export-led industrial economy. Through the EU-funded TIGARA project, the organization works with government partners to strengthen the productive capacity of industrial clusters, promote compliance with international standards, and support the integration of SMEs into global value chains.
Dr. Gihan added that these efforts contribute to building a more resilient and future-ready trade system, strengthening Egypt’s position as a competitive player in international markets.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Dr. Farid directed the formation of joint technical working groups comprising representatives from MIFT, relevant entities, and UNIDO to finalize the wording of proposed policies and initiatives and ensure their swift implementation. He also stressed the importance of maximizing the benefits of technical assistance and specialized training programs, particularly in providing exporters and investors with access to international databases, thereby enhancing the readiness of Egyptian companies to access global markets and reinforcing Egypt’s position as a competitive, export-driven economy that attracts value-added investments.
