- Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh:
- Preparing a new generation of exporters is a priority to enhance the competitiveness of Egyptian exports.
- Expanding the integration of artificial intelligence and financial technology in analyzing export opportunities.
- Developing market analysis tools and targeting new value-added export sectors.
- Strengthening the role of the private sector and training programs to improve the efficiency of new exporters.
- We are working toward industrial integration to increase the external competitiveness of Egyptian products.
- Eng. Adeeb Al Aama, Chief Executive Officer of the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC):
- Supporting trade finance and insurance programs to enhance Egyptian exports.
- Expanding the “Arab-Africa Trade Bridges Program” (AATB) to open new markets.
- Strengthening sector-specific trade missions as a tool to increase trade exchange.
- Designing tailored financing programs to improve the efficiency of export-oriented projects.
As part of the state’s efforts to enhance the competitiveness of Egyptian exports and expand access to foreign markets, Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, met with Eng. Adeeb Yousuf Al Aama, Chief Executive Officer of the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC). The two sides discussed ways to strengthen joint cooperation in supporting exports, providing financing and insurance tools, developing the capabilities of Egyptian exporters, and opening new export markets.
During the meeting, the two sides reviewed an integrated vision for modernizing the export framework through the integration of financial technology and artificial intelligence in analyzing markets and export opportunities. They also discussed mechanisms for activating the “Arab-Africa Trade Bridges Program” and leveraging the success of previous sector-specific trade missions, while expanding the targeting of non-traditional markets in a manner that enhances industrial integration and supports foreign trade flows.
Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh emphasized that preparing a new generation of exporters represents a strategic priority for enhancing the competitiveness of Egyptian exports, noting that the current phase requires qualified professionals capable of effectively handling various international commerce instruments, including customs tariffs, trade measures, and insurance mechanisms associated with export and import operations, particularly marine insurance. This would strengthen companies’ negotiating capabilities and improve contractual terms.
The Minister explained that the Ministry is in the final stages of launching a “Regulatory Sandbox” aimed at providing an integrated database that consolidates data available across relevant entities, including regulatory authorities, export support funds, and exhibition organizing bodies. The platform will rely on advanced analytical models to connect export opportunities with targeted markets in cooperation with the Commercial Representation Authority, thereby supporting accurate data-driven decision-making.
He added that the Regulatory Sandbox will serve as an integrated platform for analyzing export opportunities and guiding exporters, stressing that this model reflects a new direction toward leveraging technology to support the foreign trade ecosystem. He further noted that while financing applications have witnessed significant progress, trade and export support applications still require further development — an issue the Ministry seeks to address through this initiative.
The Minister also pointed to the growing interest in involving the private sector in supporting export-oriented startups, emphasizing that training programs constitute a key pillar in this regard. He affirmed that the Ministry remains open to various initiatives aimed at enhancing the capabilities of new exporters and increasing their chances of successfully accessing foreign markets.
He further stressed the importance of developing market studies through innovative and non-traditional approaches to identify priority sectors, explaining that expanding into new markets has become a necessity in light of the saturation of some existing markets. He added that strengthening industrial integration contributes to increasing added value and improving the competitiveness of Egyptian products in international markets.
For his part, Eng. Adeeb Yousuf Al Aama, ITFC CEO, reaffirmed ITFC’s commitment to supporting the Egyptian state’s efforts to enhance exports. He noted that ITFC programs, particularly the “Arab-Africa Trade Bridges Program,” represent an effective platform for connecting exporters with targeted markets, expressing the ITFC’s aspiration to further expand cooperation with the Egyptian side during the coming period.
He explained that the experience of trade missions has proven successful in opening new markets and increasing trade exchange, emphasizing the importance of reactivating and geographically expanding these initiatives, alongside designing tailored financing programs for each project in a manner that ensures the highest efficiency in resource utilization and supports the growth of Egyptian exports.
