Industry Minister explores development of export support programme

Industry Minister explores development of export support programme

Minister of Trade and Industry Nevine Gamea has announced she is currently holding meetings with several export councils to formulate a new programme to support exports.

Gamea added, during her meeting on Saturday with the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), that she has already met with six export councils to discuss their problems. The meetings were also set up to formulate a new export support programme that is more flexible and feasible.

The move comes especially as several export councils have faced problems in implementing the current programme due to its lack of flexibility.

The minister indicated that she has discussed problems of obtaining a certificate of origin to export agricultural products with the Minister of Agriculture.

She explained that the new programme would eliminate bureaucracy, and at the same time would automate the services provided by the Export Development Fund.

Gamea also confirmed that her ministry is working on evaluating the previous year-long programme to support exports, which started on 30 June 2019. There is an exception, however, with cash support to be paid to companies until the new programme is finalised.

She explained that a negative point observed in the previous programme was its inability to provide equal services to international companies, including providing