Hassan Al-Khatib, Egypt’s Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, reviewed the proposed trade policy document for Egypt, noting that this document complements the Egyptian state’s vision and contributes to supporting the goals of Egypt Vision 2030. It also serves as a tool to activate economic reform and achieves the integration of investment and trade within a comprehensive framework.

The document contributes to achieving targets by increasing exports to $145 billion by 2030, focusing on value-added sectors and maximizing benefits from global opportunities. Additionally, it plays a role in keeping pace with global economic developments, enhancing Egypt’s position in global value chains, and consolidating Egypt’s role as a regional trade hub. The document also contributes to institutional coordination and maximizing returns from agreements by linking them to investment through an institutional framework that ensures governance and integration.

Al-Khatib added that linking investment with trade is a key approach to addressing the trade balance deficit by directing the economy towards exports, strengthening the production base, and increasing the added value of local products.

The Minister outlined the trade policy objectives, explaining that they include reducing the trade balance deficit by maximizing exports and deepening local industry without resorting to restrictions that hinder imports or production. It also relies on investment as a central tool to stimulate export-oriented production capacities, reduce the trade gap, and strive to transform Egypt into a regional center for industry and services aimed at external markets.

He also indicated that the foundations of the trade policy document are based on protecting national industry from harmful practices through organized trade tools and commitment to World Trade Organization rules. It also includes stimulating exports through well-studied movement plans towards priority markets, enhancing competitiveness, and facilitating procedures as an alternative to restrictions in trade policies.

Al-Khatib continued: We aim for an open, flexible trade policy that supports competitiveness, maximizes value-added exports, and reduces the trade balance deficit through a close link between investment and trade. This establishes Egypt’s role as a regional and international trade hub, protects local products with trade remedy tools according to international standards, and opens new markets through balanced trade agreements, enhancing the competitiveness of the Egyptian economy globally.