Cairo Cotton Group, a local manufacturer of Levi's, Decathlon, United Colors of Benetton, and Inditex brands like Zara, Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka among other the top global clothing companies, has suspended its production lines as a result of the spread of coronavirus. Magdi Tolba, Chairman of Cairo Cotton Group, further told Amwal Ghad that his company owns the manufacturing rights of 16 global brands within Egypt such as Levi's, Decathlon and Zara. The company has suspended the work in its factories in Egypt giving its employees a leave, while stopping the exports of its products as a result of the increase in shipping costs. Tolba who is also Chairman of the Readymade Garments Export Council said that Egypt's exports of garments would decline in 2020 compared to the previous year as they recorded $1.7 billion because manufacturing for international brands constitutes a large portion of the production. He added that 80 percent of the exports have stopped due to the high cost of shipping, as well as the recession that affects the local and international market and the significant decrease in demand rates. Cairo Cotton Center products are present in 42 countries worldwide, and the new expansion plans will contribute to increasing the workforce to 6,000 workers .
