The Egyptian Nile Company for Food Industries aims to enter Gulf markets in the coming period to increase the size of its exports, while also expecting to export goods worth $13m by the end of the year. Mahmoud Ahmed Hendy, chairperson of the company's board of directors, said that the company's exports during the first half of this year amounted to $6m in vegetables and fruit. He pointed out that the company aims to open new production lines for the sauce and pommes frites potatoes, as well as juices and pickles during the coming period. He explained that the company is currently exporting its products to the European Union countries and America, alongside Iraq and Lebanon, with plans to enter the Gulf markets in the coming period. He stressed the importance of participating in international exhibitions and direct negotiations with customers, due to the intensive attendance of many companies not only from the countries of origin, but from foreign visitors too. He pointed out that Egyptian exporters did not benefit from the flotation of the Egyptian pound as the prices of raw materials and local shipping hiked after the increase in fuel prices twice in one year, which also increased the price of international shipping along with wages and energy. Hendy noted that the high cost of production burdens exporters, as they cannot increase the quality to keep their products at a competitive price on the global markets.
