Minister of Trade and Industry Nevine Gamea met Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala El Said to discuss ways to enhance cooperation and joint coordination between the two ministries to achieve the goals of the economic development plans adopted by the Egyptian government in order to increase growth rates of exports as well as provide more job opportunities. Gamea said that during the meeting the two ministers discussed the importance of unifying government visions and efforts to develop the industrial sector as it is the engine of economic development in Egypt and one of the major sectors in providing job opportunities, as well as export, which is an essential source in providing foreign exchange. The Minister of Trade and Industry pointed out that the Ministry is seeking and in close cooperation with all concerned parties, whether governmental or in the private sector, to improve the quality of Egyptian products to increase their ability to compete in domestic and external markets with a focus on operating all available production capacities in factories. The ministries also aim at facilitating the entry of new factories into production phases with the while replacing imported products with national ones, which will contribute to increasing rates of industrial growth and exports besides providing more job opportunities. For her part, El Said stressed the importance of the process of localising industry as well as the file of imports and exports. She pointed out that exports play a major role in increasing the country's volume of foreign exchange since it is a major and sustainable source alongside foreign investment, tourism, the Suez Canal, and Egyptian expatriates' remittances.
