CAIRO, March 29, 2018 - Egypt's non-petroleum exports rose in February, 2018, to US$1.4 billion, compared to US$1.3 billion during the same period last year, according to a monthly report by GOEIC. The General Organisation for Import and Export Control (GOEIC) reported that the exports of food stuffs hit US$457 million during last February, against US$430 million in February 2017. Oranges topped the most important 20 exported food stuff items, while banana and packed potato exports were at the bottom of the list of non-petroleum exports. In another development, Minister of Trade and Industry Tarek Qabil yesterday said that his Ministry is currently exerting strenuous efforts to upgrade export policies through a raft of ambitious programmes and plans with the aim of increasing the competitiveness of commodities on the local and global markets. The ministry's Export Development Authority (EDA) provides all technical support services for all exporters with the purpose of solving any problem confronting them or the companies participating in foreign fairs and exhibitions, Kabil, said. Minister Kabil also said that he received a report on the performance indicators of the EDA during the month of February, 2018, which included the facilitation of company participation in four international exhibitions: Fruit Logistica in Germany, Magic Show in USA, the Gulfood Exhibition in the United Arab Emirates and Biofach in Germany, the world's largest trade fair for organic food and agriculture. The Authority also has finalised the preparations for taking part in the Canton Fair 2018, (China Import and Export Fair) to be held next month. The fair is the largest trade fair with the biggest scale, the most complete exhibit variety, the broadest distribution of overseas buyers and the greatest business turnover. The Executive Chairman of the EDA, Shirin el-Shorbagi, said that over the past month, the Authority organised and participated in a number of activities related to export development. The EDA organised the second workshop to introduce reform measures in the field of foreign trade management with the aim of stimulating exports, as well as participating in the second meeting of the Mercosur Agreement and the meetings of the Egyptian-Brazilian Business Council, el-Shorbagi said. The Authority has completed the projects related to the Green Trade Initiative, which works on the strategic development of the Egyptian agro-industry to increase exports from Egypt to European markets via Italy. It also signed a memorandum of understanding to support the promotion of economic and trade co-operation between Egypt and Azerbaijan, el-Shorbagi added in her roundup of the EDA achievements. She also pointed out that the Authority received a delegation from JETRO (Japan External Trade Organisation), to discuss future co-operation ties between Cairo and Tokyo. The Authority also updated the experimental version of its website to offer more data and information for Egyptian exporters. El-Shorbagy noted that the Authority extended invitations to Egyptian companies working in chemical, engineering, ready-to-wear clothes and construction materials to take part in the trade mission organised by the authority to Brazil next month.
