The meeting discussed cooperation in auto manufacturing and
SMEs.
Cairo- September
23, 2020
Minister
of Trade and Industry Nevine Gamea has held an extended meeting with Ambassador
of Japan in Cairo Masaki Noke, where they explored ways to develop economic
relations between the two countries, particularly in industry, trade and SMEs.
Gamea emphasized
that the government is keen to attract more Japanese investments into the
Egyptian market with its ample business opportunities and benefit from the
advanced Japanese industrial know-how, especially in auto
manufacturing.
“Egypt
can well be a hub for Japanese products into the markets of the Middle East and
Africa,” Gamea noted, stressing the ministry’s commitment to providing all kinds
of support to companies operating in the local market.
With regards to strengthening
cooperation between the Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises Development Authority
and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the minister pointed out
that a $150-million financing program is currently under study, of which $100
million will be allocated for industrial and digital transformation projects, and
$50 million for agricultural and high credit risk ones.
Noke,
for his part, said that coordination is underway with the Egyptian side to hold
the first session of the Egyptian-Japanese Committee for Business and
Investment, which aims to create a favorable business environment in the two
countries, which would contribute to boosting bilateral trade and investment over
the next period.