The sectors of industry and trade suffered from great challenges during the past decades, successive government efforts failed to find solutions to them, which affected the competitiveness of the Egyptian industry and the movement of foreign trade. But in recent years, we have seen serious plans, initiatives and moves by the government to upgrade the national industry, develop export movement and open more markets for Egyptian goods. But despite these efforts there are some challenges that are still facing investors, in addition to other global challenges such as the Corona virus, which may hinder the launch plans with these files. In this convention CEBC & ECIC had the honor to host H.E. Dr. Nevine Gamea; Minister of Trade and Industry discussing the topic “The Future of Trade and Industry in Light of the Current Challenges”. In the opening remarks Eng. Motaz Raslan; on behalf of CEBC & ECIC; welcomed our dear distinguished members, guests, ambassadors and his dear friends H.E. Dr. Nevine Gamea and Dr. Sherif El Gabaly. Eng. Motaz Raslan said that the global economy is currently experiencing one of its worst conditions since 2008; Adding that the Corona virus crisis had caused many economic sectors heavy losses, including tourism and aviation. Then he pointed out that, off course, the trade and industry sectors are not far from it. He added that in recent years we have seen serious plans, initiatives, and moves for the government to upgrade the national industry, develop the movement of exports and open more markets to Egyptian goods, but amid these efforts, there are some challenges that still face investors, in addition to Other global challenges, such as the CORONA virus, may hinder start-up plans. He continued: There is no doubt that the losses announced in the global economy over the past days are increasing the burden of decision makers. He said that this crisis could be a golden opportunity or a starting point for Egyptian industries, and the settlement of many local industries in which we have advantages and that the sectors of industry and trade have suffered from great challenges during the past decades, but The government’s efforts preferred to find solutions, which affected the competitiveness of Egyptian industry and foreign trade. Dr. Nevine Gamea, Minister of Industry and Trade, thanked all the distinguished guests & thanked CEBC & ECIC for inviting her to this audience & was happy with this special gathering. She described that many factories import production supplies from China, so we monitor the effects of the Corona virus on the import of production supplies, revealing that the ministry has not monitored any negative impact on the availability of production supplies to factories from Corona virus. She also explained that there is communication with the Federation of Industries to know the needs of the industry from production requirements, and we can take advantage of the current crisis because international export rates are declining and we can enter markets with products such as kohl, antiseptics, and powders, and can enter them into Europe, and requested data from exporters on these exports in order to Implementation of an action plan on the ground, which is reflected in exports. The Minister of Trade and Industry indicated that the Ministry is working on 4 export sectors to increase Egyptian exports through it, noting that it has received important data on the exports of these sectors and working to translate visions into reality through contacts and coordination with all parties. The Minister indicated that videos and guidelines for dealing with Corona will be used and sent to the factories, confirming complete communication with investors and the Federation of Industries to deal with any outbreak of the virus in any of the factories. Dr. Nevine Gamea revealed that the Ministry has monitored a number of challenges facing the Egyptian industry, noting that the state is determined to develop the industrial sector and lays all the means and capabilities to increase the growth of the industrial sector. H.E confirmed that the ministry seeks during the current phase to maximize the utilization of the components and possibilities available in the branches of different bodies in different provinces and industrial zones to ensure the provision of outstanding services to the business community and achieve integration Among those branches and their main centers, pointing out that it will be coordinated with the governors and concerned authorities to provide appropriate and appropriate headquarters in the provinces in order to implement the ministry’s orientation towards decentralization, which facilitates the procedures for investors in their places of presence without having to go to The main centers of the bodies for access to the service. Dr. Nevine; revealed that there is a tight plan that is currently being implemented and studied at all levels, aimed at developing the General Authority for Industrial Development, in order to make it provides better services to investors, and to speed up the provision of its various services, through the mechanization of procedures as well as linking all Branches are a mechanized system. In a special statement, the minister added that the current period is also being worked on simplifying all procedures, as well as the work of an internal structure in the Authority in order to increase the movement and smoothness of work within the Authority, because of its significant role in the service of industrial investment. She confirmed, that the ministry seeks to strengthen the role of all subsidiary bodies to play their main role in developing and modernizing the sector and increasing the competitiveness of the Egyptian product in the local and international markets, and activating programs and activities to maximize the benefit of the return on the industrial sector, which contributes to increasing the growth rates of exports Beneficiary companies, especially small and medium-sized companies. She added that the SME Development Authority is a key support in strengthening supply chains for various industries, pointing out The government is taking the initiative to strengthen the industrial sector, especially intermediate industries in various industries, and there is currently a plan to replace Egyptian products with imports by linking the allocation of new industrial complexes to investors with the products we need to reduce imports. The Minister of Industry pointed out that the state provides new investors with the ingredients to establish a project or factory, and there is a trend from young people to medium and small projects, pointing out that the Small Projects Authority started to enter into projects in a partnership system in order to facilitate young investors through financing from the World Bank. She said that the Industrial Development Authority is currently being integrated with the SME and SME Development Authority and the Industrial Modernization Center, in terms of providing integrated services and studies to serve investors in the industrial complexes under construction. The minister stressed that the development and development of the industrial sector is the top priority of the political leadership and the government’s plan during the current phase, where the ministry aims to move on the ground to identify all the challenges facing the industry and find radical solutions to it and improve the competitiveness of the industry Egyptian and increase the value-added in order to increase the rates of productivity and export to foreign markets. Gamea explained that the ministry will work during the next phase to create an industrial business environment, overcome obstacles, eliminate bureaucracy and mechanize industrial services, in addition to increasing reliance on Egyptian production inputs, supporting the feeder and complementary industries and transferring technologies. The development of The Egyptian industry in addition to the implementation of the program of deepening local manufacturing to contribute to the replacement of imports with homemade products. She revealed that the implementation rate of industrial complexes exceeded 80%, and the availability of these units by the rental system and units by the ownership system, noting that all the areas needed by each manufacturing activity are available. There is no delay in imports, there is encouragement for national industries in exchange for limiting imports that have local alternatives, and there are criteria for selecting imports so that products or goods that we need or for which there is no local alternative are introduced, she said. Finally She said: “We studied the experience of Morocco and South Africa to strengthen the auto industry, and here in Egypt we have factors and indicators that confirm Egypt’s ability to establish a strong industry in this specialization, and we work on several axes, most notably the support of the feeding industries and another axis for electric cars and another axis.