Egypt’s Trade and Industry Minister Ahmed Samir affirmed Egypt’s support to the International Trade Centre (ITC) to mitigate the multiple global shocks due to Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
Egypt appreciates the effective participation of the ITC at the UN Climate Change Conference (UNCCC) COP27, Samir added during his meeting on Thursday with ITC executive director Pamela Coke-Hamilton on the sidelines of the global climate conference.
The meeting tackled the projects which the ITC carries out in co-operation with several international bodies, including ‘She Trades’, which aims to increase women’s participation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the minister said.
The meeting also discussed the Global Textiles and Clothing Programme (GTEX) to encourage textile and clothing exports, the minister added.
For her part, Coke-Hamilton said ITC is keen to expand joint co-operation programmes with the Egyptian government, particularly in areas related to women’s empowerment.
The ITC plans will soon embark on the second phase of ‘She Trades’, she said, citing results of the project’s first phase.
Minister Samir also met Gerd Müller, director general of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) on the sidelines of COP27.
Samir said his ministry is eager to benefit from UNIDO programmes for industrial development and making Egyptian products more competitive in local and global markets.
He referred to development projects being implemented by the Egyptian government in co-operation with the organisation in renewable energy, green trade and sustainable development.
The minister spoke of UNIDO’s role in supporting industrial development in Egypt.
For his part, Müller said he would like to see greater co-operation with the Egyptian government at various levels.
