National Dialogue discusses ways to advance industry

Participants of the first session of the Industry Committee of the National Dialogue stressed the importance of drawing up a comprehensive strategy that would help bring about an industrial renaissance and curb any challenges impeding the industrial process.
The session is held under the title “Reasons for the Declined Contribution of Industry in the Egyptian Economy: Challenges of the Egyptian Workforce”.
Dr Ahmed Jalal, General Rapporteur of the Economic Axis, underscored the importance of the industrial sector, indicating that the question set before the participants in the dialogue is what are the mechanisms, steps and actual proposal for the advancement of the industry.
“Egypt and South Korea started the efforts to develop the industrial sector at the same time and in almost similar circumstances. However, the result was not the same in the two countries,a matter that raises a question about the challenges faced by the Egyptian industry, and how to face them,” he said.
In turn, Dr Gouda Abdel-Khalek, member of the Board of Trustees of the National Dialogue, noted that it is necessary for Egypt to have an industrial policy consisting of a set of specific measures that include goals and means related to industry and its advancement.
This policy, he explained, is not the responsibility of the government alone, but business owners, workers, civil society and parties.
For his part, Hossam Haiba, Chairman of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), said, “we should focus on solutions, opportunities and working mechanisms.” He added that the value of foreign investment that entered Egypt until June 30 of last year amounted to $22 billion, the highest amount that entered Egypt in its history.
These indicators, he added, reflect the state’s ability to attract more investments, referring to the necessity of amending laws of small and medium-sized enterprises and the addition of start-ups.
Meanwhile, Head of the Industrial Development Authority, Mohamed Abdel Karim, stressed the need to establishan action plan for the active players in the industrial sector and define the responsibilities of each party.