The Egyptian-African Businessmen’s Association headed by Dr Yousrey Elsharkawi organized Today 26th October An expanded virtual introductory symposium for the members of the association, In cooperation with the Agreements and Foreign Trade Sector at the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Many members of the association from the international trade and foreign relations and industry committees participated in the symposium. From the international agreements sector, Nasreen Safwat from the Central Administration for Trade Agreements and Waleed Al-Saeed from the Department of Rules of Origin attended.
At the outset, Dr. Noha Nofal, Director of the Central Department of Trade Agreements in the sector, delivered a speech on behalf of Dr. Dina Mahmoud, Head of the Agreements and Foreign Trade Sector, in which she affirmed the ministry’s keenness, according to Minister Nevin Jameh, Minister of Trade and Industry, on the need to cooperate with business organizations and civil society and support the role of the state In promoting exports and opening foreign markets, especially African markets, and that the sector and the central administration are keen to raise awareness rates regarding international agreements and technical, administrative and financial aspects, and that this awareness will raise the level and rates of intra-African trade.
Dr. Yousrey El-Sharkawi, head of the Egyptian-African Businessmen Association, confirmed, On the importance of communicating with active government agencies that work to support everything that serves the national role with regard to the economic aspect and to enhance joint cooperation with the African side, And that all the information that reaches the business community contributes effectively to the knowledge of international agreements, which has a great impact in reducing time and effort, achieving the desired goals for export and increasing the rates of trade exchange.
Nasreen Safwat confirmed, Egyptian exports to COMESA countries are equivalent to 45% of Egypt’s total exports to Africa. And that most of these exports are building materials, chemical and pharmaceutical products, food industries and agricultural products, and that the imports are mostly coffee, tea, tobacco and its derivatives.
It reviewed in detail the mechanisms for submitting complaints and settling disputes in a way that does not accept interpretation and detailed explanation in this regard so that the customer can be fully aware of the procedures, regulations, laws and procedures for international dispute resolution and how to start doing that to shorten the time element to reach a settlement in any dispute that may arise.
Walid Al-Saeed, from the Central Administration of Rules of Origin, explained the definition and importance of the rules of origin, as well as the types of rules of origin, the criteria and prescription for acquiring rules of origin, and how the origin can be proven and the authorities competent to issue certificates of origin, explaining on a sample of the certificates of origin the source of each statement and information specifying the certificate of origin, standard, capacity and country.
At the end of the symposium, which lasted for more than two and a half hours, the two sides affirmed their continuity of work and continuous cooperation through a well-thought-out plan set with a timetable with clear objectives to increase awareness standards and familiarity with mechanisms, agreements and procedures, with the holding of several consecutive joint meetings with any third party of the relevant authorities in a manner It guarantees finding effective solutions to all challenges and moving forward to achieve the desired goals in accordance with Egypt’s plan for sustainable development and its strategy for Egypt’s Vision 2030.