As part of the IIFPRI Egypt Seminar in partnership with AUC Economics Department | "THE LAUNCH OF IFPRI’s GLOBAL FOOD POLICY REPORT: “Reaping the benefits and facing the challenges of globalization in Egypt"

1. Opportunities and challenges
for Food Manufacturers
Mr. Waleed Fathy
General Manager – Supplier to
Consumer

3. Strengths
• Egypt is actively engaged in a number of international
organizations which gives Egypt an export competitive
advantage particularly in Africa.
• Egypt’s growing retail market associated with the rapid
population growth.
• English language is a prominent language in Egypt and is
widely spoken.
• The wide variety of Fruits & Vegetables products as well as
the existence of unique farms increases Egypt’s opportunity to
enter other markets particularly in Europe.

4. Challenges & Weaknesses
• Bureaucracy makes it difficult to operate and establish new
businesses in Egypt.
• Poverty rates have increased to 26.4% which affects the
purchasing power.
• The increased unemployment rates.
• The effect of the decline of tourism and investment on Egypt’s
economy.
• The increasing levels of corruption.
• Lack of legal and contractual reliability.
• Slow and cumbersome customs procedures.

5. Suggested Solutions
• Initiate more projects in each government taking into
consideration the competitive edge of each government which
will generate more job opportunities (like sues canal, Marble
mountain , petrochemical hubs).
• Use more advanced ways for the operating logistics in Upper
Egypt (Nile & Train) in order to reduce the costs.
• Provide more support to the private sector in terms of financial
and logistical support particularly for medium enterprises.
• Provide more support to small enterprises in the form of free
land areas as well as long-term loans with lower interest
rates.