Egypt's private food sector, led by the Specialized Food Division of the Food Industries Chamber, is targeting $1 billion in exports by 2030. According to Dr. Adel Ismail, head of the division, the sector has significant growth potential, with opportunities to increase local production, reduce reliance on imports, and establish Egypt as a regional hub for food manufacturing and distribution.
The division's growth strategy involves developing regulatory frameworks and exploring non-traditional solutions to drive growth in the sector. Dr. Ismail emphasized the need for a clear regulatory framework for the circulation of food supplements, particularly regarding sales and distribution channels, to ensure a balance between market regulation and sector growth.
The Egyptian government has made progress in recent years in improving the performance of the National Authority for Food Safety, according to Mohamed Anwar, a member of the Specialized Food Division. However, he noted that challenges persist, including issues related to customs procedures, inspection, and control, which can impact the speed of customs clearance for food supplement shipments.
To address these challenges, the division is working to develop a comprehensive vision for sector growth, including increasing investments, production capacity, and local manufacturing, as well as opening up new export markets. This vision is expected to support Egypt's goal of becoming a regional hub for food manufacturing and export.
The National Authority for Food Safety and the Egyptian General Authority for Standards and Quality have expressed their commitment to addressing the challenges facing the sector, including issues related to analysis and delays in ports. They have also emphasized the importance of building human capacity to enhance flexibility and speed in dealing with sector-related files and challenges.
The Specialized Food Division is set to prepare a comprehensive paper outlining the challenges facing the sector, its current status, and available opportunities, supported by company data. This paper will be presented to the Chamber's management and discussed with government agencies and officials to support sector growth.
Key stakeholders, including representatives from the National Authority for Food Safety and the Egyptian General Authority for Standards and Quality, have expressed their support for the sector's growth strategy. They have also highlighted the importance of collaboration and coordination among various stakeholders to drive growth and address challenges in the sector.
Key points
- The private food sector aims to increase exports to $1 billion by 2030.
- Egypt seeks to establish itself as a regional hub for food manufacturing and distribution.
- The sector faces challenges related to regulatory frameworks, customs procedures, and inspection and control.
