WTO delegation to visit Egypt this week, says trade minister

CAIRO – 7 April 2017: A high-level delegation from the World Trade Organization (WTO) will visit Cairo this week to review Egypt’s trade, economic and investment policies in recent years, Minister of Trade and Industry Tarek Kabil said in a Friday statement.

Members of the delegation are scheduled to hold three-day meetings with officials from all Egyptian ministries and bodies concerned in order to be briefed on the measures and laws adopted by the government as part of its economic policies over recent years, the statement added.

The minister said they will also be acquainted with the government’s economic and social program in the coming period.

Kabil pointed out the importance of this review to reassure Cairo’s commitments within the framework of the WTO agreements and to illustrate the impact of Egypt’s trade policies on the multilateral trading system.

The mechanism of review is important; it has a role in enhancing transparency and raising the awareness of WTO members about the policies and trade measures adopted by Egypt in line with its economic and social program, he said.

The minister noted that the review is undertaken periodically in all the WTO member states.

Meanwhile, the minister emphasized that the government is keen to offer the economic and investment policies it is going to adopt through its various economic sectors.

Egypt joined the WTO on June 30, 1995, the same year the international organization began.

The WTO’s target is to help governments negotiate trade agreements and settle any trade disputes, with the organization operating a system of trade rules.