Egypt has unveiled an integrated government plan to strengthen its pharmaceutical and ready-made garments industries, as authorities seek to raise exports, deepen local manufacturing and enhance competitiveness in global markets.
The initiative follows two high-level meetings bringing together the ministers of investment and foreign trade, industry and labour with leading manufacturers and export councils in both sectors. Officials described the coordinated effort as part of a broader strategy to expand industrial output and reduce reliance on imports.
At talks focused on pharmaceuticals, Industry Minister Khaled Hashem and Investment and Foreign Trade Minister Mohamed Farid Saleh met representatives of drug manufacturers and the Export Council for Medical and Pharmaceutical Industries. Officials from the Sovereign Fund of Egypt, the Egyptian Drug Authority and the Financial Regulatory Authority also attended.
Discussions centred on drafting an executive roadmap to localise production, increase the domestic component in drug manufacturing and integrate scientific research into industrial processes. Authorities said expanding into new export markets particularly in Africa would be key to sustaining long-term growth.
Hashem said the government would link manufacturers more closely with universities and research centres to accelerate drug development and adoption of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence. He added that the ministry was enhancing technical support programmes to upgrade existing factories and ensure compliance with international quality standards and foreign registration requirements.
Farid described medical industries as a strategic pillar of Egypt’s export ambitions. He said the government would activate financing tools and investment incentives to support companies seeking to expand abroad. Reducing dependence on imported pharmaceutical raw materials and attracting investment in biotechnology were among the top priorities, he added.
Egypt’s pharmaceutical industry plays a dual role in supplying the domestic market and generating export revenues. Officials say strengthening local production capacity will improve drug security while increasing foreign currency earnings.
In a parallel meeting, the three ministers engaged with members of the Export Council for Ready-Made Garments to address competitiveness challenges facing the textiles and apparel sector. Representatives from six government bodies, including the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones and the General Organization for Export and Import Control, participated.
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Talks focused on developing financing mechanisms, upgrading production technology and expanding workforce training programmes. Officials said improving operational systems and stabilising production processes were essential to enhancing product quality and meeting international buyer standards.
Farid stressed the importance of specialised training to align the workforce with evolving global manufacturing trends. He added that the export rebate programme would continue, linked to performance indicators to incentivise companies to increase overseas sales.
Hashem said garments remain one of Egypt’s most competitive industries, benefiting from established partnerships with major international brands. He highlighted the ministry’s regular allocation of industrial land through the Digital Egypt Industrial Platform, noting that the latest offering includes 1,272 plots across 35 industrial zones in 23 governorates, with significant allocations in Upper Egypt to promote regional development.
Labour Minister Hassan Raddad addressed concerns raised by exporters regarding working hours, minimum wages and foreign labour permits. He pledged to improve the business environment while maintaining balanced labour relations and job security.
Exporters welcomed the government’s engagement but called for further support, including more flexible energy pricing, streamlined customs procedures and greater investment in smart manufacturing solutions to improve productivity and strengthen supply chains.
The twin initiatives reflect Cairo’s broader push to raise industrial exports and attract investment as it seeks to bolster foreign currency inflows and position Egypt as a regional manufacturing hub.
