Egypt Exports Record Historic Leap Owing to Production Projects Support

Egyptian exports made a historic leap thanks to supporting production and export projects. (Reuters)
Egyptian exports made a historic leap thanks to supporting production and export projects. (Reuters)
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Egypt Exports Record Historic Leap Owing to Production Projects Support

Egyptian exports made a historic leap thanks to supporting production and export projects. (Reuters)
Egyptian exports made a historic leap thanks to supporting production and export projects. (Reuters)

The strategic steps taken by Egypt to develop its exports have manifested great success in raising the competitiveness of its products in global markets, a report by the cabinet’s Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC) indicated.

Egypt has maximized the benefit from bodies and entities concerned with production and export, bolstered cooperation with international companies, took advantage of the agreements signed with various countries and regional and global economic blocs, and adopted several measures to support the export sector, the center explained.

All these steps have supported Cairo’s steady steps and efforts towards diversifying and increasing its exports, as well as its ability to confront the repercussions of the pandemic.

Egypt’s foreign trade increased by 18.2 percent to $34.4 billion during the fiscal year (FY) 2020/21, compared to $29.1 billion in 2019/20, the report noted.

The trade deficit dropped 6.7 percent to $41.6 billion in FY 2020/21, compared to $44.6 billion in FY 2019/20.

The report pointed to a “significant leap” in the value of Egyptian exports during the first seven months, increasing by 35.5 percent to $22.5 billion, compared to $16.6 billion in the same period in 2020.

It named the top five countries that imported Egyptian products during FY 2020/21. At the top came Saudi Arabia by $2.2 billion, the UAE by $2.07 billion, the US by $2.02 billion, Turkey by $1.94 billion and India by $1.89 billion.

Saudi Arabia accounted for 6.4 percent of the total Egyptian exports, the UAE by 6 percent, the US by 5.9 percent, Turkey by 5.6 percent and India by 5.5 percent.

Egypt’s exports of aluminum powder and foil came in first place, followed by woven cotton, dried vegetables, roots and tubers, vegetables, sand and knitted fabrics.



Iraq Reopens Syria Crossing for Trade, Passenger Traffic

A general view shows the US Embassy as seen from across the Tigris River in Baghdad, Iraq, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad
A general view shows the US Embassy as seen from across the Tigris River in Baghdad, Iraq, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad
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Iraq Reopens Syria Crossing for Trade, Passenger Traffic

A general view shows the US Embassy as seen from across the Tigris River in Baghdad, Iraq, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad
A general view shows the US Embassy as seen from across the Tigris River in Baghdad, Iraq, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad

Iraq has officially reopened the Qaim border crossing with Syria for trade and passenger traffic, a spokesman for the Iraqi border authority said on Saturday, marking a key step in efforts to normalize relations and revive economic ties between the two countries.

“The Qaim crossing is now fully operational for both cargo trucks and civilian movement,” the spokesman told Reuters, adding that the reopening followed joint security assessments by Iraqi and Syrian officials.

The move comes three months after Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani visited Baghdad and urged Iraq to resume cross-border trade. The crossing had been shut in the wake of the revolt that toppled President Bashar al-Assad and the ensuing years of conflict that destabilized the region.

The reopening is also seen as a sign of warming ties between Baghdad and Syria’s new leadership under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has sought to re-establish diplomatic and economic relations with regional neighbors. Iraqi officials say the two governments have intensified coordination on border security and trade facilitation since al-Sharaa took office last year.

“This crossing will serve as a strategic corridor for commodity trade between Iraq and Syria,” said Turki al-Mahallawi, mayor of the town of al-Qaim, where the border post is located.