The Production Transformation Policy Review (PTPR) of Egypt: Spotlight on the AfCFTA and Industrialisation, was co-ordinated by the OECD Development Centre. It benefited from collaboration with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). The process and report came together under the strategic guidance of Annalisa Primi, Head of the Economic Transformation and Development Division of the OECD Development Centre. Manuel Toselli was the project co-ordinator and Vasiliki Mavroeidi the main analyst. Nicholas Frank (Australian National University) and Temwa Gondwe (Afreximbank) contributed to the drafting. The report benefited from valuable comments and inputs from Stephen Karingi (ECA), Lily Sommer (ITC), Mariarosa Lunati and Martin Wermelinger (OECD), as well as Arthur Minsat, Lorenzo Pavone, Bakary Traoré and Elisa Saint Martin (OECD Development Centre). Eugenia Klimenka provided valuable administrative support. Delphine Grandrieux and Elizabeth Nash co-ordinated the publication process, to which Aida Buendía and Irit Perry also contributed.
The PTPR of Egypt Spotlight was implemented at the request of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) of Egypt and carried out in co-operation with the Economic and Commercial Service (ECS). Throughout the entire process, the authors relied on the knowledge, experience and support of the two administrations. They are immensely grateful to H.E. Ahmed Saleh, Minister of Trade and Industry of Egypt, for his support to the project’s finalisation and to Nevine Gamea, former Minister of Trade and Industry, for her leadership in the project and for facilitating the participation of Egyptian authorities. The authors thank Nermine Abulata, Advisor to the Minister of Trade and Industry, for her support and guidance during the whole process. The authors would also like to thank Ahmed Maghawry, Chairman, Egyptian Commercial Services (ECS) at MTI, for his co-operation and insights, as well as Noha Shetayya and Aly Pasha for co‑ordination. The Egyptian diplomatic authorities in France played an essential role in the effective implementation of the project and communication with local counterparts. We are thankful to the Ambassador of Egypt to France, H.E. Alaa Youssef for supporting the project. We are also grateful to Sayed Fouad, Minister Plenipotentiary and Head of the Egyptian economic and commercial office for his support. Mostafa Safwat, Second Secretary and Ahmed Shafie, Third Secretary, helped to ensure smooth co-operation.
Peer learning and knowledge sharing are at the heart of the PTPR Spotlight on Egypt. The report was shaped and enriched by contributions from international peers actively participating in the following events:
“Unleashing the potential of AfCFTA: Where do we stand and what’s next?” (Government-Business Roundtable, October 2021): Amany Asfour (African Business Council), John Bosco Kalisa (East Africa Business Council), Yusuf Daya (Afreximbank), Kebour Ghenna (Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Stephen Karingi (ECA), Michael Kottoh (AfroChampions Initiative), Ahmed Maghawry (Egyptian Commercial Services) and Mohamed Salem (SICO).
“Harnessing regional integration for industrialisation: lessons from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean” (Global Peer Dialogue in the framework of the 17th Plenary Meetings of the OECD Initiative on Global Value Chains, Production Transformation and Development, November 2021): Ahmad Zafarullah Abdul Jalil (Director, ASEAN Secretariat), Sergio Abreu Bonilla (ALADI), Mariella Amemiya Siu (Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Peru), Carlos Márcio Cozendey (Ambassador, Delegate of Brazil to International Economic Organizations in Paris), Patrick Ndzana Olomo (African Union Commission), Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria (APEC Secretariat) and Alaa Youssef (Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to France).
Three Transformation Talks (T-talks) on strengthening the continent’s healthcare industrial system, unleashing its potential in renewable energies and making logistics work for an integrated Africa (November 2021 to January 2022): Ahmed Badr (IRENA), Kirti Narsai (HeathValue Consulting), Kagure Wamunyu (Kobo360) and Kandeh Yumkella (The Energy Nexus Network).
The PTPR of Egypt: Spotlight on the AfCFTA and Industrialisation would not have been possible without the financial contribution from the Afreximbank. We are thankful for its Intra-African Trade Initiative team’s support throughout the process: Gainmore Zanamwe and Temwa Gondwe, Senior Managers, and Sandra Achaia, Team Support.