Egypt’s Packaging Sector Expands with US Trade Mission
Sarah Ibrahim, CEO of the Egypt Export Council for Printing and Packaging, announced that the council will organize a trade delegation in the packaging sector to the United States next November. This initiative aims to open the market for Egyptian products following its success in the Algerian market, aligning with the council’s strategy to increase exports and explore new markets.
This announcement was made during the third edition of the Green Business Conference and Exhibition, organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and funded by the Swiss government. The event, held over two days in Luxor, was in cooperation with the Ministry of Trade and Industry and saw participation from 100 SMEs focused on the green economy.
Sarah Ibrahim highlighted the role of sustainable packaging in reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption within the supply chain. She explained that companies could decrease the weight and size of packages by improving packaging designs and materials, thereby reducing transportation-related emissions.
The council is committed to supporting companies in the packaging sector to adopt sustainable packaging practices in response to global trends toward a green economy, sustainable development, and carbon emission reduction. She noted that obtaining ISO certificates and global conformity certificates is costly but necessary for equipping companies.
“We collaborate with the Export Council for Food Industries on trade missions to understand the latest export market requirements. We work closely with the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of International Cooperation to coordinate with donors for developmental processes,” she added.
Ibrahim emphasized the crucial role of the packaging sector, which intersects with all export industries and products, both directly through cardboard products and indirectly through packaging materials for agricultural or industrial goods. She stressed the importance of innovation and the use of recyclable, biodegradable, or compostable materials in packaging, as traditional materials like plastic and foam can take hundreds of years to decompose. The European Union, Egypt’s primary trade partner, is setting stringent standards for reducing carbon emissions.
Furthermore, she noted that the number of exporting companies in the sector has reached 300. Exports in the printing and packaging sector increased by approximately 12% from January to April this year, reaching about $313 million compared to the same period last year, with Libya, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan being the top importing markets.
