Egypt's Minister of Industry Khaled Hashem held an expanded meeting with Mohamed El-Sewedy, chairperson of the Federation of Egyptian Industries, and members of the Handicrafts Chamber led by Mohamed Sakr, to discuss ways to develop handicrafts and heritage industries and improve their global competitiveness.
Participants in the meeting reviewed key challenges facing the sector, including limited availability of production inputs, high customs duties, lack of formalization among many artisans and workshop owners, licensing complexities, and a shortage of qualified trainers in traditional crafts.
They also emphasized the need to expand participation in exhibitions, strengthen the sector's presence in retail outlets at airports and museums, establish a permanent handicrafts exhibition, and improve access to financing.
Hashem reaffirmed the government's commitment to developing handicrafts and heritage industries, describing them as a vital part of Egypt's national identity with significant social and cultural value. He said the ministry aims to support and expand craft clusters across all governorates through technical assistance, skill enhancement, and knowledge transfer to sustain traditional professions, while upgrading training to align with global design trends to boost exports.
The minister highlighted the “Productive Villages” initiative as a key opportunity within the ministry's strategy for balanced industrial development, aimed at curbing irregular migration through small workshops, concessional financing, and integration with factories via a national industrial map. He directed the chamber to submit a comprehensive report on required inputs, licensing issues, and target exhibitions and museums.
El-Sewedy emphasized the Handicrafts Chamber's role as one of the largest employers in rural areas and a major user of recycled materials, noting Egyptian handicrafts' strong potential to compete with imports due to their unique cultural identity.