CAIRO, May 6 (MENA) - Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli affirmed the state's strong commitment to supporting tourism by providing all necessary foundations to enhance, develop, and advance this vital industry.

This statement came during a meeting he held to review proposed measures for facilitating the registration and entry of global brands into the Egyptian market.

The meeting was attended by key officials including Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Hassan el Khatib, the head of the Egyptian Drug Authority, and other senior officials from the central bank, the customs, exports and food supply authorities, along with several major investors in the tourism sector.

Madbouli said that the purpose of the meeting was to examine the outcomes of the work of a task force led by the deputy prime minister, which focused on overcoming challenges related to the entry of global brands into Egypt, in response to investor demands, especially from the tourism sector, given the appeal of international brands to foreign tourists.

Abdel Ghaffar presented the main outcomes and recommendations from the task force’s work, highlighting specific proposals to address each challenge. These included exploring the adoption of global retail models, which have proven successful in Egypt and other international markets, adding value to the local economy and resonating with both residents and tourists.

Government spokesperson Mohamed el-Homsany stated that proposed measures include reducing tax and customs burdens on global brands. Suggestions also involved activating a tax refund system for tourists at major airports, promoting efforts to streamline customs clearance, and launching a unified online platform for brand registration and approvals.

Tourism investors agreed with the outlined challenges, particularly regarding customs procedures, and emphasized the importance of removing these barriers to boost shopping tourism. They also proposed establishing branded outlet centers in Egypt to attract locals and tourists alike, thereby supporting tourism and reducing the need for Egyptians to shop abroad.

The premier called for a comprehensive plan to address these challenges, including drawing up a “white list” of approved global brands to facilitate customs procedures as part of broader efforts to enhance Egypt's attractiveness to international businesses.
(MENA)
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