Egypt Trade Facilitation Project, 2011-2014

Under this three-year, $14 million USAID project, Nathan Associates renews its involvement in Egypt at a pivotal juncture in the country’s development and relationship with the United States.  The purpose of the project is to support the strategic economic partnership agreement between the United States and Egypt, signed in May 2009, and improve the environment for trade at the border and within Egypt.

To select and execute activities, TFP will work with the ministries of Industry and Foreign Trade, Finance, and Social Solidarity.  Project counterparts in the Government of Egypt include the General Organization for Export and Import Control, the Egyptian Customs Authority, the Internal Trade Development Authority, and the Foreign Trade Sector. Activities will be designed to produce concrete, timely results that boost the country’s trade competitiveness and domestic economy.  Our experts will provide technical advice and training in two areas of reform:

• At the border. Activities will aim to improve executive regulations governing exports and imports, establish a coordinated risk management system for imports, simplify Egypt’s mandatory standards, conclude customs reforms, support reduction in nontariff measures, and improve the enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR) at borders, and strengthen public-private dialogue.
• Behind the border. To strengthen the domestic market, these activities will aim to improve the regulation of the distribution and retail sectors in order to attract investors and develop domestic value chains, to combat deceptive advertising, to strengthen the food safety system, to improve the application and enforcement of IPR systems, and to improve environmentally sustainable production.

TFP is led by Chief of Party John Varley and Deputy Chief of Party Jaleen Moroney. Nathan Associates is the first contractor to be awarded a project in the Mission’s economic growth portfolio since Egypt’s revolution.