Rashid in his meeting with the heads of the export councils: Government is ready to provide support to the various productive sectors.

Eng. Rashid Mohamed Rashid (Minister of Trade and Industry) has discussed in his meeting with heads of export councils the plan that was prepared by the ministry to double the Egyptian exports reaching it to 200 billion pounds during the next four years.

Mr. Rashid said that this plan depends on increasing the competitiveness and production capacity, increasing the product quality and enhancing the local manufacturing with reducing the profits margin stressing that the government is ready to provide support to various production sectors to help them to overcome the effects of the economic crisis and continue to provide new jobs and increase exports referring that the reports issued by institutions and international bodies recently had emphasized the need to continue in the governmental stimulating programs that guide the economic sectors, especially trade and industry, so that they can overcome the economic recession risks that might result from the global financial crisis.

Mr. Ahmed Nazif (Prime Minister) will meet today with the heads of exports councils to review the plans of these councils during the next four years and the objectives of these councils in increasing the exports and provide more job opportunities especially in upper Egypt pointing out that increasing the local manufacturing and reducing the importation of product that can be manufactured locally become an urgent need to promote local industry and provide more job opportunities.

Mr. Rashid reviewed the reports of the performance of those councils in the past two years and said that most of them achieved the goals required.

On the other hand, the heads of export councils demanded the need to provide funding for new projects and development of garment industry in upper Egypt and lift the restrictions on the importation of the cotton.