What: A preview of a new business survey looks at ways to grow regional trade under the Agadir agreement, as upstart textile companies display their fashions at the Destination Africa trade fair
When: 09.30-17:00 (GMT+2), Monday 21 November
Where: Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski Cairo
Speakers:
• Matthias Knappe – Head of Fibres, Textiles and Clothing at ITC
• Yasmine Helal, GTEX/MENATEX National Project Coordinator in Egypt
• Potential interviews with the region’s most promising fashion and textile makers
In an ongoing survey, the International Trade Centre (ITC) is talking to businesses across the Agadir free trade area. A sneak peek at the early findings point to specific steps recommended by businesses themselves to improve cooperation, ease restrictions, and grow trade among Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia. Countries of the Agadir agreement have excellent trade potential, if they cooperate more.
A one-day workshop on Monday, 21 November, will unpack the survey, while giving businesses powerful, free data tools to find new markets for their products.
Throughout the day, 30 participants from the four countries including the donors Switzerland and Sweden will look at the challenges and opportunities, with recommendations on how to develop a joint approach to promote North Africa as a supplier of clothing and textiles.
ITC will also offer training on how to use its powerful Market Analysis Tools, which can help small businesses discover what products are most likely to sell well. Among these tools, the newly upgraded version of the Euromed Trade Helpdesk pulls data from 10 Mediterranean countries – giving small businesses free access to the kind of data normally available only to large corporates.
The workshop takes place under ITC’s Global Textile and Clothing Programme in the Middle East and North Africa (GTEX/MENATEX). The programme is bringing to Cairo a group of ministry representatives and business support institutions from Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia.
