Egyptian exports rise in early 1999

Nontraditional Egyptian exports increased in the first four months of 1999 by 15.5% over the same period last year.

"Improvement in oil prices have made a significant impact on the increase of traditional and nontraditional exports," said Alaa Khalil, Chief of the Trade Representation Agency.

"The overall value of exports shows an increase of roughly 9 per cent."

He said Egypt's membership in the COMESA (The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa) was an important factor in the increase, and added that Egyptian exports to Canada rose by 59.2%, exports to Argentina rose by 6.6% and exports to Brazil rose by 100.4%.

Among the Arab states, exports to Syria achieved an increase of 14.8%, to Libya 35.4%, to Tunisia 38.8%, to Morocco 26%, and to Iraq 38%.

Khalil said, "Some overseas trade representation offices have managed to introduce Egyptian products into the markets of the countries where they are operating for the first time," including, Egyptian palm oil, dried vegetables and cotton products that have been introduced to the Russian market.