Mahmoud Bazan ,Sets a Strategy for Sustainable Growth and Expansion into New Markets
Chairman of the Egyptian Export Council for Food Industries: Training programs launched to build a new generation of exporters
Food industry exports reach USD 6.3 billion in the first 11 months of 2025, marking a 13% increase over 2024,
The Egyptian Export Council for Food Industries (FEC) has developed a comprehensive strategy to advance the sector’s exports in a sustainable and competitive manner. This strategy is built on three core pillars: deepening presence in existing markets, opening new markets, and increasing the share of high value-added products.
Mahmoud Bazan, Chairman of the Egyptian Export Council for Food Industries, stated that the sector achieved unprecedented growth during the first 11 months of 2025, with export value reaching USD 6.339 billion, compared to USD 5.632 billion during the same period in 2024—representing a growth rate of 13%. He noted that the processed food sector ranks as Egypt’s third-largest export sector, accounting for 14% of total non-petroleum exports.
Bazan explained that this strong performance was driven by increased export volumes and diversification of both markets and products, despite the significant challenges faced by the sector throughout the year. These challenges included rising shipping, logistics, and insurance costs; stricter external market requirements related to food safety; financing constraints; increased local production costs; and geopolitical developments affecting global supply chains. Nevertheless, the sector succeeded in maintaining solid growth in line with the Council’s medium-term objectives.
He emphasized that the Council aims to sustain this momentum and move closer to achieving annual growth of 12%-15% The strategy focuses on increasing the share of Egyptian products in existing markets, prioritizing high value-added products, and expanding into promising new destinations—particularly in Africa, Arab countries, and selected Asian and European markets—while leveraging international trade agreements that grant Egyptian products competitive advantages.
Bazan added that the Council is working to enhance the competitiveness of Egyptian food products by ensuring compliance with international standards and specifications, improving supply chain efficiency and packaging quality, and supporting companies in product development to meet the requirements of target markets.
He also highlighted the importance of expanding the exporter base to better reflect the true size and diversity of the Egyptian food industry. In this context, the Council is implementing awareness campaigns to introduce its role and services to companies in governorates and industrial zones outside Greater Cairo. In parallel, the Council organizes training programs and workshops for companies that have not yet entered export markets, helping them understand market requirements and build export readiness. These efforts are supported by simplified membership procedures and technical support packages for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), including low-cost participation in exhibitions and trade missions, enabling them to gain first-hand market insights and understand consumer trends and competitive dynamics.
Bazan explained that the Council facilitates the export process by offering a wide range of support services through a network of registered service providers, including banks, shipping companies, inspection and quality assurance firms, trademark registration services, and others. Through these partnerships, member companies benefit from exclusive services under preferential terms.
In 2026, the Food Export Council entered into a strategic partnership with Commercial International Bank (CIB). As a partner bank, CIB provides exporters with tailored financial solutions, trade advisory services, and advanced digital tools designed to enhance global competitiveness. This collaboration brings together CIB’s banking expertise and international reach with the Council’s deep sectoral knowledge and extensive exporter network, creating an integrated ecosystem that strengthens Egypt’s position in highly competitive global food markets.
Successful entry into new markets alongside increased market share in existing ones
Bazan noted that the Council implemented a broad range of activities over the past year to support its members and expand export opportunities. These included participation with a unified Egyptian pavilion in major international exhibitions such as Gulfood Dubai, Fancy Food New York, IFE London, FOODEX Japan, APAS Brazil, WorldFood Istanbul, WorldFood Moscow, Indusfood India, and Anuga Germany. He stressed that such exhibitions play a vital role in showcasing Egyptian products and strengthening international trade relations.
In addition, over the past few years, the Council has organized several trade missions to key target markets in cooperation with the Egyptian Commercial Representation Service and local consultants. These missions facilitated direct meetings between Egyptian exporters and major international importers and distributors. Recent missions covered markets such as Iraq, Kenya, South Africa, Morocco, Algeria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Côte d’Ivoire—the latter receiving particularly positive feedback from participating companies. The Council also hosted international buyers’ delegations from key markets during the Food Africa exhibition, in cooperation with the Egyptian Exhibitions and Convention Authority (EECA).
Bazan further explained that the Council organized specialized seminars and workshops addressing health and technical requirements, export financing, e-commerce, and global supply chain standards, in cooperation with relevant government entities. These initiatives aim to provide accurate and practical information that strengthens exporters’ capabilities. He emphasized the importance of regularly providing members with market intelligence reports, export opportunity analyses, and updates on market access requirements, in addition to responding promptly to companies’ inquiries.
Read also: Egypt Participates with Over 175 Food Companies in Gulfood 2026
On another front, the Council has been actively engaging with a wide range of organizations, development partners, donors, and governmental entities on the topic of green transformation, which represents a critical priority for the future of food exports. Several initiatives have been undertaken focusing on key areas such as green finance, carbon footprint measurement, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), due diligence requirements, new supplier regulations, and other related developments.
In this context, the Food Export Council has organized numerous roundtables, training programs, and awareness webinars in close cooperation with all relevant stakeholders. These efforts reflect the Council’s recognition that green transformation is one of the most pressing issues Egyptian food exporters must thoroughly understand, continuously monitor, and proactively adapt to.
Bazan added that Egyptian food industries successfully entered several new markets during the past year, particularly in West and East Africa, parts of Asia, and specialized European markets for value-added products. He stressed that the Council’s approach goes beyond initial market entry, focusing instead on sustainability and expanding market share through long-term partnerships with importers and distributors.
Finally, Bazan affirmed the success of the Council—working in close cooperation with the National Food Safety Authority—in reopening fish exports to the European Union after a suspension of more than three years, following full compliance with EU requirements. He noted that the Council is also developing fish exports to key markets including China, the United States, Russia, and Saudi Arabia. This progress follows the establishment of a specialized fish processing committee within the Council, which has played a pivotal role in upgrading the sector and ensuring compliance with the highest international standards.
In closing, Chairman Mahmoud Bazan extended his sincere appreciation to the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade for its continued support, as well as to all stakeholders, partners, and contributors across the export ecosystem. He also expressed his deep gratitude to the members of the Food Export Council, the Board of Directors, and the Executive Office for their dedication, valuable input, and collective efforts, which continue to drive the sustainable growth and global success of Egyptian food exports.
