Official sources at the Ministry of Industry said the government may cancel the decision of the Minister of Agriculture to stop the import of cotton, fearing that importers, especially in the European Union, would in return apply restrictions on Egyptian goods.
The sources added that the decision was taken singlehandedly by the minister, and that producers of textiles and garments have objected to it.
Shady Ahmed of the Supreme Council for Textile Industries said he had been asked by the Minister of Industry to submit an urgent memorandum about the negative repercussions of the decision.
Saeed Ahmed of the Export Council called for a mechanism to expand the cultivation of short staple cotton, as the demand for long staple cotton in international markets has declined considerably.
“The decision was taken without consulting with the Ministry of Industry, the Federation of Industries, the Export Council and the producers,” he said. “It will negatively affect Egyptian exports.”
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
