Rachid on Egypt’s economy

Rachid Mohamed Rachid, the minister of trade and industry, joins Riz [EPA]

With an estimated 20 per cent of its population living below the poverty line, Egypt is not the first country that comes to mind when you think of economic progress and reform – especially with the state of the global marketplace.

But despite political challenges, issues of transparency and corruption, the country is making significant progress as it works to open its doors to international trade and investment.

Today, more than 300 Turkish companies are operating in Egypt’s textile sector, General Motors has expanded its operations and the country is following in India’s footsteps by seeking to become a technology outsourcing centre.

On Thursday’s Riz Khan, a key member of Egypt’s economic team, Rachid Mohamed Rachid, the minister of trade and industry, joins the programme. Rachid is specifically charged with liberalising the country’s industrial sector, attracting foreign direct investment and creating jobs.

We will ask him about the challenges Egypt is facing, what it plans to do about unemployment and how the country is moving forward.

Watch this episode of the Riz Khan Show on YouTube

Watch this episode of Riz Khan’s Street Talk on YouTube

This episode of Riz Khan aired on Thursday, February 21, 2008

You can watch Riz at 1900GMT, with repeats at 0030GMT, 0530GMT, and 1000GMT.

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