The Egyptian companies that participated in the first China International import Expo, especially in the field of agricultural crops and food industries, succeeded in expanding new opportunities for export to the Chinese market through successful new partners, said Mohsin El Beltagy, head of the Horticultural Export Improvement Association (HEIA).

Thirty-eight Egyptian companies in the field of food, textile, and medical instruments participated in the first China International import Expo, which took place in Shanghai, China, from 5 to 10 November, among 140 other countries seeking to enter the Chinese market. 

"The Chinese market is promising and open to Egyptian products, especially after China imposed customs duties on US products. The exhibition saw a major presence of Egyptian companies in a bid to get a bigger share of the Chinese market and expand its exports," El Beltagy said.

He revealed that the association is currently working with the Chinese side to complete the initial export of Egyptian dates to China, to enable Egypt to become the first country to be allowed to export dates to China.

El Beltagy said the HEIA has cooperated with the Chinese side on this file for over 25 months and is expected to sign the agricultural protocol, which will allow Egypt to export dates in January. 
The HEIA held a meeting with the Chinese Association of Fruit and Vegetable importers in Beijing during the exhibition to study cooperation between the two sides, noting that oranges will be the second commodity that the HEIA exports to China.

Citrus, grapes, potatoes, pomegranates, and onions are all Egyptian products that are competitive and can enter the Egyptian market, El Beltagy said, referring to the current cooperation between the Egyptian and Chinese agricultural quarantine authorities, and the commercial office in Beijing, to facilitate the export of these products to the Chinese market.

"Global conditions are in Egypts interest and facilitate its mission to raid the Chinese market with the weight of the Egyptian products over other American and European products," according to El Beltagy.