The government is moving to expand participation in the Qualifying Industrial Zones (QIZ) agreement, just as talks begin to reduce the required Israeli component under the framework, a source familiar with the matter tells EnterpriseAM. The push comes at a pivotal moment for Egyptian exporters, who are seeking to seize fresh openings created by the latest shifts in US protectionist trade policies under US President Donald Trump.

Other countries’ loss is Egyptian exporters’ gain: Egyptian exports routed through the QIZ continue to enjoy zero customs duties, even under Washington’s new tariff regime, giving local producers a clear edge over competitors facing steeper barriers, Magdy Tolba, a member of the Apparel Export Council of Egypt (AECEG), tells us. While rivals like Bangladesh and Turkey grapple with higher US import duties, Egyptian goods are entering the market unscathed.

Yet, the agreement’s potential remains largely untapped. Participation has plummeted since the QIZ was launched in 2004, dropping from around 700 active companies to between 150 and 200 today. To entice manufacturers back into the fold, officials have opened talks to aggressively trim the Israeli component — currently at 10.5% — down to a sliding scale of 5-8%. Tolba tells us that after several rounds of talks, Egypt has secured a preliminary nod to begin a phased reduction of the threshold. If finalized, the move would significantly lower the entry barrier for local factories looking to hitch their wagons to the QIZ and capitalize on the shifting US trade environment.

While the QIZ is currently dominated by ready-made garments, there is a strategic push to include other sectors that could benefit from zero tariffs, such as glassware and sports footwear, among other products.

By the numbers: QIZ exports were up 12% last year, reaching USD 1.33 bn, up from USD 1.19 bn in 2024, according to RMGEC data. The council is now setting its sights on a USD 2 bn target for QIZ-linked exports this year, which would account for a significant chunk of its USD 5 bn total export goal for 2026, a government official tells us.

While current growth is promising, Tolba argues the agreement remains “drastically underutilized” compared to its true potential. He suggests that if the government successfully diversifies the product mix and secures lower component ratios, QIZ exports could realistically jump to as much as USD 15 bn annually. “If we secure a reduction in the Israeli component and diversify our [product categories], we will have a golden [window] in the US market under the new tariffs — and that is exactly what we are aiming for this year,” Tolba tells us.

Rising overheads in neighboring markets are also fueling a wave of industrial relocations that are directly benefiting the Egyptian manufacturing base. Spiking inflation and a rising minimum wage in Turkey have pushed at least four major Turkish garment giants, alongside a cluster of SMEs, to move their operations to Egypt, according to Tolba. This influx is about more than just volume — these firms are bringing advanced manufacturing technologies that are expected to significantly upmarket the quality of Made in Egypt products for the global stage.

This global uncertainty has also forced local exporters to get creative with their hedging strategies. Tolba tells us the current uncertainty has prompted exports to markets including Turkey and Japan as a form of hedging, but argues that Egypt has a bigger opening if it revisits its agreements and brings the business community into shaping the next phase of export-oriented manufacturing.

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