Temporary permits to be granted for non-licensed factories

CAIRO – 20 September 2017: The Ministry of Industry decided Wednesday to grant temporary working permits for the non-licensed industrial facilities for one year, which will start on the day of publishing the decision in the official gazette, Industry Minister Tarek Kabil said on Wednesday.

Kabil added that the decision activates the new Industrial Permits Act and targets legalizing the non-licensed industrial facilities in line with the law and its regulations.

Integrating the informal factories to the formal system is one of the law’s most important goals, as these factories are a part of the Egyptian industrial structure, Kabil said.

In order to obtain the permit, the industrial activity shall not be established in an area where the activity is banned as per the laws and decisions in force.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry has issued the executive regulations of the New Industrial Permits Act on August 13, which targets facilitating procedures of starting an industrial business and encourages the integration between the unofficial and official economy.

Earlier, Kabil explained that 80 percent of the projects will be granted licenses upon notifications, while 20 percent will have to wait for the approval of the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) due to being categorized as “risky” industries.