Trade min., ILO delegation discuss sustaining competitiveness of firms

CAIRO - 2 August 2018: Trade and Industry Minister Amr Nassar had talks Thursday with a visiting delegation of the International Labor Organization (ILO), led by Karen Curtis, on boosting bilateral cooperation in sustaining competitiveness of firms.

During their expanded session of talks, the two sides discussed developing ILO programs in Egypt, as well as the future of cooperation between the Egyptian government and the ILO.

In a statement, the minister said that the meeting focused on means of beefing up Egypt's exports, as well as creating conducive investment climate and decent job opportunities for youth in the country.

Nassar voiced his great confidence in ILO programs in Egypt that played a major role in promoting economic development.

He further noted that Egypt is applying the ILO's Better Work Program, adding that conducted evaluations found that 90% of the ILO program was completed in the country, a matter that reflected all-out efforts exerted by the Egyptian government on this score.

The ILO programs include Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE) training, which is a practical training and in-factory counselling program that improves productivity and working conditions in small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

According to a report posted on the website of the United Nations agency dealing with labor problems, particularly international labor standards, social protection and work opportunities, SCORE is assisting governments, industry associations and trade unions in Africa, Asia and Latin America to develop export and domestic industrial sectors, with a particular focus on competitiveness and decent work in small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The report noted that outside the program, ten additional countries have piloted or rolled out SCORE Training as part of other programs or national initiatives: Egypt, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya, Maldives, Myanmar, Paraguay, Peru, Sri Lanka and Turkey. This demand provides evidence that SCORE Training is increasingly recognized as an effective tool for SME development, it stressed. (MENA)