Egyptian minister meets members of free trade associations

Investment Minister Ashraf Salman met with chiefs and members of a number of free trade investors' associations on Thursday in the presence of acting chairman of the General Authority for Investment Alaa Omar and ministry officials.

Several provisions governing free trade zones are being revised and new ones will be drafted to preserve the rights of workers in projects established in free trade zones, the minister has said.

Nearly 200,000 people are working in public and private free trade zones in the country, which provide a huge portion of Egyptian exports, thus earning hard currency for the national economy, Salman pointed out.

The government is giving special attention to reform the legislative framework for investment, he said.

The ministry is studying the possibility of establishing a new free trade zone and expanding existing ones.