United States Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel

From USA-ITA OFF THE CUFF, February 2012 (Volume 3, Issue 2)

On January 19^th, USA-ITA President Julie Hughes and a number of USA-ITA member companies joined Dr. Mahmoud Eisa, Egypt’s Minister of Industry and Foreign Trade, for lunch in New York City.  

The Minister was visiting the United States to meet with the Obama Administration, and used the opportunity to also meet key U.S. apparel brands and retailers and connect them with Egypt’s apparel producers. Hosted in conjunction with the Ready Made Garments Export Council of Egypt, the lunch included a number of major Egyptian apparel producers, as well as representatives from USA-ITA member companies including American Eagle Outfitters, The Jones Group, PVH, Ralph Lauren Corporation, Urban Outfitters, and Warnaco. Gail Strickler, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Textiles (and confirmed speaker at our February 16^th seminar) also joined the lunch.

In his remarks, Dr. Eisa discussed “possible means of cooperation so as to boost our mutual commercial relations in the textiles and clothing sector, which is considered the backbone of [Egypt’s] exports to the U.S. market.” He also noted developments since Egypt’s revolution one year ago, including the recent parliamentary elections and the expected completion of the constitution and presidential elections in June 2012. Dr. Eisa also provided details on Egypt’s commitment to a free market, as well as details on the country’s capabilities in the textile and apparel sector.

Mohamed Kassem of the Ready Made Garments Export Council talked about the business climate in Egypt today, and suggested that USA-ITA and the Council could work together to share information. One new idea is for a delegation of USA-ITA member companies to travel to Egypt and get a first-hand look at the commercial recovery.

Dr. Eisa's remarks are below.