Mohamed Habib

USAID Trade Reform & Development in Egypt (TRADE) Project

Trade Reform and Development in Egypt (TRADE) Activity is a five-year project (2021-2026) funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), as part of the bilateral agreement between the Government of Egypt (GoE) and the United States. USAID TRADE project, which is implemented by Palladium International, aims to increase Egypt's international trade by boosting exports from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the activity's target sectors, with a goal to help increase exports in selected sectors by at least 10% annually. The project's Theory of Change is that if competitiveness is enhanced through targeted technical assistance (TA) to New and Expanding Export-Ready Enterprises (NEEREs) and commercially sustainable business models, quality and relevance of trade support services to exporters are increased, and barriers to trade and investment are removed, USAID TRADE will not only catalyze a short-term increase in exports, but develop an ecosystem that supports inclusive, sustained growth for years. USAID TRADE focuses on the following selected sectors:  Engineering Products,  Food Processing,  Home textiles,  Ready Made Garments, and  Chemicals and Building Materials. RESULTS • Result 1: Enhanced export capacity of SMEs, particularly New and Expanding Export-Ready Enterprises (NEEREs) in selected sectors. Target: By the end of the TRADE Activity, generate USD225M in NEERE export revenue in selected sectors, collectively. • Result 2: Strengthened Public and Private Trade-Support Institutions - TSIs (e.g., trade associations, Export Councils, etc.). Target: By the end of the Activity, help increase export revenue of TSI member companies benefiting from improved TSI services, collectively, by 30%. • Result 3: Improved trade and investment policy, regulatory and institutional environment. Target: By the end of the TRADE Activity, help reduce cost to import (Documentary Compliance according to the World Bank's Doing Business Survey) by 60%.