CAPMAS issues study on competitive advantages of exports, imports based on small industries

The Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) issued a study on competitive advantages of exports and imports according to the type of industries produced (micro, small, or medium) on Tuesday. The competitive advantage was calculated to identify the competitiveness of these commodities.

The study, entitled “Measuring Competitiveness of Exports based on Small Industries in the light of the Central Bank of Egypt Initiative,” found that 43% of exported goods have a competitive advantage, which is a clear export advantage. It means that there is a world competitive advantage for these exports. This percentage also represents the total of goods that are imported at a lower volume. These commodities need state support by opening new markets, and offering export incentives, tax cuts, etc., for about 284 industrial products.

The study added that 18% of exports are industrial goods with a competitive advantage, which are the total of the goods whose exporting volume is larger than imports’, noting that they need more support and export advantages to turn them into “goods with a specified feature”.

Meanwhile, the remaining 39% (equivalent to 262 goods) are industrial goods with no competitive advantage. These are the goods whose imports are greater than exports,representing a challenge for the industry sector.These goods need the state’s intervention to remove any obstacles until they become“goods with a specified feature”.

The study focused on the second and third results, noting that these challenges can be dealt over two stages:a short-term stage for the 18% category,and a long-term stage for the other category that has no competitive advantage.