The Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Environment have signed a cooperation protocol to facilitate licensing procedures of industrial establishments with full commitment to environment requirements.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry was represented by the Industrial Development Authority (IDA), while the Ministry of Environment was represented by the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAE) at the signing.
Minister of Trade and Industry Nevine Gamea said the agreement, which will last for three years, aims to achieve further cooperation and coordination between the two ministries.
It will see them set controls to unify efforts to facilitate procedures for granting licenses to industrial establishments, and to stand on the extent to which industrial establishments subject to the provisions of the Law on Facilitating the Procedures for Granting Licenses to Industrial Establishments.
Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad said the protocol allows the IDA and EEAE to follow up on the current commitments of industrial establishments in implementing environmental requirements.
These have been mentioned in the Law on Facilitating the Procedures for Granting Licenses to Industrial Establishments and its executive regulations.
The protocol will also allow the entities to identify violations that may lead to serious environmental dangers, whilst giving them the mandate to take the necessary measures.
IDA Head Magdy Ghazi said the authority is responsible for granting licences to establish, manage, operate and expand industrial establishments, change their industrial purpose and change their location. The authority also defines all necessary conditions to start operations, as well as prove violations of provisions of the Law to Facilitate Procedures Granting Licenses to Industrial Establishments and its executive regulations.
Ghazi noted that with regard to industrial establishments subject to the prior licensing system, the IDA will send environmental impact assessment studies to the EEAA for their feedback.
