Indonesia's Ambassador to Egypt, Lutfi Rauf, announced a significant increase in the export of household electronic products to the Egyptian market, particularly highlighting a remarkable rise in refrigerator exports, which reached USD 5.45 million from January to June 2024. This figure represents an 87.87% increase compared to the same period in 2023, when exports totaled USD 2.9 million. Ambassador Lutfi made this statement during the Business Forum and Appreciation Night for Indonesian Electronics Agents and Distributors, along with the Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) 2024 socialization event in Hurghada, Egypt. In addition to refrigerators, other Indonesian household electronic products exported to Egypt include ovens, coffee and tea makers, food processors, and various appliances such as water dispensers and blenders.
Despite the positive export growth, Ambassador Lutfi expressed concerns about the high import tariffs on household electronics in Egypt, which currently stand at 60%. This issue was a key topic during the first meeting of the Joint Trade Committee (JTC) between Indonesia and Egypt on July 31, 2024, where both countries hoped to reduce tariffs through a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). He also praised the collaboration between Indonesia and UK Device Manufacturing Egypt, which has contributed significantly to enhancing the quality and promotion of Indonesian products in Egypt. Ahmad Ragab Al Kalla, the founder of UK Device Manufacturing, affirmed the reliability of Indonesian electronic products, noting their competitiveness in meeting Egyptian consumer needs. Furthermore, data from the Ministry of Trade indicates that Indonesia's total exports to Egypt reached USD 760.1 million from January to July 2024, resulting in a trade surplus of USD 648.7 million for the same period.
