(Foreign Affairs) Oren Kessler - The Egyptian-Israeli free-trade framework known as Qualifying Industrial Zones, or QIZs, has pumped billions into Cairo's vulnerable economy over the past decade. QIZs are industrial parks through which Egypt (and Jordan) can export goods under the flag of the U.S.-Israeli free-trade agreement. Egypt is now home to 15 QIZs and Jordan to 13, which together account for some $1 billion in exports a year. Egyptian QIZs now supply fabrics to American brands such as Gap and Levi Strauss and provide a livelihood for nearly 300,000 people. In February, Cairo announced plans to double its QIZ textile exports within three years.
2015-08-27 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive