Egyptian Trade Representative Offices are an important tool for opening new markets for outsourcing.

Egyptian trade representation offices are one of the tools that can be relied upon to enhance Egypt’s position as a regional and international outsourcing center by providing the necessary information about the industry and coordinating relations with government agencies and foreign companies.

In the following report, we will discuss the opinions of industry specialists and experts to review how to make the most of these offices.

Hamza: It should be active in the US, Canada, EU and emerging markets.

Dr. Karim Hamza, an expert in the outsourcing services industry, said that Egyptian commercial representation offices abroad are an important strategic means to support local companies in expanding abroad and opening new markets for them, especially outsourcing service providers, as they play a pivotal role in providing economic and commercial information, establishing relations with government agencies and foreign companies, and providing advice to Egyptian companies on the specifics of the local markets they aim to enter.

Hamza explained that expanding the activity of commercial representation offices in markets of increasing economic importance is a pivotal factor for expanding the scope of work of Egyptian companies, especially in countries witnessing growth in demand for outsourcing services. Therefore, these entities must be active in countries such as the United States, Canada and the European Union, as well as in emerging markets such as the Gulf States, India and Africa, where demand for outsourcing services is increasing thanks to accelerating digital transformations and the trend towards outsourcing to reduce costs and increase efficiency.

He pointed out that representative offices can be used to enhance Egypt’s position as a regional and international outsourcing center, by providing information and coordination services to Egyptian companies that enable them to reach potential customers in foreign markets through market analysis and identifying opportunities by conducting market studies and analyses on the demand for outsourcing services in target markets, while identifying sectors that need outsourcing support services.

He added that the commercial representation offices of Egyptian companies also provide an opportunity for direct communication with foreign companies and government agencies, which may need outsourcing services. Building strong relationships with these entities is one of the most important aspects of achieving success in expanding outsourcing businesses, as commercial offices contribute to enhancing credibility and increasing confidence among foreign companies towards Egyptian companies.

He continued: “These offices can also coordinate participation in international conferences and exhibitions, such as major technology and outsourcing conferences, where Egyptian companies can showcase their services and products and learn about the latest trends and innovations in this sector, especially since these events allow them to build a strong international network and learn about market needs, and thus develop their offerings in a way that suits the needs of international clients.”

He added: “Trade representation offices must contribute to enhancing awareness of Egypt’s competitive advantages in the outsourcing services industry, whether human resources, linguistic diversity or its geographical location, among external parties, and facilitate their understanding of the investment opportunities that partnerships with Egyptian companies in this field can provide.”

He considered that the trade offices work as economic embassies, providing strong institutional support to Egyptian companies, which increases their ability to enter markets successfully and avoid the challenges they may face, as it ensures Egypt’s presence as an exporter of outsourcing services in new markets, and enhances opportunities for communication with customers.

He called for the importance of expanding the establishment of commercial representation offices in countries that witness an increasing demand for outsourcing services, with a focus on advanced technology markets and developing markets where outsourcing opportunities are increasing, in addition to increasing the budget for international participation of Egyptian companies in specialized conferences and exhibitions in the field of outsourcing and technology, while working to provide governmental support to encourage companies to participate effectively.

In addition to holding training programs for employees of commercial representation offices on the specifics of the outsourcing sector, so that they can provide accurate advice to Egyptian companies and achieve greater influence in international markets.

Dr. Adel Danish, the godfather of the outsourcing industry in Egypt, stressed that cooperation with commercial representation offices outside Egypt is an effective way for outsourcing service companies to explore and open new markets in a more efficient and rapid way, by understanding the needs of the local market, commercial customs and local regulations. It also helps in conducting market studies and providing detailed information about the opportunities and challenges in the target markets and informing companies about the legal requirements for operating in these markets.

Danish pointed out that commercial representation offices have a wide network of stakeholders such as distributors, agents and local importers, and therefore outsourcing companies can benefit from these networks to find reliable local partners, indicating that they also provide platforms for communicating with potential customers and organizing business meetings.

Rafat: Reliance on commercial representation offices must be preceded by a major strategy

For his part, Kareem Refaat, an expert in the outsourcing industry in Egypt, said that relying on commercial representation offices must be preceded by a major strategy that includes identifying target markets. Based on this strategy, intensive meetings are held by the government with these offices to present the importance of the outsourcing industry and the opportunities that Egypt provides to investors, and then identify the attractive companies and sectors in the countries chosen.

He continued: “It is also important to launch a platform that represents the industry and allows investors to access it to find out everything they are looking for.”