Minister of Industry Khaled Hashim met on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, Director of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Cairo Office Eric Auchlan, and his accompanying delegation to review the International Labour Organization’s ongoing and planned projects in Egypt, particularly those focused on productivity, employment and decent work.
The discussions highlighted the “Enhancing an Enabling Environment for Productivity for Decent Work in Egypt 2024–2027” project, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Industry and supported by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. The initiative targets the leather tanning and marble industries in Shaq El-Thaaban and Al-Robeky Leather City to improve productivity and working conditions.
The meeting also addressed cooperation on Egypt’s national employment strategy, with a focus on skills development, labour market needs and industrial employment opportunities. Hashim stressed that human capital development is a key pillar of Egypt’s Industry Strategy 2030, highlighting efforts to improve vocational training, support workers’ rights and empower women and youth.
He also reviewed the government’s Productive Villages project, which aims to establish small and medium-sized factories in rural areas to create local jobs and reduce migration to major cities. For his part, Auchlan reaffirmed the ILO’s commitment to supporting Egypt through technical assistance and initiatives that promote sustainable employment, better working conditions and the global competitiveness of Egyptian products.