After Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi signed Law 19/2023 on Saturday, Egypt’s Industrial Development Authority (IDA) has been authorized to issue one-year interim operating permits to unlicensed factories.
El-Sisi recently signed Law No.19/2023, which governs the processes for dealing with unlicensed industries and facilities that existed previous to the law’s enactment.
The legislation empowers the IDA to offer unlicensed factories one-year temporary operating permits.
The permissions are subject to renewal for two more terms if the Trade and Industry Minister decided to act based on an IDA proposal.
Permits will be issued only if industrial firms present documents demonstrating their commitment to environmental and civil protection measures. The bill follows the President’s two-year-old instructions to legitimize unlicensed factories to let them grow their businesses without legal constraints.
In 2021, El-Sisi stated that the objective of his orders is not related to taxation or going off-topic but rather aimed at construction, not accountability.
“These individuals [those running unlicensed factories] have been working, although with certain blunders, and it is our responsibility to put things right,” El-Sisi remarked.
He also directed that these factories be relocated to nearby industrial districts so that they may conduct their operations legally.
