The Japanese External Trade Organization (JETRO) agreed with the Egyptian Ministry of Trade and Industry, and the Minister of Investment and International Cooperation, to boost cooperation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) sector with the aim of supporting local exports to access global markets. 

The agreement was reached at the 11th joint conference of the Egypt-Japan and Japan-Egypt Business Councils (JEBC) and the Japan-Egypt Investment Forum which was held on 11 March, 2019. 

Egyptian Government is keen on supporting Japanese companies and facilitating procedures, as well as eliminating any obstacles that face the firms, A statement from the ministry of investment and international cooperation mentioned that Japanese investments in Egypt increased by 74% to $360m through 106 Japanese firms in the past fiscal year 2017/18. 

The JEBC is determined to support Japanese companies to work in Egypt in addition to assisting existing companies to expand their businesses and aims to attract more Japanese companies into Egypt as the current numbers of Japanese firms working in Egypt are only 50 firms which do not match Egypt's offered opportunities and potential.