Apparel, Home Textiles & Textiles Egypt

Egypt has one of the most developed textile industries in the world. The country's sector can produce everything today's textile market demands, from cotton and yarn to fabrics and finished garments. This full supply chain capability sets Egypt apart and makes it an attractive option for buyer companies seeking sustainable, nearby suppliers for Europe.

During this CBI project, 20 Egyptian textile companies worked towards transition for sustainable production and European Union (EU) market access. Throughout this project, the entire sector connected and collaborated to achieve lasting change.

We always seek Dutch and European partners. Are you a buyer, a brand, an association, or a knowledge provider? We would appreciate hearing from you.

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Project purpose

Egypt's textile sector is large and diverse. It covers 3 areas:  

• Apparel
• Home textiles
• Fabrics.  

More than one million people work in the sector. It has a strong production capacity and a skilled workforce.

The sector has significant room for growth. There is a real opportunity to shift towards higher-value production, cleaner processes, and better working conditions. Growing demand from Dutch and European buyers makes this the right moment to make these improvements. Companies that invest in quality, sustainability, and responsible production now will be well placed to meet the needs of an ever-growing market.

Meanwhile, the EU market is changing rapidly. New legislation requires lower chemical use, better traceability, and more sustainable products. Egyptian companies that adapt now will retain a strong position.

CBI focuses on 3 areas:

• Supporting companies to produce more sustainably and access EU markets.
• Building a sector-wide partnership to share knowledge and promote change around sustainable production practices
• Developing local services that can support the sector to use sustainable production practices.

Become a partner  

This project is in its final phase, and we are looking for Dutch and European partners. Egypt is close to Europe, has a trade agreement with the EU, and is a strong option for near-shoring. Collaboration with EU organisations helps Egyptian companies meet EU standards faster.

We are looking for:

• Dutch and European importers, brands, and retailers interested in sourcing sustainable textiles from Egypt
• Dutch or European associations that want to connect with the Egyptian sector partnership
• Knowledge institutes or innovators with solutions for sustainable textile production
• Service providers with expertise in areas like chemical testing, certification, or circularity

Dutch partners are especially welcome.  

Partnerships work best when partners are open to a long-term collaboration, have practical knowledge or networks to share, and are committed to more sustainable textile production.

What does a partnership with CBI look like?  

CBI does not provide funding. In the event of a relevant match, we may be able to connect you to our group of 20 vetted Egyptian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We may also be able to connect you to the Sustainable Textiles Partnership, which includes important sector stakeholders in Egypt.

In 2026, we organise matchmaking events in the ​​​​​​Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. This is a great opportunity to meet Egyptian suppliers in person.

We also seek European partners to support or endorse partnerships. This reinforces the message that Egypt's textile sector is serious about sustainability, and it makes the partnership more visible in Europe.

There is no fee to get involved. We ask partners to invest their time, knowledge, and network.

Partners

We are in the final year of this project. This is a crucial phase: the participating companies have made real progress and are now ready to connect with European buyers and partners.

We also continue to build the Sustainable Textiles Partnership. This initiative brings together Egyptian ministries, export councils, chambers of industry, international organisations, and other essential partners. Together, they work on 5 topics:

1. Responsible chemical use
2. Sector branding
3. Circularity and waste
4. Access to finance
5. Social compliance

We welcome Dutch and European partners who want to support or connect to this work. A partner can be a buyer, an endorser of the partnership, or a knowledge provider.

Collaborate with us

Would you like to help Egypt's textile sector become more sustainable and connected to Europe?

Express your interest by clicking the button below. For questions, please contact Hugo Verhoeven.

Reach out now

About CBI

CBI promotes sustainable production and trade between low-and middle-income countries and the Netherlands and Europe. We partner with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and their ecosystem to strengthen their social and environmental sustainability.  

CBI is part of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency and commissioned by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.