The shortfall of foreign currency has taken its toll on the industry sector and all other sectors as well, Trade and Industry Minister Tarek Qabil said on Sunday. 

In a statement to MENA, he said the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) gives high priority to industries that need importing raw materials so that the production process will continue in factories.

He made the remarks during his visit to El Salheyya El Gedida district of Al Sharqia governorate.

All factories of small and medium-sized enterprises will be placed under industrial supervision to ensure high-quality products while big factories can rely on themselves because they have foreign markets for their products, he added.

Problems of the 135 stumbling factories will be solved before the end of the 2016, the minister asserted.