Egypt is keen on achieving economic integration, laying foundations of comprehensive, sustainable development for all Africans: Gamea



Egyptian pavilion displays products of 41 companies, including engineering, chemical, food, medical industries

Nevine Gamea, Minister of Trade and Industry, has said that Egypt is keen on reinforcing its pivotal role in Africa by strengthening trade and investment relations with the countries of the continent, in addition to transferring modern technology among African countries.

The minister made this statement during the opening session of the second edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair 2021 organized by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in Durban, South Africa, from 15 to 21 November.

She noted that Egypt is making unremitting efforts to achieve economic integration with all countries and lay the foundations for comprehensive and sustainable development for all African peoples.

The fair was inaugurated by Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, in the presence of the heads of 13 African countries. The Egyptian delegation participating in the opening ceremony of the exhibition included Ahmed El-Fadly, Egypt’s Ambassador to South Africa, and Ragy Adly, head of the Egyptian Commercial Service’s office in South Africa.

The minister said that the African fair is one of the largest exhibitions held in Africa and provides a huge platform for displaying goods and services and exchanging information related to trade and investment in African markets.

Gamea explained that the fair is basically an Egyptian initiative. Cairo hosted the first edition of this important event, and it was organized by the Ministry of Trade and Industry represented by the Export Development Authority in cooperation with Afreximbank in December 2018, with the aim of supporting African economic integration efforts, pointing out that the success of the fair in its first session is a pillar of the success of the second session and the completion of the efforts of the countries of Africa to achieve economic and regional integration.

The minister highlighted the great importance that the exhibition acquires in its second session, as it enjoys the participation of 24 African countries reviewing their trade and investment opportunities, in addition to their tourist and cultural attractions. Moreover, many international parties from outside the continent are participating. Gamea pointed out that the second session of the exhibition witnesses a large participation from the productive sectors which represents an important opportunity to provide the continent’s needs and achieve industrial and consumer integration among its countries. The most important sectors involved include agriculture and agricultural industries, cars, clothing, textiles, construction, infrastructure, consumer goods, creative industries, education, energy, engineering industries, finance, pharmaceutical products, logistics, and manufacturing.

Gamea added that the volume of Egyptian exports to African countries during 2019 amounted to about $4.8bn, equivalent to 16% of Egypt’s total exports abroad, which reflects the importance of the African market to Egypt and highlights the opportunities that the single continental market can provide, established by the African Continental Free Trade Area.