Egypt’s Minister of Industry, Khaled Hashem, met with Yousrey El-Sharkawi, Chairperson of the Egyptian African Businessmen’s Association (EABA), to discuss ways to strengthen industrial cooperation between Egypt and African countries and promote greater industrial integration across the continent.
The meeting was attended by Hussein El Ghazawy, the minister’s advisor for energy affairs, along with a number of senior officials from the Ministry of Industry.
During the discussions, the association outlined its efforts to enhance the presence of Egyptian industrial companies in African markets and support private-sector expansion in industrial and economic activities throughout the continent.
Hashem stressed that Egypt’s political leadership places high priority on deepening cooperation with African nations and advancing trade relations towards a model based on partnership and industrial integration that serves the shared interests of Egypt and its African partners.
He underscored the importance of maximising the continent’s available resources and capabilities, noting that stronger industrial collaboration can play a pivotal role in driving sustainable economic growth.
The minister also highlighted the need to capitalise on opportunities in African markets, expand strategic partnerships, and promote regional industrial integration as a key mechanism for increasing intra-African trade and enhancing the value added of Africa’s natural and industrial resources.
According to Hashem, leveraging the comparative advantages and production capabilities of Egypt and other African countries would help develop regional value chains, create new industrial and investment opportunities across a range of sectors, and strengthen the competitiveness of African products in global markets.
For his part, El-Sharkawi noted that the Egyptian African Businessmen’s Association was established seven years ago and now includes 390 Egyptian member companies, supported by 22 specialised sectoral committees, including a dedicated committee focused on industrial development across Africa.
He added that the association offers a comprehensive range of services aimed at supporting economic integration and market access across the continent, while promoting entrepreneurship, innovation, and digital transformation as drivers of stronger economic cooperation and sustainable development.
The meeting reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen Egypt’s economic engagement with African markets and support the development of integrated industrial partnerships capable of boosting trade, investment, and manufacturing growth across the continent.
