Cairo: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptian Expatriates, in collaboration with the North Africa Office of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), has successfully concluded a three-day workshop. The event aimed to assist Egyptian businesses in capitalizing on opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

According to State Information Service Egypt, the workshop saw the participation of over 80 individuals representing Egyptian companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, business associations, chambers of commerce, government bodies, and UN agencies. The discussions during the event revolved around trade rules, rules of origin, certification procedures, and strategies for accessing African markets.

Mohamed El Hady, Director of Egyptian Economic Affairs and Investment Promotion at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the significant opportunities that the AfCFTA presents for Egyptian companies seeking to expand their exports and investments within Africa. He also mentioned the ministry's HAFEZ platform, which offers financial, technical, and advisory services to support private sector growth.

Kaitlin Kariko, Economic Affairs Officer at the ECA North Africa Office, noted that while Egypt's global exports amounted to approximately $50 billion last year, exports to other African countries were less than $8 billion, making up about 15% of the total exports. She emphasized the considerable untapped potential for Egyptian exporters under the AfCFTA, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The workshop was geared towards enhancing the private sector's ability to increase intra-African trade and leverage the opportunities afforded by the continental free trade agreement.