Kinshasa: Egypt received the presidency of the Council of Ministers of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) from Tanzania during the council's 16th meeting held in Kinshasa, Congo.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the official transfer of leadership marks Egypt's significant role in promoting African economic integration. Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Hassan el-Khatib, through a recorded speech, expressed Egypt's dedication to advancing the AfCFTA agreement and hastening its execution. Eng. Mohamed el-Gossaki, Assistant Minister for Planning, Development, and Digital Transformation, assumed the presidency representing Egypt and the North Africa region.
F©lix Antoine Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, delivered the keynote address at the event's opening session. Khatib highlighted the importance of finalizing pending technical negotiations, focusing on the rules of origin for key sectors such as clothing and automobiles, to foster industrial integration and boost intra-African trade. He also suggested holding a specialized ministerial session in Egypt to address unresolved technical issues.
Khatib proposed creating a short-term plan to achieve results benefitting all member states, reiterating Egypt's commitment to implementing the agreement and collaborating with African nations. Egypt actively took part in preparatory meetings, including bilateral discussions with strategic partners, to enhance logistical connectivity, infrastructure, and financing for continental trade.
Assistant Minister el-Gossaki engaged in bilateral meetings with African trade ministers from Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Africa. These discussions underscored Egypt's focus on strengthening cooperation in sectors like logistical connectivity, financing facilities, and infrastructure. All efforts align with Egypt's strategy to boost regional integration and create economic opportunities.
Egypt affirmed its dedication to the comprehensive implementation of the AfCFTA through active participation in negotiation rounds, developing customs tariff schedules, and promoting intra-African trade. Egypt's leadership in the Council of Ministers of Trade continues its historical support for initiatives and contributes to expanding markets, particularly in West and Central Africa, in the industrial and agricultural sectors. This is achieved by coordinating with the general secretariat to align trade policies and activate dispute resolution mechanisms.
The handover ceremony featured Hisham el-Makoud, Egypt's ambassador to Congo, Gomaa Madani, head of the Central Administration for African Trade Relations at the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade, and Ahmed Manji, Second Secretary of Commercial Affairs and head of the Trade Representation Office in Kinshasa.