Egypt: Egypt’s trade with COMESA countries reached $14 billion in 2023, with further growth anticipated as Egypt strengthens its commitment to removing tariff and non-tariff barriers impacting intra-regional trade, according to Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Engineer Hassan El-Khatib.

According to State Information Service Egypt, highlighting recent developments, El-Khatib noted the enactment of the Tripartite Free Trade Area Agreement in June 2024 as a key milestone. He urged COMESA’s Secretariat to coordinate with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) to hold discussions soon, focusing on the future of the agreement amid Africa’s shifting economic landscape, including the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.

Reflecting on Egypt’s leadership as COMESA chair from November 2021 to June 2023, El-Khatib reiterated Egypt’s commitment to regional cooperation initiatives introduced during its presidency, targeting integration in sectors such as
industry, health, and tourism. He added that Egypt stands ready to collaborate with the COMESA Secretariat and member states, offering expertise in electricity, energy, transport, and water management to advance COMESA’s goals further.