Cairo: Egypt's Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade announced on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, that the 'Export to China' event resulted in the signing of 17 export contracts valued at an estimated $168 million. These agreements aim to facilitate the shipment of various Egyptian products to the Chinese market.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the event was a collaborative effort between Egypt's Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade and China's Ministry of Commerce, with coordination from the Chinese Embassy in Cairo and the Egyptian Exporters Association. It brought together 16 Chinese importing companies and around 40 representatives from Egypt's export sector, covering a range of industries such as agriculture, food, minerals, engineering, leather, and textiles.
The newly signed contracts include exports of flax, textile yarn, leather, copper, aluminum, sugar cane, and oranges to China. Mohamed Farid Saleh, Egypt's Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, emphasized the ministry's strategy to open more markets for Egyptian products, expand the exporter base, and maximize opportunities in priority markets, particularly China.
Securing tangible export contracts is a primary goal of the ministry's promotional activities. Saleh highlighted the importance of moving beyond merely promoting Egyptian products to establishing direct and sustainable connections between Egyptian exporters and international buyers. Additionally, the ministry seeks to enhance Egyptian companies' participation in initiatives and cooperation frameworks with China, aiming to attract more Chinese investment into Egypt's productive and export-oriented sectors. This would facilitate technology and expertise transfers, increase value-added, and strengthen the competitiveness of Egyptian industry.
Minister Plenipotentiary for Trade and Director of Asian and Oceanian Affairs at the Egyptian Commercial Service (ECS), Sayed Fouad, noted that the bilateral meetings between Egyptian and Chinese companies were instrumental in securing the 17 contracts. He also pointed out the potential benefits of a Chinese initiative that exempts exports from African countries from customs duties for two years starting May 1, 2026. This initiative represents an opportunity to increase and diversify Egyptian exports while boosting the competitiveness of national products in the Chinese market.
Abdel Aziz el-Sherif, First Undersecretary at the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade and head of the ECS, stated that the agency would continue its efforts to increase and diversify Egyptian exports to China and maximize the use of Chinese initiatives by Egyptian companies. Furthermore, the ECS will encourage additional Chinese investment in Egypt's productive sectors.
ECS offices in Beijing and Shanghai will play a crucial role in monitoring the implementation of the export contracts and coordinating with the Chinese side to create more opportunities for Egyptian businesses, ultimately helping to expand the presence of Egyptian products in the Chinese market.