Cairo: Investment Minister Mohamed Farid affirmed Egypt's commitment to strengthening its US economic partnership, expanding trade, and boosting foreign investments. During a meeting with US Assistant Secretary of Commerce Steven Heinz, both sides discussed expanding economic cooperation. Farid noted that economic reforms enhanced Egypt's market competitiveness, highlighting opportunities in manufacturing, tourism, ICT, renewable energy, and data centers. According to State Information Service Egypt, Farid reviewed local investment incentives and the Qualifying Industrial Zones protocol's role in supporting exports. The minister detailed plans to upgrade infrastructure and support startups to position Egypt as a regional business hub. He added that Egypt leverages its location and submarine cable network to attract cloud computing and AI investments. Farid emphasized integrating Egypt into US supply chains across engineering, automotive, chemical, and energy sectors. He stated that opening Egyptian markets to US vehicles supports local automotive manufacturing goals. Both sides agreed to organize joint workshops and maintain regular contact to resolve investor challenges. Heinz described Egypt as a vital US partner, expressing eager support to deepen economic ties. He proposed holding an "Invest in Egypt" conference and invited Farid to visit the US to engage business leaders. Farid concluded that bilateral relations hold strong growth potential, reiterating commitments to address investor hurdles.