Cairo: The Egyptian-Eritrean Business Forum began on Saturday, May 16, 2026, with the participation of Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty and Economic Counsellor to the Eritrean President Hagos Ghebrehiwet. The forum aims to explore ways of enhancing trade, economic and investment cooperation.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the event saw the involvement of Sherif El Gabaly, chairman of the African Affairs Committee at Egypt's parliament, alongside representatives of Egyptian and Eritrean companies. Abdelatty highlighted that the forum was a reflection of directives from President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to strengthen economic and trade cooperation with Eritrea across multiple sectors for mutual benefit.

Abdelatty commended the recent visit to Cairo by Ghebrehiwet and Eritrea's trade and industry minister, describing their discussions with Egyptian officials as productive. He noted that the current visit, which includes Egypt's transport minister and a delegation of business leaders and private-sector representatives, aims to sustain the momentum in bilateral relations and open new avenues for economic and investment cooperation.

He emphasized Egypt's eagerness to expand cooperation in sectors such as transport, construction, pharmaceuticals, mining, fisheries, railways, and logistics, supporting Eritrea's development efforts and broader regional integration in the Horn of Africa. He also stressed the importance of continuing technical support, capacity-building, and training programs for Eritrean professionals, while encouraging greater participation by Egyptian private-sector firms in the Eritrean market and boosting Egyptian exports.

Ghebrehiwet expressed Eritrea's appreciation for the growing ties with Egypt and its commitment to collaborating closely with Cairo to leverage Egyptian expertise in development and reconstruction. The forum facilitated discussions between Egyptian and Eritrean companies on investment opportunities, joint projects, and strategies to overcome business challenges.

Abdelatty assured that the Egyptian government would continue supporting Egyptian companies and enhancing coordination with Eritrean authorities to reinforce the economic partnership between the two countries.