Egypt Expands Economic Outreach in Africa Through Private Sector

Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Badr Abdelatty, has stressed the central role of the private sector in strengthening Egypt’s economic partnerships across Africa, during a meeting held on Sunday with leading business figures and representatives of major Egyptian companies.

The meeting focused on enhancing coordination between economic diplomacy and the private sector to expand Egypt’s economic footprint on the African continent. Abdelatty underlined that private enterprise is a cornerstone of efforts to deepen trade relations, increase bilateral exchange, and attract joint investments with African partners. He praised the growing participation of Egyptian companies in official visits to African countries, noting that such engagement helps turn promising opportunities into viable investment and development projects with sustainable economic returns.

The foreign minister said the ministry places high priority on working closely with African governments and institutions to create a supportive business environment for Egyptian companies. This includes addressing regulatory and procedural obstacles and strengthening communication with relevant authorities to facilitate access to African markets and improve competitiveness. He highlighted the importance of expanding cooperation in sectors with strong economic potential, including infrastructure, energy, transport and logistics, agriculture, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, banking services, and small and medium-sized enterprises.

Abdelatty also pointed to the supporting role played by Egypt’s development cooperation mechanisms in building capacities and transferring expertise, which contributes to boosting Egyptian investments, supporting economic integration, and promoting sustainable development across Africa.

He concluded by noting that Africa represents a rapidly growing consumer market with significant long-term potential. He emphasized the value of transferring Egypt’s development experience to African countries in a way that serves mutual interests, while building on the strong reputation Egyptian companies already enjoy across the continent. Abdelatty encouraged the formation of alliances and consortiums among Egyptian firms to enhance their competitiveness and called for greater use of the African Continental Free Trade Area to expand exports and deepen regional economic integration.