Egypt Taps DP World’s Global Logistics Network to Accelerate Exports Across Africa

Egypt is intensifying efforts to expand its export footprint across Africa by partnering with global logistics giant DP World, as the government seeks to lower shipping costs, strengthen supply chains, and boost the competitiveness of Egyptian products in regional markets.

Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Mohamed Farid held high-level talks with a DP World delegation led by Mohammad Shehab, the company's CEO for Egypt and the Levant, to explore how the group's international logistics network can support Egyptian exporters, particularly in accessing fast-growing African markets.

The meeting brought together senior officials from the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), the Export Development Authority, the Export Development Fund, the Commercial Representation Authority, and representatives of Egypt's export councils, reflecting a coordinated government push to expand the country's export capacity.

Farid said the ministry is actively building partnerships with leading international transport and logistics providers as part of a broader strategy to enhance the global competitiveness of Egyptian goods and increase export revenues. He stressed that improving logistics services is a cornerstone of Egypt's efforts to streamline foreign trade, attract investment, and reduce export-related costs.

According to the minister, the cooperation will prioritize key export sectors including food processing, agricultural products, chemicals, construction materials, ready-made garments, and engineering industries. The initiative aims to provide exporters with more efficient transportation, warehousing, and distribution solutions, particularly for African destinations where logistics remain a major barrier to trade.

Farid noted that the meeting was designed to connect Egyptian exporters directly with DP World's logistics capabilities, allowing companies to identify tailored solutions that meet the needs of individual industries while improving access to overseas markets.

He described Africa as a central pillar of Egypt's export expansion strategy, highlighting the country's network of free trade agreements with several African nations. Leveraging a global logistics partner with an extensive regional presence, he said, would provide practical solutions for increasing the reach of Egyptian products across the continent.

On its part, DP World outlined the scale of its international operations, noting that the company is active in more than 85 countries through an integrated network of ports, logistics hubs, and distribution centers. The group said it facilitates roughly 10% of global trade, while approximately 23% of Egypt's foreign trade passes through Ain Sokhna Port, which it operates.

Shehab emphasized that DP World has evolved beyond traditional port management into a comprehensive logistics provider offering maritime and land transport, warehousing, distribution, and end-to-end supply chain management. These capabilities, he said, can help Egyptian exporters reach target markets more efficiently and at lower cost.

The company also highlighted its ongoing strategic investments in Egypt, including the expansion of Ain Sokhna Port and the development of the Sokhna Logistics Park, projects aimed at strengthening Egypt's position as a regional hub for trade, logistics, and re-export activities.

DP World executives presented the company's logistics capabilities across African markets, expressing readiness to support Egyptian exporters in sectors such as food products, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, fertilizers, construction materials, and textiles through integrated transportation, storage, distribution, and collection services.

The discussions also addressed the principal logistics challenges facing Egyptian exporters and explored ways to leverage DP World's global network to reduce shipping costs and unlock new market opportunities, particularly across Africa.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides agreed to establish specialized technical working groups between DP World and Egypt's export councils to develop implementation mechanisms that maximize the use of the company's logistics services.