Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Co-operation and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty on Friday participated in the launch of the Egyptian-South African Business Council on the sidelines of the El Alamein Africa Forum.
The council was launched during an event on investment in Africa’s automotive sector organised by the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade in co-operation with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and South Africa.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Ambassador Nader Zaki said Abdelatty stressed that the launch comes amid growing momentum in Egyptian-South African relations and intensified political engagement between the two countries.
He highlighted the need to translate this momentum into broader economic and investment co-operation, with a focus on mining and mineral resources, industry, energy and renewable energy, agriculture and food industries, pharmaceuticals, transport and logistics, ports and infrastructure.
Minister Abdelatty also highlighted the importance of leveraging Egypt and South Africa’s membership of BRICS, as well as South Africa’s membership of Afreximbank, to expand financing and investment opportunities and support joint private sector projects.
He stressed the need to enhance co-operation in transport and logistics and strengthen connectivity between northern and southern Africa. This includes establishing reciprocal logistics zones, developing regular shipping routes, and making greater use of the Suez Canal and ports in both countries to facilitate trade and investment across the continent.
Abdelatty expressed hope that the new business council would serve as an effective platform for translating available opportunities into tangible investments and joint ventures, thereby strengthening economic and trade relations between Egypt and South Africa and advancing African economic integration.
