Egyptian exports to Africa are on the rise as national plans for expanding the presence of locally-made products in African markets appear to be paying off.
According to the Central Auditing Agency, Egyptian exports to our African neighbours were worth $404 million in April this year – almost 45 per cent higher than 12 months ago.
In view of the success of the national plan, Egypt has decided to consolidate its presence in the continent long after successive governments had overlooked its potential, allowing competitors to rush in.
Apart from studying consumer needs in African markets, Egypt also sends trade missions to introducing them to local products.
Some missions have succeeded in concluding important export worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
One mission recently wrapped up visits to Cameroon and Senegal, among other African countries.
The rise in exports to African markets coincides with a drop in imports from the same markets, according to the Central Auditing Agency.
In April this year, imports from fellow African countries amounted to $90 million, compared with $107 million in the corresponding month last year, the agency said.
Increasing the exports to African markets is an important step for the growth of the Egyptian economy, economists said.
“This growth in the exports will reflect on national economic conditions as a whole,” leading economist Khaled el-Shafei said.
He told a local newspaper that there is a good chance for increasing exports to African markets even more in the coming period.
“Egypt has whatever it takes in all production fields to make a major leap in exports to fellow African countries,” el-Shafie said.
Nevertheless, other economists point to challenges on the road to a sharp rise in the value of the exports to African markets.
One of the challenges they refer to is fierce competition from major exporters to the continent.
In trying to regain presence in the different countries of the continent, Egypt might capitalise on its historical relations with African nations, some economists say.
Egypt was instrumental in the independence of a large number of African countries from occupation in the past.
It also offered development aid to the same countries, including through the construction of schools and important development projects.
Egypt tries to do the same now, even as it has its own economic challenges.
It offers technical support to African countries and always takes the chance to help these countries, including by sending medical aid and offering training programmes to learners from these countries.
Economist Adel Amer said Egypt is badly in need of increasing investments in other African countries.
These investments, he said, would increase Egyptian presence in African markets and consequently reflect on the way African consumers receive Egyptian products in their countries.
