Egypt's Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Hassan El-Khatib met his Moroccan counterpart Omar Hejira to explore opportunities for strengthening economic cooperation and expanding into African markets, per a Cabinet release. El-Khatib emphasised the need for coordination to expand markets for Egyptian and Moroccan products, especially in textiles, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals. He also underscored the importance of industrial integration and sharing technical expertise. He underscored the importance of boosting trade volume and enhancing the trade balance between the two nations, noting that investment and trade are the cornerstones of the region's economic future. The meeting highlighted the significance of implementing bilateral agreements and enhancing economic ties with Arab and African nations, particularly in the context of global economic changes, to promote comprehensive regional integration. For his part, Hejira pointed out the strategic importance of Morocco and Egypt as gateways to African markets. Egypt extends towards East and Central Africa, while Morocco provides access to West African markets. He stressed the need for coordination and integration between the two countries in developing supply and distribution chains across Africa, in a way that serves mutual interests and strengthens Arab economic presence in Africa. During the meeting, both sides discussed several issues of mutual interest, including ways to boost mutual investments, facilitate the flow of goods and services, and develop cooperation mechanisms in strategic sectors. They also explored the possibility of signing a joint MoU to set up an institutional framework for collaboration between the two ministries, aimed at fostering a conducive environment for investment attraction and promoting trade. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: M. S. Salama
