Egypt's Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Engineer Hassan El-Khatib, met on Monday with Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Phan Thi Thang, to discuss strengthening economic cooperation, expanding mutual investments, and boosting bilateral trade. El-Khatib proposed positioning Vietnam as a gateway for Egyptian exports to Asia, while Egypt would serve as a gateway for Vietnamese goods to African, European, and Arab markets — a move aimed at reinforcing regional supply chains. He highlighted opportunities for deeper cooperation noting Egypt's investment incentives and competitive production costs, particularly in labour and energy. These advantages, he said, make Egypt a favourable base for manufacturers targeting European and African markets. The minister outlined Egypt's efforts to build a strong industrial base and regional export hub, supported by its strategic geographic location and wide network of free trade agreements. He also pointed to Egypt's membership in COMESA and AfCFTA and ongoing plans to establish logistics centres across Africa to facilitate trade. He further stressed the importance of advancing ties under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, aiming to balance trade and maximise investment flows. He also confirmed Egypt's readiness to offer training in halal certification through the Ministry of Agriculture, with a technical team to coordinate implementation. For her part, Phan Thi Thang welcomed the proposals and expressed Vietnam's interest in strengthening economic ties with Egypt. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: M.S.Salama
