Egypt's Investment and Foreign Trade Minister Hassan El-Khatib met African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretary-General Wamkele Mene in Cairo on Monday, pledging support for deeper African economic integration under the bloc's trade pact. The meeting came ahead of the 4th Ministerial Retreat of African Trade Ministers and the 17th Council of Trade Ministers, which Egypt will host on Sept. 15–16. El-Khatib said Egypt is committed to turning the AfCFTA into "a tangible reality" by expanding intra-African trade, advancing sustainable development and promoting economic integration in line with the African Union's Agenda 2063, according to a ministry statement. Egypt recently assumed the chairmanship of the Bureau of the Council of Trade Ministers for the North Africa region, reinforcing its role in shaping the continent's integration efforts. Cairo is hosting a series of high-level African trade meetings from Sept. 11–16, bringing together ministers, senior officials and private sector leaders to strengthen partnerships and expand investment opportunities across the continent. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: Y.Yasser