Egypt and South Africa agreed to step up economic cooperation, with plans to launch a joint business council and expand partnerships in auto manufacturing, logistics, and maritime transport, the countries' trade ministers said after a meeting in Cairo. Egypt's Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Hassan El-Khatib met on Sunday with South Africa's Minister of Trade and Industry Parks Franklyn Mpho Tau and South Africa's ambassador Ntsiki Mashimbye to discuss efforts to deepen trade and investment ties between the two African economies, the investment ministry said in a statement. The ministers agreed that Egypt will host the fifth session of the Joint Trade and Investment Committee in January and will work to double bilateral trade over the coming years. El-Khatib said Egypt seeks to benefit from South Africa's experience in the automotive industry to strengthen local manufacturing and attract new investors to the sector. He also called for activating the joint business council to enhance private-sector participation. The two sides discussed establishing mutual logistics zones—one for South Africa in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) and another for Egypt in South Africa—to support maritime connectivity and improve trade between North and Southern Africa. Tau said his country aims to expand investment and trade with Egypt, particularly in automotive localisation and logistics development, while addressing barriers to shipping and transport links between the two nations. Both ministers agreed to set clear timelines and mechanisms to monitor progress on joint projects, aiming to strengthen economic integration across the continent. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
