South African trade mission of 15 companies visits Egypt to boost economic partnerships

A South African trade mission comprising 15 companies is visiting Egypt from 24 to 28 January as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral economic, trade and investment relations between the two countries.
The visit is organised by the Egyptian Commercial Office in Pretoria, headed by Commercial Counsellor Ihab Salah El-Din, in cooperation with South Africa's Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, and in coordination with the South African Embassy in Cairo.
The delegation includes companies operating across a range of sectors of mutual interest, including engineering industries, mining, chemicals, textiles and garments, cosmetics and medical supplies, automotive industries, and processed agricultural products.
As part of the programme, the delegation will conduct field visits to Egyptian factories and companies, in addition to participating in a joint Egyptian–South African business forum scheduled for 26 January 2026. The forum will feature direct business-to-business (B2B) meetings aimed at enhancing engagement and cooperation between the business communities of both countries.
The trade mission seeks to explore new markets for South African products, establish trade and investment partnerships with Egyptian counterparts, and identify Egyptian suppliers of production inputs at competitive prices.
Minister Plenipotentiary Abdel Aziz El-Sharif, First Undersecretary of the Ministry and Head of the Egyptian Commercial Representation, said the visit forms part of ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade and the Egyptian Commercial Representation to expand Egypt's economic relations with international partners, particularly African countries, and to strengthen intra-African trade and investment ties.
El-Sharif noted that trade relations between Egypt and South Africa recorded notable growth in 2025, with bilateral trade exceeding $200m during the first ten months of the year, compared with around $186m for the whole of 2024.
He added that Egyptian–South African relations have witnessed growing economic and political momentum over the past year, culminating in Egypt's participation in the G20 Summit held last November. The Egyptian delegation was led by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, reflecting the depth of bilateral relations and the shared commitment to enhancing cooperation across multiple sectors.
The visit is expected to open new avenues for collaboration, facilitate knowledge exchange, and contribute to strengthening trade flows and investment ties between Egypt and South Africa, in line with broader efforts to promote economic integration across the African continent.