Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmed Samir said Egypt seeks during the remainder of its presidency of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) to launch new initiatives, in cooperation with the bloc’s general secretariat.
Samir made the remarks during meetings that he held on the sidelines of the 43rd COMESA Council of Ministers’ meeting hosted by the Zambian capital Lusaka, according to a statement released by the Trade Ministry on Friday.
The trade minister met with a number of ministers of COMESA member states, including Zambian Vice President Mutale Nalumango – the honorary guest of the meetings – and COMESA Secretary General Chileshe Kapwepwe.
Samir said he discussed with the Zambian vice president ways of fostering relations between Egypt and Zambia in different fields, notably the trade and investment ones.
On her part, Nalumango said her country is keen on cementing cooperation with Egypt, which is considered a key partner to Zambia within the COMESA agreement.
She added Zambia supports the efforts exerted by Egypt during its chairmanship of COMESA to achieve regional integration, expressing her willingness to work with the Egyptian government to enhance bilateral economic cooperation.
The trade minister stated that his talks with the COMESA secretary general focused on Egypt’s interest in attaining the regional economic integration and encouraging the bloc’s general secretariat to have an effective role in this regard.
Samir pointed out that Egypt initiated while chairing the COMESA a set of initiatives such as the regional industrial integration initiative and the initiative to form a committee comprising the bloc’s health ministers, in addition to organizing a workshop to share Egyptian expertise with the Zambian side with regard to managing industrial complexes.
On her part, Kapwepwe lauded the great efforts made by Egypt to bring about the regional economic integration.
Samir also met with his Zambian Trade Minister Chipoka Mulenga, where the Egyptian trade minister stressed his country’s keenness to boost bilateral economic cooperation and increase intra-trade rates between Egypt and Zambia in various sectors, notably engineering industries, medical and pharmaceutical industries, food industry, chemicals, fertilizers and building materials.
The trade minister noticed the State works to prompt Egyptian companies to strengthen trade exchange with their Zambian counterparts, while removing all obstacles to raising intra-trade between the two countries and making the best use of the advantages offered by the “COMESA”.
For his part, the Zambian trade minister said his country is ready to foster trade cooperation with Egypt, especially as Egyptian products enjoy good reputation in the Zambian market.
Mulenga added some Zambian products can be used as production inputs in the Egyptian industry, such as copper, manganese and tanning.
The Zambian minister urged Egyptian companies to invest in the Zambian market and benefit from investment incentives provided for foreign investors.
In a related context, Samir held meetings with Kenyan Secretary of Trade Moses Kiarie, Burundian Minister of Commerce and Industry Marie Chantal Nijimbere and Malawian Minister of Trade and Industry Hon Mark Katsonga Phiri.
The trade minister told the three ministers that Egypt was keen to reinforce cooperation with Kenya, Burundi and Malawi within the framework for regional economic integration.
Source: State Information Service Egypt