Addis ababa: Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty emphasized the special priority Egypt gives to supporting continental integration and strengthening cooperation with regional economic groups, emphasizing its belief in the importance of joint African efforts to address developmental challenges.

According to State Information Service Egypt, he made the remarks during a meeting in Addis Ababa with George Elombi, President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank); Sidi Ould Tah, President of the African Development Bank; and Nardos Bekele, Chief Executive Officer of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), as part of efforts to strengthen consultation and coordination with African financial and developmental institutions.

Abdelatty expressed that he's looking forward to pushing economic integration efforts and accelerating the implementation of the targets of Agenda 2063, in partnership with the continental institutions concerned with development.

The foreign minister appreciated the crucial role of African banks in boosting intra-African trade and supporting the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

He reviewed the competitive advantages and incentives offered by the Egyptian government to attract investments across various sectors, highlighting Egypt's significant potential in logistics, industry, and agriculture, as well as its advanced infrastructure and strategic location that position it as a hub for trade and investment in Africa.

The foreign minister expressed looking forward to upgrading the existing cooperation with the African Union Development Agency (NEPAD), especially in the fields of infrastructure development, enhancing regional integration, capacity building, and implementing priority strategic projects.

He stressed keenness to build on existing partnerships and intensify joint coordination during the coming period.