Cairo: Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel al-Wazir recently convened an extensive meeting with South Africa's Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau and his delegation to explore enhancing cooperation in the fields of industry and transport.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Minister al-Wazir began the meeting by emphasizing the longstanding friendship between Egypt and South Africa, highlighting their historical cooperation across various fields. He reiterated Egypt's commitment to elevating industrial and commercial cooperation to reflect the close ties between the two nations.

The focus of the meeting was on strengthening joint industrial efforts as a foundation for expanding trade. The ministers discussed establishing joint and complementary industrial projects between Egypt and South Africa, which are among Africa's leading industrial powerhouses. They identified key sectors for potential collaboration, particularly the automotive industry and the iron and steel sectors.

To facilitate these initiatives, a joint working group will be formed from both countries' ministries. On the Egyptian side, the group will include the head of international relations at the Ministry of Industry, the head of the industrial affairs sector, and a representative from the Federation of Egyptian Industries. Their task will be to identify and coordinate areas of joint industrial cooperation that align with the economic interests of both nations.

Logistics was also a key topic, with discussions on establishing shared logistics zones to enhance bilateral trade. The proposal includes designating a logistics area for South African products in one of Egypt's ports and a similar area in South Africa for Egyptian goods, particularly benefiting the automotive sector. This approach mirrors successful projects Egypt has undertaken with other African countries.

Minister Parks Tau expressed South Africa's enthusiasm for strengthening ties with Egypt and highlighted the importance of logistical cooperation and addressing obstacles in the maritime route between the two countries to facilitate trade.

In response, Minister al-Wazir instructed coordination with the Egyptian Ports Authority to maintain the maritime route's sustainability, benefiting trade between Egypt, South Africa, and other countries along the route.

Minister Tau also commended the urban and developmental progress in Egyptian governorates, suggesting that South Africa could learn from Egypt's experience in this area.

The meeting concluded with Minister al-Wazir reaffirming Egypt's dedication, under President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's leadership, to supporting collaboration frameworks with African nations in industry and transport. The two nations agreed to continue communications to implement the discussed initiatives, aiming to bolster regional integration and create a robust industrial and commercial axis in Africa.