Egypt opens SME fair during 17th AfCFTA trade ministers’ council

Egypt’s Investment and Foreign Trade Minister Hassan El-Khatib on Tuesday inaugurated a Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Exhibition in Cairo on the sidelines of the 17th African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Council of Trade Ministers meeting, the ministry said.

The exhibition aims to showcase entrepreneurship and support cross-border partnerships, underlining Egypt’s push to empower SMEs as drivers of growth and job creation, according to the statement.

El-Khatib said SMEs and entrepreneurs form the backbone of African economies, providing jobs and innovative solutions to bridge production and service gaps. He stressed that supporting young business owners is vital to boosting competitiveness and achieving inclusive growth across the continent.

The minister said the exhibition coincided with Egypt’s hosting of an AfCFTA ministerial retreat, following a broader meeting that gathered representatives from all African member states.

El-Khatib described AfCFTA as a “dream of a common African market” but warned of persistent hurdles, including weak connectivity, high shipping costs, limited maritime routes, a lack of distribution hubs, and insufficient trade finance.

AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene highlighted the importance of the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) in boosting intra-African trade. He said accrediting 19 continental trading firms was a strategic step to improve SMEs’ access to African markets.

El-Khatib concluded that Africa is “our continent and shared responsibility,” adding that the private sector is the key lever for a more integrated and prosperous future.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English

Subediting: Y.Yasser