Egypt seeks to expand investment, trade ties with Uganda: minister

Egypt aims to deepen its economic and investment partnership with Uganda, focusing on infrastructure, agriculture, and regional trade integration, Egypt’s Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Hassan El-Khatib said Wednesday.

Speaking at the Egypt-Uganda Business Forum in Cairo—attended by Presidents Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Yoweri Museveni—Minister El-Khatib said the forum marked a key step toward building strategic partnerships that align with both countries’ development goals.

“We hope this forum becomes a launchpad for major joint projects and partnerships that reflect our shared ambitions and support the development path in both countries and across Africa,” Minister El-Khatib said.

The minister emphasised Egypt and Uganda’s historical ties, particularly through the Nile River, as a foundation for long-term economic cooperation. He outlined a joint vision based on growing mutual investment, expanding trade, and developing cross-border infrastructure.

Priority sectors for cooperation include modern agriculture and food security—such as wheat cultivation and integrated farming—alongside manufacturing, energy, river transport, and tourism.

Bilateral trade between Egypt and Uganda reached $139 million in 2024, while Egyptian investments in Uganda totalled $239 million across 69 projects, the Egyptian minister said. He called for scaling up efforts to unlock further potential in both markets.

“Direct engagement between Egyptian and Ugandan businesses can turn political will into real economic outcomes,” he added.

Minister El-Khatib also stressed the importance of utilising regional trade frameworks such as the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to expand market access and strengthen economic integration across Africa.

“Our cooperation is not only built on a shared past, but also on a joint future—one we’re shaping together with resolve and a shared vision for growth,” he added.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English

Subediting: Y.Yasser