The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) and the Arab Republic of Egypt, represented by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and two other partners of the Arab-Africa Trade Bridges (AATB) Program, have signed a Framework Agreement to increase economic integration and support sustainable growth in all Arab and African nations.
Industry sources added that the two-year Framework Agreement will dedicate the efforts to trade promotion, precisely in sectors where significant added value is created. Moreover, industries that rely on a more skilled workforce and industries that can promote further investment will receive an added boost as a result of this work program.
Industry sources reaffirmed that Egypt has been one of the active Member States under the AATB since its accession in 2019 in a bid to enhance the movement of Egyptian exports in African markets, raising the total level of exports to $100 billion over the next five years. The framework agreement will also support the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), which is one of the largest free trade areas in the world.
ICIEC CEO, Oussama Kaissi stated: “Under this Framework Agreement between Egypt and the AATB partners of ICIEC, ITFC and Afreximbank we will foster greater trade flows between the two regions. Increasing economic integration and supporting sustainable development in all Arab and African countries is the mission statement of this long-lasting partnership.”
The long-lasting coordination was made between the General Secretariat of the Program and the Development Projects Unit of the Ministry of Trade and Industry in the Arab Republic of Egypt, to design a work program for the benefit of Egypt, implement projects for the benefit of the Egyptian economy, and help the various sectors to enhance their capabilities.
Industry sources further explained that within the framework of the agreed activities which will be implemented between 2022-2023, comprises a trade mission: to Tunisia – at least 100 bilateral meetings were held between Egyptian companies and their Tunisian counterpart (concluding initial contracts of more than $5 million dollars across 20 companies), and to Nigeria – at least 75 bilateral meetings were held between Egyptian companies and their Nigerian counterparts (concluding contracts of more than $4 million dollars across 15 companies).
They also stated that the conclusion of deals and contracts with commercial partners from across Africa will also be realized, in participation with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), including finance and guarantees for several African countries, and a share in an annual seminar to fund trading in Africa.
